BIG IDEAS BRIEFINGS

The Big Ideas Briefing series provides advocates and organizers with the educational tools they need to understand progressive policies, cutting-edge issues, and how our government works. These events feature movement leaders, advocates, policy experts, and more. Big Ideas Briefings  dive deep into centering racial and economic justice in federal policy, including practical breakdowns, educational and timely information, and ready-to-go explainers to help our communities thrive.

 

2/15/24: Protecting Workers in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

  • Will AI’s rise transform our workplaces? What does technological change mean for the fight to protect workers’ rights and amplify their voices? Join the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center (CPC Center), the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), and special guests for “Protecting Workers in the Age of AI,” a virtual conversation on the implications of Artificial Intelligence for the future of work.

    See the recording with Spanish interpretation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSUhQXH71mA&t=0s

12/13/23: Direct Pay and the IRA: Leveraging Federal Funds to Build Publicly-Owned Clean Energy In States

  • In 2024, state policymakers have a historic chance to jumpstart clean, publicly owned energy and good green jobs. Co-hosted by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) and the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center (CPCC), this briefing will show state champions how they can bring Direct Pay to their communities.

    Panelists:

    Anthony Gad, National Director of Research at State Innovation Exchange

    Michigan State Representative and Majority Floor Leader Rep. Abraham Aiyash

    Harley Stokes, Senior Policy Advisor at the BlueGreen Alliance

    Zachary Lou, Director for the California Green New Deal Coalition

    Katie Thomas, Climate Policy Director at Congressional Progressive Caucus Center

9/13/23: Sustainable Energy for All: Building Public Clean Energy and Good Green Jobs with Direct Pay

  • For the first time ever, the federal government will pay tax-exempt entities like local governments, Tribal governments, houses of worship, schools, hospitals, public housing administrators, public utilities, and community organizations to build sustainable energy projects like solar, wind or electric vehicle charging stations through the Direct Pay program in the Inflation Reduction Act. This is a historic chance to build sustainable energy, clean up our air and water and create good green jobs. Watch our webinar to find out how to bring Direct Pay to YOUR community. Our panel of experts include:

    Rhiana Gunn-Wright, Climate Policy Director, Roosevelt Institute

    Princess R. Moss, Vice President, National Education Association

    Greg Akerman, President, Baltimore-DC Building Trades Council

    Katie Thomas, Energy & Environment Program Director, CPCC

    Jillian Blanchard, Climate Change Program Director, L4GG

    Taylor Cranor, Attorney Advisor, NYU Tax Law Center

    Advait Arun, Energy Policy Associate, Center for Public Enterprise

    Learn more about Direct Pay: https://www.progressivecaucuscenter.org/direct-pay

    Sign up to receive updates on new tools and resources related to Direct Pay: https://bit.ly/webuildcleanenergy

4/06/23: Militarism at Home: Militarization and Border Communities

  • How does the United States’ unprecedented military spending impact border communities? The Congressional Progressive Caucus Center (CPCC) explored the ways militarization harms immigrant families, border communities and all of us with organizers and experts from across our movement. Learn more and read the report in our “Militarism at Home” series.

    Speakers:

    John Motter, About Face and Ground Game Los Angeles

    Pedro Rios, San Diego Program Director, American Friends Service Committee

    Lindsay Koshgarian, National Priorities Program Program Director, Institute for Policy Studies

    Roshni Ahmed, Campaign Manager, Defund Hate Coalition

    Jesse Franzblau, Senior Policy Analyst, National Immigrant Justice Center

Watch the briefing with Spanish interpretation:

 

2/16/23: Show Me the Money: The Appropriations Process

  • Budgets reflect our nation's priorities; they are a roadmap of what - and who - our government invests in. Each year, our elected representatives vote on investing in childcare, education, healthcare, military spending, and more each year in the appropriations process. How do we make sure federal spending invests in our communities?

    The CPCC hosted a virtual educational briefing that dives deep into the all-important topic of Congress' power of the purse. Our special guests walked through the budget and appropriations process and shared insights into how our communities can make our voices heard. Panelists explained how we can invest and protect the human needs programs our families depend on in the face of a new Congress and new challenges.

    For more, check out our explainer Show Me the Money: A Timeline of Key Steps in the Appropriations Process.

    Speakers:

    Ross Brennan, Senior Legislative Affairs Associate, CPCC

    Leticia Mederos, Partner, Actum LLC

    Erika Andiola, Comms Director, Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights

    Ashik Siddique, Research Analyst, Institute for Policy Studies

    Sara Wiggins, Parent and Advocate, Parents Together

 

 

3/16/23: The Power of the Pen: Building Justice Through Executive Action

  • On Thursday, March 16th at 1 pm ET, the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center (CPCC) hosted The Power of the Pen: Building Justice Through Executive Action, an educational briefing on executive actions. The briefing explores the power - and the limits - of executive action and digs into the policy changes created by executive action under the Biden Administration and additional executive actions that could benefit our communities across the country.

    Speakers:

    Elyse Redden, Homes Guarantee Campaign & Faith in the Valley

    Anthony Rogers-Wright, Director of Environmental Justice, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest

    Dr. Sanjeev Sriram, Social Security Works

    Sarah Anderson, Global Economy Project Director, Institute for Policy Studies

    Laura Williamson, Associate Director of Democracy, Demos

Watch a clip on different types of executive actions: