How Leaders Can Use COVID Relief Funding, Global Treaties on AI, and More

The role of teachers' unions in school reopenings, why countries need to establish rules for AI, and a plan for local COVID relief funds.

View in browser March 26, 2021 How should local leaders use their American Rescue Plan funding?   The American Rescue Plan's (ARP) state and local funds are not just a $350 billion lifeline; they also represent the largest positive fiscal jolt to many city and county budgets in decades. Brad Whitehead and Joseph Parilla lay out a three-pronged approach for local leaders to use their ARP funding in smart and equitable ways.   Read more It is time to negotiate global treaties on artificial intelligence   In the aftermath of World War II, countries that were concerned about the risk of war and the ethical aspects of nuclear weapons, chemical agents, and biological warfare came together to agree on rules of conduct. Brookings President John R. Allen and Darrell West argue that it's time for countries to come back to the table to establish rules and guidance for the use of emerging technologies in warfare.   Read more The role of teachers' unions in school reopening decisions   "For those that believe the public health risks of in-person instruction far outweigh the harms caused by distance learning, then teachers' unions are being unfairly scapegoated for their role in reopening decisions. For those that believe the benefits of in-person instruction far exceed the risks of face-to-face instruction during a pandemic, teachers' unions are then obstinate, bad-faith actors," writes Bradley Marianno.   Read more Help support Brookings with a donation   Brookings is committed to making its high-quality, independent policy research free to the public. Please consider making a contribution today to our Annual Fund to support our experts' work. The conclusions and recommendations of any Brookings publication are solely those of its author(s), and do not reflect the views of the Institution, its management, or its other scholars. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brookings Institution campus in Washington, D.C. is currently closed and all events are virtual only. For more information on the Institution's response, read our full guidance here. The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 Unsubscribe Manage your newsletter preferences | Receive the Brookings Brief less often