Boldly Forward: 20 Years of CAP

In 2024, the Center for American Progress celebrated its 20th anniversary. Since its founding, CAP has tackled the most pressing issues of our time—from affordable health care policies to fighting for equal rights and justice. Our innovative approach combining research, communications, and policy development has helped deliver progressive wins and improve the lives of all Americans. While we face many urgent challenges and uncertainties today, our pursuit of progress does not waver. CAP remains resilient in its commitment to find solutions for working people in America, champion equitable policies, and defend our fundamental freedoms and democracy.

Patrick Gaspard speaks in front of a podium with IDEAS Conference signage in the background
CAP President and CEO Patrick Gaspard delivers opening remarks at the 2023 CAP IDEAS Conference in Washington, D.C., October 2023. (Credit: Allison Shelley)

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Learn about the John D. Podesta Progressive Champion Award

The John D. Podesta Progressive Champion Award honors up-and-coming leaders who share a passion for public service, a record of leadership, and a vision that leads to lasting progress.

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Mapping America’s Child Care Deserts Report

Mapping America’s Child Care Deserts

CAP’s geographic study of child care markets finds that approximately half of Americans across 22 states live in areas with an undersupply of child care options.

Rasheed Malik, Katie Hamm

The Cost of Work-Family Policy Inaction Report
A man sits at the kitchen table as his wife holds their daughter in Harlan, Kentucky, on October 18, 2014. (AP/David Goldman)

The Cost of Work-Family Policy Inaction

The lack of work-family policies in the United States costs working families billions of dollars in lost wages every year.

Sarah Jane Glynn, Danielle Corley

Harnessing the Child Tax Credit as a Tool to Invest in the Next Generation Report
A girl helps her brothers with a drawing and homework in Philadelphia, October 8, 2013. (AP/Matt Rourke)

Harnessing the Child Tax Credit as a Tool to Invest in the Next Generation

By investing in children from birth, we can help mitigate the middle-class squeeze for families with children, cut child poverty, and boost our nation’s economic health in the long term.

Rachel West, Melissa Boteach, Rebecca Vallas

The Middle-Class Squeeze Report

The Middle-Class Squeeze

America's middle class is being squeezed by stagnant—and in many cases declining—incomes and rising costs. To address the middle-class squeeze, we need to enact policies that will both increase incomes and also address rising child care, higher education, health care, housing, and retirement costs.

Jennifer Erickson

Social Security Cares Report
Social Security Cares would provide partial wage replacement for workers across the country who temporarily need to take time off from their jobs to tend to their own medical condition, to care for an ill family member, or to take care of and bond with a newborn or newly adopted child. (AP/Jeff Roberson)

Social Security Cares

Our proposed Social Security Cares Act would establish a national paid family and medical leave program as part of Social Security, providing partial wage replacement for workers across the country who temporarily need to take time off from their jobs.

Growth and the Middle Class In the News

Growth and the Middle Class

David Madland explains how a strong middle class is the key to economic growth in Democracy Journal.

Democracy Journal

David Madland

Principles for Immigration Reform Report

Principles for Immigration Reform

Marshall Fitz and Angela Kelley provide guidelines for fixing our broken immigration system.

Marshall Fitz, Angela Maria Kelley

Progressive Prescriptions for a Healthy America Article

Progressive Prescriptions for a Healthy America

CAP proposes a bold but practical approach to guaranteeing an American right to affordable, quality health coverage.

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