The Bush Institute: Series
2021 Policy Recommendations
Policy recommendations from the George W. Bush Institute The Bush Institute serves as a place of ideas and action. Our philosophy is rooted in principles of freedom, opportunity, accountability, and compassion. Our role at the Bush Institute is to focus on policy, not politics, and proffer solutions to the challenges we are facing today and into the future.
Feb 24, 2021
The U.S. Must Continue to Support Democracy Abroad
The Bush Institute's Kelly and David Pfeil Fellow, Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, sits down with Christopher Walsh, the Bush Institute's Human Freedom and Women's Initiative Senior Program Manager, to discuss how the U.S. can strengthen democracy at home while also supporting it abroad.
Feb 23, 2021
Two-Minute Take: Student Testing to Resume This Spring
The U.S. Department of Education has announced that states must resume annual student testing this spring. Anne Wicks, Bush Institute Ann Kimball Johnson Education Reform Initiative Director, gives her Two-Minute Take on the importance of this decision.
Feb 1, 2021
Two-Minute Take: Burmese Military Coup
Yesterday, Burmese military detained civilian government leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi, state and regional authorities, ethnic leaders, writers, and democracy activists. Jieun Pyun, the Bush Institute's Human Freedom Initiative Senior Program Manager, discusses the current situation and what this means for democracy in Burma.
Jan 29, 2021
Two-Minute Take: Reopening Schools Safely
Bush Institute Ann Kimball Johnson Education Reform Initiative Director Anne Wicks weighs in on the Biden Administration’s executive order on safely reopening schools and discusses how it mirrors our recent policy recommendations.
Video · Jan 26, 2021
Two-Minute Take: Promoting Prosperity in Central America with Targeted U.S. Trade Policy
Investment in the region would promote industrialization in Central America, boosting productivity and prosperity there and opening job opportunities that would encourage Central Americans to stay home instead of seeking to emigrate to the United States.
Jan 22, 2021
Two-Minute Take: Building an Immigration System for Tomorrow
Comprehensive immigration reform has its best chance of passing in more than a decade under a recently unveiled plan from the new administration. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative Director Laura Collins presents policy recommendations for the Biden Administration and urges Republicans and Democrats in Congress to work together to make our broken immigration system work better for America.
Ensuring Opportunity and Strengthening Our Democracy
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
Expanding Opportunity: Federal Policy Agenda for Economic Mobility
By reordering its fiscal and regulatory policies around an opportunity agenda and allowing greater flexibility for private markets and local policy initiatives, the federal government can play a crucial role in creating greater opportunity and economic mobility for all Americans.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
Expanding Opportunity: State and Local Policy Agenda for Economic Mobility
Many of the largest obstacles to economic mobility arise from state and local policies, but a new opportunity agenda can play a vital role in creating more cities and towns of opportunity and renewing the American dream.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
Advancing Outcomes for Our Post-9/11 Veterans and Their Families
A new presidential administration and a new Congress make this the optimal time to take a fresh look at the strategies, policies, programs, and resources that can empower veterans and their families to successfully reenter civilian life and continue to lead for years to come.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
Disinformation: Democracies Require a Reliable Flow of Information
The reliable flow of information is one of the most essential battlegrounds in the fight to stabilize democracies around the world.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
Central America: Promoting Prosperity with Targeted U.S. Trade Policy
Investment in the region would promote industrialization in Central America, boosting productivity and prosperity there and opening job opportunities that would encourage Central Americans to stay home instead of seeking to emigrate to the United States.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
Immigration: Building a System for Tomorrow
More than ever, America needs the brightest, most talented, and hardest-working people the world has to offer. The objective of immigration policy should be to affirm America as the land of opportunity.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
Schools and COVID-19: Working Through and Beyond Education’s Greatest Challenge
Federal and state governments – as well as philanthropists and foundations – are being called upon to invest millions of dollars in our public-school system to help schools and districts navigate the impact of the pandemic on student success.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
Assessments: Measuring Student Learning Can Lead to More Equitable Schools
The current pandemic has blown apart the public education system as we knew it — simultaneously exacerbating vulnerabilities for many children and forcing rapid innovation to meet this instructional moment. The adults in this system must now focus on two things in response: The first is safety for kids and educators. The second is accelerating academic progress for all kids, regardless of race, ethnicity, or disability.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
Reimagining School: Rethink the School Day and Year to Better Serve Students and Families
With everything the pandemic is showing us in terms of new school models, it’s an opportune time to rethink and reimagine what could be.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
State Data Systems: Worth the Legislative Investment to Connect Workforce and Education
The pandemic has exacerbated existing education gaps for many young people of color and students who are growing up in poverty. Connecting disparate data systems into a well-governed and transparent way in each state will help guide researchers and policymakers in the years ahead.
Advancing Free Societies
Sep 23, 2021
We Still Have a Role to Play in Afghanistan
The United States and the international community must act to protect the health and safety of those vulnerable to the Taliban, especially women and girls.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
Democracy and Human Rights: America's Leadership Matters
Supporting democracy and human rights at home and worldwide requires a comprehensive, multistakeholder approach that reaffirms America’s commitment to global leadership and democratic ideals.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
North Korea: Denuclearization Is Not Possible Without an Improvement in Human Rights
As the last four years have shown us, a deal with North Korea is not possible without an improvement in the human condition. In the past, the United States prioritized nuclear negotiations above all else. A new administration and Congress have an opportunity to refocus their attention on human rights in North Korea.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
Burma: Continuing U.S. Support of Transitions to Democracy
Burma is on the precipice of either a further backslide in democratic principles or the transition to a real democracy for all. U.S. leadership and engagement can help Burma to build a society with strong institutions and citizens that respect liberty and protect the rights of all people.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
Women and Girls: Supporting Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Sub-Saharan Africa
There is an African proverb that states, where you will sit when you are old shows where you stood in youth. Today and tomorrow, the status of adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa matters to us all.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
Global Health Priorities: Building on U.S. Global Health Engagement
The United States’ unrelenting commitment to global health remains important – even more so as the world deals with the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Congress and the administration should set an agenda that builds on the commitments the U.S. government has made, particularly over the past 18 years.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
U.S. Efforts to Protect Afghan Women and Girls
When the United States stands with Afghanistan, it’s making a commitment to the security of all Americans as well as to the rights of women and girls everywhere. It is in our national security interests and our moral responsibility to support human rights, democracy, and peaceful, sustainable development in Afghanistan.
Policy Recommendations · Jan 14, 2021
Women and Girls: Investing in Women's Economic Empowerment
When women succeed, we all benefit. Women’s economic empowerment boosts economic growth and prosperity and helps safeguard democracy. Most importantly, it ensures that women have an equal chance to build a bright future for themselves and their families.