Historic federal investments from the Biden-Harris Administration, including the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), CHIPS Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), are empowering state and local leaders to create impactful changes in communities across the country, particularly when it comes to addressing climate change and expanding access to clean energy.

The NewDEAL Forum’s Democracy Working Group met in mid-September to discuss key efforts to safeguard the 2024 election. Election officials and voter advocacy leaders laid out what they are doing to ensure election security and protect democratic processes. The participants emphasized the need to combat misinformation, strengthen voter protections, and maintain public trust in election outcomes.

NewDEAL Forum's sister organization, NewDEAL Leaders, convened a policy roundtable during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, bringing together experts and elected officials to discuss the impacts of the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence, or generative AI.

State and local leaders are looking for creative ways to address the housing challenges impacting families in nearly every state.

In less than six months, citizens around the country will start voting (early, by mail, and in person on Election Day) for positions ranging from school board to President of the United States. We offer six initiatives to prioritize over the final six months, focused on voting, election integrity, and civic engagement.

In response to the growing need to regulate this emerging tech, the NewDEAL Forum has published a new document outlining best practices for mitigating the negative impacts of AI in the near term, as well as principles for AI-focused legislation to protect our democracy.

The NewDEAL Forum’s Climate Policy Group released a guide highlighting how state and local officials can capitalize on historic federal funding to both advance climate solutions and expand a robust green economy with high-quality jobs.

Checklist outlining 12 methods state and local leaders can take to defend democracy ahead of 2024.

In less than a year, American democracy faces another major test. As state and local election officials prepare for the upcoming election, the NewDEAL Forum has released “12 Priorities Over 12 Months to Protect Democracy.”

Following a presentation to our Climate Change Policy Group by the Loan Programs Office (LPO) at the U.S. Department of Energy, the NewDEAL Forum has published a report for state and local leaders about opportunities to attract investments for clean energy projects in their communities.

Broadband Task Force co-chairs pen letter to Congress on the significant impact the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has had in connecting people across the country to high-speed internet and urge them to prioritize funding to extend the lifespan of the program.

Digital equity in schools — students' access to digital tools, resources, and curriculum — is now fundamental to their long-term success as schools become increasingly technological, something accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the dangerous impacts of climate change grow, including the increasing intensity and quantity of natural disasters, rising temperatures, and more frequent droughts, scientists around the world agree that reducing emissions of greenhouse gases is critical to preventing further damage.

The Democracy Playbook is a product of the NewDEAL Forum’s Democracy Working Group, and was written after months of extensive conversations with election experts, civic leaders, and elected officials.

America has been a global beacon of democracy for nearly 250 years. The most important professional commitment we ever made was when we took our oath of office – to faithfully carry out our duties while upholding not only our state constitutions, but the U.S. Constitution. We are proud to be part of this nation’s long tradition of representative democracy.

NewDEAL Forum releases policy recommendations and best practices gathered during a visit of state and local officials to study Mayor Schaaf’s initiatives to provide students with “Cradle to College” support and address the digital divide

At a crucial moment for closing the digital divide, the NewDEAL Forum is compiling key resources to help state and local policymakers make the most of federal broadband funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the American Rescue Plan.

We’ve learned many things about American society as a result of the pandemic, but one overarching lesson is clear -- broadband connectivity is essential in nearly every aspect of people’s lives.