Center for American Progress
Recent News About Center for American Progress
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Unions are a critical force in American society, ensuring that everyday Americans can earn decent pay and benefits and have a voice in democracy. Studies have shown that unions strengthen the economy and democracy by boosting wages for workers, reducing wage inequality, increasing voter turnout for both union and nonunion voters, and providing a counterbalance to wealthy interest groups. Historically, unions have played a significant role for American workers by helping create the 40-hour workweek, child labor laws, and improvements in health insurance. At their peak in 1945,...
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The high cost of health care remains a significant driver of medical debt in the United States. In 2023, 41 percent of American adults reported having debt due to medical or dental bills, with 30 percent stating they would be unable to pay an unexpected $500 medical bill without incurring debt. In response, states are actively pursuing and implementing policies aimed at protecting consumers from the financial burden of medical debt and ensuring access to affordable health care.
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Washington, D.C. — Lawmakers and experts convened at the Center for American Progress to highlight concerns regarding Project 2025, a plan they argue would undermine the country's system of checks and balances, granting far-right politicians, judges, and corporations increased control over American lives.
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The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 is a comprehensive plan outlining how a far-right presidential administration could potentially reshape the U.S. government. The project comprises four main components: a 920-page book with policy proposals, a personnel database of loyalists ready to replace civil servants, a private online training center, and an unpublished plan for the first 180 days of a new administration.
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The Biden-Harris administration has taken a position opposing best practice gender-affirming surgeries for transgender youth, according to a report by the 19th. These surgeries, which are very rare and typically available only for older teenagers, can sometimes be part of lifesaving medical care for transgender individuals.
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South Korea, as the world’s 13th-largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter, plays a critical role in global efforts to address climate change and promote clean energy solutions. The country contributed 1.35 percent of global GHG emissions, amounting to 654 million tons in 2022. The government faces significant domestic pressure to align its policies with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The steel industry, a key component of South Korea’s manufacturing sector, is responsible for 40 percent of industrial GHG emissions and 16.7 percent of...
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Kate Kelly will be joining the Center for American Progress (CAP) as senior director for the Women’s Initiative. In this role, she will lead CAP’s efforts to advocate for reproductive rights and freedom, expand abortion access, and advance policies to ensure all women can participate in the economy and live healthy, productive lives.
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Investment in electric vehicle batteries and chargers has reached historic highs. Since the passage of the Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in November 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August 2022, the United States has seen monumental growth in battery and charger manufacturing for electric vehicles (EVs). Private and public investment in the manufacturing of batteries and EV chargers has totaled more than $45 billion since the IRA’s passage. This investment has grown substantially every quarter since its passage. In fact, there was more battery and EV charger...
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Washington, D.C. — The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has moved to protect approximately 28 million acres of public lands in Alaska from development. This decision, detailed in a final environmental impact statement, reverses the Trump administration's efforts to open these lands for industrial development and potential transfer during its final weeks in office.
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On June 28, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a city ordinance prohibiting unhoused individuals from using blankets, pillows, or cardboard boxes for protection while sleeping within city limits does not violate the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that a federal law criminalizing the corrupt obstruction of congressional inquiries and investigations cannot be used to prosecute participants in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. This decision may also lead to some related charges being dropped against former President Donald Trump.
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On June 28, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 40-year-old Chevron doctrine, which has required courts to defer to a federal agency’s reasonable interpretation of ambiguous laws. In response, Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued a statement.
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Yesterday, President Joe Biden announced pardons for former service members convicted of crimes related to their gender identity or sexual orientation. Following the announcement, Cait Smith, director of LGBTQI+ Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued a statement.
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Washington, D.C. — The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has been identified as the largest investment in clean energy in U.S. history, aimed at reducing household energy costs, addressing climate change impacts, and enhancing American manufacturing's competitiveness in the global clean energy market. These economic future investments appear as expenditures in the federal budget.
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On June 27, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that halts the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) "good neighbor" plan. This plan requires Western and Midwestern states to curb emissions from factories and power plants that drift into downwind states. Five justices put the program on hold while litigation continues.
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The U.S. Supreme Court has dismissed the case of Idaho v. United States without making a decision on emergency abortion care, leaving the matter to be decided by lower courts. The ruling allows emergency abortion care under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) to continue in Idaho for now.
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The 2017 tax cuts, signed into law by then-President Donald Trump and enacted without Democratic support, made significant reductions to personal, corporate, and estate taxes that predominantly benefited the wealthy. One of the law's provisions allowed owners of pass-through businesses—partnerships, sole proprietorships, and S corporations—to deduct 20 percent of their qualified business income (QBI) when calculating their taxes. Initial estimates projected this new deduction would cost $414.5 billion, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating that extending it beyond...
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Washington, D.C. — The 2017 tax cuts, signed into law by then-President Donald Trump and enacted without Democratic support, introduced significant reductions in personal, corporate, and estate taxes that predominantly benefited the wealthy. A notable change in the law allowed owners of pass-through businesses—partnerships, sole proprietorships, and S corporations—to deduct 20 percent of their qualified business income when calculating their taxes.
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On June 27, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Idaho v. United States that dismissed the case on procedural grounds and explicitly stated that the merits of the case would not be addressed. The court reinstated the preliminary injunction from the U.S. District Court of Idaho (Southern Division), pausing criminal and civil penalties under Idaho’s near-total abortion ban for the duration of the case.
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A new report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) examines how rural communities with strong economic ties to the coal industry can manage the transition away from fossil fuels toward a diversified economy and resilient local budgets. The report, informed by interviews with local and federal officials, finds that while coordination with federal agencies is effective, these partnerships face challenges due to a complex and siloed federal assistance system. There is currently no unified rural policy or approach for this type of transition assistance.