Facts-First Policy Education Content

September 24, 2026

This policy brief is the first in a series investigating potential new legislative initiatives in the 120th Congress, which will take office in January 2027. Most Americans would rather get health care at home than move into an institution such as an assisted living facility. Currently, qualified recipients can have Medicare pay for a nurse or therapist in a facility, but it generally does not pay someone who helps an older adult bathe, dress, or cook as a form of long-term, in-home care. Congress has attempted to change how home health care is delivered and reimbursed under the Medicare program, and a few pieces of legislation appear poised to be introduced in the upcoming 120th Congress on this topic.

September 17, 2026

The U.S. Constitution contains an explicit right to freedom of religion in the 1st Amendment. But what does this right mean in practice? The answer is complicated. The courts have adopted evolving standards over time, highlighting the difficulty of translating abstract rights into practice.

September 10, 2026

Many countries have some form of national service where citizens perform duties for their country. Some of these programs are mandatory – such as military service in certain nations – while others are voluntary – such as educational and poverty-reduction initiatives. In either case, the goal of national service is to support the community and foster national unity. Despite widespread agreement over these abstract goals, there is disagreement over how national service programs should be designed and what types of civic outcomes they should prioritize.