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’ activist-chosen dumpster fire of the month for March 2019 is the “Green New Deal” Resolution, H.Res. 109 and S.Res. 59, introduced by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.). The resolution, touted by the progressive left as a “solution” to the “climate crisis,” is no more than an overt attempt to entirely upend the concept of liberty in America. By turning our economy into a socialist’s dream, the Green New Deal would ruin what we have of a free-market society here in America and put us on a fast track to collectivism.

FreedomWorks is proud to announce that our bill of the month for March 2019 is the End Pensions in Congress (EPIC) Act, H.R. 191 and S. 438, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Sens. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.). The EPIC Act would terminate pensions for members of Congress, and force them to save for retirement in the same way that most private Americans do, by responsibly contributing to 401(k)-type plans.

As Congress reflects on its success in passing the First Step Act at the end of 2018, it must look toward ways to build on the existing momentum. The First Step Act was constructed to shift our justice system toward ensuring that we are incarcerating the right people for the right amount of time and that while people are incarcerated, our correctional system is using resources wisely to rehabilitate inmates. It makes steps toward reentry initiatives following incarceration by reauthorizing the Second Chance Act but leaves much still to be done in the space of breaking down barriers to reentry to allow rehabilitated inmates to be successful in society.

Debatably the most important power delegated to Congress is its power of the purse. However, it never uses this power correctly. This week, the United States’ national debt surpassed the $22 trillion mark. Also this week, Congress passed a multi-hundred-billion dollar spending bill in order to cover for its inability to do its job properly. Congress was behind schedule by nearly half of an entire year on funding the government for this fiscal year.

FreedomWorks’ activist-chosen dumpster fire of the month for February 2019 is the so-called “For the People" Act, H.R. 1. Last week’s live stream featured four bills -- the Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act, the "For the People" Act, the State And Local Tax (SALT) Deduction Fairness Act, and the Prescription Drug Price Relief Act. These bills are made out to sound like good things, but it is quickly revealed that they are but thinly-veiled dumpster fires.

FreedomWorks is proud to announce that our bill of the month for February 2019 is the Responsible Path to Full ObamaCare Repeal Act, H.R. 83, sponsored by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and original cosponsors Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.). This bill would fully follow through on one of Republicans’ primary campaign promises since 2010: to repeal ObamaCare.

Following the enactment of transformative federal criminal justice reform legislation, the First Step Act, Congress and states have the green light to continue -- or, in many cases, start -- down this path. By bringing the tough-on-crime mentality in alignment with smart-on-crime approaches, state and federal justice systems can enhance public safety and fairness by reducing crime while simultaneously reducing prison populations nationwide.