Andy Harris

Congressman Harris Applauds $8 Billion USDA Relief Program for Farmers and Watermen

Position: The release applauds a $8 billion USDA Harvest Fuel Relief Program to offset rising fuel costs for farmers and watermen, and states the representative has pushed for a USDA Office of Seafood and for watermen to be treated as agricultural producers eligible for USDA programs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, applauded President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for announcing $8 billion through USDA’s new Harvest Fuel Relief Program to help agricultural producers facing rising fuel costs and market disruptions. Statement from Congressman Harris: “Rising fuel costs are cutting into the earnings of farmers and watermen across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. I applaud President Trump, Secretary Rollins, and USDA for providing $8 billion in relief to help offset these costs. As Chairman of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I have pushed for a USDA Office of Seafood and for commercial watermen to be treated as agricultural producers with access to USDA programs.” USDA will announce payment rates for major crops in November, with details for watermen to follow. Farmers are encouraged to prepare for the application process, while watermen can submit information on increased fuel costs to HarvestFuel@usda.gov to help USDA determine payment rates. For more information, visit USDA.gov. For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov Issues:AgricultureEconomy

Congressman Andy Harris Urges Senate to Fund the Fight Against Illicit Chinese Vapes

Position: The release urges the Senate to pass Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations provisions that fund enforcement against illicit Chinese-made vapes and e-cigarettes, including a DOJ-led ENDS Enforcement Task Force and related trade, customs, and financial-network actions.

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), Chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations, called on the Senate to support the House-passed initiatives in its Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations bills to give the federal agencies the resources they need to shut down the illicit nicotine marketplace, including vapes and e-cigarette products designed to appeal to children, and protect Americans from these dangerous products. “Illegal vapes from China continue to make their way onto shelves and into the hands of unsuspecting Americans,” said Rep. Harris. “The House passed the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture Appropriations Act this summer, and I urge the Senate to move forward with its appropriations bills so we can strengthen enforcement against these illegal products.” The House-passed Agriculture-FDA bill directs FDA to dedicate at least $200 million in tobacco user fees to enforcement against illegal e-cigarettes and vapes. That includes $20 million for the ENDS Enforcement Task Force, a joint effort of the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and FDA to target the illegal manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale of these products, a majority of which are produced in China. The bill also directs FDA to expand its enforcement priorities to flavored disposable vapes and to report regularly to Congress on seizures of illicit products, support for state enforcement, and efforts to educate retailers about which products are legal to sell. The Agriculture-FDA bill is one part of a whole-of-government strategy House appropriators have advanced this year. Across five other FY2027 bills, the Appropriations Committee has directed the Department of Justice to lead the ENDS Enforcement Task Force and pursue trade fraud, smuggling, and money laundering cases against illicit importers. It has provided $5 million each to Customs and Border Protection for the task force and to Homeland Security Investigations for criminal investigations into illegal imports. It has also directed Treasury and the State Department to disrupt the financial networks behind the trade, directed the U.S. Trade Representative to seek an enforceable agreement with China to stop illicit exports at the source, and directed the Department of Transportation to crack down on mislabeled lithium-battery vapes shipped on passenger and cargo aircraft. “This has become a national security problem,” said Rep. Harris. “Illegal vapes put money in the pockets of the Chinese Communist Party and the criminal cartels operating inside our borders. House appropriators have given every agency with a role in stopping this trade clear direction and the resources to act, and now those resources need to be put to work.” “Responsible retailers are at a competitive disadvantage as long as bad actors continue to sell illicit products,” said Margaret Mannion, director of government relations at the National Association of Convenience Stores. “The convenience industry supports every effort to stop the flood of illegal vapes onto our market, and we applaud Chairman Harris’s support for enhanced federal enforcement against illicit tobacco products. American consumers deserve access to authorized, legal products, and it will take coordinated action across government, like the work of the ENDS Enforcement Task Force, to make that happen. There’s no time to waste.” “I will continue fighting to stop the flow of illegal vapes into our country and give FDA and federal law enforcement the resources they need to crack down on this illicit trade,” said Rep. Harris. “Foreign bad actors, especially China, should not be able to profit from flooding the American market with illegal flavored disposable vapes that are designed to appeal to children.” For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov Issues:Health

Congressman Harris Introduces Legislation to Suspend Federal Gas Tax

Position: Congressman Harris introduced legislation to temporarily suspend the federal gas and diesel taxes through the end of the year to reduce fuel costs for families, small businesses, and the trucking industry.

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), introduced legislation to temporarily suspend the federal gas tax, delivering immediate relief to American drivers and truckers ahead of the midterm elections. Statement from Congressman Harris: “Families and truckers need some immediate relief from the high cost of fuel to drive to work or haul goods across this country. It’s time right now to temporarily suspend the federal gas and diesel tax until the end of the year. Hardworking American taxpayers deserve that break.” The federal gas tax currently stands at 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel. Congressman Harris’ bill would suspend these taxes through the end of the year, lowering costs at the pump for families, small businesses, and the trucking industry that keeps America’s supply chains moving. To read the full bill text, please click here. For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov Issues:Economy

REP. HARRIS: FIVE YEARS AFTER THE ADIRIM MANDATORY VACCINE MEMO, PUT HER UNDER OATH

Position: The release argues that former DoD official Dr. Terry Adirim should testify under oath about a 2021 memorandum requiring service members to receive EUA-labeled COVID-19 vaccines interchangeably with fully approved vaccines, and contends the mandate was unlawful and that troops fired for refusing should be reinstated.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., physician and former Naval Reserve medical officer, calls on Chairman James Comer, Chairman Rand Paul, and Chairman Ron Johnson to bring Dr. Terry Adirim in to testify under oath. Five years ago today, September 14, 2021, Dr. Terry Adirim, then acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, signed the memorandum that told DoD providers they “will” use EUA-labeled product interchangeably with fully approved vaccines to vaccinate the force.¹ Three weeks earlier, on August 24, 2021, Secretary Austin had limited the mandate to vaccines with full FDA licensure, “in accordance with FDA-approved labeling and guidance.”² But because of the subsequent Adirim memorandum, our troops now call September 14 “Reign of Terry” day. Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (R-Md) said Congress should treat the anniversary the way the force already does: as the anniversary of the day that two-page order left her desk, with serious and dire results. Harris is a Johns Hopkins-trained anesthesiologist and former Naval Reserve medical officer. In March 2021 he administered COVID shots at clinics in his district. That spring the GOP Doctors Caucus agreed that you should talk to your physician and decide. He said then what he said in April 2023 and is saying again: freedom to choose to be COVID vaccinated, not mandates—and the more than 8,400 troops fired for refusing should have been reinstated. “I know the difference between a clinical recommendation and an order with a discharge packet attached,” Harris said. “I would never tell a healthy infantryman his career depended on an EUA vial. The record since does not let us pretend it was just ‘following the science.’” The regulator (the FDA) said should. Her memo said will.¹ It cited no statute, no presidential waiver, no legal analysis—only a footnote to an FDA web page. Under 10 U.S.C. § 1107a, a warrior given an EUA product must be told he can refuse. Only the President can waive that right, in writing, for national security.³ DoD Instruction 6200.02: **only the Secretary of Defense may even ask.**⁴ They never asked. They mandated it anyway. In July 2021 DoD told Justice it could not require an EUA product without that waiver.⁵ No waiver issued. In November 2021 DoD conceded in open court that the President had not executed one. A federal judge called DoD’s reading of § 1107a “unconvincing” and wrote that without a waiver “the DOD cannot mandate vaccines that only have an EUA.”⁶ FDA’s Peter Marks swore the licensed and EUA products remained legally distinct.⁷ At Holloman AFB, a service member was told the Adirim memo was why an EUA lot could be forced on him.⁸ On April 23, 2025, Secretary Hegseth said the last administration “issued unlawful orders on mandatory vaccines on an experimental vaccine, COVID-19,”⁹ and signed a remedies memo the same day.¹⁰ On May 7, 2025, USD(P&R) wrote that the mandate “was unlawful as implemented.”¹¹ Hegseth later called it “wrongfully forced” and “unjust.”¹² Two weeks ago, Politico and the Times reported an Army physician, in a deposition in the Adirim case, said she is reviewing thousands of unverified service-member death reports for HHS and the Pentagon.¹³ That is not a completed finding. It is why this file cannot close. About 8,600 service members were ejected. Tens of thousands left early. Another 20,000 retired early. Nearly a million ordered to take it. Anthony Fauci got an autopen scribble pardon. Dr. Adirim has no pardon. “I changed what I was willing to say about the vaccines as the facts changed. That is what a physician does,” Harris said. “Our Warriors deserve the truth. Put her under oath. Let her look those service members whose careers were ruined and family-members of the deceased that were decimated by her memo in the eye.” He called on Chairman James Comer (Oversight), Chairman Rand Paul (HSGAC), and Chairman Ron Johnson (PSI) to put Adirim on the record about that destructive and unlawful memo and its human cost. Footnotes 1. Acting ASD(HA) Terry Adirim memorandum, Sept. 14, 2021, Coker v. Austin, ECF 65-13 (DOD 000001); FOIA 22-F-1262, Enc. 2 p. 28 2. Secretary of Defense memorandum, Aug. 24, 2021, Coker v. Austin, ECF 31-2. 3. 10 U.S.C. § 1107a. 4. DoDI 6200.02 (Feb. 27, 2008), Enc. 3 § E3.4 5. 45 Op. O.L.C. __ (July 6, 2021), at 17. 6. Doe #1–#14 v. Austin, 572 F. Supp. 3d 1224 (N.D. Fla. Nov. 12, 2021), ECF 47 at 12, 14; Tr. ECF 45 at 52:8–9. PI denied on proof; no merits holding the mandate was unlawful. 7. Decl. of Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., Coker, ECF 65-14 ¶ 11. 8. Holloman AFB declaration, Coker, ECF 68-1 (lot 30155BA). 9. Hegseth, X, April 23, 2025 10. SecDef memorandum, April 23, 2025 11. USD(P&R), May 7, 2025, “unlawful as implemented” 12. Hegseth, X, May 8, 2026 13. Politico, Sept. 3, 2026 Rep. Andy Harris, M.D., represents Maryland’s 1st District. Johns Hopkins-trained anesthesiologist, former Naval Reserve medical officer, Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies. For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov Issues:Defense and Foreign AffairsHealth

Congressman Harris Announces NOAA Recreational Fishing Measures for 2026 and 2027 Seasons

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced new recreational fishing management measures issued by NOAA Fisheries for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass for the 2026 and 2027 fishing seasons. NOAA finalized the rule on April 29, 2026, with an effective date of April 30, 2026. The agency also implemented a new Recreational Measures Setting process on April 28, 2026, which will guide how recreational fishing limits are set moving forward. For 2026 and 2027, NOAA approved the following measures: Scup will remain at current recreational harvest levels. Summer flounder will continue to be managed through conservation equivalency, allowing Maryland to set state-specific size, season, and possession limits. Black sea bass will also be managed through conservation equivalency, with a 20 percent increase in allowable harvest across participating states. Maryland-specific limits and seasons will be set by state fisheries managers. NOAA is accepting public comment on the new process through May 28, 2026, and on the 2026 and 2027 recreational measures through May 15, 2026. Statement from Congressman Harris: “I’m grateful to Assistant Administrator Piñeiro Soler and his entire team at NOAA Fisheries for, following my office’s engagement, working to quickly remedy the delay in releasing updated recreational measures for the 2026 season. These new measures will provide much-needed economic certainty to the recreational fishing industry in Ocean City and across the Mid-Atlantic region. Make no mistake, I will always fiercely advocate for Maryland’s treasured fishing community.” Statement from Sonny Gwin, President of the Worcester County Watermen’s Association: “We would like to thank Congressman Andy Harris for his quick response to this issue. This will be a great relief economically for the recreational sector and a chance to go fishing when stocks are abundantly high.” The full text of the letter can be viewed here. NOAA’s announcement can be viewed here. For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov Issues:AgricultureEconomyEnvironment

Congressman Andy Harris Applauds Decision to Extend A-10 Warthog Through 2030

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) applauded the U.S. Air Force’s decision to preserve the A-10 Thunderbolt II program through 2030, halting more than a decade of efforts to retire the aircraft. Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink said the decision preserves combat power as the Defense Industrial Base works to increase combat aircraft production. The A-10 continues to provide critical close air support and direct protection to U.S. troops on the ground. Statement from Congressman Harris: “We are pleased that the A-10 program is now being extended. The Maryland Guard has extensive experience to bring to the table, and we are in contact with the Office of the Air Force Secretary to urge them to bring A-10s back to Maryland so our airmen can help defend the nation.” For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov Issues:Defense and Foreign Affairs

Congressman Harris Warns NOAA Delay Threatens Eastern Shore Fisheries and Local Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA, sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) raising concerns about a delay in implementing updated recreational fishing measures and the impact on Maryland’s Eastern Shore economy. The proposed measures were developed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and submitted more than eight months ago. NOAA waited until just three weeks before the start of the recreational fishing season to notify stakeholders they would not be implemented and is now reverting to outdated measures. Statement from Congressman Harris: “NOAA waited until just weeks before the season to reverse course on these proposed measures, leaving small businesses and watermen on Maryland’s Eastern Shore dealing with the fallout at a critical time. I’ve heard directly from constituents across the Eastern Shore who are concerned about this delay. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will be reviewing NOAA’s handling of this closely as part of the FY27 funding process. NOAA must act immediately to correct this failure and ensure it does not happen again.” Full text of the letter can be viewed here. For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov Issues:AgricultureEconomy

Congressman Harris Urges Maryland to Consider TSA Screening Partnership Program Amid BWI Delays

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Andy Harris M.D. (MD-01) sent a letter to Maryland Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson urging the state to apply for TSA’s Screening Partnership Program (SPP) following reports of five-hour long wait times at Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI). The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) allows airports to use private security contractors under federal oversight while maintaining all TSA standards. Airports in the program, including San Francisco International Airport and Kansas City International Airport, have avoided the severe delays seen at many TSA-run checkpoints, even during funding lapses. As TSA works to rebuild its workforce, SPP offers a proven long-term solution to prevent disruptions at BWI. Statement from Congressman Harris: “Five-hour security lines at BWI are unacceptable for Marylanders and the millions of travelers who rely on this airport. President Trump’s emergency order to fund TSA agents will ease immediate strain, but restoring full staffing and operations will take time. Airports in the Screening Partnership Program are not experiencing the delays seen at BWI. Maryland should apply now to ensure this does not happen again at BWI.” Full text of the letter can be viewed here. For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov Issues:Economy

Congressman Harris Raises Concerns Over Francis Scott Key Bridge Cost Overruns on Two-Year Anniversary of Collapse

Position: Congressman Harris expresses concern over cost overruns in the Francis Scott Key Bridge reconstruction project and argues that the responsible company and its insurers, rather than taxpayers, should bear the financial burden of rebuilding.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), released the following statement regarding the two-year anniversary of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and concerns over rebuilding costs. Statement from Congressman Harris: "Two years have passed since the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge—a tragedy that took six lives and disrupted a vital transportation corridor in Baltimore. As plans for rebuilding lag behind schedule, the scale of the cost overruns is deeply concerning, particularly given that the initial state estimates have been exceeded 3-fold. It is clear this project requires stronger oversight and fiscal accountability. The company responsible for the collapse and its insurers should bear the cost of these damages, not Marylanders or American taxpayers." For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov Issues:EconomyEnvironment

Congressman Harris Applauds $1 Million USDA Grant to Expand Blue Catfish Processing in Maryland

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for awarding $1 million through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) to BSA Seafood LLC to expand invasive blue catfish processing in Maryland's First District. This investment supports BSA Seafood, LLC of Grasonville, Maryland as it expands its processing capacity by purchasing and installing new equipment at its facility. This will increase the company’s ability to source invasive blue catfish from regional watermen and bring more value-added seafood products to market. The project is expected to remove more than 500,000 pounds of invasive blue catfish from the Chesapeake Bay annually, create 20 full-time jobs, and retain 15 existing positions. Statement from Congressman Harris: “I’m grateful to USDA and Secretary Rollins for this significant investment to combat invasive blue catfish in the Eastern Shore. This funding gives BSA Seafood the resources to expand blue catfish processing, open new market opportunities, and create good-paying jobs in my district. It directly supports our watermen and seafood processors and turns a growing challenge in the Chesapeake Bay into long-term economic growth for Maryland.” Statement from Amanda Williams of BSA Seafood: “We’re incredibly grateful to receive this funding and excited about the opportunity to continue growing our operations and supporting Maryland’s seafood industry. This investment will allow us to expand our capabilities and create new opportunities in the region. We're grateful to Congressman Harris for his support throughout this process." For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov Issues:AgricultureEconomyEnvironment