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A Silver Lining of COVID-19 - Flexible Jobs – Much of women’s gains have consisted of steady progress in education, labor force participation, and earnings. But historical events have also played a role, including the surge in their labor force participation during World War II. Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic might mark another such event for women’s progress. A silver lining of the devastating virus might be a leap forward in flexible jobs and family-friendly workplaces that women have been working decades to achieve. Coupled with the added use of technology brought about by the pandemic, the so-called “gender pay gap” might decline, and women will likely have more opportunities that appeal to their desires. Heritage expert: Rachel Greszler

Time for a National Cyber Incident Disclosure Requirement – Congress can clarify the private sector’s responsibilities in the field of cybersecurity by enacting a single requirement to disclose breaches of cybersecurity to the federal government. Any legislation should provide incentives for companies to report hacks when there is still time for the government to help. Even so, a federal requirement for disclosure of cybersecurity incidents would be only a first step in the improvement of cybersecurity defense. Cybersecurity is a complex problem that will require creative thinking, significant resources, and stronger partnership between the public and private sectors in the years ahead. Heritage expert: Michael Ellis

Biden Buries Bad News of a Bloated, Reckless Budget and Hopes You Won’t Notice – The Biden budget proposes $753 billion for defense discretionary spending in fiscal year 2022, a 1.6% increase over current levels, while the proposed funding for future years is not tied to strategic requirements. The budget even proposes to distract from the military’s core mission by adding requirements such as “tackling the climate crisis.” Congress must exercise spending restraint instead of continuing down the path of seemingly endless, reckless federal spending. When the federal government grows beyond its proper limits, and spends and taxes too much, it stifles prosperity, infringes on liberty, and makes it more difficult to live the American dream. Biden’s budget request should be disregarded, and Congress should chart a responsible fiscal path. Heritage expert: Joel Griffith

Biden’s ATF Nominee Amplifies Concerns About Stance on Second Amendment – Chipman says he believes that I have an individual right to keep and bear arms. And I’ll take him at his word that this is, in fact, what he believes. But it’s also clear that he believes I only barely have this right, and only with respect to the less “firearm-y” types of firearm he thinks are appropriate for me. He advocates policies that would limit my right to keep and bear arms yet are unlikely (indeed, incapable of) reducing gun violence. And he’s willing to misstate facts and obfuscate truth in the process of making these policies a reality. At the end of the day, those aren’t the qualities of someone who should lead the ATF. Heritage expert: Amy Swearer