Apr 12, 2021

Happy Monday! In this week’s Agenda, we showcase the flaws in President Joe Biden’s gun control agenda. We expose what Biden’s jobs and infrastructure plan is really about. We show why the “gender pay gap” is a myth that will lead to bad public policy. In addition, Heritage will host a virtual event on state election integrity reform efforts, and an event looking at how minority-owned businesses stand to suffer from Biden’s tax-and-regulate policies. There are other webinars, podcasts, and more to explore in the Agenda.

Heritage Explains Biden's Gun Control Agenda
President Joe Biden announced last Thursday a series of executive orders that, he says, will help stop gun violence. His executive orders, however, are based largely on misinformation and will do little to stop criminals from obtaining firearms. Heritage legal fellow Amy Swearer explains why in the latest episode of the “Heritage Explains” podcast. “If instead you took that time and energy and effort and put it into things that are addressing the underlying problems that produce gun violence, you're going to get a much safer nation,” Swearer says. Listen to the full episode to learn about the details of Biden’s plan and why it is ineffectual.

9 Things You Need to Know About Biden’s ‘Infrastructure’ Spending Plan
Fast on the heels of signing a bloated $1.9 trillion spending package, President Joe Biden has introduced yet another gigantic spending plan, which his administration says is focused on jobs and infrastructure. But it’s not. “While the administration’s messaging focuses on broadly popular themes such as ‘jobs’ and ‘infrastructure,’ the details of the plan show that it would be a destructive power grab for Washington,” writes Heritage research associate David Ditch. Read Ditch’s full article to find out nine flaws in Biden’s spending plan.

Eliminating the ‘Gender Pay Gap’ Would Do More Harm Than Good
You’ve likely heard the pay gap between men and women touted as an example of systemic gender inequality in American society. Expect more of that this week as the U.S. House takes up the debate. But according to Heritage research fellow Rachel Greszler, that’s a myth perpetuated by the left. “The gap between men’s and women’s earnings reflects their preferences and choices,” she writes in her latest report on the topic. Worse, she finds that “attempting to eliminate such differences through public policies that limit workers’ choices will hurt all workers, and mothers, in particular.” Read the full report to find out exactly what is behind the pay gap and why legislative attempts to eliminate it are harmful.

Heritage Foundation experts have commended policymakers in Georgia for enacting numerous election reforms to expand voting access and ensure the security of their elections. These reforms follow on the heels of laws adopted in both Arizona and Iowa that also incorporated ideas from Heritage experts. Learn more.

Recognizing the dangers posed by an increasingly powerful and aggressive China, The Heritage Foundation has helped organize international efforts to manage those risks. As part of that effort, Heritage has been a major proponent of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (also known as the Quad), a strategic partnership initially formed in the late 2000s between the United States, India, Japan, and Australia to promote common strategic objectives and policy goals. Keep reading.

Monday at 1 p.m., Heritage will host an event on how Russian hackers compromised the U.S. government and how we can reduce the chances of it happening again. Featured speakers include Chad Wolf, a visiting fellow at Heritage and former acting Homeland Security secretary, and Scott Jasper, lecturer at the Naval Postgraduate School and retired U.S. Navy captain. Register for the event here.

Tuesday at 4 p.m., Heritage will host Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky for an event on safeguarding our elections and states’ efforts on election reform. The event will also cover the latest on HR 1. Register for the event here.

Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., Heritage will host an event on resurrecting the now-defunct First Fleet to counter China’s fast-growing navy. The featured speaker is Ambassador Kenneth Braithwaite, the 77th secretary of the Navy. Register for the event here.

Wednesday at 1 p.m., Heritage will host a discussion about confronting Iran and North Korea. Featured speakers and panelists include Rep. Mike Tuner, R-Ohio; Roger Zakheim, director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute; David Albright, founder and president of the Institute for Science and International Security; Tom Karako, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Heritage senior research fellows Bruce Klingner and Peter Brookes. Register for the event here.

Thursday at 3 p.m., Heritage will host a conversation about President Joe Biden undoing policies that created an economic boom for minority-owned businesses. The featured speaker is Kevin Hassett, a former senior adviser to President Trump for economic issues. Register for the event here.

Friday at 10 a.m., Heritage will host a discussion about the U.S.-Taiwan partnership on the Pacific Islands. Featured speakers include the State Department’s Sandra Oudkirk, a senior official for the intergovernmental Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and Chung-kwang Tien, the deputy minister of foreign affairs and chancellor of the Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs in Taiwan. Register for the event here.

This week on “Heritage Explains,” director of Coalitions Andrew Olivastro talks woke corporate capitalism. Listen to the podcast.

Is Hunter Biden Evading the Truth?
Heritage senior legal fellow Hans von Spakovsky joined Fox Business to discuss the latest news on Hunter Biden. Watch the interview.

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