Justin Amash says the U.S. wasn't 'validly' in Paris climate agreement

Jennifer Bowman | Battle Creek Enquirer

Hours after President Donald Trump officially announced withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, Congressman Justin Amash told a crowd of constituents at his Battle Creek town hall he believed the U.S. never "validly" was in the climate accord.

"We were never in it because the Senate didn't ratify it," Amash, R-Cascade Township, said.

The congressman met with constituents Thursday, taking questions for two hours. Earlier in the day, Trump began the process of withdrawing from the climate deal, arguing it submitted the U.S. to unfair environmental standards.

Trump said he wanted to renegotiate the agreement, which former president Barack Obama joined nearly two years ago.

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3 things Amash said at his Battle Creek town hall U.S. Rep. Justin Amash spoke witth constituents Thursday, June 1.

Amash, responding to a question from a town hall attendee, said Thursday that while other countries took the agreement to their legislative bodies, Obama unilaterally signed the U.S. into the accord.

"We are not validly in the agreement so pulling out of the agreement is almost nonsensical," Amash said.

Enjoyed tonight's town hall in Battle Creek. Excellent questions and helpful comments. I'll take your ideas and concerns back to Washington. pic.twitter.com/vqvAGTFcgD — Justin Amash (@justinamash) June 2, 2017

Under the terms of the international agreement to reduce greenhouse gases, the earliest a nation can formally withdraw is November 2020 — the same month Trump faces re-election. But because the greenhouse gas reduction targets are largely voluntary, Trump said he would immediately "cease all implementation of the non-binding Paris Accord."

►MORE: President Trump's withdrawal from Paris pact caps new view on environment

Amash called the agreement vague and "loosey-goosey."

"In many ways it looks like it's for appearances and not for actual function," Amash said. "You have a lot of things developing countries must do but it's pretty undefined, and there's things developed countries must do, but again, it's pretty undefined."

Amash said the U.S. can be a leader but such an agreement should be debated and voted on by the Senate.

Thursday marked the third time Amash held a town hall this year in the Battle Creek area.

USA Today contributed to this report. Contact government reporter Jennifer Bowman at 269-966-0589 or jbowman@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow her on Twitter: @jenn_bowman. Listen to the podcast she co-hosts, The Jump Page, at soundcloud.com/thejumppage.