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Video: Modernizing Congress: The business case to upgrade government

Antiquated operations and processes, out-of-date technology, and 20th-century personnel and management practices make it difficult for members of Congress to provide business and other constituents with the level of service they deserve — including businesses, large and small.

In 2018, six Democrats and six Republicans formed the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress with the goal of making the institution more effective and efficient. At a time when Congress is increasingly polarized, the committee has been an exciting model of bipartisan progress.


The committee’s work drew to a close at the end of 2022 and resulted in over 200 recommendations on improving the adoption of technology and changing long-standing rules and norms. So far, 132 of the committee’s recommendations have been fully or partially implemented — but there is still more to do.

In the 118th Congress, BFA is mobilizing the business community to advocate for adopting additional recommendations to revitalize Congress to make it work better for every American.


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Close up of stock market chart on a glowing particle world map.

A hidden financial crisis is emerging as private credit funds like BlackRock’s HLEND and Blackstone’s BCRED freeze withdrawals. Discover how geopolitical shocks, illiquid assets, and retail investor panic are exposing deep risks in the shadow banking system.

Getty Images, Yuichiro Chino

How the Iran Conflict Triggered a Private Credit Liquidity Crisis

While the world watches the harrowing escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and the volatility in the energy markets, a secondary, equally dangerous crisis is unfolding silently within the global financial architecture. The immediate shocks of any geopolitical crisis - soaring oil prices and fractured supply lines - are predictable, even expected. But what is currently occurring in the "shadow banking" sector is a classic "black swan" event, the true impact of which has yet to be fully grasped.

The news this week that investment behemoths have announced withdrawal freezes for some of their flagship private-credit funds (namely BlackRock’s $26 billion HLEND and Blackstone’s BCRED, which both activated redemption gates on March 7) is not a minor financial technicality. It is the definitive popping of a massive asset-class bubble and the end of the reckless era of "democratizing private equity."

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I’m a Former Immigration Lawyer Turned Public School Teacher. Here’s How I’m Engaging Students in Civics.
a dining room table
Photo by Tuyen Vo on Unsplash

I’m a Former Immigration Lawyer Turned Public School Teacher. Here’s How I’m Engaging Students in Civics.

During a recent civics class a student asked me why protests were happening around the country. This student wasn’t being partisan or argumentative. They were just trying to understand what is happening in our democracy right now.

When it comes to teaching civics through current events, the hardest part doesn’t involve breaking up disagreements. Rather, the hardest and incidentally most valuable component is helping students develop meaning from situations as change unfolds on their social media feeds in real time.

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Digital generated image of green semi transparent AI word on white circuit board visualizing smart technology.

What can the success of SEMATECH teach us about winning the AI race? Explore how a bold U.S. public-private partnership revived the semiconductor industry—and why a similar model could be key to advancing AI innovation today.

Getty Images, Andriy Onufriyenko

A Proven Playbook for AI Leadership: Lessons from America’s Chip Comeback

Imagine waking up to this paragraph in your favorite newspaper:

The willingness of the U.S. government to eschew partisanship and undertake a bold experiment -- an experiment based on cooperation as opposed to traditional procurement, and with accountability standards rooted in trust instead of elaborate regulations -- has led the U.S. to a position of preeminence in an industry which is vital to our nation's security and economic well-being.

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Protestors holding signs, including one that says "let the people vote."

Attendees hold signs advocating for voting rights and against the SAVE America Act at a rally to outside the U.S. Capitol on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Getty Images, Heather Diehl

SAVE America Act Debate Begins; Mullin for DHS Hearing

Both chambers of Congress are in session this week and next. The House will probably function about like it has been - lots of votes (often by voice) on uncontroversial bills; many fewer votes on Republican priority bills. Lots of hearings this week and a few legislator updates.

Committee Meetings

Both chambers have a busy week with 64 total committee meetings scheduled.

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