I wanted to pr

Dear Friend,

I wanted to provide a brief update on what I am doing to represent Maryland's First District and our country as a whole.

This past week, House Republicans passed several commonsense bills.

Key Bills:

H.R. 5961 – Freezes $6 billion in Iranian funds. In September 2023, the Biden Administration waived sanctions to allow $6 billion in Iranian funds in South Korean banks to be transferred to banks in Qatar in exchange for the release of five American hostages. Authorizing the transfer of $6 billion for Iran sets a dangerous precedent that will only incentivize more hostage-taking. H.R. 5691 freezes the $6 billion in Iranian funds to limit Iran’s ability to continue to fund terrorism and develop nuclear weapons.

H.R. 5283 – Bans migrant housing on federal land. On September 15, 2023, against strong public outcry from the local community, the Biden administration signed a lease with New York City to house at least 2,000 migrants at Floyd Bennet Field in the Gateway National Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park System. This community park, which once hosted bike races, youth day camps, and skating rinks, has now been turned into a tent city with questionable security. This bill also revokes the Biden Administration’s disastrous lease to build migrant shelters on National Park Service land in New York City

H.R. 4666 – Requires the Inspector General of the Small Business Administration to submit a quarterly report to Congress. Concerning number of reports have shown that multiple individuals and businesses fraudulently applied for and obtained Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). This bill would require the Inspector General of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to submit a quarterly report to Congress about fraud cases involving these COVID-19 loans.

H.R. 4667 – Requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish processes and procedures to accept, process, and account for fraudulent and unused Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans Funds. According to the SBA Inspector General, more than $200 billion in COVID loans are suspected of being obtained fraudulently. This bill would allow the SBA to track the amount of PPP loans returned to mitigate the risk of financial loss.

Once again, House Republicans are governing where Democrats have failed.

To hear my interview with WCBM on the situation at the southern border, click here.

District Updates

Presented A Flag Flown Over the Capitol to The Easton Fire Department:

It was great to welcome our local firefighters from the Easton Fire Department to the Capitol. As a physician, I especially appreciate the services provided by our local first responders. These men and women save lives, and as a member of the Appropriations Committee, I understand the need to support emergency personnel in our local communities.

Visiting UMES:

Under the leadership of UMES President Dr. Heidi M. Anderson, U.S. News ranked UMES in the top 6 of public HBCUs, number 200 among all public colleges and universities, and number 14 among 78 HBCUs in their 2023-2024 report. UMES ranked two spots higher than last year’s report and is the university's highest ranking since U.S. News created its HBCU category in 2007.

Recently, I met with leadership at UMES to discuss their needs as they continue to grow and serve the Eastern Shore community. I am thrilled they are seeking to open a school of veterinary medicine - the only one in Maryland.

In The News

House Freedom Caucus Press Conference:

With less than 3 weeks left until the end of Congress's legislative calendar, there is still much work the House of Representatives needs to accomplish for the American people. Since January, conservatives have been fighting to reduce federal spending. This past week, I stood with my House Freedom Caucus colleagues and conservative Senator friends as we discussed federal spending levels, securing our Southern Border, the upcoming reauthorization of FISA, and how we should go forward with President Biden's supplemental funding package regarding foreign spending.

Our nation is on the brink of a fiscal disaster. Decades of reckless government spending by both parties has led us to a national debt of almost $34 trillion - a massive burden our children and grandchildren will have to carry.

President Biden and Senate Democrats have routinely failed to read the writing on the wall regarding our nation's fiscal condition. They continue to push for supplemental funding packages that contribute to our national debt while paying for foreign aid with borrowed taxpayer dollars.

In addition to failing to address our ever-increasing national debt, the President and Senate are also failing the American people by not bringing up H.R. 2; the Secure the Border Act. Our Southern Border is wide open and illegal immigrants, fentanyl, and human trafficking are occurring at rates never before seen in our nation's history.

Rest assured, House and Senate conservatives are taking these concerns regarding reckless government spending, an increasing national debt, and our Southern Border seriously. I will continue to work with my colleagues to deliver on our promise to change the status quo in Washington.

How We Can Help

If you have ever had 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 special person or special 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

Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy