Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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- Link to the original release on the member's official site
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- Extracted body text (may be empty if the page could not be fetched)
- has_text
- 1 if body text was successfully extracted
- date_source
- How the publication date was determined
- bioguide_id
- Bioguide ID of the member
8 rows where party = "Independent", state = "MI" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending
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| url | title | date ▲ | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| https://amash.house.gov/media/press-releases/amash-introduces-bill-limit-presidential-emergency-powers | Amash introduces bill to limit presidential emergency powers | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Independent | Senate | MI | Justin Amash | A000367 | amash.house.gov | legacy | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 21, 2020 CONTACT mi03.media@mail.house.gov Amash introduces bill to limit presidential emergency powers WASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) today introduced the National Emergencies Reform Act to limit the president's statutory authority to invoke emergency powers. Under the National Emergencies Act (NEA), the president can declare emergencies and invoke powers that otherwise require congressional action. These declarations last until the president withdraws them or a joint congressional termination resolution is passed into law. Because a president who has not voluntarily withdrawn an emergency declaration is unlikely to sign a bill to end it, Congress must obtain a supermajority to end an emergency declaration without the president's cooperation. This arrangement allows presidents to abuse the NEA to usurp Congress's legislative authority, and it allows an emergency to persist indefinitely: Of the 69 national emergencies declared since the NEA was enacted in 1976, 35 are still in effect. This violates the structure of the Constitution, which vests legislative power exclusively in Congress, and it deprives the people of their right to be heard in the policymaking process through their congressional representatives. The National Emergencies Reform Act cures this problem by providing that national emergencies declared by the president will sunset automatically unless Congress is unable to meet or Congress votes to sustain the designation within 48 hours of reconvening. All existing national emergencies will become void 60days after passage unless Congress votes to continue them. Going back to the Framers of the Constitution, Americans have recognized the president's inherent power as chief executive to act swiftly and unilaterally in an emergency. But such power exists only so long as Congress has no opportunity to act, said Amash. Laws like the National Emergencies Act are notand, under our Constitution, cannot begrants of legislative powers to the president. Too o… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://amash.house.gov/media/press-releases/amash-introduces-bills-protect-asylum-seekers-and-other-immigrants | Amash introduces bills to protect asylum seekers and other immigrants | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Independent | Senate | MI | Justin Amash | A000367 | amash.house.gov | legacy | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 21, 2020 CONTACT mi03.media@mail.house.gov Amash introduces bills to protect asylum seekers and other immigrants Bills reduce unnecessary prosecutions and detention of immigrants WASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) today introduced the Protect Asylum Seekers Act and the Practical Alternatives to Detention Act to protect asylum seekers and other immigrants from unnecessary prosecution, detention, or family separation. Unnecessarily subjecting immigrants to detention and criminally prosecuting asylum seekers who have caused no harm undermines our values and doesn't serve our nation's interests, said Amash. We need broad immigration reform, but until that becomes a reality, these targeted changes can limit some harms in the current system. Current law allows people to seek asylum in the United States regardless of where they entered the country, but it separately criminalizes the act of entering the country without going through a port of entry. This means someone seeking refuge from persecution in their home country may arrive in the United States only to find themselves prosecuted here simply for entering at the wrong spot. One consequence of such prosecutions can be the separation of children from their parentsan intended consequence of the zero tolerance policy implemented in 2018, which sought to prosecute everyone who committed the crime of improper entry. The Protect Asylum Seekers Act makes U.S. policy toward asylum seekers more coherent and humane by providing that individuals who request asylum upon arrival in the United States will not have committed a crime if they crossed the border between ports of entry. This change will prevent unnecessary prosecutions and ensure parents aren't separated from their children to accommodate such prosecutions. The bill also prohibits immigration authorities from separating families unless a child is in danger. The Practical Alternatives to Detention Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to utilize alt… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://amash.house.gov/media/press-releases/amash-introduces-legislation-improve-fisa-oversight | Amash introduces legislation to improve FISA oversight | 2020-12-18 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Independent | Senate | MI | Justin Amash | A000367 | amash.house.gov | legacy | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2020 CONTACT mi03.media@mail.house.gov Amash introduces legislation to improve FISA oversight WASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) today introduced two bills to improve oversight of intelligence activities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): The Intelligence Community Congressional Whistleblowing Improvement Act and the FISA Oversight Correction Act. There is much work to be done to fix FISA itself and eliminate the authorities under which the government violates Americans' rights, said Amash. But that will be for nothing if we don't also fix the oversight regime that has failed to prevent serious FISA violations. Intelligence Community Congressional Whistleblowing Improvement Act Current law explicitly protects intelligence community whistleblowers who raise urgent concerns with Congress, but only if the whistleblower contacts the House and Senate intelligence committees. This requirement reduces the potential efficacy of whistleblowing to Congress because it routes protected whistleblower reports through the intelligence committees, which have been known to impede effective oversight of the intelligence community, and limits the dissemination of whistleblower reports to other members of Congress who may be more inclined or better positioned to act on them. These factors may dissuade whistleblowers from coming to Congress in the first place. The Intelligence Community Congressional Whistleblowing Improvement Act reduces this problem by explicitly allowing intelligence community whistleblowers to make protected disclosures, using secure processes, to any member of Congress, regardless of whether the member is on one of the intelligence committees. FISA Oversight Correction Act The FISA Oversight Correction Act improves FISA oversight through the judicial process. When Congress passed the original FISA statute, it created a process through which a judge can grant a criminal defendant access to their FISA warrant and the application that was s… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://amash.house.gov/media/press-releases/amash-introduces-bill-eliminate-civil-asset-forfeiture | Amash introduces bill to eliminate civil asset forfeiture | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Independent | Senate | MI | Justin Amash | A000367 | amash.house.gov | legacy | Amash introduces bill to eliminate civil asset forfeiture WASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) today introduced the Civil Asset Forfeiture Elimination Act to repeal civil asset forfeiture nationwide. Federal, state, and local law enforcement use civil asset forfeiture to take billions of dollars in cash and property from private citizens each year without convicting the owners of any crime. Instead, the government brings a civil action against the property itself, alleging that the property is guilty of being connected to criminal activity. This allows the government to take property without needing to charge the owner with a crime, prove their guilt, or otherwise afford them all the rights of a criminal defendant. Often, the government gains ownership of such property automatically unless the owner files a claim for it within a short period of time. And when an innocent owner does file a claim, many jurisdictions put the burden of proof on the owner to prove their innocence, rather than requiring the government to prove their guilt. By failing to protect property owners' constitutionally secured rights, civil forfeiture often leads to forfeitures of property belonging to innocent people. In many cases, the property owner is not even accused of being involved in a crime; it suffices that their property was used by someone else who is alleged to have committed a crime. Civil asset forfeiture is incompatible with due process, but the courts have failed to recognize that fact. The Civil Asset Forfeiture Elimination Act cures this historical error and restores Americans' rights by eliminating civil asset forfeiture at the state and federal level. Civil asset forfeiture is a due process violation, and it always has been, said Amash. Its history is riddled with injustices not because it's a valid practice that gets misused, but because its central premisedenying people their procedural rightsis inherently flawed. By ending it, my bill helps fulfill Congress's obligation to stop rights violations… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://amash.house.gov/media/press-releases/amash-introduces-bill-repeal-jones-act | Amash introduces bill to repeal the Jones Act | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Independent | Senate | MI | Justin Amash | A000367 | amash.house.gov | legacy | Amash introduces bill to repeal the Jones Act WASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) today introduced the Jones Act Repeal Act to repeal the protectionist transportation policies known as the Jones Act. To transport passengers or cargo between ports in the United States, federal law requires commercial ships to be U.S.-built, owned, and crewed. This has led to collateral consequences in the transportation industry as well as increased shipping and transportation costs in the United States that ultimately hurt American consumers. These costs were highlighted in 2017 after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, which is disproportionately affected by the Jones Act. The purported intent of the Jones Act is to ensure a large U.S. merchant fleet and sufficient domestic shipbuilding capacity in case of national emergencies, but it is ineffective at achieving those goals: Our fleet of large, oceangoing vessels that are Jones Act-compliant has dwindled to 99 shipswith less aggregate shipping capacity than the Jones Act fleet in 1950and U.S. shipbuilding has remained in a long decline. The Jones Act imposes substantial costs that make the U.S. shipping industry uncompetitive, with estimates from the 1990s that put the cost of U.S. shipbuilding at three times the cost of foreign-built ships, and likely even higher now. The Jones Act Repeal Act fully repeals the Jones Act, allowing vessels to transport cargo and passengers between U.S. ports without meeting its burdensome requirements. The Jones Act fails to achieve its aims and increases costs for all Americans, but it survives because of lobbying by the special interests who benefit from its protectionism, said Amash. As a matter of fairness and sound economic policy, it's time to eliminate it. Bill text is attached. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://amash.house.gov/media/press-releases/amash-announces-winner-art-competition | Amash announces winner of art competition | 2020-07-27 | 2020 | 2020-07 | Independent | House | MI | Justin Amash | A000367 | amash.house.gov | legacy | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 27, 2020 CONTACT Matt Weibel (616) 451-8383 mi03.media@mail.house.gov Amash announces winner of art competition Piece to be displayed in U.S. Capitol GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) announced the winner of ArtFest 2020, the Congressional Art Competition for Michigan's Third District. Avery Harriger's piece, Opulence, was named the winner of the competition and will be on display in the U.S. Capitol for one year alongside winners from other congressional districts. Harriger, a student at Northview High School, will be invited to visit Washington, DC, later this year if an in-person reception to honor the winners is scheduled. The Congressional Institute sponsors the Congressional Art Competition in cooperation with the U.S. House of Representatives. The annual competition is open to high school students in participating congressional districts. More than 650,000 students have taken part in the competition since it began in 1982. A photo of the winning piece accompanies this release. ### 07272020AmashAnnouncesArtCompetitionWinner.pdf | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://amash.house.gov/media/press-releases/amash-congratulates-service-academy-appointees-and-congressional-medal-merit | Amash congratulates service academy appointees and Congressional Medal of Merit recipients | 2020-06-17 | 2020 | 2020-06 | Independent | House | MI | Justin Amash | A000367 | amash.house.gov | legacy | Amash recognizes service academy appointees andCongressional Medal of Merit recipients GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) congratulates the 2020 service academy appointees and student Congressional Medal of Merit recipients from Michigan's Third District. It's a privilege to recognize the achievements of these outstanding students, and I look forward to seeing how they impact and lead future generations, said Amash. Appointees to a service academy must first secure a nomination from an authorized nominating source, which includes members of Congress. To assist with the nominating process, Amash works closely with an assembled committee of military and civic leaders who carefully review applications, interview potential nominees, and make recommendations. In addition to thefive service academy appointees, Amash awarded 26 students with the Congressional Medal of Merit. The Congressional Medal of Merit recognizes high school seniors who have demonstrated exemplary citizenship and academic excellence. Recipients were nominated by their principals or guidance counselors. Service Academy Appointments Name School Service Academy Benjamin Harms Lakeview High School United States Air ForceAcademy Jacob Shepherd NorthPointe Christian High School United States Military Academy Garrett Siemen Ionia High School United States Air ForceAcademy Emmett Rosenzweig Marshall High School United States Air Force Academy Sayvion Young Rockford High School United States Naval Academy Congressional Medal of Merit Recipients Name School Alexis Behnke St. Philip Catholic Central High School Kaeleigh Casavant Cedar Springs High School Jeffrey Davlin S… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://amash.house.gov/media/press-releases/amash-pressley-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-end-qualified-immunity | Amash, Pressley introduce bipartisan legislation to end qualified immunity | 2020-06-04 | 2020 | 2020-06 | Independent | House | MI | Justin Amash | A000367 | amash.house.gov | legacy | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 4, 2020 CONTACT mi03.media@mail.house.gov (Amash) pressley.press@mail.house.gov (Pressley) Amash, Pressley introduce bipartisan legislation to end qualified immunity WASHINGTON, D.C. Reps. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) today introduced the Ending Qualified Immunity Act to eliminate qualified immunity and restore Americans' ability to obtain relief when state and local officials, including police officers, violate their legal and constitutionally secured rights. They were joined by Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Jess Chuy Garca (D-Ill.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), James P. McGovern (D-Mass.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.), Nydia M. Velzquez (D-N.Y.)., Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Andr Carson (D-Ind.), Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), and Joseph P. Kennedy III (D-Mass.) as original cosponsors. Qualified immunity protects police and other officials from consequences even for horrific rights abuses, said Amash. It prevents accountability for the bad apples' and undermines the public's faith in law enforcement. It's at odds with the text of the law and the intent of Congress, and it ultimately leaves Americans' rights without appropriate protection. Members of Congress have a duty to ensure government officials can be held accountable for violating Americans' rights, and ending qualified immunity is a crucial part of that. Qualified immunity shields police from accountability, impedes true justice, and undermines the constitutional rights of every person in this country, Pressley said. There can be no justice without healing and accountability, and there can be no true accountability with qualified immunity. It's past time to end qualified immunity, and that's exactly what this bill does. The bill is endorsed by ACLU of Massachusetts, Arab American Institute, Constitutional Accountability Center, Due Proces… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
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[date] TEXT,
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