Providing Historical Perspectives to Policymakers
About the Briefings
The AHA’s Congressional Briefings series seeks to provide Congressional staff members, journalists, and other members of the policy community with the historical context essential to understanding contemporary issues. The sessions are strictly nonpartisan and avoid advancing particular policy prescriptions or legislative agendas. The AHA’s briefings have been attended by staffers from the House of Representatives and the Senate, the White House, and federal agencies and research institutions, and have informed policy decisions at the highest levels.
The AHA is grateful to the Mellon Foundation for its generous support of the Congressional Briefings series.
Past Congressional Briefings
The AHA has hosted Congressional Briefings since 2005, on issues ranging from healthcare policy, to gun rights and regulations, to farm policy, and other topics of importance to Congress.
History and Policy Education Program
The AHA’s History and Policy Education Program (HPEP) brings the principles of the Congressional Briefings program into the classroom to help students appreciate the importance of bringing historical perspectives to contemporary policy conversations. This initiative provides a guide for history educators to develop and host briefings about the historical dimensions of current policy questions, using materials from past briefings.
2023-25 Briefings
May 16, 2024
Historical Perspectives on Gerrymandering
February 6, 2024
Historical Perspectives on Sanctions
November 29, 2023
Historical Perspectives on Federal Housing Policy
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Resources from the Briefings
April 7, 2025
History of the Federal Civil Service
March 13, 2025
History of Deportation
Perspectives on the Briefings
For the Press
The AHA is pleased to speak with and provide resources for journalists and the media. If you are a member of the media and would like to submit a request for a referral or interview, please email press@historians.org.