This week has marked a significant turning point in American attitudes regarding the coronavirus crisis and, more significantly, the stay-at-home orders that have swept our nation and devastated our economy. Such orders have mandated certain activities -- often under threat of criminal penalty -- and required closure of businesses deemed “nonessential” by various government officials.

On behalf of FreedomWorks’ activist community, I urge you to contact your representative and senators and ask them to cosponsor the Higher Education Reform and Opportunity (HERO) Act, H.R. 4098 and S. 2339. Introduced by Rep. Francis Rooney (R-Fla.) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), the HERO Act would allow states to tailor education to the unique needs of students, by developing their own systems for accrediting educational institutions instead of being restricted fully by the federal Department of Education.

FreedomWorks’ activist-chosen dumpster fires of the month for July 2019 are the Student Debt Cancellation Act, H.R. 3448, introduced by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and the College for All Act, S. 1947, introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Both of these pieces of legislation would seek to erase all federal student loan debt and completely restructure the higher education system, forcing unwitting taxpayers to foot the $2.2 trillion bill.

Following the Senate’s passage yesterday of the joint resolution to disapprove of President Trump’s recent emergency declaration to use existing funds to construct a barrier along some portions of our southern border, it is clear that some in Congress are finally picking up an important message. Congress has to put a stop to and reverse course on its slow-but-steady ceding of its constitutional powers to the executive branch. On everything from trade and regulation to war and now the power of the purse, the executive branch and the president are much more powerful than was intended as outlined in Article I of the Constitution.

FreedomWorks is proud to announce that our bill of the month for January 2019 is First Step Act, S. 756, which became law on December 21, 2018. It is a fantastic victory for society, policy, and fairness across the spectrum, giving momentum to further reforms in the future at both the state and federal level.

On behalf of FreedomWorks’ activist community, I urge you to contact your senators and ask them to support the First Step Act, S. 3649, and to co-sponsor and whip YES when approached by Senate Republican leadership.

Within a few days of Congress returning from recess, House Republicans are once again undermining the document that conservatives promise time and time again to uphold -- the Constitution. This latest move comes despite the GOP losing control of the House just over a week ago for its leadership continually failing to uphold a number of conservative promises to the American people.