Coronavirus cases are still on the rise, but BPC's Dr. Anand Parekh believes we won't see a vaccine until 2021 at the earliest. And as the pandemic continues, BPC's Linda Smith sees an opportunity for Congress to recognize child care as a key avenue to stimulate the economy. Elsewhere, BPC's Business and Technology Project released a new report embracing the role artificial intelligence will have on the workforce and economy.

A new BPC/Morning Consult survey of Americans receiving unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 crisis finds that caregiving responsibilities have increased, caregiving is a major hindrance to getting back to work, and paid leave could help ease the return to the workforce for millions. Lawmakers should lift the 500-employee cap, expand coverage to new parents, and extend the program to June 2021 to cover a potential second wave of the virus.

As fall approaches, difficult questions about the K-12 school year loom for parents, policymakers, and school administrators. The nation must weigh the academic and social benefits of in-person instruction with the health risks that students and teachers face if they return to classrooms. But discussions about reopening schools must also consider that schools serve an important function beyond academics—they serve as child care for working parents.

American employers face a great deal of uncertainty as they seek to find some semblance of “new normal” or “near normal” in their operations. Recent spikes in positive COVID-19 cases have only added to the difficulties. Congress can help reduce the burden of uncertainty by providing clarity on the question of liability. BPC submitted a letter to Congress calling for action on this issue.

As part of BPC’s Dole Series on Leadership, BPC President Jason Grumet sat down with Robin Hood Foundation CEO and author Wes Moore to discuss his new book Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City.