James, John RSS Articles

John James introduces plan to shield Michigan from tariffs

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Rep. John James on Tuesday introduced legislation to shield Michigan from the effect of tariffs in the ongoing trade war with Canada, while still preserving them as a tool to protect American jobs.

Under his plan, the Tariff Relief for American Development and Employment Act (also called the TRADE Act for short), the U.S. would set aside a portion of tariff revenue into funds meant to help reshore jobs and provide temporary relief to businesses that can show they have suffered real economic harm.

“Michigan is disproportionally affected by the trade war, so it’s reasonable to use tariff revenue to reduce the effect on Michigan businesses and workers,” said James, R-Shelby Township. “Our country needs to push back on unfair trade practices, but states like Michigan should not have to shoulder that burden alone.”

Michigan has lost around 300,000 manufacturing jobs since the year 2000, and many of those jobs went to Canada. The current situation with Canada is not reciprocal, James said. Adding to the problem is that Canada is allowing China to dump auto parts into the Canadian market, which then find their way into U.S. supply chains, as a way of avoiding tariffs on Chinese products.

James has talked with the U.S. trade representative about resolving the trade dispute, and he has publicly called for Canada and the United States to return to the negotiating table.

“I fought with Canadians in Iraq. We have a deep and abiding bond that will not extinguish. I’m committed to making sure we continue to improve and deepen our relationships, and making sure our differences are resolved in a civil manner, quickly,” James said. “Our countries need to work out a reciprocal, fair, and mutually beneficial arrangement so we can bring back jobs and protect our industry.”

Before serving in Congress, James served as CEO of his family’s shipping and logistics firm, so he deeply understands cross-border trade and the auto parts industry.

The TRADE Act will help prevent U.S. companies from being forced to cut production, delay investment, or eliminate jobs solely because of extra tariff-related costs, James said. It will also reward businesses that keep jobs here, expand domestic production, and reshore supply chains.

There are two main parts to the plan. The bill establishes a Tariff Impact Relief Program, which dedicates a portion of the tariff revenue to strengthening United States domestic productive capacity.

It also establishes a Tariff Relief for American Development and Employment Fund (TRADE Fund) to help offset economic harm due to tariffs (and retaliatory tariffs) by providing targeted, temporary assistance to U.S. businesses that demonstrate actual tariff-related economic injury.

To qualify for assistance, recipients would have to agree to several “Keep It in America” conditions: keep production in the United States, maintain domestic employment numbers (aside from ordinary business fluctuations), and spend funds on things like working capital, payroll, domestic investment, domestic sourcing, training, or productivity.

The legislation includes guardrails to prevent abuse and ensure funds are being used to protect American jobs. For example, assistance may not be used for stock buybacks, to pay dividends, or to increase executive compensation. The funds likewise cannot be used to relocate production to a foreign country or to acquire a competitor, unless the Secretary of Commerce determines that the acquisition meaningfully expands domestic production capacity.

The legislation also requires the Secretary of Commerce to establish clawback provisions to recover money from fraud and violations of the domestic production requirements. Recipients will have to repay the assistance, in whole or in part, if they materially violate any of the requirements.

H.R. 10759 was referred to the Committee on Financial Services and to the Committee on Ways and Means.

James represents Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, which includes portions of Oakland and Macomb counties.

John James introduces Skilled JOBS Act to expand apprenticeship opportunities

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Ford’s CEO warned at the end of September that America needs to fill 1.7 million skilled trade openings every year through 2035, but that the country is only producing 55 workers for every 100 needed.

Part of the problem is that current rules result in a strict one-to-one ratio of journeymen (experienced workers) to apprentices, which limits how many people can train for these roles. Rep. John James recently introduced legislation to solve this problem by expanding apprenticeship opportunities.

“Current regulations create an artificial bottleneck that is contributing to our labor shortage and driving up costs,” said James, R-Shelby Township. “Solving this problem will make it easier for companies to grow and expand here in Michigan, and it will result in more people working in high paid jobs.”

H.R.10560, also known as the Skilled JOBS Act, formalizes Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs. This sets a clear process for private industry groups to create and oversee their own apprenticeship programs instead of relying on traditional government or union programs. The bill sets a minimum ratio of one journeyman to three apprentices, which will let more people train under the guidance of a more experienced worker. The bill allows further adjustments to that ratio after a required study.

Keith Ledbetter, President & CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors of Southeast Michigan, spoke in support of the bill:

“Michigan’s construction industry needs more skilled professionals, and employers need the flexibility to train them. ABC of Southeastern Michigan appreciates Congressman John James’ leadership on the Skilled JOBS Act and his efforts to address restrictive apprentice ratios. This legislation would give contractors greater flexibility to grow their workforce, expand apprenticeship opportunities, and invest in the next generation of skilled professionals,” Ledbetter said.

Tim Golding, State Director of Americans for Prosperity-Michigan, also spoke in support:

"Michigan has always been a state that builds – but our shops and job sites can't find enough electricians, welders, plumbers, and machinists, and the people who want those careers are getting turned away at the door. That's not a shortage of talent. It's a shortage of training slots, created by federal rules that let just one apprentice train under each Journeyman worker. The Skilled JOBS Act fixes it by recognizing the high-quality apprenticeship programs industry already runs and setting up a sensible floor of three apprentices for every Journeyman worker. Americans for Prosperity is proud to support Rep. John James' bill, and we urge Congress to move it."

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

James represents Michigan’s 10^th Congressional District, which includes portions of Oakland and Macomb counties.

John James: Families should not have to pay higher electric rates due to data centers

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. John James voted on Wednesday for legislation to help ensure that companies profiting from data centers are the ones paying the cost of the electric grid upgrades needed to power them.

“Families should not have to pay higher electricity prices due to data centers,” said James, R-Shelby Township. “If a local community decides it wants to allow a data center, then the companies that build and profit from the data centers should cover the increased costs. There should be no increase in electricity bills for individual households.”

H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, requires state utility regulators and non-regulated utilities to consider implementing a federal standard for large-load customers. Under that standard, new facilities such as data centers with a peak demand of 100 megawatts or more would have to pay for the full incremental cost of power generation, transmission and distribution upgrades required to support the data center.

In addition, large-load customers would be required to provide the utility financial assurances to cover the up-front costs in advance of the utility making upgrades, so that the expense does not fall on local residential customers should a project fall through.

James said that preventing electricity rates from going up is only one of many factors surrounding the data center issue. He said local communities must retain control, and that data centers must not pollute, including water and noise pollution. He also said that data centers should go on old industrial brownfields, not productive green farmland.

The legislation now goes to the Senate for consideration.

James represents Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, which includes portions of Oakland and Macomb counties.

Republican Reps. Steve Scalise, John James visit Temple Israel in show of support for Jewish community

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

A top member of Congress visited Michigan on Thursday to show support to the Jewish community following an attempted mass casualty attack that happened in March.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) visited Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. The congregation was the target of an attack by a gunman who rammed his truck, loaded with fireworks and gasoline, into the building and began shooting. The attack failed in part because the vehicle became jammed and the attacker was unable to get out of the burning vehicle, and he shot himself.

Around 140 children and staff were reportedly in the building at the time of the attack; had the attacker been able to exit the vehicle, the incident likely would have been far worse.

Scalise is the second highest-ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives, behind just the Speaker of the House. He was joined at Temple Israel by Rep. John James, who represents parts of Oakland and Macomb counties in Congress.

James co-sponsored the Jewish American Security Act (H.R. 9211), which would help protect members of the Jewish community and other faith groups. One of the ways it would do that is by authorizing a significant increase in funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program that supports security at synagogues and other at-risk nonprofits.

“I appreciate Leader Scalise coming here to see the site of the attack first-hand, and to talk with community leaders,” said James, R-Shelby Township. “To have a top member of Congress visit signals that we are treating the rise in threats seriously, and that this is an urgent national concern.”

James immediately spoke in support of the congregation following the failed attack.

James also visited Israel in Nov. 2023, following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack in which Hamas militants raped and murdered innocent civilians, many of them young people peacefully enjoying a music festival.

“There is a sickness in a certain segment of our population that reacted to the Oct. 7 terrorist attack with sympathy for the attackers, and which has spent the past few years irrationally targeting members of the Jewish community here in Michigan with hateful words and actions,” James said. “I fought extremists in Iraq; we cannot let that kind of violent thinking take root here in Michigan. Everyone should be able to live and worship in peace.”

Michigan Republicans: Canada's apologies won't clear Michigan's skies

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington – Today, Reps. Jack Bergman, John James, Lisa McClain, and John Moolenaar are demanding immediate action from the Canadian government as another wildfire season brings dangerous smoke across the border and into Michigan communities.

After repeated conversations sharing concerns, and a lack of meaningful progress, the members are making it clear that continued inaction from Canada is unacceptable. The members say Canadian leaders have had years to address the underlying causes of worsening wildfires, yet American families continue to bear the consequences.

In a joint letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Michigan Republicans warned that patience has run out and called on Canada to move beyond promises and take real action to protect communities on both sides of the border.

In their letter, the members argued that, "We write today as members of Michigan's congressional delegation to raise our voices on an issue that has already drawn letters from our colleagues in past years: wildfire smoke drifting across the border from Canada into our communities. Additionally, last year, Reps. James and Bergman each wrote letters to your government to raise the alarm about wildfire smoke pouring across our border from Canada into our communities. We write jointly this time because a year has passed, the season has come around again, and nothing has changed except that our patience has run out."

The letter to Carney continued, "We were told last year that this would be treated with urgency. It was not. We were told the causes, chronic under-investment in forest thinning, fuel reduction, and prescribed burns, along with inadequate enforcement against arson, were being addressed. They were not, or not adequately enough to matter to the people we represent. Provincial leaders have offered excuses instead of results, and in some cases have openly dismissed the health of American citizens as an inconvenience to their own summer. That attitude is unacceptable from a neighbor and an ally."

"We are done accepting apologies in place of action. If Canada will not manage its forests to prevent these fires, the United States will look elsewhere, and act on our own, to protect our people. That means our own agencies exploring direct involvement in cross-border fuel reduction and firefighting capacity. It means reconsidering how much benefit of the doubt this relationship continues to earn on an issue where American lungs are paying the price for Canadian inaction, year after year. Sovereignty comes with responsibility, and the responsibility to prevent a foreseeable disaster from crossing into another country's airspace has not been met."

Read the full letter here.

John James recovers $20 million for constituents

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Rep. John James announced his office recently hit a milestone: more than $20 million recovered for constituents during his two terms in office.

James’ team has recovered a total of $20,657,956 for constituents who contacted his office for help dealing with the federal government. This includes money that was owed to people who were having trouble getting their tax refund from the IRS, denied veteran disability benefits, or who had problems getting their Social Security payments, among other issues.

The tally does not include money James brought back to the district through legislative funding requests, such as money for local roadways or the $162 million that the U.S. House of Representatives recently approved to upgrade and improve Selfridge Air National Guard Base to prepare for the new fighter mission.

“Constituent service is a top priority, and I’m proud that my team was able to return more than $20 million to our friends and neighbors,” James said. “My team can help cut through red tape – if you need assistance dealing with the federal government, please do not hesitate to reach out.”

John James represents Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, which includes portions of Oakland County and Macomb County. Residents may contact his office by visiting james.house.gov or calling 586-498-7122.

John James: Hospital prices are a confusopoly

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — People drive out of their way to fill up with cheaper gas. They check different websites for the best price before making an online purchase. They price compare before buying a flight.

So why do they blindly pay whatever it costs to get a non-emergency medical procedure?

They do it because hospital prices are confusing and hard to find. And as a result, patients can end up paying hundreds or thousands of dollars more for the exact same services with the same level of care, with the same billing codes.

That’s the argument Rep. John James made during a Congressional committee hearing Wednesday while urging lawmakers to pass his “Patients Deserve Price Tags” legislation (H.R. 5582), which will help people save money and lower health care costs by requiring hospitals to clearly label prices.

“The idea behind this legislation is simple,” said James, R-Shelby Township. “It will make it easier for patients to price compare when getting medical treatment so they can pick the lowest-cost option, just like they do in every other aspect of their lives.”

James has also argued that hospital prices are difficult to navigate on purpose.

“Dilbert Cartoonist Scott Adams had a term for this kind of system: Confusopoly. He called it that because the friction that makes it difficult to shop around is by design,” James said during an April 21 hearing.

“Patients Deserve Price Tags” was part of the “Lower Cost, More Transparency” legislation the U.S. House of Representatives approved last term. It passed the House on a wide bipartisan basis of 320 to 71, but it died in the Senate, which was controlled by Democrats at the time.

This term, there is an identical version of James’ bill in the Senate that has 10 Democrat and 10 Republican senators as co-sponsors, meaning one-fifth of the Senate is already on board.

“Passing this bill again in the House should be a no-brainer. We can and we must get this done,” James said.

The Department of Health and Human Services issued a rule in 2020 requiring health care providers to clearly label prices so that patients can make informed decisions about where to get treated. But under the Biden administration, that rule was not enforced.

In 2025, President Trump issued an executive order to “Make America Healthy Again”, which included an April 1 deadline for health care providers to comply with existing-but-unenforced price transparency rules.

On Tuesday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the grace period has ended, and that the Trump administration is enforcing hospital price transparency. James’ “Patients Deserve Price Tags” legislation will make that change permanent and provide a stronger enforcement mechanism.

James had expressed concern about this issue to Kennedy in an April 21 committee hearing.

James represents Michigan’s 10^th Congressional District, which includes portions of Oakland and Macomb counties.

John James issues statement on state funding for Selfridge

Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Rep. John James (MI-10) today issued a statement after the Michigan Legislature approved funding for Selfridge Air National Guard Base:

“From the day I was sworn in, I understood what Selfridge means to Macomb County, Michigan, and our national security. While others questioned its future, I never gave up on Selfridge. Losing Selfridge was never an option. Today’s state funding passage, in conjunction with the federal funding I secured in the U.S. House, is another major step toward securing this crown jewel for the next generation.

“Under the plan approved by the U.S. House, Selfridge is getting more than half of the construction money for all Air National Guard bases nationwide – it’s getting 56 cents out of every dollar. The $162 million I requested for Selfridge is also the 2nd largest appropriation for military construction overall, behind just one project for the Space Force. That shows how important this project is, and what a big win this is for Michigan.”

U.S. House approves Rep. John James request for $162 million for Selfridge to prepare for new fighter mission

Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The eagles have not landed yet, but they are on approach.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday approved $162 million requested by Rep. John James for Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County.

The money is needed to prepare for a new fighter mission that President Trump announced when he visited the base a little more than a year ago. Selfridge is slated to get 21 F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets to replace the aging A-10 Warthogs when they retire. It is also supposed to get a squadron of KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers.

The new mission is critical for homeland security, and it’s also massively important for Southeast Michigan’s economy because thousands of jobs are directly and indirectly tied to the base.

This is not a done deal yet, though. The funding still needs to pass the U.S. Senate and get signed into law, and the state of Michigan also needs to kick in money to prove it is a committed partner.

It’s still unclear whether that will happen, as state-level lawmakers have not reached an agreement yet.

“This is the largest amount approved for the Selfridge modernization project thus far,” said James, R-Shelby Township, after the vote. “Getting to this point is a victory, but we all have to work together to make sure we get the new fighter mission locked in and secure the future of the base for generations.”

James represents Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, which includes Selfridge.

Huge win for Michigan
The $162 million for Selfridge was included in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, which passed 400-15.

The money is for three projects:

$110M to improve and extend the runway
$24M for taxiway Bravo
$28M for taxiway Alpha

Under the plan approved today, Selfridge will get more than half of the construction money for all Air National Guard bases nationwide. That’s 56 cents out of every dollar of the $261M total for Air National Guard construction.

The $162 million figure is also the 2nd largest appropriations for military construction overall, behind just one project for the Space Force that is larger.

Total cost around $1 billion
According to base commander Brig. Gen. Leah Voelker, the total upgrade project will cost around $1 billion over a span of several years.

James requested $673 million for Selfridge, which is the amount the Air National Guard asked him to request. Of that, the $162 million approved today is the most important because sequentially, the runway improvements have to happen first before any of the other upgrades.

Other components that will likely come down the road include:

$190M for an eight-bay maintenance complex for the F-15EX Eagle II
$218M for a dual bay hanger complex for the KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers
$34M for a Pegasus aircrew training complex
$28M for Pegasus squadron operations building
$6.6M for an aircraft arresting system used to safely stop aircraft in danger of overshooting the runway
$35M for planning and design

James previously secured $20 million for Selfridge.

State-level funding dispute explained
Federal guidelines require the host state to put up money to prove it is a committed partner when getting a military base investment of this magnitude.

The Republican-controlled Michigan House of Representatives passed a “clean” supplemental appropriation of $152 million for Selfridge on March 3. That means it approved money for just this one project, with nothing else attached.

The Democrat-controlled Michigan Senate passed its own supplemental nearly two full months later, on April 30, that also included $152 million for Selfridge. But rather than pass a clean spending bill, the state Senate loaded it up with other unrelated projects and tied it to a plan to take money out of the state Rainy Day Fund. It also relies on lapsed funds that won’t lapse until October, meaning the money will not be available immediately.

The reason the money is needed now is so that construction can get started right away, which is necessary due to concern a future president could scrap the mission and send it to another base in another state if the upgrades are not done before President Trump leaves office.

The state funds can cover the gap until federal funds are approved by the full Congress. But that means breaking the standoff.

Gov. Whitmer has publicly said that state lawmakers need to approve funding by June 1.

“The state Senate is trying to use Selfridge as leverage in state budget negotiations and playing a dangerous game of chicken, putting the mission at risk. They need to get off the stick,” James said.

State lawmakers included $26 million in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget, and there was a smattering of state money before that.

John James votes to strip pesticide liability shield out of farm bill

Fri, 01 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman John James (R-Shelby Township, MI-10) issued the following statement after voting for the farm bill, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday:

“This is the biggest win for clean food that we’ve had in my lifetime. I’m pumped about this.

“I voted to strip legal protection from companies that make pesticides and give it back to you. Cancer is on the rise in the Midwest and in much younger people as well. There are serious questions about what pesticides are doing to our bodies, and courts across the country have been ruling against these corporations for years. They’ve been sprayed on food that our kids are eating and for far too long, companies have avoided accountability while Americans pay with our lives. Not anymore. This is the biggest MAHA win yet.

“I also voted to ban foreign governments like China from buying American farmland. It’s our soil, our food supply, and our national security is not for sale.”