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Over the last several months, the price Americans pay for gasoline and other fuels has increased significantly. In this brief, we describe these price changes as a first step in understanding their causes and consequences. We also pose questions that we will address in future briefs on this subject.

In November 2026, the U.S. will hold midterm congressional elections. Potential outcomes range from a continued Republican unified government (control of the Presidency, House, and Senate) to a divided government in which President Trump faces Democratic majorities in the House and/or Senate. This brief considers how predictions have changed since our last update in April 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.