Title: Capitol GAINS: CreativEngine Congressional Utilities Author: CreativEngine, Inc. Published: March 6, 2026 Last modified: June 15, 2026 --- Search plugins ![](https://s.w.org/plugins/geopattern-icon/creativengine-congressional-utilities. svg) # Capitol GAINS: CreativEngine Congressional Utilities By [CreativEngine, Inc.](https://profiles.wordpress.org/creativenginecorp/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/creativengine-congressional-utilities.1.4.5.zip) * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/creativengine-congressional-utilities/#description) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/creativengine-congressional-utilities/#reviews) * [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/creativengine-congressional-utilities/#installation) * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/creativengine-congressional-utilities/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/creativengine-congressional-utilities/) ## Description Capitol GAINS (Government Archives & Information Navigation Suite) is a comprehensive WordPress plugin that provides a suite of tools for managing congressional operations, including meetings, participants, members, files, and related data. The plugin integrates with Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) Pro and Elementor for content management and display. #### Key Features * **Meeting Management**: Create, update, and manage congressional meetings with full metadata support * **Participant & Member Tracking**: Manage witnesses, nominees, and committee members * **File Management**: Upload and organize meeting files with embargo support * **REST API**: Complete REST API for external system integration * **CSV Import**: Bulk import meetings, panels, panel members, members, participants, and files via CSV * **Elementor Integration**: Custom widgets for displaying meetings, files, filters, and more * **Live Meetings**: Support for live streaming and upcoming meeting alerts * **Advanced Filtering**: Dynamic filter system with real-time count updates * **Preview System**: Generate previews of meetings before publishing #### Requirements * **WordPress:** 6.4.0 or higher * **PHP:** 7.4 or higher * **ACF Pro:** Required (plugin will show notice if not active) * **Elementor:** Optional but recommended for frontend display #### Custom Post Types The plugin registers the following custom post types: * **Meetings** (`meeting`) – Main meeting post type * **Participants** (`meeting_participant`) – Witnesses and nominees * **Members** (`meeting_member`) – Committee members * **Meeting Files** (`meeting_file`) – Files associated with meetings #### Taxonomies * **Meeting Status** (`meeting_status`) * **Meeting Type** (`meeting_type`) * **Committee Type** (`committee_type`) * **Privacy Type** (`privacy_type`) * **Congress** (`congress`) * **Subcommittee** (`subcommittee`) * **Participant Type** (`participant_type`) Taxonomies can be enabled/disabled and assigned to different post types via plugin settings. #### Database The plugin uses custom database tables for optimized data storage: * `wp_capigacr_meetingmeta` – Meeting metadata * `wp_capigacr_participantmeta` – Participant metadata * `wp_capigacr_membermeta` – Member metadata * `wp_capigacr_filemeta` – File metadata Database migrations are handled manually via admin UI. #### API Integration The plugin provides a comprehensive REST API for external system integration with endpoints for: * Creating and updating meetings * Managing files * Checking meeting existence * Getting live meetings * Filter counts * Preview generation Base URL: `/wp-json/meetings/v1/` #### External Services This plugin may fetch data from external services in the following scenarios: * **File Imports**: When importing files via CSV, the plugin may download files from external URLs if specified in the import data. This is user-initiated and requires explicit import action. All external requests use WordPress’s built-in HTTP API with proper SSL verification and timeouts. ## Installation 1. Upload the plugin files to `/wp-content/plugins/creativengine-congressional-utilities/` 2. Activate the plugin through the WordPress admin panel 3. Ensure ACF Pro is installed and activated 4. Database tables will be created automatically on activation 5. Configure settings via the **Meetings** and **CE Utilities** settings sub-menu items in the WordPress admin ## FAQ ### What are the requirements for this plugin? This plugin requires WordPress 5.0 or higher, PHP 7.4 or higher, and Advanced Custom Fields Pro. Elementor is optional but recommended for frontend display. ### How do I create a meeting? Meetings can be created via: * WordPress Admin: Create a new Meeting post type * REST API: Use the `/wp-json/creativengine-meetings/v1/write` endpoint * CSV Import: Import meetings in bulk via the admin import interface ### How do I use the Elementor widgets? 1. Edit a page with Elementor 2. Add widgets from the **CE Utilities** category 3. Configure widget settings 4. Publish the page Available widgets include Meeting Display, Meeting Files, Meeting Info, Live Meetings Alert, Meeting Filters, Search Button, and more. ### Can I import meetings in bulk? Yes, the plugin supports CSV imports for meetings, panels, panel members, participants, members, and files. Access the import interface via **Meetings** **Import** in the WordPress admin. ### What is the REST API base URL? Frontend endpoints use `/wp-json/creativengine-capitol-gains/v1/`. Proforma/admin endpoints use `/wp-json/creativengine-meetings/v1/`. See the plugin documentation for complete API endpoint details. ## Reviews There are no reviews for this plugin. ## Contributors & Developers “Capitol GAINS: CreativEngine Congressional Utilities” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ CreativEngine, Inc. ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/creativenginecorp/) [Translate “Capitol GAINS: CreativEngine Congressional Utilities” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/creativengine-congressional-utilities) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/creativengine-congressional-utilities/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/creativengine-congressional-utilities/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/creativengine-congressional-utilities/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/creativengine-congressional-utilities/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog #### 1.4.5 * Fix: File embargo URL suppression — PHP now withholds file download URLs from HTML during embargo; JS fetches and injects the real URL via a new REST endpoint only after the embargo lifts, preventing URL leakage in page source. * Feature: New REST endpoint `GET /meeting/{id}/file-url/{file_id}` returns a file’s download URL after server-side embargo verification. * Fix: `filesEmbargoDateTime` is now sent as UTC ISO 8601 (with `Z` suffix) from the embargo-status API, eliminating browser-timezone misinterpretation when the visitor’s timezone differs from the WordPress site timezone. * Fix: `meeting_start` embargo fallback now correctly treats the stored value as UTC rather than source timezone, fixing incorrect embargo lift times when `filesEmbargoDateTime` is absent. * Fix: Embargo-checker.js now derives server time from the HTTP `Date` response header plus half-RTT latency, replacing `current_time`/`current_timestamp` body fields that go stale on CDN-cached responses. * Fix: `Cache-Control` on the embargo-status endpoint is now conditional — uses` api_cache_interval` from Live Video settings when configured, otherwise sends` no-store` headers (replaces hardcoded 5-minute cache). * Fix: `scheduleEmbargoRecheck` no longer triggers an infinite polling loop when the embargo is already lifted — returns early instead of immediately rechecking. * Fix: Embargo reveal now clears the inline `style="display:none"` set by PHP block templates in addition to removing the CSS class, so elements become visible after lift. * Fix: Embargo-checker now handles a null or absent `filesEmbargoDateTime` gracefully— treats it as immediately lifted and reveals any elements hidden on load. * Feature: Embargo-status API URL includes a predictable `_t` cache-bucket parameter aligned to the configured CDN interval, matching the live-meetings pattern. * Feature: `cacheInterval` and `cacheBucket` are injected into `capigacrEmbargoSettings` when a CDN cache interval is configured, enabling JS to compute matching cache- bucket values client-side. * Feature: ACF taxonomy select field for File Type replaces the default WordPress tag meta box on meeting file edit screens with a proper select-style dropdown. * Fix: `get_meeting_file_type_label()` now resolves the label via `wp_get_object_terms()` when a post ID is provided, giving more reliable results than slug-based term lookup. * Fix: Files uploaded via REST API are now registered as stubs in `local_overrides. files[]` so they appear in the hydrated snapshot on the front-end. * Fix: Proforma file type handler now checks `proforma-file-type` parameter before falling back to `type`. * Feature: Upcoming Hearings Query widget now includes a “No Upcoming” (count=0) option. * Fix: Embargoed file anchors now render as `role="button" aria-disabled="true"` without `href` during embargo; preview-render mode continues to expose the real URL. #### 1.4.4 * Feature: Single Meeting Snapshot (JSON) import — admins can now paste a full `{" meeting":{...}}` export snapshot into a textarea on the Meetings Import page to create or update a meeting and all related participants, panels, and file references in one action, at the same fidelity as the REST API. * Fix: `details.amend_type` object values in snapshot format are now correctly normalized to scalar before taxonomy assignment, preventing a fatal `sanitize_title( array)` error on real-world snapshot imports. * Fix: Agenda Items block template now renders correctly. #### 1.4.3 * Fix: Coast Guard Lists widget now renders file links in both card and list layouts— files were previously only rendered when a ‘files’ entry existed in the coast guard details repeater, which was never included by default. * Feature: Coast Guard Lists widget now has an “Enable File Links” toggle (default on) to control file rendering; removed ‘files’ as a selectable field from the coast guard details repeater. * Fix: `?search=term` URL param now filters the meeting table correctly regardless of whether the Loop Filters widget has a search field configured. * Fix: Search Button widget (which appends `_wpnonce` to the URL) no longer returns zero results — duplicate title/content WHERE conditions from the native `s=` search are no longer generated. * Fix: meetingmeta SQL date filter no longer applies to meetings table queries, preventing meetings with a null `meeting_start` from being excluded when a year filter is active. * Fix: phantom Elementor repeater entries (no `search_field_type`) are no longer treated as custom meta fields, allowing the early-return guard to fire correctly and preventing over-restrictive WHERE clauses. * Fix: Loop Filters form now preserves the active `search` param as a hidden input on submission, preventing the search term from being dropped when a filter is changed. * Fix: filter field options (year, committee, etc.) now show correct available values when a search term is active — phantom field entries in `get_search_config_from_widgets()` are normalized to `title` so options sub-queries are not over-restricted. * Fix: Meeting Video widget now shows the video player iframe when `archive_stream_enabled` is YES — `meeting_id` is resolved via `get_the_ID()` so `get_field()` correctly reads the value from the meeting snapshot via `intercept_acf_load`. * Fix: `archive_stream_enabled` and `live_stream_enabled` admin saves via API update and proforma overwrite paths now write to `local_overrides` so the ACF load path sees the admin-set value instead of the snapshot value. #### 1.4.1 * Fix: preview pass 2 now works without requiring a proforma API token to be configured— internal render nonce is used for access control. * Fix: saving an empty permalink slug value now correctly falls back to the built- in default slug. #### 1.4.0 * Meeting Table Query Controls: added configurable “Query” repeater section to Meeting Table widget with Taxonomy, Date, and Search row types. * Fixed taxonomy override: taxonomy rows constrain query results and suppress conflicting visitor filters with configurable AND/OR relation. * Search button and filter summary integration: search button widget emits loop filters nonce; filter summary displays active search term. * Participant public key flattening: flatten witness `public` array onto snapshot root and promote formatted HTML/text fields. * Schema-driven data layer: added Meeting Schema, Schema Traverser, Schema Hydrator, and Entity Writer for structured import/retrieval pipelines. * Meeting Files Modal: sidebar file management with attach/delete/upload via AJAX modal. * Granular capabilities: per-CPT capability_type with activation/deactivation role management. * Configurable permalink slugs: admin UI for customizing CPT and taxonomy URL slugs. * Pagination: disabled prev/next buttons at page boundaries with CSS and JS. * Archive streams: restored archive_stream_enabled toggle and added frontend iframe rendering. * Private meetings: conditionally include private post_status for users with read_private_posts capability. * Post title sync: sync post_title to meetingmeta title column on save. * Proforma improvements: gated upgrade behind allow-takeover setting, fixed status overwrite bug, added private meeting visibility. * File management: fixed file URL to use filesystem filename, added file_status tracking for API uploads, added Re-check Meeting Files utility. * Import tools: added Bulk Meetingmeta Update import type and Content Record date migration tool. * Removed featured images from meeting post type supports. * Fixed meeting_type fallback and subcommittee/committee_type taxonomy wiring. * Fixed Plugin Check errors for WordPress registry submission compliance. #### 1.3.12 * Switched to inline nonces throughout plugin, fixed preview API escaping, replaced‘ ce’ prefix in JavaScript handles. #### 1.3.11 * Fixed nonce validation and unsafe SQL call. #### 1.3.10 * Preview access: restrict preview meetings to Proforma auth or users who can edit; apply to all meeting queries and global post. #### 1.3.9 * Maintenance release. #### 1.3.8 * Fixed admin menu: use default menu positions all CPT menus (Meetings, Participants, Members) remain visible and avoid overwriting items. * Use values for slugs and prefixes from Meeting Settings. * Replaced remaining hardcoded taxonomy slugs with configurable slugs (meeting_type, meeting_status, privacy_type, subcommittee) in utilities and meetings table widget. * Proper nonce validation throughout plugin. #### 1.3.7 * Hardened database table rename migrations to prevent data loss when both old and new tables exist. * Replaced hardcoded post types/taxonomies with dynamic lookups for configurability. * Adjusted /check API to return slugs only, treat trashed meetings as missing, and untrash on republish. * Fixed recent meetings query placeholder ordering and a panels template syntax error. #### 1.3.6 * Addressed WordPress.org plugin review feedback: Ajax URLs from PHP only, external services documented in readme, no direct core loading or plugin-directory writes, nonces/capability checks and sanitization/escaping across handlers, unique prefixes for options/CPTs/taxonomies, prepared SQL, and consistent checkbox/settings persistence( e.g. enabled taxonomies, logging, embargo). * Log files and congress data now use the uploads directory. CPT/taxonomy slug limits (20/32 chars) enforced in Setup with truncation and shorter defaults where needed. Generate Congress Terms uses the congress taxonomy slug from settings. #### 1.3.5 * Switched plugin slug/text domain to `creativengine-congressional-utilities` and aligned folder/handles for consistent localization. * Restored REST API authentication checks and added direct file access guards across template files. * Improved hardening with additional escaping and nonce validation in admin flows. * Standardized prefixed asset handles and refreshed enqueued CSS/JS for admin and Elementor widgets. #### 1.3.4 * Preview meetings now load members, participants, and files purely from snapshot data (no relational lookups) for accurate preview displays. * Data store falls back to snapshot files for preview posts and file deletion hooks skip previews to avoid removing published assets. * Minor stability updates around preview cleanup and file handling. #### 1.3.3 * Meeting Video widget: added configurable aspect ratios and consistent styling for all message states (upcoming, no live scheduled, no live video). * Meeting video messages now allow custom titles/bodies per state with shared styling. * Minor documentation updates. #### 1.3.2 * Fixed read-only field groups appearing incorrectly when taxonomy dropdowns change * Improved AJAX handling for field group loading * Added custom sort order for congress taxonomy dropdown (numerical descending) #### 1.3.1 * Initial release ## Meta * Version **1.4.5** * Last updated **1 month ago** * Active installations **Fewer than 10** * WordPress version ** 6.4.0 or higher ** * Tested up to **7.0.2** * PHP version ** 7.4 or higher ** * Tags * [congress](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/congress/)[government](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/government/) [meetings](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/meetings/) * [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/creativengine-congressional-utilities/advanced/) ## Ratings No reviews have been submitted yet. [Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/creativengine-congressional-utilities/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/creativengine-congressional-utilities/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ CreativEngine, Inc. ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/creativenginecorp/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/creativengine-congressional-utilities/) ## Donate Would you like to support the advancement of this plugin? [ Donate to this plugin ](https://creativengine.com)