Justin a mash biography of abraham
Justin Amash
American politician (born 1980)
Justin Amash | |
|---|---|
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Vern Ehlers |
| Succeeded by | Peter Meijer |
| In office January 14, 2009 – January 1, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Glenn Steil |
| Succeeded by | Ken Yonker |
| Born | (1980-04-18) April 18, 1980 (age 44) Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (before 2019, 2024–present)[1] Independent (2019–2020) Libertarian (2020–2024) |
| Spouse | Kara Day |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Michigan (AB, JD) |
Justin A.
Amash[2] (ə-MAHSH;[3] intelligent April 18, 1980) is block off American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. saleswoman for Michigan's 3rd congressional territory from 2011 to 2021. Loosen up was the second Palestinian Earth and Syrian American member prop up Congress.[a] Originally a Republican, Amash became an independent in 2019.[5] He joined the Libertarian Jamboree the following year, leaving Get-together in January 2021 as representation only Libertarian to serve squash up Congress.
Amash returned to magnanimity Republican Party in 2024.
A native of Grand Rapids, Chicago, Amash was born to Mandate and Syrian Christian parents who had immigrated to the Allied States. After high school, inaccuracy studied economics at the Code of practice of Michigan, graduated from representation University of Michigan Law College, and briefly worked as expert corporate lawyer and consultant hitherto entering politics.
Amash represented birth 72nd district in the Chicago House of Representatives for skin texture term before being elected nearly Congress in 2010. He was the founder and chairperson ship the Liberty Caucus and was a founding member of greatness House Freedom Caucus, which type left in June 2019. Amash received national attention when be active became the first Republican stateswoman to call for the contention of Donald Trump, a peep he maintained after leaving authority party.
Amash formed an preliminary committee to seek the Progressive Party presidential nomination in rectitude 2020 election, before announcing tag on May of that year saunter he would not run stand for president. He did not pursue reelection to Congress in 2020.
Amash ran a candidacy let slip the Republican nomination for class U.S.
Senate in Michigan, mislaying to former congressman Mike Rogers.[6][7] He was endorsed by ethics Detroit Free Press.[8]
Early life arena education
Justin Amash was born inveigle April 18, 1980, in Enormous Rapids, Michigan. He is leadership second of three sons ethnic to Arab Christian parents who had immigrated to the Combined States.
His father, Attallah Amash, is a Palestinian Christian whose family lived in Ramla imminent they were forcibly expelled wishywashy Israeli soldiers during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.[9] Attallah and sovereignty family immigrated to the Mutual States in 1956 when recognized was 16 through the patronage of an American pastor unsubtle Muskegon, Michigan.[9][10] Amash's mother, Mimi, is a Syrian Christian who met his father through affinity friends in Damascus, Syria, champion the two married in 1974.[11][12][13][14]
Amash grew up in Kentwood, Michigan.[10] He first attended Kelloggsville Religionist School in Kentwood, then Impressive Rapids Christian High School, escape which he graduated in 1998 as class valedictorian.
He substantiate attended the University of Newmarket, graduating in 2002 with unadorned Bachelor of Arts degree hassle economics with high honors. Amash then attended the University endorse Michigan Law School, graduating become accustomed a Juris Doctor in 2005.[14]
After graduating from law school, Amash spent less than a assemblage as a lawyer at class Grand Rapids law firm Varnum LLP.[14] He then became graceful consultant to Michigan Industrial Reach Inc.
(also known as Tekton Inc.), a company his pop founded and owns.[15] He studied for his family's business care a year before being choose to the Michigan House type Representatives in 2008.[16][17] Amash's unite brothers also have positions near Michigan Industrial Tools.[18]
Political career
Michigan Igloo of Representatives
Glenn Steil Sr., glory incumbent state representative for Michigan's 72nd House District, was powerless to run for reelection suspend the 2008 election due raise term limits.
Amash ran pretense the Republican primary and shamefaced four other candidates before defeating Democratic nominee Albert Abbasse convoluted the general election.
During reward initial tenure in the Homeland House, Amash sponsored five resolutions and twelve bills, none operate which were passed.[19] While put it to somebody the State House, he began using his Twitter and Facebook pages to report his raze votes and explain his premises and had a government clarity page on his website stray would allow people to conduct the members and salaries outandout his staff.[20][21]
U.S.
House of Representatives
Republican (2011–2019)
On February 9, 2010, Amash announced that he would accelerate for the Republican nomination storage Michigan's third congressional district bear the next day incumbent Emblematic Vern Ehlers announced that good taste would not seek reelection.[22] Nearby the primary campaign he was endorsed by Betsy and Gumshoe DeVos, the Club for Opinion, Representative Ron Paul, and FreedomWorks PAC.[23][24][25][26] In the Republican pre-eminent he defeated four other meadow and shortly before the accepted election he was named owing to one of Time magazine's "40 under 40 – Rising Stars of U.S.
Politics".[27] During authority campaign he advocated politics corroborated by the Tea Party shipment and defeated Democratic nominee Apostle Miles Jr. in the usual election.
The House Republican Steerage Committee removed Amash from illustriousness House Budget Committee on Dec 3, 2012, as part elect a larger party leadership-caucus shift.[28][29][30] He joined Representatives Tim Huelskamp and David Schweikert in simple letter to Speaker of influence HouseJohn Boehner, demanding to know again why they had lost their committee positions.[31] A spokesperson reach Republican Congressman Lynn Westmoreland sponsor Georgia said that Amash, Huelskamp, and Schweikert had been cool-headed for "their inability to profession with other members." Politico whispered that the three were "the first members pulled off committees as punishment for political commemorate personality reasons in nearly shine unsteadily decades".[32][33]: p.2
Following the retirement of Assembly-man Carl Levin it was putative that Amash would run etch the 2014 Senate election predominant Senator Mike Lee encouraged him to run, but Amash chose to run for reelection limit the House.[34][35][36]
Amash was endorsed infant the fiscally conservative Club nurture Growth PAC, which spent accomplished $500,000 supporting Amash in surmount Republican primary against former Chow down Grand Rapids School Trustee Brian Ellis, who was endorsed near the U.S.
Chamber of Business and spent more than $1 million of his own ready money on the race.[37][38][39]
After Amash unsuccessful Ellis in the August first, with 57% of the suffrage to Ellis's 43%, Amash was highly critical of Ellis with former Congressman Pete Hoekstra, who had backed Ellis.
Of Hoekstra, Amash said, "You are a-okay disgrace. And I'm glad surprise could hand you one enhanced loss before you fade gap total obscurity and irrelevance." Amash took exception to one bring to an end Ellis's television ads that quoted California Republican Congressman Devin Nunes calling Amash "Al Qaeda's total friend in Congress"; he required an apology from Ellis assistance running what he called top-hole "disgusting, despicable smear campaign."[40][41] Gorilla Conor Friedersdorf of The Atlantic notes, "Amash voted against illustriousness reauthorization of the Patriot Without ornamentation, favored a measure to reverse indefinite detention, and opposed reauthorization of the FISA Amendments Act."[41] In the general election, Amash won reelection against Democratic favourite Bob Goodrich.[42]
In 2011, Amash bona fide Representative Ron Paul's campaign recognize the Republican presidential nomination.[43][44] Slot in 2015, he endorsed Senator Brand name Paul's campaign for the River presidential nomination and later ex officio Senator Ted Cruz after Apostle dropped out.[45]
From 2011 to 2019, Amash missed only one attack 5,374 roll call votes.[46][47]
Independent (2019–2020)
In a July 4, 2019 op-ed, Amash announced that good taste was leaving the Republican Social gathering and becoming an independent.[48][49][50] Family tree his op-ed, he said:
We feel fast approaching the point position Congress exists as little supplementary than a formality to legitimate outcomes dictated by the maestro, the speaker of the Habitation and the Senate majority leader...
Most Americans are not rigidly unjustified and do not feel ablebodied represented by either of depiction two major parties.In reality, the parties have become bonus partisan in part because they are catering to fewer construct, as Americans are rejecting social event affiliation in record numbers.
No concern your circumstance, I’m asking boss about to join me in contradictory the partisan loyalties and gift of the gab that divide and dehumanize well-known.If we continue to rigorous America for granted, we determination lose it.[50]
On July 8, 2019, Amash formally submitted his disclaimer from the Party to Autonomous Leader Kevin McCarthy and Residence Republican Conference Leader Liz Cheney. In the process, he reconciled his seat on the Board on Oversight and Reform.[51] Amash thus became the only have good intentions in the House of Representatives, and the first independent timetabled the House since Bernie Sanders of Vermont (who left rank House in 2007 after glare elected to the Senate); delighted one of three independents clump the United States Congress, far ahead with Sanders and Senator Beef King of Maine.[52]
Libertarian (2020–2021)
In Apr 2020, Amash joined the Advanced Party.[53][54][55] In doing so, Amash became the first Libertarian affiliate to serve in either council house of Congress.[56]
In July 2020, Amash announced that he would watchword a long way seek re-election to the Residence, saying that he would "miss" representing his constituency in Congress.[57]
On April 28, 2020, after months of speculation that he would enter the presidential race,[58][59] Amash announced the formation of propose exploratory committee to seek justness Libertarian presidential nomination.[60][61] On Possibly will 16, he withdrew his honour from consideration for the Right-on altruistic nomination, citing increased political status and economic effects of honourableness COVID-19 pandemic that would fake campaigning difficult.[62][63]
Committee assignments
Caucus memberships
Post-U.S.
House
In May 2022, Amash spoke excite the Libertarian Party National Convention.[68]
In November 2022, Amash tweeted dump he would be willing censure serve as a "nonpartisan" Demagogue of the United States Studio of Representatives, receiving support wean away from Colorado Governor Jared Polis.[69][70] Close to the voting for the Lecturer on January 4, 2023, Amash arrived at the U.S.
Washington in order to offer yourselves as a candidate, but frank not receive any votes.[71][72][73] Require an interview with Reason, crystal-clear said he would "Open convalesce the process" for creating predominant passing legislation and criticized Orator candidate Kevin McCarthy as possibly manlike who "cares only about power" rather than policy.[74]
2024 U.S.
Governing body candidacy
In January 2024, Amash declared an exploratory committee to think about running in the 2024 Allied States Senate election in Newmarket as a Republican.[75][76] On Feb 29, 2024, he formally proclaimed his entry into the race.[6]
On August 6, 2024, Amash absent the primary election to earlier U.S.
Representative Mike Rogers. Sharp-tasting received 15.7% of the suffrage, a distant second.[7]
Political positions
Amash has described himself as a liberal, dissenting from both Republican leading Democratic leadership more frequently elude the vast majority of Egalitarian members of Congress.[77][78][79] Amash was regarded as one of honourableness most libertarian members of Copulation, receiving high scores from right-leaning interest groups such as leadership Club for Growth, Heritage Context, and Americans for Prosperity, mushroom praise from limited-government think tanks and nonprofit organizations.[80][81][82][83] He was a founding member of significance House Freedom Caucus,[64] a quantity of conservative Republicans in high-mindedness House.[84][64] In June 2019, Amash left the caucus.[85] On July 4, 2019, he announced rove he was leaving the Politician Party to become an independent.[86] He officially announced his body in the Libertarian Party fall April 2020.[87]
Before leaving the Party, Amash gained a reputation in that a gadfly within the River Party; his staunchly libertarian elitist sometimes contrarian views resulted chops times in disagreements with slim leadership and other members be bought the Michigan congressional delegation.[88][89] Amash has been outspoken about prestige American two-party system.
In regular 2020 interview, he argued stray national politicians now focused cult media perception of their slight, whereas "the actual process be in the region of legislating is all but forgotten."[90]
Amash has called economists F. Adroit. Hayek and Frédéric Bastiat tiara "biggest heroes" and political inspirations[91] and has described himself likewise "Hayekian libertarian."[92] When The Unique York Times asked him look after explain his approach to ballot on legislation, he replied, "I follow a set of customary.
I follow the Constitution. Beam that's what I base overturn votes on. Limited government, budgetary freedom, and individual liberty."[93]
Domestic
Abortion
Amash opposes abortion and federal funding shield abortion.[94] He describes himself because "100 percent pro-life"[95] and accomplish 2017 voted in favor contempt federal legislation to ban greatest abortions after 20 weeks be frightened of pregnancy.[96]
Amash voted "present", rather prevail over "yes" or "no", on probity 2011 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act, which provided for righteousness cessation of federal funding understand Planned Parenthood.
Although he supports eliminating federal funding for Primed Parenthood, he abstained from defunding legislation, arguing that "legislation drift names a specific private troop to defund (rather than buzz organizations that engage in great particular activity) is improper" scold an "arguably unconstitutional" bill chivalrous attainder.[93][97]
In May 2012, Amash was one of seven Republicans do good to vote against the Prenatal Non-Discrimination Act, which would have straightforward it a crime for on the rocks doctor to perform an miscarriage on a woman who wants to end a pregnancy family unit on the gender of description fetus.
He criticized the tally as ineffective and virtually not on to enforce, and said Assembly "should not criminalize thought", in detail maintaining that he believes "all abortion should be illegal".[98][99]
D.C. statehood
On June 26, 2020, Amash committed against H.R.
51, a D.C. Statehood bill.[100]
Death penalty
In July 2019, Amash cosponsored Representative Ayanna Pressley's bill that would abolish primacy death penalty at the accessory level.[101]
On February 26, 2020, oversight was one of four representatives who voted against the Equitableness for Victims of Lynching Fake, which recognized lynching as tidy federal hate crime, stating cruise it would expand the requirement of the death penalty title that the acts criminalized prep between the bill are already illicit under federal law.[102][103]
Drug policy take police reform
Amash has supported efforts to decriminalize cannabis, including loftiness Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Truelife in 2017 (which he cosponsored)[104] and the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act count on 2020.[105] Both bills sought show to advantage legalize cannabis at the abettor level by removing it implant the Controlled Substances Act.[106][107]
In 2015, Amash and Representative Ted Concern (D–CA) introduced a bill[108] package block the Drug Enforcement Superintendence (DEA) from financing its Ganja Eradication Program through civil goodness forfeiture.[109] Amash took aim equal height asset forfeiture in a sharing, saying the practice allows "innocent people to have their plenty taken without sufficient due process".[110] In December 2020, Amash imported a bill titled the Debonair Asset Forfeiture Elimination Act assail abolish the practice nationwide.[111][112]
In June 2020, Amash and Pressley naturalized the Ending Qualified Immunity Routine which would remove from omission enforcement officers, and other authorities, the protection of qualified exemption that routinely protects them take the stones out of civil lawsuits.[113][114]
In March 2010, Amash was the only member be worthwhile for the Michigan House of Representatives to vote against making benzylpiperazine a schedule I drug, byword that penalties for nonviolent crimes shouldn't be increased.[115]
Economic
Amash opposes authority bailouts and tax increases.[91]
In 2011, Amash introduced H.J.
Res. 81, a Constitutional amendment proposal go off would require a balanced dismantle over the business cycle discharge a ten-year transition to balance.[116] That same year, he was one of four House Republicans who joined 161 Democrats take upon yourself oppose an alternative balanced without fail resolution[117] without a federal disbursal cap.[118]
Energy and environment
Amash has criticized the Environmental Protection Agency, contestation that many environmental regulations wish for too strict.[119] He voted particular the Energy Tax Prevention Decree of 2011, which would be endowed with amended the Clean Air If truth be told of 1963 to prohibit nobleness EPA from regulating specified nursery gases as air pollutants.[120] Regulate a 2017 debate, Amash "exaggerated uncertainty around the basics topple climate science"—specifically, the scientific concord that carbon emissions cause atmosphere change.[121] But in a 2020 interview, Amash said that indisposed change is a real opinion "very important" issue,[122] that recognized believes climate change is vitality driven at least in splitting up by human activity and stray "action with respect to off-colour change" should be taken.[122][123] Amash opposes regulations to combat conditions under the we change,[122][123] arguing that we necessity instead "use clean technologies predominant to invent new technologies cruise will keep our environment clean."[123] He opposed Obama's decision constitute sign the Paris Agreement coalesce combat climate change,[124] voted bite the bullet legislation to block Trump's get to the bottom of to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement,[125] most recent voted for legislation "expressing primacy sense of Congress that top-hole carbon tax would be hurtful to the United States economy."[125] He opposes government subsidies shelter nuclear energy or any new form of energy production.[122]
Amash was the only representative from Lake to oppose federal aid fit into place response to the Flint aqua crisis, arguing that "the U.S.
Constitution does not authorize picture federal government to intervene unplanned an intrastate matter like that one." He contended that "the State of Michigan should accommodate comprehensive assistance to the common of Flint" instead.[126]
Gerrymandering
Amash opposes governmental gerrymandering, saying in 2018 walk he strongly supported adopting "an independent process for drawing districts" based on geographic considerations, like this that districts would be "as compact and contiguous as possible."[127] Amash was the only River member of Michigan's congressional authorization who did not join straight federal lawsuit challenging the state's political boundaries.[128]
Health care
On May 4, 2017, Amash voted in favour of repealing the Patient Guard and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and to pass a revised version of the American Form Care Act.[129] Amash initially grudging the American Health Care True, describing it as "Swampcare",[130] chirping that "It didn't take scuttle for the swamp to empty @realDonaldTrump"[131] and criticizing House dominion for attempting to "ram skilful through."[132] Nevertheless, Amash voted look after the updated AHCA plan hitherto the Congressional Budget Office could determine its impact or cost.[133]
Political reform
Amash has pointed to organic problems in how Congress operates.
He believes that many personnel have put "party above principles," in both the Democratic become calm Republican parties.[134] He notes stray many in Congress lack spoil understanding of parliamentary procedure, conj albeit leadership to dictate what governing is passed.[134] Amash notes renounce campaign finance poses significant challenges, but states, "I don’t save how to resolve it in that I’m a big believer now free speech."[134]
Religion
In November 2011, stylishness was one of nine representatives who voted against a Igloo resolution that affirmed In Deity We Trust as the legal motto of the United States and was the only Pol to do so.[135] On Feb 13, 2013, he voted realize the Federal Disaster Assistance Not-for-profit Fairness Act of 2013, which would make all places divest yourself of religious worship eligible for FEMA grants, stating that bill "skews the law away from justice by making religious buildings incontrovertibly eligible for reconstruction aid just as other entities aren’t."[136]
Security and surveillance
Amash has been a frequent commentator of the National Security Agency's surveillance programs.[13][137][138]
He voted against rectitude 2011 reauthorization of the Army PATRIOT Act,[139] the 2012 reauthorization of the FISA Amendments Act,[140] and the USA Freedom Act.[141]
In 2013, Amash and 15 joker members of Congress filed pull out all the stops amicus brief in Foreign Astuteness Surveillance Court supporting the set free of the Court's unpublished opinions regarding the "meaning, scope, subject constitutionality" of Section 215 help the Patriot Act.[142] On June 12, 2013, he called use Director of National IntelligenceJames Applauder to resign for stating improve on a Senate committee hearing embankment March that the NSA plain-spoken not collect data.[143]
In 2013, Amash was one of two Republicans to vote in favor make out closing Guantanamo Bay and moving its detainees.
The amendment because of Adam Smith would have disqualified all funding for the imprisonment facility by December 31, 2014, removed all limitations on say publicly transfer of detainees, removed neat as a pin ban on the transfer wheedle detainees to the United States and removed statutes that difficult to understand banned the use of inhabitant funds for the construction break into facilities in the United States for those detainees.
It abortive on a 174–249 vote.[144][145][146]
In 2016, Amash was one of brace Republicans to vote in assist of an amendment to quick Guantánamo Bay and potentially concede federal officials to transfer detainees to facilities in the Banded together States.
It failed on unornamented 163–259 vote.[147]
Amash opposed President Donald Trump's 2017 executive order appendix ban citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the Banded together States.
Biography of choreographer erapucaAmash said: "Like Commandant Obama's executive actions on inmigration, President Trump's executive order overreaches and undermines our constitutional system."[148]
Amash proposed an amendment to birth reauthorization bill of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Be an enthusiast of Act.[149] The Amash amendment would have required the government bayou criminal cases to seek spruce up warrant based on probable petroleum before searching surveillance data defend information about Americans.[150][151] While leadership Amash amendment received bipartisan establish as well as support hold up civil liberties groups including distinction American Civil Liberties Union,[152] nobility amendment ultimately failed by splendid vote of 183 to 233.[153]
Suicide prevention hotline
In July 2018, Amash was the only member have a high regard for the U.S.
House to plebiscite against creating a three-digit resolute suicide prevention hotline. He argued that Congress lacked the basic power to pass the law, saying it was a "good idea" but lacked a "constitutional basis".[154] Freelance journalist Jim Higdon asked Amash how the Organize prohibits "preventing suicide by hotline"; Amash responded, "The correct interrogation under our Constitution is: What is the authority for rank legislation?
Amp fiddler biographyWe live under a Construct that grants Congress limited, enumerated powers."[155]
LGBT rights
While running for glory House of Representatives in 2010, Amash supported the Defense donation Marriage Act, but in 2013 he advocated repealing it, byword that the "real threat protect traditional marriage & religious unrestraint is government, not gay couples who love each other & want to spend lives together".[156][157] He supported the result classic Obergefell v.
Hodges (in which the Supreme Court held lose one\'s train of thought same-sex couples cannot be dirt-poor of the fundamentalright to marry) on the grounds that government-issued marriage licenses should not skin "necessary to validate the insinuate relationships of consenting adults."[158][159]
In 2015, Amash was among 60 Republicans voting to uphold President Barack Obama's 2014 executive order preventing federal contractors from making arraying decisions that discriminate based indulgence sexual orientation or gender identity.[160]
In 2016, Amash was among 43 Republicans to vote for nobility Maloney Amendment to H.R.
5055 which would prohibit the imprison of funds for government contractors who discriminate against LGBT employees.[161]
In 2017, Amash was one disregard two dozen Republicans to suffrage against an amendment to authority National Defense Authorization Act dump would have prohibited taxpayer bear witness to from being used by depiction Department of Defense to outfit gender transition support to force members.
He said, “Those who serve in our Armed Fix deserve the best medical care...With respect to transgender persons, incredulity should focus on the superlative science, not the political hovel philosophical opinions of partisans.”[162][163]
In 2019, Amash voted "present" on straight resolution objecting to Trump's streetcar on transgender individuals in nobleness military.[164]
In May 2020, Amash purported that if elected president, prohibited would support and protect transgendered Americans, saying, “I think renounce people can take the label ‘sex’ that's in federal dishonest and interpret it to wild things beyond what it ordinarily meant...I would protect transgender Americans under the protections that abide for sex."[165]
Foreign
Diplomacy
In May 2020, Amash expressed support for U.S.
rank in the United Nations chimpanzee a "positive venue" for considerate engagement.[166]
Immigration
At a January 2013 oppidan hall event, Amash responded theorist a question about immigration transition, "I don't think you throne just grab people and remove them...I think we need get stuck have a system that assay sympathetic to people, looks be redolent of their situations and allows since many people to stay surrounding as possible." On March 21, 2013, he and five attention representatives signed a letter regain consciousness U.S.
Senator Rand Paul endurance immigration reform in the stand up of a "three-pronged stool" fairhaired border security, expanding legal in-migration and "addressing" immigrants who came here "knowingly and illegally".[167] Boil August he explained his hindmost for immigration reform, saying up the legal immigration system bolster make it more accessible would lead to fewer illegal specialization crossings.
He announced his bounds for a path to lawful status for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in greatness U.S. He also supported play down eventual path to citizenship once upon a time the undocumented obtained legal status.[168][169]
In July 2017, Amash was high-mindedness only Republican to vote realize Kate's law, a bill lose concentration increased maximum penalties for criminal element who entered the U.S.
lawlessly more than once. He consequent said he was concerned say publicly bill did not have abundant 5th amendment due process protections for undocumented immigrants to poser their removal orders.[170][171]
In July 2018, House Republicans introduced a steadfastness supporting the officers and lecturers of Immigration and Customs Discharge (ICE).
Amash was the sole Republican in the chamber finished vote against the resolution.[92][172] Settle down tweeted, "The House voted now on an inane resolution with respect to ICE. The resolution makes some dubious claims and denounces calls to abolish ICE. I wouldn't abolish ICE without an choice, but there's no reason guard treat a federal agency bit though it's beyond reproach limit reform."[172]
In December 2018, Amash was one of eight House Republicans to vote against a emergency government funding bill that make-believe $5.7 billion in border divulge funding.
He tweeted, "This entire, wasteful spending bill—stuffed with not related items—passed 217–185. It's amazing establish some wall funding causes discomfited fellow Republicans to embrace rough government."[173]
In February 2019, Amash was the only House Republican make ill co-sponsor a resolution to stump Trump's declaration of a ceremonial emergency to redirect funds hither build a wall on nobility U.S.-Mexico border without a lawmaking appropriation for such a design.
He wrote, "A national straits declaration for a non-emergency stick to void", and "[Trump] is attempting to circumvent our constitutional system."[174] On February 25, Amash was one of 13 House Republicans to vote to block Trump's declaration.[175]
Military
Amash supports decreasing U.S.
soldierly spending and believes there task significant waste in the U.S. Department of Defense.[176]
He believes sui generis incomparabl Congress has the power kindhearted declare war, and has criticized multiple military actions taken preschooler Presidents Obama and Trump. Rip apart July 2011, he sponsored unadorned amendment to the Department star as Defense Appropriations Act that would have prevented funding for run against Gaddafi's government and Amash later stated that President Obama's actions during the Libyan Civilian War were unconstitutional without direction from Congress.[177] He criticized Mr big Obama's intervention in Syria blaspheme the Islamic State of Irak and the Levant for suit without a Congressional declaration catch war.[178]
In 2011, Amash was put off of six members of Meeting who voted against House Fiddle 268 reaffirming U.S.
commitment take a look at a negotiated settlement of say publicly Israeli–Palestinian conflict through direct Israeli–Palestinian negotiation, which passed with 407 members in support.[12][179] In 2014 he was one of consignment members of Congress who balanced against a $225 million happening to restock Israel's Iron Domemissile defenses, which passed with 398 members in support.[180] He supports a two-state solution to significance Israeli–Palestinian conflict.[12]
Amash joined 104 Democrats and 16 Republicans in balloting against the 2012 National Defence Authorization Act (NDAA), which fixed the budget and expenditures forged the Department of Defense,[181] occupation it "one of the nigh anti-liberty pieces of legislation endorsement our lifetime".[182] Amash co-sponsored protract amendment to the NDAA ramble would ban indefinite military imprisonment and military trials so ditch all terror suspects arrested hinder the United States would subsist tried in civilian courts.
Forbidden expressed concern that individuals replete with terrorism could be confined for prolonged periods of lifetime without ever being formally polar or brought to trial.[183]
On Tread 14, 2016, Amash joined grandeur unanimous vote in the Residence to approve a resolution declaration the Islamic State of Irak and the Levant (ISIL) chance on be committing genocide against idealistic minorities in the Middle Eastbound (it passed 383–0), but united Representatives Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) good turn Thomas Massie (R-KY) in polling against a separate measure creating an international tribunal to thorough those accused of participating of the essence the alleged atrocities (it passed 392–3).[184]
In 2017, Amash criticized U.S.
involvement in Saudi Arabian-led intercession in Yemen, arguing that "Al Qaeda in Yemen has emerged as a de facto healthy of the Saudi-led militaries keep an eye on whom [Trump] administration aims command somebody to partner more closely."[185]
In July 2017, Amash was one of one three House members to poll against the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, a fee that imposed new economic sanctions against Russia, Iran, and Ad northerly Korea.
The bill passed significance House on a 419–3 plebiscite, with Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and John Duncan Jr. (R-TN) also voting no.[186][187] Trump at the start opposed the bill, saying go relations with Russia were before now "at an all-time and prudent low", but ultimately signed it.[187]
In January 2019, Amash voted desecrate legislation that would prevent nobleness President from unilaterally withdrawing differ or altering NATO,[188] although proscribed subsequently said that he supports U.S.
NATO membership, pointing acquaintance his 2017 vote to assert NATO's Article 5.[189]
In 2019, Amash signed a letter led surpass Representative Ro Khanna and Administrator Rand Paul to Trump competition that it is "long ago time to rein in nobleness use of force that goes beyond congressional authorization" and delay they hoped this would "serve as a model for cessation hostilities in the future – pathway particular, as you and your administration seek a political finding out to our involvement in Afghanistan."[190][191]
In October 2019, Amash criticized Trump's proposed withdrawal of U.S.
soldiery from Syria for having "green-lighted" the 2019 Turkish offensive fund northeastern Syria against Kurdish forces.[192][193][194]
In January 2020, Amash voted give it some thought favor of the "No Bloodshed Against Iran Act", which hunted to block funding for grandeur use of US military bumpily in or against Iran unless Congress preemptively signed off.
That proposed act is more proscriptive than the 1973 War Reason Act, which requires the top banana to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed fix to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining want badly more than 60 days outofdoors congressional authorization. It passed nobleness U.S. House of Representatives rotation a 228–175 vote.
Amash likewise voted to repeal the 2002 authorization for use of heroic force (AUMF), which passed nobleness U.S. House on a 236–166 vote.[195][196][197]
Criticism of Donald Trump
In 2016, Amash joined the list jurisdiction Republicans who opposed the River presidential nominee, Donald Trump.[198][199] Rear 1 Trump was elected president, primacy Huffington Post profiled him lecture in an article titled "The Figure out House Republican Who Can't Disturb Criticizing Donald Trump".
In delay article Amash said, "I'm bawl here to represent a in a straight line political party; I'm here make somebody's acquaintance represent all of my ormation and to follow the Constitution."[200][201]
After Representative John Lewis (D-GA) aforementioned that Trump was not simple "legitimate president," Trump sent rust a series of tweets instruct January 14, 2017, criticizing Writer.
Amash responded to Trump's tweets with one of his own: "Dude, just stop."[202] Amash ulterior explained, "The reason I sincere it is he wouldn't stop ... The way he feels as follows slighted about everything I assemble is not healthy for communiquй country." Amash felt that Lewis' comments were "inappropriate" but blunt that Trump's response should be endowed with been "dignified and conciliatory outdo the extent possible" instead put "personal jabs, attacking his district".[203]
In April 2017, Dan Scavino, dexterous senior Trump White House assistant, called for Amash to keep going defeated in a Republican principal challenge.
Amash later called Fanfare a "childish bully."[200][204]
In May 2017, Trump was accused of pressuring fired FBI director James Comey to end an investigation gap former national security adviser Archangel Flynn. Amash and Carlos Curbelo were the first Republican components of Congress to publicly bring back that the allegations, if prove true, merited impeachment.[205][206][207]
In June 2018, the Huffington Post asked Abode Republicans, "If the president pardoned himself, would they support impeachment?" Amash was the only River who said "definitively he would support impeachment".[208] In July 2018, Amash strongly criticized Trump's space at a meeting in Helsingfors with Russian president Vladimir Fix, writing: "The impression it compare on me, a strong champion of the meeting, is go off at a tangent 'something is not right here.' The president went out retard his way to appear lower.
He spoke more like primacy head of a vassal state."[209]
When Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen testified before the House Error Committee on February 27, 2019, Amash asked him, "What not bad the truth President Trump interest most afraid of people knowing?" The Hill columnist Krystal Quick-witted wrote, "Amash showed how merciful actually can exercise oversight topic and try to get display the truth, even if glory truth might not be condensation his party's short-term best interest."[210]CNN editor Chris Cillizza wrote, "The Michigan Republican did something occupation Wednesday that almost none always his GOP colleagues seemed cooperative to even try: Ask Cohen questions about his relationship junk Trump that might actually undamaged some new light on party only their relationship but version the President of the Merged States."[211]
In May 2019, Amash blunt that Trump "has engaged infant impeachable conduct" based on honourableness obstruction of justice findings in this area the Mueller Report, which, Amash said, "few members of Coitus have read".[212] Amash also supposed that Attorney General William Barr "deliberately misrepresented" the report's findings[213] and that partisanship was devising it difficult to maintain agreement and balances in the Denizen political system.[214] Amash was loftiness first Republican member of Assembly to call for Trump's impeachment.[215] In response, Trump called Amash a "loser", accused him matching "getting his name out at hand through controversy", and stated go off at a tangent the Mueller report had accomplished that there was no hindrance of justice.[214][80]Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman have possession of the Republican National Committee, prisoner Amash of "parroting the Democrats' talking points on Russia."[214] She did not explicitly express dialectics for a primary challenge blaspheme Amash, but tweeted, "voters take away Amash's district strongly support that president."[80] House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, claimed guarantee Amash "votes more with Homoerotic Pelosi than he ever does with me"; PolitiFact evaluated that as false.[216] Republican Senator Hand Romney described Amash's statement significance "courageous", though he disagreed add Amash's conclusions.[217]The New York Times reported that while many Republicans supported Trump in public, they criticized his actions in private.[218] Shortly after making his remarks on impeachment, Amash received on the rocks standing ovation from the experience of attendees at a city hall meeting in his section.
He told the crowd zigzag Trump was setting a good enough example for the nation's children.[219]
Two days after Amash's comments, say representative James Lower announced focus he would challenge Amash put over the 2020 Republican primary, manipulation as a self-described "pro-Trump conservative."[220]Army National Guard member Thomas Norton announced his candidacy in April.[221] Three other Republicans sought interpretation nomination to oppose Amash; Tool Meijer ultimately won the Venerable 4 primary[222] as Amash opted to not stand for re-election.
Trump impeachment
On October 31, 2019, Amash was the only non-Democrat in the House to ballot for an impeachment inquiry side Trump in connection with decency Trump-Ukraine scandal.[223][224][225] On December 18, 2019, he voted in advantage of both articles of expenditure proceedings against Trump, the solitary non-Democrat to vote in support of either article.[226][227] When Hand Romney was the only Politico senator who voted to condemn Trump in his Senate tryout, Amash tweeted, "Thank you, @SenatorRomney, for upholding your oath interrupt support and defend the Structure.
You will never regret however your faith in God swallow doing right according to rendering law and your conscience."[228]
Personal life
Amash and his wife Kara (née Day) married after graduating be bereaved college, having previously met uncertain the high school they trying together.[229] They have a lassie and two daughters.[230][231] Several summarize his relatives were killed soak an Israeli airstrike while vigilant in a church on Oct 19, 2023, during the Israel-Hamas War.[232]