WASHINGTON D.C. -- Three months ago, U.S. Rep. Justin Amash publicly congratulated fellow West Michigander Betsy DeVos on her nomination as secretary of education.

But on the day of her confirmation to the office by the U.S. Senate, the Cascade Township Republican joined seven other members of his party to introduce a bill that would eliminate the department DeVos now oversees.

The bill -- House Resolution 899 -- was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky. It is one sentence long: "The Department of Education shall terminate on December 31, 2018."

Though the timing of the bill's introduction on Tuesday, Feb. 7, might appear to be an attack on DeVos, its sponsors explain the legislation is a response to a much bigger issue.

In a statement from Communications Director Corie Whalen, Amash's office explains its stance has more to do with giving states and local school districts control over education.

"Our Constitution reserves the power over education to the states, and Rep. Amash has consistently supported putting parents and teachers back in control," Whalen wrote. "While relatively little federal money for public education comes from Washington, federal bureaucracy and mandates reduce the total amount of resources available to public schools and cannot properly account for the individualized needs of students."

Even in his congratulatory note to DeVos upon her nomination to the position, Amash voiced a desire for her to dismantle federal education initiatives and "empower parents and local communities."

Congratulations to Betsy DeVos on her nomination as secretary of education. She is a friend, a resident of Michigan's... Posted by Justin Amash on Wednesday, November 23, 2016

In a statement, Massie said state and local communities are in the best position to choose curricula that meet their students' individual needs.

"Unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. should not be in charge of our children's intellectual and moral development," he said.

He went on to echo previous statements that have been made by Secretary DeVos, a school choice advocate.

"Parents have the right to choose the most appropriate educational opportunity for their children, including home school, public school, or private school," Massie said.

The proposed elimination of the U.S. Department of Education -- which was created by President Jimmy Carter and began operating in 1980 -- is nothing new. President Ronald Reagan promised elimination of the department shortly after its creation, but was unable to accomplish that goal.

Other co-sponsors joining Massie and Amash in supporting the new bill include Reps. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, Jody Hice, R-Georgia, Walter Jones, R-North Carolina, and Raul Labrador, R-Idaho.

After its introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Three Michigan Republicans sit on that committee: U.S. Reps. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton; Michael Bishop, R-Rochester; and Paul Mitchell, R-Dryden.

First elected to Congress in 2010, Amash won reelection to a fourth term in November 2016.

He represents Michigan's 3rd congressional district, which stretches from Albion in the south to Sand Lake in the north and includes all or portions of Barry, Calhoun, Ionia, Kent and Montcalm counties.

Amash plans to hold his second "town hall" meeting of 2017 on Thursday, Feb. 9, at City High Middle School in Grand Rapids. The public meeting will run from 6-7 p.m. in the auditorium of the school, located at 1720 Plainfield Ave. NE.

The meeting comes nearly a month after his first of the year, when crowds of attendees were turned away at the door by a Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum security guard. Before starting the meeting, Amash went out to apologize to the crowd, and to explain the auditorium had already met its capacity with 252 people inside.

The auditorium at the school more than doubles that number, with capacity for 595 attendees.