Agriculture
America depends on our farms for food, clothing, and thousands of jobs. Many farms are small family businesses that make up the economic and cultural backbone of Maryland's First Congressional District. As a Senator in the Maryland General Assembly, I helped promote and protect Maryland agriculture and poultry. I continue to do the same in the halls of Congress.
Farmers must be protected from unnecessary and harmful federal regulations that could hurt their ability to grow and create jobs. The estate tax must be eliminated because families should be able to pass farms down to the next generation without penalty. Private property rights have to be upheld – farmers should not be subjected to harmful land use laws that devalue their property and make it more difficult to do business.
More on Agriculture
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), announced $40 million in FY26 Energy and Water Development funding for a new shallow-draft dredging vessel for East Coast navigation channels. The funding addresses sediment buildup that has limited vessel access in Maryland and other heavily used East Coast waterways.
WASHINGTON, DC -- Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration, hosted a House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee roundtable with Dr. Ben Carson, National Advisor for Nutrition, Health, and Housing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, focused on the connection between nutrition and chronic disease.
“I rise today in support of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5371, which will finally put an end to the Democrat-led government shutdown. Millions of Americans have suffered because the Democrats refused to reopen the government – including those who depend on SNAP benefits, federal workers, border patrol agents, and our troops who were uncertain about their next paycheck.
Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives passed the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026, with a vote of 222 to 209.
Washington, D.C. – House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA), and House Agriculture Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Brad Finstad (R-MN) released a statement on how continued Democrat obstruction in reopening the federal government has denied full, uninterrupted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to vulnerable Americans:
WASHINGTON— Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), informed Maryland First constituents about SNAP resources as the Democrat-led government shutdown disrupts benefits and creates uncertainty for families who rely on food assistance.
“Dear Friend,
WASHINGTON D.C. — Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), called out Maryland’s Senate Democrats for refusing to reopen the government, warning that their failure to act is hurting Maryland families, jeopardizing SNAP benefits and military pay, and threatening critical federal services across the country.
Statement from Congressman Harris:
WASHINGTON D.C. — Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), criticized Maryland Democrats for blaming President Trump and House Republicans for the ongoing government shutdown, even as every member of Maryland’s Democrat delegation voted against reopening the government.
Statement from Congressman Harris:
"House Republicans have already done their job. The only thing standing between America and a reopened government is a handful of Senate Democrats too afraid of their activist base to do the right thing."
WASHINGTON D.C. — Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., is calling out the entire Maryland Democrat delegation for voting to keep the government closed, even as thousands of Maryland families face potential delays in receiving SNAP and EBT benefits.
During his recent Telephone Town Hall, Congressman Harris highlighted the looming shortfall in SNAP reserves that could prevent EBT cards from being reloaded if the shutdown continues.