Highlights:
- Amish Shah wants to roll back tariffs and return tariff-setting authority to Congress.
- He says changing duties are hurting Indian-American entrepreneurs and raising costs for small businesses.
- Shah plans to join the India Caucus and strengthen economic ties between India and the United States.
- He has raised concerns about rising anti-Indian hostility and called for stronger protections for affected communities.
- His priorities also include healthcare affordability, Arizona's water supply and bipartisan cooperation.
Indian-American Congressman-elect Amish Shah has pledged to challenge rising anti-Indian hostility in the United States, push for lower tariffs and strengthen India-US relations as he prepares to take office. He said protecting small businesses, reducing living costs and ensuring that Indian Americans feel safe would be among his priorities in Congress.
Speaking to a group of Indian reporters on Wednesday, Shah said he wanted to roll back tariffs and restore Congress' authority over trade duties, arguing that frequent changes in tariffs were hurting Indian-American entrepreneurs and businesses.
“Rolling back those tariffs, reasserting Congress’ authority over tariffs and taking it away from the White House will be a top priority as well.”
Shah said business owners had approached him about the impact of tariffs, which he believes are contributing to higher costs for businesses and consumers. He cited a conversation with the owner of Pizza Heaven, a restaurant he regularly visits. Before Election Day, she told him that rising tomato prices were forcing her to increase menu prices because tomatoes were essential for making pizza sauce.
“We want to help all the small businesses, including all the ones in my district,” he said.
Shah also said he intended to join the India Caucus in Congress, describing India and the United States as strategic and economic partners with shared democratic systems and significant opportunities for cooperation. He argued that resolving tariff disputes could help ease tensions between Washington and New Delhi.
However, he stressed that his immediate focus would remain on issues affecting his Arizona district, including the cost of living, healthcare and water supply.
“Those are the priorities that we were sent here to fix for the American people, and those are gonna be our top priorities.”
One of Shah's strongest concerns was the rise in anti-Indian hostility. He said he had witnessed an increase in such incidents over the past six months to a year that he could not remember experiencing at any other point in his lifetime.
He described the hostility as hurtful to a community whose members have contributed to the country through entrepreneurship, medicine and other fields. He also expressed concern that some of the comments had come from candidates running for public office.
Recalling remarks directed at students cheering for their football team, Shah said he could imagine how they felt, remembering his own student years at Northwestern University. He called on elected officials to condemn such behavior, support affected communities and explore legislative measures to improve security.
“Nobody should have to feel unsafe when they go to a place to worship.”
On healthcare, Shah supported introducing a public option that would allow Americans to buy into Medicare. He argued that the choice could expand coverage, put pressure on private insurance premiums and improve Medicare's financial position.
“It is their choice to buy in. And I believe it would lower healthcare premiums.”
Shah also pledged to work across party lines, drawing on his experience of passing legislation in a Republican-controlled state legislature.
“I have pledged to work in a bipartisan fashion, just like I did in the State House.”
Addressing the Iran war, he said Congress should reassert its authority over decisions involving military action. He called for ending the conflict while ensuring Iran did not acquire nuclear weapons and bringing down fuel prices.
Shah's own family history reflects a long connection between India and the United States. His family traces its roots to Gujarat. His mother moved to Bombay as a child, while his paternal grandfather settled in Cochin and established a tea and spices business. Shah said he visited both cities while growing up.
His mother later received sponsorship to study at the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1969. Shah recalled her journey as an example of the generosity and opportunities that helped shape his family's life in America.
