Economy
We should not be satisfied with the historically low economic growth rate of the past decade.
Reforming the U.S. tax code is a key component to building economic momentum and growing our workforce. The United States has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world, and this tax rate is driving American companies to send their manufacturing and customer service jobs abroad. Lowering the corporate tax rate will keep large businesses from sending jobs overseas, and a simpler tax code would allow small businesses to save money and grow. Government spending and regulation will not lead us to prosperity – only a vibrant private sector will.
More on Economy
WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) sent a letter today urging Acting Secretary Chad Wolf of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to re-allocate unused FY 20 H-2B visas to meet the ongoing needs of the seafood and other essential industries. The H-2B visa program provides visas for temporary work in seasonal, non-agricultural industries and is subject to an annual cap of 66,000 visas. The visas are utilized extensively by seafood processors and crab houses, among others, on the Eastern Shore.
Rep. Andy Harris made the following statement:
WASHINGTON, DC: The Small Business Administration has announced that small seasonal businesses applying for Paycheck Protection Program loans can be evaluated on their business activities from February through June of 2019, rather than their operational capacity in February of this year. This is critical for seasonal businesses, who often are not fully operational in late winter.
Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) issued the following statement:
WASHINGTON, DC: On April 23, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 266, the Payroll Protection Program Increase and Health Care Enhancement Act. Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) issued the following statement on the bill's passage:
WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced the award of up to $50 million in federal contracts to Hardwire LLC in Pocomoke from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to manufacture face shields in light of the Coronavirus outbreak. Specifically, Hardwire has agreed to manufacture five million face shields under the contract agreement.
WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced the award of a $830,622 federal grant to Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corporation in Salisbury. Funding is being provided by the Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD) Small Shipyard Grant Program. This program is designed to support small shipyard projects that make capital and related improvements or provide training for workers in shipbuilding, ship repair, and associated industries.
WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced the award of $18,368,304 in federal grants from the Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program. Funding was provided by the recently enacted CARES Act, also known as the "Phase III" Congressional emergency legislation.
WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has declared seven counties on Maryland's Eastern Shore a disaster area, thereby making available financial resources for small businesses negatively affected by the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. The seven counties are: Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, and Worcester.
WASHINGTON, DC: On March 5th, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its intent to release 35,000 additional H-2B visas for the summer season of Fiscal Year 2020. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) has spearheaded the effort in Congress to secure the timely release of supplemental visas. He sent a letter, signed by a total of 151 members of the House and 38 Senators, urging Acting Secretary Wolf to release, as quickly as possible, additional H-2B visas to meet seasonal labor demands.
Congressman Harris made the following statement:
WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled the next visit of their dredge CURRITUCK to Ocean City to begin on or about March 1st, subject to weather and schedule delays. The dredge will be dedicating 5 days specifically to Inlet dredging and then 25 days to Assateague Bypass dredging (which will benefit both the Inlet and the ebb/flood shoal).
Congressman Harris made the following statement: