FreedomWorks’ Member of the Month for March 2017: Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.)

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) is FreedomWorks’ Member of the Month for March. A freshman, Rep. Biggs sits on the House Judiciary Committee and was chosen to head the Environmental subcommittee within the Science, Space and Technology Committee in the 115th Congress.

Rep. Biggs served in the Arizona state House of Representatives for eight years and the state Senate for six. While serving in the state legislature Andy was recognized by the Goldwater Institute as a “Friend of Liberty.” He was also awarded the “Conservative Excellence Award” by the American Conservative Union, “Guardian of Small Business Award” by the National Federation of Independent Business and maintained a voting record of 100 percent according to the Center for Arizona Policy, Arizona Small Business Association, and the Arizona Citizens Defense League.

Rep. Biggs started his career off in D.C. by fighting for freedom. Even though he has only had a short time in Congress he has used that time to advocate for individual liberty and federalism.

Rep. Biggs introduced two amendments to the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, H.R. 26, that would have improved the bill. The first amendment defined all rules submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as major rules, which would have subjected them to congressional approval under the REINS Act. The second amendment lowered the definition of a major rule from an annual economic impact of $100 million or more to $50 million or more. The amendments, however, were not allowed by the House Rules Committee.

He introduced the Right to Try Act, H.R.878, which FreedomWorks supports. This bill would give terminally ill patients access to possibly lifesaving drugs. The right to try is a right to life and this bill would allow patients access to medication and treatments that have not passed the final stages of the FDA testing process.

He is also co-sponsoring Rep.Thomas Massie’s bill to abolish the Department of Education. H.R.899 which FreedomWorks awarded as Bill of the Month for March. This bill is one line long and states, “The Department of Education shall terminate on December 31, 2018.”

Before his election to Congress, Biggs made a promise to remain committed to protect taxpayer dollars and signed Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The pledge promises to oppose any increase to the current income tax.

It is refreshing to have true fiscal conservatives in office, and FreedomWorks is proud to recognize Rep. Andy Biggs as Member of the Month for March and maintaining a principled stance on the issues.