Just as the people of the U.S. are grateful to those who serve in the military to protect us, public officials owe special appreciation to the men and women who provide security at our places of work and when we travel.

During my career in foreign service, I encountered many tricky and dangerous situations, especially when I served in the Middle East, including Iraq, Libya, the West Bank, and Gaza. I recall a visit to a Turkish town near the Syrian border where I spent a day meeting with local Syrian civilian organizations that were countering Assad’s efforts and creating grassroots democratic support; with American aid agencies that were shipping food across the border; and with Turkish officials to try to expedite the movement and flow of humanitarian aid into Syria. I also met with the media to broadcast into Syria to tell Syrian people about U.S. efforts to help them.

When I arrived I was happy to see that my security detail were the same guys that served with me several years earlier in Libya. Libya had been a very dangerous and harrowing mission when I was among the first U.S. diplomats in Tripoli while that war was still going on.

Near the end of the day, the security guys pulled me aside and told me they had credible intelligence that there was a planned ISIS attack against me and our convoy. I needed to shelter in place in the facility that I was at, and they alerted the Turkish and U.S. authorities about the threat. We held tight, and then at the last moment they whisked me out. I found out later that ISIS was targeting me specifically because I represented the best of American intentions in Syria in terms of delivering aid and helping people. ISIS wanted to make an example of me.

My security guys really had my back that day and every day. We literally put our lives in their capable hands time and again. We know it’s part of the job when we serve in dangerous places. But we really owe them, and I would never hesitate to give them everything they deserve.

That’s the way I would assume members of Congress and their staff feel about the Capitol Police and other law enforcement who protect them. Capitol police often have to defend against genuine threats, and as Jan. 6 and other tragedies have shown us, they sometimes put down their lives to save others. And indeed, all law enforcement, first responders, and military should always be recognized for their brave service.

So why wouldn’t Andy Harris honor the law enforcement officers who protected the Capitol – and him – on Jan. 6? And why wouldn’t he vote to extend benefits for 9/11 first responders?

And now comes news that Harris and other extremist House Republicans voted against expanding education benefits for National Guard and Reserve members. Currently, National Guard and Reserve service members are not paid at the same rate and don’t receive the same benefits as their active duty counterparts. The Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act would address this in part by counting every day that a service member is paid and in uniform towards their GI benefits.

But once again, when it came time to recognize and provide fair benefits to those who serve to protect us, Andy Harris shamefully voted “No.”

Let’s vote “No” on Andy Harris and get behind the brave men and women who protect us every day! Please join me by chipping in $20 to my campaign today.

Thank you,

Dave Harden