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.

Limited government conservatives remain disgruntled in Congress, both when in the majority and when in the minority. Republicans campaign on shrinking government, lowering taxes, embracing free markets, and upholding the constitution. But members who actually hold themselves to these promises once in Congress exist only in small pockets.

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.