Modernization

AI and Emerging Technology, Congressional Security, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Modernization, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for May 10, 2021.

By DanielSchuman May 10, 2021 21 min read

Welcome to the First Branch Forecast, your weekly look into the Legislative branch and government transparency. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here. TOP LINE STOP EVERYTHING. “100% of my focus is on stopping this new administration,” said Sen. McConnell at a press conference. He added: Democrats want to turn America into a “socialist country” and […]

Tags: Office of Legal Counsel, PLUM Act, Freedom of Information Act, Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act, Department of Justice, US Capitol Police, Earmarks, Surveillance, Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, Whistleblower Protections, Advisory Committee on Transparency

Accountability and Oversight, Appropriations, Congressional Security, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Modernization, Appropriation Tracking, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for May 3, 2021

By DanielSchuman May 3, 2021 24 min read

Welcome to the First Branch Forecast, your weekly look into the Legislative branch and government transparency. We had thought last week would be quiet, but we were wrong. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here. TOP LINE Calendar. The Senate is out this week and the House is holding a committee work week, which means […]

Tags: Staff Pay, January 6, MRA, Cybersecurity

Appropriations, Modernization, Appropriation Tracking, Blog posts, Reports & Analysis

What Items Are Due to Congress: May 2021

By DanielSchuman May 1, 2021 18 min read

Congress regularly requests reports on strengthening Congress but there’s no central place to keep track of what they’ve requested. To help keep track of things, we built a public spreadsheet that maintains a catalog of projects, broken down by item due, entity responsible, and due date. The catalog covers reforms and requests ordered by the […]

Tags: Leg Support Agencies

Appropriations, Congressional Security, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Continuity and Resiliency, Modernization, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for April 19, 2021

By DanielSchuman April 19, 2021 23 min read

Welcome to the First Branch Forecast, your weekly look into the Legislative branch and government transparency. (Tell your friends to subscribe.) TOP LINE White nationalism has no place in Congress and yet several representatives on Friday were gathering support to start the America First Caucus, ostensibly focused on Anglo-Saxon “political traditions,” per PunchBowl.news. The America First Committee, the obvious antecedent, […]

Tags: Congressional Research Service, Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act, Staff Pay, US Capitol Police, January 6, MRA, Earmarks, Congressional Data, White Supremacy, Science & Tech, Leg Support Agencies, Political Violence, Cybersecurity

Accountability and Oversight, Appropriations, Congressional Security, Ethics and Influence, Modernization, Appropriation Tracking, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for April 12, 2021

By DanielSchuman April 12, 2021 11 min read

Welcome to the First Branch Forecast, your weekly look into the Legislative branch and government transparency. (Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.) TOP LINE Welcome back, Congress. Send me a final out-of-office email so that I know you missed me. Biden’s $1.5 trillion skinny budget was finally submitted to Congress on Friday. It would increase […]

Tags: US Capitol Police, SCOTUS, Congressional Ops

Appropriations, Modernization, Appropriation Tracking, Blog posts, Reports & Analysis

What Items Are Due to Congress: April 2021

By DanielSchuman April 9, 2021 18 min read

Congress routinely requests Legislative branch support offices and agencies provide reports to Congress on their activities, but there’s no central place to keep track of what they’ve requested. So, we built a public spreadsheet that maintains a catalog of projects, broken down by item due, entity responsible, and due date. The catalog covers reforms and […]

Tags: Leg Support Agencies

Congressional Security, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Continuity and Resiliency, Modernization, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for March 29, 2021.

By DanielSchuman March 29, 2021 16 min read

Welcome to the First Branch Forecast, your weekly look into the Legislative branch and government transparency. (Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.) TOP LINE We made it. The House and Senate are on recess for the next two weeks. With members at home, at fundraisers, or on CODELs, staff will have an opportunity to catch […]

Tags: Freedom of Information Act, Earmarks

Appropriations, Modernization, Rules, Appropriation Tracking, Blog posts, Reports & Analysis

What Items Are Due to Congress: March 2021

By DanielSchuman March 1, 2021 19 min read

Congress regularly requests reports on strengthening Congress but there’s no central place to keep track of what they’ve requested. So we are keeping track so you don’t have to. We built a public spreadsheet that maintains a catalog of projects, broken down by item due, entity responsible, and due date. The catalog covers reforms and […]

Tags: Leg Support Agencies

Appropriations, Congressional Security, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Continuity and Resiliency, Ethics and Influence, Modernization, Rules, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

Forecast for February 1, 2021

By DanielSchuman February 1, 2021 20 min read

The Senate still has not organized, COVID is spreading like wildfire, the impeachment trial clock is ticking, unemployment benefits will expire soon, and white nationalists remain an active threat. Welcome to the First Branch Forecast, your weekly look into the Legislative branch and government transparency. Please tell your friends to subscribe. THE TOP LINE The no deal […]

Tags: US Capitol Police, MRA, Political Violence, Cybersecurity, press freedom

Modernization, Reports, Announcements

What is Wrong with Congress? A New Report from Demand Progress Education Fund and Public Citizen

By DanielSchuman January 30, 2021 4 min read

What is the proper role of the Legislative branch in our system of government? How exactly has Congress been undermined and how might it restore its strength? Demand Progress Education Fund and Public Citizen are proud to announce our new report, “Article One: Rebuilding Our Congress,” which expands upon these questions and outlines what has […]

Tags: Budget

Appropriations, Modernization, Rules, Appropriation Tracking, Blog posts, Reports & Analysis

What Items Are Due to Congress: February 2021

By DanielSchuman January 29, 2021 12 min read

Congress routinely requests reports on modernizing Congress but there’s no great place to keep track of what they’ve requested. So we are keeping track so you don’t have to. We built a catalog of projects and their due dates that we are maintaining in this public spreadsheet, broken down by item due, entity responsible, and […]

Tags: Leg Support Agencies

Congressional Security, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Continuity and Resiliency, Ethics and Influence, Modernization, Rules, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

First Branch Forecast: January 11, 2020

By DanielSchuman January 11, 2021 19 min read

We are overwhelmed and you are too. If you are feeling like you need to talk to someone, call the national suicide helpline at 800-273-8255. You can call even if you are just feeling powerful emotions. It’s perfectly okay to do so. Congressionals can reach out to the Office of Employee Assistance (there’s a recent […]

Tags: Staff Pay, US Capitol Police, January 6, Legislation, Political Violence

Forecast for May 10, 2021.

Forecast for May 3, 2021

What Items Are Due to Congress: May 2021

Forecast for April 19, 2021

Forecast for April 12, 2021

What Items Are Due to Congress: April 2021

Forecast for March 29, 2021.

What Items Are Due to Congress: March 2021

Forecast for February 1, 2021

What is Wrong with Congress? A New Report from Demand Progress Education Fund and Public Citizen

What Items Are Due to Congress: February 2021

First Branch Forecast: January 11, 2020

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