Congressional alert
August 18, 2021
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With a busy fall schedule approaching, many will spend time in August examining topics sure to top Congress’ agenda after recess. To help Members and staff prepare, this review provides insights from RAND on issues including Afghanistan, early childhood education, China, violent extremism, Truth Decay, and telehealth.
If you have any questions, would like to learn more, or are interested in speaking with a RAND researcher, please contact me at Jayme_Fuglesten@rand.org.
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Stringer/Reuters
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The sudden end to America’s longest war came Sunday as the Taliban rolled into the capital of Afghanistan and the national government collapsed. Thousands of U.S. citizens and Afghans who worked for Americans are waiting to be evacuated and U.S. troops are at the Kabul Airport to keep flights going. Even as the situation remains in flux, RAND researchers shared initial thoughts on topics such as the issues fleeing Afghans may face, how the U.S. can protect refugees, and the implications of Afghanistan’s collapse for terrorism and geopolitics.
Read the Q&A »
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bernardbodo/Getty Images
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While public sector investments in voluntary preschool have been growing, access to early learning programs remains considerably uneven. As a result, measures of school readiness show that lower-income children are more likely to enter kindergarten without the skills needed to succeed in school. As Congress debates funding to address these disparities, this RAND commentary provides four considerations for policymakers to help to make the most of what could be a significant investment in early childhood education.
Read the commentary »
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Stephen Finn/Adobe Stock
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Congress has debated several bills regarding competition with China this year. As those efforts advance and negotiations to reconcile legislation begin, one aspect of competition with China that Congress could focus on is Beijing’s attempts to influence foreign nations. A recent RAND report assesses China’s ability to shape the policies and behavior of 20 countries and the lessons that these examples offer for the United States’ strategic competition with China. Researchers find that the contest for influence is primarily, indeed dominantly, nonmilitary in character.
Read the report »
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Nir Elias/Reuters
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As Congress and the Biden administration consider strategies to counter human rights abuses against ethnic Uyghurs and other minorities in Western China, RAND researchers employed satellite data to offer empirical insights into what is happening on the ground. The resulting examination of how nighttime lighting at suspected detention facilities has changed over time provides new and visual evidence of the furious pace with which China carried out its detention campaign, and counters Chinese claims that the camps have closed.
Learn more about the project »
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Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
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Terrorism and ideologically inspired violence represent persistent and serious threats to U.S. national security, emphasizing the need to focus on prevention and deradicalization strategies. Who is at risk of joining violent extremist organizations? How do they find groups of like-minded people to join with? How do individuals change their minds and walk away from extremism? What can communities do to stop the growth of extremism in their areas? This RAND report draws from interviews with former extremists, family members, and friends to examine radicalization and deradicalization in America.
Read the report »
Read the research brief »
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Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters
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Even though the available COVID-19 vaccines have been found to be safe and effective, many Americans say they won’t get the shot. Some people doubt that getting the vaccine will better protect them from the virus, others are concerned about side effects, and some simply don’t trust the public health and government officials who are urging them to get the vaccine. A recent commentary considers the role that Truth Decay, which RAND defines as the diminishing role of facts and data in American public life, plays in fueling vaccine hesitancy and offers potential solutions.
Read the commentary »
Explore all of RAND’s research on Truth Decay »
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Geber86/Getty Images
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As telehealth use exploded in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, policies regarding the specifics of telehealth service reimbursement were temporarily waived to facilitate easier access to care. More recently, telehealth use has leveled off as in-person care has begun to resume, and policymakers must decide which policy waivers should remain in place. A recent research brief synthesizes key findings from RAND research on telehealth, including examinations of patterns of use during the pandemic, enabling treatment for substance use disorders, lowering barriers to care, and addressing health care inequities.
Read the research brief »
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RAND Congressional Resources Staff
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Experts and Research Available to You
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Members of Congress and staff can receive free copies of RAND reports and engage with researchers. To request reports, briefings, or meetings, or to invite researchers to testify, please contact ocr@rand.org.
Learn more at rand.org/congress. |
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