Amish Shah vows to tackle Anti-India hate, roll back tariffs in US Cong

Indian-American Congressman-elect Dr Amish Shah has said that addressing anti-India hate in the United States and rolling back tariffs by restoring Congress' authority over trade decisions will be among his top priorities when he assumes office on January 3,according to agency reports.
Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference organised by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) on Wednesday (local time), Shah said members of the Indian-American community had raised concerns about growing hostility towards Indians as well as the impact of tariffs on Indian-American entrepreneurs and businesses.“One of the top priorities that the Indian American community told me about, besides stopping Indian hate, is that they also talked clearly about how the tariffs were hurting our Indian entrepreneurs and the Indian business community,” Shah said.
Emphasising the need to roll back tariffs and restore congressional authority over trade-related decisions, he said the move would also support small businesses, including those operating in his constituency.“Rolling back those tariffs, reasserting Congress's authority over tariffs, and taking it away from the White House will be a top priority as well. We want to help all the small businesses, including all the ones in my district,” he said.

Washington DC, US: Congressman-elect Dr. Amish Shah says, “...People in my district do not appreciate this war, how it has been bungled by this administration, and how it has caused gas prices to rise. We will be tasked with bringing it to an end while still making sure that Iran does not have nuclear weapons, that we open up the Strait and unblock it, and ensure that those prices come down. Nobody says that this is going to be easy. But it is something we are tasked with, and that is a strategic goal of this Congress when we begin on January 3.”

— IANS (@ians_india) November 11, 2026

Shah also expressed concern over the rising cost of basic goods due to tariffs, saying American consumers should not have to bear the additional financial burden.“You cannot have these basic things cost more for the American people out there because of these tariffs. We are going to be the ones who have to stop that,” he said.On his engagement with the Indian-American community in Congress, Shah said he intended to join the India Caucus and highlighted the role of Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi and other members in strengthening the group's presence.“I plan to join the India Caucus. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, and so there are six members who will be present on January 3rd,” he said.
Outlining his domestic priorities, Shah said his focus would include addressing the rising cost of living, strengthening the economy, making healthcare more affordable, expanding insurance coverage and safeguarding water supplies in his district.“The American people made it very clear that they want us to focus on costs, the economy, health care and bringing down those premiums and covering everybody. People of my district sent me here because we are also worried about our water supply,” he said.He also flagged concerns over corruption, which he said had contributed to economic hardships over the past couple of years.Reaffirming his commitment to addressing voters' concerns from the beginning of his tenure, Shah said the incoming lawmakers had not forgotten the message delivered by the electorate.“We have not forgotten the clear message that was sent, and that is going to be what we are going to do on day one, January 3rd,” he said.
Shah, a Democrat, defeated Republican candidate Jay Feely in the 2026 US midterm elections to win Arizona's 1st Congressional District, becoming the first South Asian American to represent Arizona in the US Congress.According to election results updated on November 10, with approximately 99 per cent of votes counted, Shah secured 52.4 per cent of the vote, while Feely received 45.4 per cent.