Tom Barrett

Barrett Introduces AUMF To Limit, Wind Down Conflict in Iran and Restore Congressional War Powers Authority

Position: Congressman Barrett introduced legislation to authorize continued military action against Iran's nuclear weapons program for 90 days with specific limitations, including prohibitions on ground troops and nation-building, and a firm sunset deadline to prevent open-ended conflict.

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) introduced an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) to provide a clear and defined mission objective, limit the scope of approved military action, and establish a firm deadline for the conflict in Iran. Specifically, the AUMF would give President Donald Trump 90 days of the congressional authority required to successfully demolish, degrade, or defeat the nuclear weapons program of Iran and its proxies without putting American boots on the ground or engaging in nation-building. “Two things have been clear from the very beginning: Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the United States of America cannot be dragged into another endless war,” said Barrett. “The Commander in Chief has the sole authority to lead our troops in wartime, but I’ve lost too many friends on the battlefield to allow that to happen without Congress exercising its constitutional role to clearly define the mission with safeguards and a deadline. If we don’t learn from our foreign policy failures of the past, we are bound to repeat them.” On February 28, 2026, President Trump initiated military action against Iran. He subsequently notified Congress on March 2, 2026, in accordance with the War Powers Resolution of 1973. According to the War Powers Resolution (Sec. 5b), the president must terminate any use of force after 60 days of the report being submitted, which expired on May 1, 2026. On May 1, the Trump administration issued a report to Congress detailing that the use of military force had concluded. However, U.S. military operations are ongoing. In the absence of Congress declaring war or providing specific statutory authorization for this use of military force, Barrett introduced a formal AUMF reclaiming Congress’s authority under Article 1 of the Constitution and giving President Trump clear legal authority to stop Iran from procuring a nuclear weapon with clear safeguards and limitations. The 2026 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iran includes: Clear Mission Objectives: Demolish, degrade, or defeat Iran’s nuclear weapons program and associated delivery systems; Address imminent threats to our Armed Forces or U.S. facilities by Iran or Iranian proxies; Enforce a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz while ensuring safe passage for U.S. and allied vessels. Authorization Prohibitions To Limit Escalation: No boots on the ground, except for rescue missions and intelligence collection; No nation-building or establishing long-term governance of Iran; No occupying or seizing territory within Iran. Deadlines To Prevent An Endless War: A sunset expiration of July 30, 2026 — 90 days after the initial report of concluded military action was submitted to Congress on May 1; A limited wind-down period of 30 days to end the deployment or engagement of the Armed Forces. Reporting Requirements To Congress: Every 30 days, the president must provide Congress with a description of military operations taken pursuant to the AUMF or conducted in reliance on other authorities; An explanation of the legal authority and policy justification for each action and operation taken; An assessment of civilian and military casualties. CLICK HERE to read the full Authorization for Use of Military Force. BACKGROUND: Barrett joined the United States Army after high school where he served for 22 years in multiple key locations around the world, including Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Kuwait, and the Korean DMZ. Throughout his military career, he logged over 1,000 hours flying advanced helicopters, earning numerous awards and distinctions along the way. ###

Barrett: Redistricting Wars Weaken the American People’s Voice

Position: Congressman Barrett opposes mid-decade redistricting and advocates for his Make It Count Act, which would ban the practice and base future congressional districts on citizenship rather than total population.

In case you missed it, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) wrote an op-ed in The Detroit News today, describing how the current trend of redrawing congressional districts years before the next Census weakens American voters’ representation in Congress. Barrett urges passage of his Make It Count Act, which would ban mid-decade redistricting and determine future congressional districts based on citizenship. You can read the op-ed here or below. Image

Barrett Highlights Federal Infrastructure Investment to Replace Shiawassee County Bridge

Burns Township, Mich. — Today, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) met with Shiawassee County officials to review the closed New Lothrop Road Bridge that he secured $1 million in federal funding to replace. This project to restore use of New Lothrop Road in Burns Township is part of the $146 million total Barrett has delivered for infrastructure, public safety, research, and other projects in mid-Michigan. “The ‘Road Closed’ sign has stood on the failing bridge for far too long, forcing Byron-area first responders and families to take a longer route through the community,” said Barrett. “Hearing directly from local leaders made it clear — repairing this bridge will mean more direct routes for families, children taking school buses, and most importantly, police, firefighters, and paramedics. This is exactly the kind of investment that makes a real difference in people’s daily lives. I was proud to deliver for Shiawassee County, and I'm committed to making sure all mid-Michigan communities have the reliable infrastructure they deserve.” Image

Barrett Ramps Up Effort to Block Government Officials from Profiting Off Insider Information

Position: Congressman Barrett co-sponsored the PREDICT Act to prohibit senior federal officials, including members of Congress, the president, cabinet members, and judges, from trading on prediction markets using insider information. He also established an office policy banning his staff from betting on prediction markets involving government action.

Washington, D.C. — Last week, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) co-sponsored the bipartisan Preventing Real-time Exploitation and Deceptive Insider Congressional Trading (PREDICT) Act (H.R. 8076) to prevent senior government officials from betting in prediction markets and profiting off insider knowledge. This comes just days after Barrett established a new office policy banning every member of his staff from placing bets on prediction markets involving government action, political activity, or any knowledge they may have learned through their employment. “Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are changing the betting landscape by giving Americans a place to wager on everything from the weather in Chicago to the winner of an election in Kalamazoo. They are also a breeding ground for potential manipulation and corruption,” said Barrett. “The PREDICT Act gets ahead of this rapidly developing problem by banning high-ranking government officials — who are in the perfect position to influence outcomes — from betting on these under-regulated platforms and profiting off insider information. This bipartisan bill is a common-sense way to hold politicians in Washington to the same standard I hold my office to and begin the difficult process of rebuilding trust in government.” Specifically, the PREDICT Act would prohibit members of Congress, the president and vice president, cabinet members, judges, and other high-ranking federal officials from trading on the outcomes of political events, policy decisions, and other government actions. This legislation comes after Kalshi uncovered three political candidates using the platform to bet on their own races and as police investigate possible tampering with a weather thermometer by a Polymarket trader who bet on a temperature surge. It also comes after a soldier was charged for using classified information about the planned arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro to place several bets in advance of the military operation. The PREDICT Act is the newest addition to the first pillar of Barrett’s Blueprint for a Better America: Restoring Trust in Government. CLICK HERE to read the bill. ###

Barrett Helps Lead Plan to Streamline VA Home Loan Program

Position: Congressman Barrett supports modernizing the VA Home Loan Program through the VA Home Loan Affordability Act to reduce delays, lower closing costs, streamline the approval process, and make homeownership more accessible to veterans.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) joined Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (IL-12), Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02), and Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) to introduce the VA Home Loan Affordability Act (H.R. 8532). This legislation would reduce delays and lower costs to help more veterans buy a home or refinance a loan by modernizing the VA Home Loan Program. It also expands on Barrett’s broader plan to Revive the American Dream, part of his Blueprint for a Better America. “The men and women who put on the uniform to defend the United States have earned every resource our country has to offer that can help them achieve the American Dream of homeownership,” said Barrett. “Competitive VA home loans have already helped countless veterans buy a house to start a life and raise a family after retiring from service, and now we are making the program even better. The VA Home Loan Affordability Act will modernize this life-changing program by updating outdated rules, cutting the red tape that can cause unnecessary delays in the loan process, and getting veterans into homes faster. That’s a mission we can all get behind.” Specifically, the VA Home Loan Affordability Act (H.R. 8532) would: Help veterans pay less when finalizing their home loan by setting the cap for covered closing costs and seller fees at rates aligned with Federal Housing Administration (FHA) rates. Expedite approval for VA home loans by certifying more appraisers. Currently, the VA requires appraisers to have three to five years of relevant experience to be certified to appraise homes veterans wish to buy, but the bill would allow any appraiser to fulfill the experience requirement with a state license, which typically requires only 12 to 18 months of experience; Remove unnecessary paperwork by ending the requirement that veterans provide a third party with documentation of the fees they paid to a lender; Allow veterans to purchase condos more easily by simplifying the condo-specific approval process; Update VA requirements for livable property condition, the appraisal process, and debt-to-income ratios. The bill would require the VA to review and update its debt-to-income rules every two years; the VA would also need to complete a review of minimum property requirements and the appraisal process within 90 days, modernizing the rules to mirror the policies of FHA and other federal housing entities. Modernize the IT system used to administer VA home loans. H.R. 8532 is the 14th bill in Barrett’s wide-ranging plan to tackle rising housing costs and help more mid-Michigan families afford to buy a home. The second pillar of Barrett’s Blueprint for a Better America, Reviving the American Dream, also includes legislation to lower costs by cutting red tape to build more homes, empowering families to save for a first home, preventing large-scale corporations from buying up single-family houses, and more. One other bill in Barrett’s housing plan would expand eligibility for VA home loans to more members of the National Guard and Armed Forces Reserve. About Barrett’s Blueprint for a Better America: Restoring Trust in Government: Making Government Serve the People, Not Special Interests Reviving the American Dream: Helping Families Afford Homes in Mid-Michigan Making Health Care Affordable Again: Lowering Costs for Working Families Recalibrating American Foreign Policy: Ending Endless Wars and Promoting Peace Through Strength Reforming Campaign Finance: Putting Governing Before Campaigning

Barrett Announces Second Package of Bills to Make Health Care Affordable Again

Position: Congressman Barrett advocates for expanding health savings accounts, requiring transparent medical pricing, allowing non-physician healthcare professionals to dispense certain medications, and requiring insurers to count all prescription drug spending toward deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums to reduce healthcare costs.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) today unveiled the second package of legislation to Make Health Care Affordable Again, the third pillar of his Blueprint for a Better America. The two bills are designed to lower health care costs for patients by expanding access and eligible expenses for tax-free health savings accounts, requiring transparent medical pricing, and preventing big insurance companies from forcing patients to buy more expensive medications. “Michigan patients are sick and tired of paying too much to see a doctor and get the treatment and medicine they need,” said Barrett. “Big insurers rack up profits while hiking premiums on families and using convoluted pricing schemes to decide what services they’ll cover and how much they’ll pay for care. These bills will help finally put patients back in charge of their health care and drive down costs by requiring price transparency, enabling patients to choose more affordable prescriptions, and expanding health savings accounts so any American can pay for insurance premiums and health care tax-free. We’re also empowering people to live healthy lifestyles by letting them use those tax-free health savings accounts to pay for nutritious food, fitness classes, gym memberships, and more.” Barrett joined Representative Eric Burlison (MO-07) in introducing the Great American Healthcare Plan (H.R. 8324), which would tackle health care costs by making a number of sweeping reforms: Health Savings Accounts: Removes outdated restrictions that limit access to HSAs and significantly increases contribution limits, allowing more Americans to save and spend their health care dollars tax-free. It also expands eligible expenses to include insurance premiums and wellness essentials, such as healthy food, vitamins, and fitness-related costs. Price Transparency: Strengthens federal transparency requirements by requiring hospitals and insurers to disclose actual prices in clear, dollar-based terms. It also establishes enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance, giving patients the ability to compare costs before receiving care. Prescription Drugs: Lowers the cost of obtaining some prescriptions by allowing licensed physician assistants, pharmacists, and other qualified health care professionals to dispense or administer certain low-risk medicines without a physician. Insurance for Small-Business Employees: Creates health marketplace pools allowing small businesses to group together to provide their employees better, more affordable health insurance. Coverage for Cancer Treatment: Ensures seniors can access certain expensive cancer treatments and other complex drugs by restoring fair reimbursement for providers through Medicare Part B. Barrett also co-sponsored the Every Dollar Counts Act (H.R. 8270), which would require insurance companies to count every dollar a patient spends on prescription drugs toward the insurance plan’s deductible and out-of-pocket cost maximum. Many insurers refuse to count prescription drug expenses unless purchased from an in-network pharmacy, often forcing patients to pay higher prices than they would for the same medication at an out-of-network pharmacy or mail-order service. The Every Dollar Counts Act will allow patients to shop for more affordable prescriptions. The two new bills build on a six-bill package Barrett announced last month to force insurers to spend more of their revenues on health care, expand access to HSAs, prevent insurance fraud, ensure American patients pay prescription prices comparable to prices in other countries, allow working seniors to continue contributing to HSAs, and more. Barrett also introduced another bill earlier this month to improve customer service for Medicare. About Barrett’s Blueprint for a Better America: Restoring Trust in Government: Making Government Serve the People, Not Special Interests Reviving the American Dream: Helping Families Afford Homes in Mid-Michigan Making Health Care Affordable Again: Lowering Costs for Working Families Recalibrating American Foreign Policy: Ending Endless Wars and Promoting Peace Through Strength Reforming Campaign Finance: Putting Governing Before Campaigning

Barrett Joins Bipartisan Group Requesting Member Pay Be Withheld During Shutdowns

Position: Congressman Barrett supports legislation that would withhold congressional pay during government shutdowns, arguing that members of Congress should be held accountable when they fail to fund the federal government.

Washington, D.C. — This week, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) joined a bipartisan group of his first-term colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives requesting that pay for members of Congress be withheld during government shutdowns. In a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, the group of lawmakers emphasized that Congress must be held accountable when it fails to meet its most basic responsibility of funding the federal government and expressed their support for the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act (H.R. 5891). “As new Members of Congress, we came to Washington with fresh energy and perspective, committed to delivering results and restoring trust in this institution,” the lawmakers wrote. “While we will continue to have honest disagreements over spending levels and policy priorities, we can all agree that Congress must fulfill this basic duty. “When Congress fails to do this essential job, the consequences are immediate and widespread. … Those who have no role in funding the government are often the ones who feel the impact first and most,” the lawmakers continued. “Yet … Members of Congress continue to receive their salaries. That disconnect undermines public trust and sends the wrong message to the people we serve.” Barrett was joined in signing the letter by Representatives Sheri Biggs (SC-03), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Gabe Evans (CO-08), Representatives Julie Fedorchak (ND-At Large), Randy Fine (FL-06), Brandon Gill (TX-26), Craig Goldman (TX-12), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Mike Haridopolos (FL-08), Mark Harris (NC-08), Jeff Hurd (CO-03), Mike Kennedy (UT-03), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Mark Messmer (IN-08), Tim Moore (NC-14), Bob Onder (MO-03), David Taylor (OH-02), and Tony Wied (WI-08). Click here to read the full letter. Background: The Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act (H.R. 5891) would suspend member pay during any shutdown this Congress, and reduce member pay next Congress in accordance with the 27th Amendment that only allows Congress to change their salary after the next election. The bill passed unanimously out of the House Administration Committee on March 18, 2026.

WATCH: Barrett Celebrates Higher Tax Returns for Michigan Families on Tax Day

Position: Congressman Barrett supports the Working Family Tax Cuts legislation he helped pass, which includes provisions such as an increased standard deduction, tax exemptions for tips and overtime, and an expanded Child Tax Credit.

Washington, D.C. — Today, on the deadline for Americans to file their income tax return, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) released a video praising the Working Family Tax Cuts he helped pass last year. In the video, Barrett highlights provisions that are providing real, targeted relief for working families including a boosted standard deduction, no tax on tips or overtime, an increased Child Tax Credit, and more. Image