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Former Member, Energy and Commerce Committee, United States House of Representatives
Former Member, Oversight and Investigators Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Former Member, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, United States House of Representatives
Former Member, Subcommittee on Energy (Energy and Commerce), United States House of Representatives
President, Freshman Caucus, United States House of Representatives, 2006-2007
Former Member, Energy and Commerce Committee, United States House of Representatives
Former Member, Oversight and Investigators Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Former Member, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, United States House of Representatives
Former Member, Subcommittee on Energy (Energy and Commerce), United States House of Representatives
President, Freshman Caucus, United States House of Representatives, 2006-2007
Chair, Committee on the Budget
Member, Education & Labor Committee
Member, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
Member, Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
— Awards:
Favorite Author:
Tom Robbins
Favorite Movie:
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Favorite Musician:
Motown, Broadway Musicals, Tony Bennett, Simon and Garfunkel,Elvis
Favorite TV Shows:
Modern Family, 24
1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice
1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes
2. Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
- Yes
1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes
Do you support increasing defense spending?
- No
1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No
1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- Yes
1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
- Yes
2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes
1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes
1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No
1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- No
2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No
1. Should the United States use military force to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a weapon of mass destruction (for example: nuclear, biological, chemical)?
- Unknown Position
2. Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts?
- Yes
Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)?
- Yes
1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice
1. I believe efforts to have a more balanced budget must not come at the expense of seniors, the middle class, or our nation's most vulnerable. Instead of relying solely on indiscriminate cuts to investments critical to the American people - including Social Security and Medicare, education, infrastructure, veteran?s health care, and other key programs - we must take a more responsible approach that closes tax loopholes and asks the wealthy and corporations to pay their fair share.
- In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending? "Yes" https://votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/58579/john-yarmuth/#.WotA7We3wfJ (votesmart.org)
In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending? "Yes" https://votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/58579/john-yarmuth/#.WotA7We3wfJ (votesmart.org)
1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes
1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No
1. I support federal education standards that provide equal access to education for all students, which includes fully funding IDEA, providing Civil Rights protections, and advocating programs for low-income students.
I believe we need to have a comprehensive system that evaluates the success of our children in many areas, while also providing teachers the resources and feedback to help students improve during the school year. There should be flexibility to allow a creative learning environment that truly provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in life.
- "After visiting dozens of schools, talking with students, parents, and teachers, and holding town hall events, I believe our country must reform the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) as soon as possible. We should replace the law's punitive structure with a positive system that provides the necessary resources and professional support to turn around struggling schools. We will not succeed if we continue to punish schools based on -- an often inaccurate -- one-time multiple choice test of a child's performance. Instead, we must develop a comprehensive system that evaluates the success of our children in many areas, while providing teachers with the resources and feedback to help students improve throughout the school year." https://votesmart.org/public-statement/570946/issue-position-education#.XbhcNkE3kfI (votesmart.org)
"After visiting dozens of schools, talking with students, parents, and teachers, and holding town hall events, I believe our country must reform the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) as soon as possible. We should replace the law's punitive structure with a positive system that provides the necessary resources and professional support to turn around struggling schools. We will not succeed if we continue to punish schools based on an often inaccurate one-time multiple choice test of a child's performance. Instead, we must develop a comprehensive system that evaluates the success of our children in many areas, while providing teachers with the resources and feedback to help students improve throughout the school year." http://yarmuth.house.gov/education/ (yarmuth.house.gov)
Rated 100% by the National Education Association https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/58579/john-yarmuth/27#.WgXQ8We3wfI (votesmart.org)
"We must develop a comprehensive system that evaluates the success of our children in many areas, while providing teachers with the resources and feedback to help students improve throughout the school year." https://votesmart.org/public-statement/570946/issue-position-education#.WgXRYme3wfI (votesmart.org)
"After visiting dozens of schools, talking with students, parents, and teachers, and holding town hall events, I believe our country must reform the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) as soon as possible. We should replace the law's punitive structure with a positive system that provides the necessary resources and professional support to turn around struggling schools. We will not succeed if we continue to punish schools based on an often inaccurate one-time multiple choice test of a child's performance. Instead, we must develop a comprehensive system that evaluates the success of our children in many areas, while providing teachers with the resources and feedback to help students improve throughout the school year." http://yarmuth.house.gov/education/ (yarmuth.house.gov)
Rated 100% by the National Education Association https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/58579/john-yarmuth/27#.WgXQ8We3wfI (votesmart.org)
"We must develop a comprehensive system that evaluates the success of our children in many areas, while providing teachers with the resources and feedback to help students improve throughout the school year." https://votesmart.org/public-statement/570946/issue-position-education#.WgXRYme3wfI (votesmart.org)
Rated 100% by National Education Association. https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/58579/john-yarmuth/27#.XbhccUE3kfI (votesmart.org)
1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes
2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes
1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes
1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No
1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- No
2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No
I do not believe this should be a federal matter. If there were a referendum on it in Kentucky, I would vote for legalization.
- Rated 100% by Americans for Safe Access https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/58579/john-yarmuth#.Wo3RRme3wfI (votesmart.org)
Rated 100% by Americans for Safe Access https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/58579/john-yarmuth#.Wo3RRme3wfI (votesmart.org)
Signed a letter which says "The McClintock-Polis amendment prevents the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from prosecuting anyone for using, selling, or possessing marijuana in compliance with state laws - protecting the legal marijuana industry across the country from federal interference. The McClintock-Polis amendment has been offered three times." https://polis.house.gov/uploadedfiles/fy19_mcclintock-polis_final_copy.pdf (polis.house.gov)
1. Diplomacy should always be exhausted before military force is even considered. I would only support the use of force if the possession of a nuclear weapon posed an imminent threat to the U.S. or our allies. There are numerous ongoing and complicated conflicts in the Middle East. Each requires an approach that responds to the unique circumstances of the conflict. We should partner with our allies to ensure that every effort is made to use diplomacy to resolve these conflicts. Ultimately, if the Administration wants to use military force, it must seek Congressional approval as required by law.
- Endorsed by J Street PAC https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/58579/john-yarmuth#.Wq_kW2e3wfI (votesmart.org)
Endorsed by J Street PAC https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/58579/john-yarmuth#.Wq_kW2e3wfI (votesmart.org)
"No escalation of military activity in Syria or the region can proceed without explicit congressional approval." https://votesmart.org/public-statement/1170216/yarmuth-statement-on-us-airstrikes-in-syria/?search=syria#.Wq_lc2e3wfI (votesmart.org)
Rated 0% by Center for Security Policy https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/58579/john-yarmuth#.Wq_kW2e3wfI (votesmart.org)
"No escalation of military activity in Syria or the region can proceed without explicit congressional approval." https://votesmart.org/public-statement/1170216/yarmuth-statement-on-us-airstrikes-in-syria/?search=syria#.Wq_lc2e3wfI (votesmart.org)
Rated 0% by Center for Security Policy https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/58579/john-yarmuth#.Wq_kW2e3wfI (votesmart.org)
Latest Action: House - 06/21/2019 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Tracker:Latest Action: House - 06/05/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Tracker:Latest Action: House - 05/23/2019 Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Tracker:By John Yarmuth As we await the outcome of tomorrow's election, it's important to know that, whatever happens, we will have the same leaders until January 2021. And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who famously saw no "urgency" for relief, has declared that there would be no vote on a relief package for the American people during the lame duck session of Congress. As a result, coronavirus cases will continue to break daily records, people will die, small businesses will close, workers will be laid off, Americans will go hungry, families will be evicted -- more pain, more suffering and more loss. American families cannot wait any longer -- and they never should have had to. The pieces were there: House Democrats passed a compromise version of the Heroes Act, a bill with a lower price tag to appease congressional Republicans but still packed with the critical investments we desperately need. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) were hammering out details. The president called for a deal. So why did it fall apart? Because the needs of the American people simply aren't on Republicans' radar. With their full attention on the booming stock market and their sagging poll numbers, the administration and its allies didn't fail to implement a national pandemic strategy -- they refused. It didn't address their priorities. The same is true about their opposition to financial relief. Debt and deficits are their boogiemen, but at best, they're deeply flawed economic arguments, and at worst, deliberate deceptions to excuse turning their backs on the American people. Republicans often argue that government should be run like a business. But only asking about cost is a surefire recipe to run a business, and a country, into the ground. Questions of cost must come after questions of benefit, as well as an assessment of the price of not making an investment. For a restauranteur, borrowing $100,000 for a prime, new location is much different than for a new Humvee. But when it comes to addressing the needs of the American people, Republicans want you to believe shrewd investments and frivolous spending are the same. On the other hand, Republicans could not have cared less about deficits when they enacted the Trump administration's crown jewel, the 2017 tax law, which sent revenue plummeting to record lows, and increased deficits by at least $1.9 trillion over 10 years. What kind of business willfully goes into debt in order to slash revenue? Still, their giant handout to billionaires wasn't reckless because of the debt, but because the massive price tag offered no benefit to working families, infrastructure, future generations, security, or even the president's illusive health care plan. It was just waste. Another gas-guzzling Humvee taking up space in the garage while millions of American families continued to go without. As chairman of the Budget Committee, I've emphasized that we need a much more evidence-based, contemporary understanding of debt, and I'm far from alone. Fed Chair Jerome Powell recently warned that the danger we face today is investing too little, not too much, and experts across the ideological spectrum agree that we have ample fiscal capacity to provide urgently needed economic support to our communities, foster an inclusive recovery, and rebuild a stronger economy than what we had before. In fact, the failure to invest now to achieve these goals poses a more severe risk to our economic and budget outlooks than the large amounts we must spend to get there. There is simply no sound economic reason not to provide the relief that is needed and to do it quickly. The reality is that with interest rates and inflation even lower today than before the pandemic, CBO projects we will spend less on debt service over the decade than it projected before the pandemic. The U.S. is setting new daily COVID case records, and hospitals across America are maxing out their resources -- again. Eight million families have been pushed into poverty this year. One in seven families don't have enough food. Millions face eviction and utility cutoffs as protections expire. More than 23 million workers remain on unemployment, and far too many who are working have made the difficult choice of prioritizing their paycheck over their health. Our country desperately needs relief: funds for testing, tracing, and treatment; financial support for families to survive; relief for state, local, and tribal governments to prevent additional layoffs and save critical programs and services; money for schools to operate safely; and relief to keep small businesses afloat. We have the fiscal space to do it. McConnell said he saw no urgency for relief. It's not hard to see how wrong he is. With the election soon behind us, there has never been an easier time for even a political animal to put politics aside. It's ridiculous to say that the federal government should run like a business. But if you want to play that game, with the fiscal space we have and the potential for a better recovery, investing in a safer, stronger America is the smart financial decision. Most importantly, it is the only moral option. John Yarmuth is chairman of the House Budget Committee.
On March 15, 2020, Yarmuth announced that he would self-quarantine after discovering that he had attended an event alongside two individuals who tested positive for coronavirus. On March 16, Yarmuth announced that he had tested negative but would continue to practice social distancing. Coronavirus pandemic Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.Political responses overviewState reopening plansDocumenting America's Path to RecoveryDaily updatesElection changesChanges to vote-by-mail and absentee voting proceduresFederal responsesState responsesState executive ordersStay-at-home ordersMultistate agreementsNon-governmental reopening plansEvictions and foreclosures policiesTravel restrictionsEnacted state legislationState legislative session changesSchool closuresState court closuresInmate releasesLocal government responsesDiagnosed or quarantined politiciansBallot measure changesArguments about government responsesThe 1918 influenza pandemicPandemic Response Accountability CommitteeUnemployment filingsLawsuitsSubmit COVID-19, also known as coronavirus disease 2019.
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Atherton High School Louisville, KY
