A push to unionize Congressional staff in member and committee offices gained sudden momentum as Speaker Pelosi signaled support at the beginning of the month. Soon after, the newly formed Congressional Workers Union formally announced efforts to unionize staffers and Representative Andy Levin introduced a resolution to guarantee the right to unionize for legislative staff.

For more on this topic, check out these Prolegis Briefings:

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/congressional-staff-union

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/staff-diversity-in-congress

The opioid crisis is a public health emergency that has claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 people. It has evolved over time, and so has the federal government’s response, which has included bipartisan legislation. Still, the federal government is playing catch up as a surge in synthetic opioids has led to a resurgence of overdoses.

For more on the opioid crisis, check out these Prolegis Briefings:

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/the-opioid-crisis

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/illicit-fentanyl

As the most recent continuing resolution to fund the federal government is set to expire on February 18th, a government shutdown was potentially on the horizon. However, legislators came to a last minute deal to pass another continuing resolution this week. This will only cover government funding until March 11, meaning the threat of a government shutdown has only been delayed, not avoided.

For more on this topic, check out these Prolegis Briefings:

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/history-of-government-shutdowns

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/what-happens-during-government-shutdown

The ability of members of Congress to trade individual stocks has repeatedly been a source of controversy. Activists, the news media, and fellow members of Congress have questioned the propriety of Members profiting off of companies that may be impacted by the work of Congress.

For more information on this episode, check out this Prolegis Briefing:

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/congressional-insider-trading-laws-and-ethics-of-members-trading-stocks

Members of Congress have been debating how to best address surprise medical bills for two years. A compromise was finally reached in the 116th Congress, when the No Surprises Act passed as part of the omnibus spending legislation. The No Surprises Act, which bans surprise medical bills, finally went into effect in the beginning of 2022, but industry groups and policymakers are pushing back against the Biden administration’s implementation of the law, arguing that it deviates from congressional intent.

For more details and sources on this episode, check out this Prolegis Briefing:

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/surprise-medical-billing

With a wide range of policy agenda items stalled in the Senate, there is mounting pressure in the Democratic caucus to reform the Senate filibuster to help move their agenda. Majority Leader Schumer vowed to bring a vote on the filibuster to the Senate floor before January 17, but Senators Manchin and Sinema rejected proposals to change the filibuster.

To learn more about the filibuster, check out these Prolegis Briefings:

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/filibuster-proposals-for-reform

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/history-of-the-filibuster

The U.S. and Germany announced an agreement to allow the Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline to be completed, with requirements for Germany to provide investments and diplomatic support to Ukraine. The U.S. has long been opposed to the construction of the pipeline, but the Biden administration reversed course, citing intentions to improve relations with Germany. Recently, Majority Leader Schumer agreed to a vote on Senator Ted Cruz’s legislation imposing sanctions on the pipeline as a deal to clear the passage of a slate of Biden’s State Department nominees.

For more on this topic, check out the Prolegis Briefing:

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/nord-stream-background-and-policy

Sneakerheads, gamers, and parents have had highly anticipated drops and holiday presents thwarted by scalper bots--bots that buy up high-demand items to be resold for a profit. During a period in which supply chains are already weakened, policymakers are concerned about the impact of such bots on consumer welfare. Congressional Democrats have reintroduced a bill to ban such bots.

Control of the Senate, the House, and the Presidency gives Democrats the ability to bypass the Senate filibuster for some legislation using a process known as budget reconciliation. Congressional Democrats utilized this tool to pass the American Rescue Plan earlier this year and are hoping to pass the Build Back Better Act through the same process. One figure that has been the center of controversy during the debate around the budget reconciliation bills is the Senate parliamentarian. The Senate Parliamentarian plays a key role in determining the rules and procedures for the Senate. A recent, key decision by the Senate Parliamentarian on the Build Back Better Act, has many reflecting on the position, its influence, and role in the legislative process.

In this episode, we will discuss the details of the budget reconciliation mechanism and the role of the Senate parliamentarian in the legislative process.

For deeper dives into these topics, check out these Prolegis briefings:

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/budget-reconciliation-process-and-limitations

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/senate-parliamentarian-background-and-issues

The U.S. policy on Taiwan has followed the framework of “strategic ambiguity” for many decades. Despite the escalation in tensions between the U.S. and China and the increasing presence of Chinese military power in the Taiwan Strait, the Biden administration has remained committed to this framework.

In this episode, we discuss the history of U.S.-Taiwan relations, U.S. policy towards Taiwan, and government perspectives and related legislation.

For a deeper dive into this episode, check out this Prolegis Briefing:

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/u-s-taiwan-relations-history-and-policy-issues