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Harris Congratulates President Biden But Remains Concerned

January 20, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., issued a statement reacting to the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris and their proposed policy agenda. President Biden has pledged to institute or advocate for a liberal, job-killing agenda while in office that would:

  • Increase the federal minimum wage to $15/hour, which the CBO estimates would cost 1.3 million American jobs and would devastate small businesses and the wider American economy in a time of need;
  • Infringe on Americans' Second Amendment right by attempting to eliminate firearm sales through various means such as extensive delays in purchase;
  • Reverse President Trump's corporate income tax rate cut, which will cost jobs and which President Biden's own Treasury Secretary pick admits was a very effective means of boosting American competitiveness and the nation's economy;
  • Halt border wall installation, which was an effective tool, along with other high tech investments, in significantly deterring illegal immigration – while constructing walls to protect his own inauguration;
  • Rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, despite carbon emission decreases over the last four years, which would unnecessarily hamstring U.S. job creation while putting America at a competitive disadvantage by giving a pass to developing polluters like China and India;
  • Hike capital gains taxes and treat them as ordinary income, effectively doubling the highest possible tax rate on investments;
  • Impose mass amnesty and grant citizenship for illegal immigrants in the U.S. (estimated 11 million); rewarding those for breaking the law and penalizing those who have or are waiting in line for years;
  • Socialize medical care through a so-called public option, which will eliminate the insurance plans people like and lead to delays for routine care, as well as result in lower quality of patient care and less access to the doctors people rely upon;
  • Make public higher education "free," which really means paid for by hard-working taxpayers, many of whom paid their way through college; and,
  • Reward Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons through the removal of sanctions.

Congressman Harris issued the following statement:

"President Biden and Vice-President Harris were sworn in today and immediately promised to deliver a liberal agenda under the false guise of unity. Rather than acknowledging an even political split in Congress, they announced a liberal wish list of promises that are devoid of political compromise and will fail to pass into law. On top of that, President Biden will issue over a dozen executive actions today, compared to a combined two over the last four presidents. Additionally, liberals hope to do all of this while pursuing a long-running cancel culture vendetta against a former president. I urge our new president to work for all Americans, not just the liberal wing of his party. If he does work for all Americans, I am standing by ready to help. Moving forward, while we will likely have many disagreements on policy, I pray our nation remains blessed during the new administration's time in office."