The January 6th riot by supporters of former President Trump at the Capitol interrupted the presidential electoral count and was the worst attack on Congress in two centuries. In response, Congress formed the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack. However, legal challenges to the actions of the Select Committee represent the latest display of tensions relating to Congress’s powers of oversight, investigation, and its authority to issue and enforce subpoenas. Congress’s authority to investigate is broad, and the history of its investigations have established the power to compel testimony and the provision of documents, but these powers are not absolute and have often been the subject of controversy.

This episode, we will talk about the formation and actions of the January 6 Committee and delve into the specifics of how congressional subpoenas are enforced.

Check out these briefings for a deeper dive into these issues:

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/house-select-committee-to-investigate-the-january-6th-attack

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/enforcement-of-congressional-subpoenas

As state laws that allow collegiate athletes to profit off their names, images, and likenesses have gone into effect, there’s increased attention on Congress, student-athletes, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association to find a nation-wide solution to the issue of student athletes’ rights.

This episode, we discuss the debate surrounding student athletes’ rights, provide an overview of policy issues related to student athletes’ rights, and summarize congressional perspectives on this issue.

For additional information on this topic, check out this Prolegis Briefing:

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/student-athletes-rights-background-and-issues

The transportation sector is responsible for a large portion of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. As policymakers and regulators develop policies and programs to mitigate climate change and reduce emissions, electric vehicle deployment provides one avenue for targeting transportation-related emissions. This year, the Biden administration and congressional Democrats have proposed new targets and programs to expand electric vehicle deployment.

In this episode, we will talk about the status of electric vehicle deployment in the U.S., considerations of policymakers interested in expanding electric vehicle usage, and the recent proposal in the Build Back Better Act to expand the federal electric vehicle tax credit.

For more information, check out these Prolegis briefings:

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/electric-vehicles-background-and-infrastructure-issues

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/electric-vehicle-tax-credits

The growth of social media companies has helped Americans connect and communicate in new ways, but these platforms have also hosted hateful, misleading, and harmful content. Policymakers are increasingly concerned about the nature of these platforms and the role social media companies play in moderating the content. One of the focal points for potential reform has been Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act which provides internet service providers liability protection for hosting third party content.

In this episode, we will delve into the topic of content moderation, the options policymakers have for addressing it, and the perspectives among members of Congress on the issue.

For more information, check out these Prolegis briefings:

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/content-moderation-background-and-issues

- https://www.prolegis.com/briefings/section-230-of-the-communications-decency-act

While the 117th Congress is the most racially and ethnically diverse in history, employees working in congressional and committee offices are overwhelmingly white and share similar educational backgrounds. Congress has made efforts to address the barriers to improving diversity among congressional staff, and it continues to be a priority of a range of policymakers.

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