House Passes First Step Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to the House’s 358-36 vote to pass the First Step Act, Jason Pye, FreedomWorks Vice President of Legislative Affairs, commented:

“After months of work, the First Step Act has passed the House of Representatives and will now go to President Trump’s desk. This is truly a bipartisan bill with unimaginably broad and intense support from every corner of both chambers of Congress. The First Step Act will institute evidence-based reforms that are proven to reduce crime and strengthen our justice system. Conservative states such as Texas, South Carolina, and Georgia have already implemented these reforms with remarkable success.

“Tireless work from Sens. Grassley and Lee alongside Rep. Collins and countless others has been invaluable in passing this landmark piece of legislation despite repeated attempts at dishonest opposition. In the end, Congress has spoken what we all know to be true — there is nothing tougher on crime than being smart on crime.

“We look forward to President Trump signing this bill into law, and we must now continue moving the needle on justice reform even further towards fairness. There is much work yet to be done, and Congress has overwhelmingly given its approval to continue down this path.”