Dear Friend,

This past week the Biden Administration ended the Title 42 public health emergency, prompting a wave of illegal immigration at our Southern Border. In response, House Republicans passed the Secure the Border Act of 2023.

Notably, The Secure the Border Act:

Requires transparency regarding illegal crossings from the Department of Homeland Security.
Strengthens current law to protect unaccompanied children from human trafficking.
Ends catch and release.
Ends the abuse of executive immigration authority.
Strengthens and streamlines the asylum process.

The Secure the Border Act Also Provides For:

Border Wall Construction.
Requires the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to resume construction of the border wall. The Bill also requires the Department to submit an implementation plan to Congress detailing annual benchmarks of 200 miles of wall construction and associated cost estimates.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Technology Upgrades.
Ensures that each CBP officer or agent, where appropriate, is equipped with a secure radio or other two-way communication device allowing for communication between ports of entry and inspection stations and with other law enforcement entities.

District Updates

Visiting A.E. Phillips and Son to Highlight Growing H-2B Struggles:

This past district work week was a busy one as I toured the A.E. Phillips & Son picking house on Hoopers Island to highlight the struggles Maryland picking houses are having with the current H-2B nonimmigrant visa lottery system. Small businesses in the crab picking industry that supply crab meat to local restaurants, have faced massive employee shortages as a result of federal government limits on the hiring of vital temporary crab meat picking workers.

As one of the oldest picking houses in the country, A.E. Phillips & Son struggled the last two seasons because of a bad draw in the H-2B lottery system. Speaking of this struggle, A.E. Phillips and Son general manager, John Walker said, "Two out of the last 4 years we didn't get workers. This place was dark. There was no activity whatsoever. That means I've lost all my crabbers. I've lost customers because they still need crab meat, so they bought from somewhere else."

While A.E. Philips and Son selected a better lottery draw this year, the uncertainty of the H-2B lottery system is a constant challenge for local seafood businesses and I am continuing my work in Congress to find a permanent solution.

News Links:

Rep. Harris address H2B visa bills during Hooper's Island crab house visit - 47abc (wmdt.com)

Rep. Harris Discusses Hopeful Changes To H2B Visa Lottery System | Latest News | wboc.com

Dorchester Star: Harris visits Fishing Creek, talks H-2B worker visas

In The News

Debt Ceiling Negotiations:

House Republicans are committed to reining in inflation and ending the reckless government spending that is increasing our debt and deficit. To do this, House Republicans recently passed the Limit, Save, and Grow Act which returns FY24 spending, except for military and Veterans Affairs, to pre-pandemic spending levels.

Targeting the most wasteful spending in our government, the Limit, Save, and Grow Act will:

Reclaim nearly $50-80 billion in unspent COVID funds.
Defund Joe Biden’s army of new IRS agents-- saving approximately $71 billion.
Repeal “Green New Deal” tax credits --saving approximately $271 billion-$1.2 trillion.
Nullify Joe Biden’s student loan giveaway to the wealthy-- saving approximately $465 billion.

Ever since debt ceiling negotiations began, Republicans have been clear that we will cut wasteful government spending while fully funding and supporting our veterans and military. Republicans are committed to fiscal reforms, and it is time for the President to come to the negotiating table.

How We Can Help

If you have any issue with a federal agency, like the IRS, the VA, Social Security, Medicare, or passports, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. My office teams are ready to assist you. If you are interested in purchasing a flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capitol, for a person or occasion, please visit my website or call my office at 202-225-5311. Below are links to services my office offers, and we hope to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Andy Harris, M.D.
Member of Congress

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