Elizabeth Miller

Elizabeth Miller

Policy Director
LEadership

Elizabeth Miller is a sophomore at Hastings College in Nebraska double majoring in History and Political Science. She fell in love with policy analysis through years of high school debate, and currently is interning with the Department of State as a policy analysis intern for the U.S. Embassy in Moscow as part of the VSFS program. She enjoyed working with YIP as it combined policy analysis and youth political education - two things she is passionate about.

Published Content

No projects yet!
Information icon

This author is no longer active at YIP, but their profile and associated content is still here. Please reach out to [email protected] with editorial questions.

Published Policy Briefs

I Plead the Second: Gun Rights Legislation in the US

Read the Brief ↗
Social Policy
October 10, 2022
Since the ratification of the Constitution in 1788, the rights codified in the Bill of Rights have been fiercely protected by the American people. However, interpretations of those rights often differ as people, society, and governmental structure changes. One of the most fraught amendments is the Second Amendment, which preserves the right to bear arms.

Voting Rights: Popularity Contests and Civil Liberties

Read the Brief ↗
Social Policy
December 11, 2021
Many states are currently reforming their election laws. President Trump was the foremost of those challenging these laws, arguing that they would undermine democracy by allowing foreign and domestic interference. Whilst these claims were unsubstantiated, their effects were highly substantial – since the election, many states have begun passing voting reform measures that make it more difficult for people to vote.

Right to Privacy vs. Right to Life: the Battle Continues

Read the Brief ↗
Social Policy
May 2, 2022
Since the founding of America, legislative battles over rights have existed. From voting rights, to the rights of African American citizens, to child labor laws. The most recent arena of this debate is over a woman’s right to an abortion. Over the past few years, states have been passing increasingly restrictive policies. Much of this policy has been blocked by courts in the past, but with the Supreme Court’s current conservative leaning, it is anticipated that state legislatures will increase policy efforts.

Right to Privacy vs. Right to Life: the Fight over Abortion Laws

Read the Brief ↗
Social Policy
November 27, 2021
The most restrictive abortion law in the country, Texas Senate Bill 8, went into effect on September 1, 2021. Unlike other legislation, the state does not regulate Senate Bill 8, leaving it to the citizens to enforce it.

Raising Them Right: Public Early Education in America

Read the Brief ↗
Social Policy
February 7, 2022
Ever since Johnson’s presidency, early childhood education has been a relevant policy issue in the U.S. government. Despite the ongoing conversation, no policy option has achieved the support necessary to be implemented. As the cost of private childcare and early education continues to rise, the need for public funding grows. The Biden administration is attempting to solve the problem through a $400bn provision in the Build Back Better bill, but has faced significant resistance from both other legislators and states themselves.

Huddled Masses Yearning to Breathe Free: Mass Incarceration in the United States

Read the Brief ↗
Social Policy
February 14, 2022
Mass incarceration has been a part of the United States for decades. Various elected officials and advocacy groups have proposed alternatives to mass incarceration, but none of these options have been successfully adopted yet.

Make Housing Affordable Again

Read the Brief ↗
Social Policy
January 17, 2022
Congress has tried multiple bills over the years to provide affordable housing. The problem has only increased. This is unlikely to improve unless Congress takes meaningful action. The bill in question - the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act - provides solutions to many of the issues faced.

Going Nowhere Fast? Public Transportation in the US

Read the Brief ↗
Social Policy
March 14, 2022
Public transport doesn’t grab many headlines, but it is a significant social policy issue. In many places it is underprovided relative to the actual level of demand, which accounts for environmental issues and community needs. Existing public transport often ends up reflecting or reinforcing socio-economic inequalities due to the way it is funded. Privatization is unlikely to be a good solution here, as in this industry markets tend not to yield the desirable outcomes. Governments, both local and federal, could help address the demand for cheap, clean, and high-quality public transport, through a mixture of direct interventions and subsidies or tax incentives.

Line 5: Sovereignty Under Pressure

Read the Brief ↗
Social Policy
November 5, 2021
Line 5 is a part of a network of pipelines built around the Great Lakes, carrying fossil fuel across Wisconsin and Michigan into Canada.

Herstory: Roe v. Wade and the Future of Privacy Rights

Read the Brief ↗
Social Policy
June 13, 2022
In the 50 years since the landmark ruling of Roe v Wade, abortion has been a hotly contested issue.

Homecoming Mishaps: Immigration Reconciliation Parliamentary Politics

Read the Brief ↗
Social Policy
October 23, 2021
Many activists are calling for action on immigration reform, especially amidst Biden’s mixed signals and seeming return to the Trump-era “stay in Mexico” policy. More specifically, however, policymakers are advocating for the creation of new programs under DACA and the expansion of TPS. Still others have suggested using parole as a method. Regardless of method, debates over immigration reform are at the forefront of politics.

Criminal, Medical, or Recreational? Drug Legalization in the United States

Read the Brief ↗
Social Policy
February 28, 2022
With more states taking progressive stances and legalizing marijuana and other drugs for medical and recreational purposes in the past several years, the debate has grown rapidly. All of this policy is highly controversial.

A Big Step Backwards

Read the Brief ↗
Social Policy
May 2, 2022
The gay rights movement in the US has been gaining traction for the past several decades. From the overturn of the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 to allowing trans athletes to compete in athletics, major strides have been made. However, these steps forward do not guarantee the protection of gay rights, as is demonstrated in the anit-queer legislation widely called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. This bill has the potential to do significant harm to students, and may not be the most effective way to protect children from damaging content.

Fellowship Projects

Sorry, this author hasn't published any Policy Briefs. Check our gallery for more policy content!

Published Opinion Articles

Blue Collars and Billionaires: Why the Midwest Loves Rich Politicians

National Policy
September 6, 2021
Read the Article ↗

Bleach, Hydroxychloroquine, and Ivermectin: Self Medication to Avoid COVID-19

National Policy
November 23, 2021
Read the Article ↗

Banking on the Environment: the relationship between environmental policy and the banking industry

National Policy
July 22, 2021
Read the Article ↗