Environment
Growing up, I was taught that you should always try to leave a place better than the way you found it – and that's my philosophy when it comes to the environment. The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure that must be preserved for future generations to enjoy. My kids swim in it, our family catches crabs and rockfish out of it, and its economic impact on the Maryland's First Congressional District is immeasurable.
Watermen, oystermen, crabbers, farmers, hunters, restaurants, and the tourism industry depend on a healthy, clean Chesapeake Bay for their livelihood. I am committed to commonsense, multi-state solutions that protect the Bay and its precious waterways. In order to make meaningful progress, we need to make sure that all of the stakeholders have a seat at the table, and that everyone has a voice in repairing our beautiful estuary. If we don't receive "buy-in" from all active partners, we can never achieve the goal of a robust environment that our children will be able to appreciate. This does mean that other upstream states whose waters flow into the Bay must also do their part, and the federal government is a logical choice to make sure that happens.
More on Environment
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris M.D. (MD-01) issued a statement of support for Maryland Blue Catfish processors who are raising concerns about the proposed Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act, introduced by Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth and co-led by Congressman Robert Wittman.
WASHINGTON – Today, the Maryland Congressional Delegation – U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Andy Harris, Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Sarah Elfreth, Johnny Olsewski, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, and April McClain Delaney – expressed support for the State of Maryland’s request for an evaluation of the Maryland oyster fishery for eligibility for a fishery resource disaster designation, and urged U.S.
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) requesting that the agency declare an economic fishery disaster to provide immediate assistance to Maryland oystermen following this year’s devastating season. The request was made under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which authorizes federal emergency relief for fisheries affected by natural or economic disasters.
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, D.C. — Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced $2,550,000 in federal funding secured through the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill for Worcester County’s Newark Water Treatment Plant Replacement Project.
The funding allows for the replacement of the existing water treatment plant, upgrading treatment capacity and meeting current water quality standards.
Statement from Congressman Harris:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced $1,950,000 in federal funding secured through the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill for the Town of North East in Cecil County to modernize the aging Rolling Mill Finished Water Pump Station.
The funding will allow for the relocation and replacement of the Rolling Mill Finished Water Pump Station, which has reached the end of its useful life. The project will reduce risk to the town’s drinking water system and bring the facility up to modern standards.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced $2,000,000 in federal funding for the Swan Meadows Water and Sewer Public Infrastructure Project in Aberdeen. The City of Aberdeen will administer the funding to replace aging and deteriorating water and sewer infrastructure in the Swan Meadows neighborhood.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced $4,785,000 in federal funding for the Slaughter Creek Dredging Project in Slaughter Creek, Maryland, secured through the Energy & Water Development appropriations bill for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Slaughter Creek has faced long-standing navigation challenges, with reduced channel depth limiting access for commercial and recreational vessels. This funding allows long-delayed dredging to move forward and improve navigation.
Statement from Congressman Harris:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced $3,200,000 in federal funding for the North East River Dredging Project, provided through the Energy & Water Development appropriations bill to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Baltimore District, to support critical dredging efforts along the North East River in Cecil County, Maryland.
WASHINGTON, D.C .— Today, Congressman Andy Harris M.D. (MD-01), announced the inclusion of his amendment, co-sponsored by Congressman Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) and Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), in the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act (SPEED) Act following negotiations with House Leadership on the floor. This amendment will protect legal actions the Trump Administration has taken thus far to combat the Biden Offshore Wind agenda, including actions impacting the Maryland Offshore Wind Project.