Congressman Harris Vote Update - March-April 2022

A recap of the Congressman's activities (and inactivities) for the past two months:

Congressman Harris’ April mailer to First District residents styled itself as an “Official Update on Taxes and the Economy.”  The mailer was not clear as to what was “official” or what exactly was being updated. 

Without providing context, the mailer strongly criticizes the IRS for still not having processed “millions” of 2020 returns and for still having IRS employees on remote work. The mailer ignores entirely congressional efforts to restrict the budget of the IRS, to limits its ability to hire work force, and to obstruct the agency’s efforts to update its technology. How the IRS Was Gutted — ProPublica.  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/irs-tax-crisis-taxpayer-advocate/?msclkid=852a5c7ccef0.   Using similar selective messaging techniques, the mailer quotes a headline from a publication praising tax cuts made by Republicans.  The mailer fails entirely to mention the headline was from an opinion contributor to the publication and expressly not the view of the publication itself.  IRS data proves Trump tax cuts benefited middle, working-class Americans most | The Hill. 

Much of the Congressman’s recent legislative activity was Ukraine-focused.   Some of the legislation that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives is summarized below, together with Congressman Harris’ vote:   

April 28, 2022, S. 3522 – Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022

According to the Congressional summary, the bill (originally introduced in the Senate) temporarily waives certain requirements related to the President’s authority to lend or lease defense articles if the defense articles are intended for Ukraine’s government or the governments of other Eastern European countries affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  S.3522 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress.

The billed passed in the Senate by voice vote and passed in the House of Representatives in an overwhelming bipartisan vote.  Congressman Harris voted Yea. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details

April 27, 2022 – H.R. 7372:  Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians Act

The bill establishes an interagency working group to address semiconductor supply chain issues caused by Russia’s attack on Ukraine.  H.R.7372 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

The bill passed in the Housed with overwhelming bipartisan support of 414 to 9.  Congressman Harris voted Nay. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details.  The bill has been received in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

April 27, 2022 – H.R. 7314:  AXIS Act

According to the Congressional summary, the bill requires the Department of State to periodically report to Congress on whether and how the Government of China, the Chinese Communist Party or any other Chinese entity has provided support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. H.R.7314 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): AXIS Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress.

The bill passed the house on April 27, 2022 with strong bipartisan support: 394 – 3.  Congressman Harris voted Yea. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details

April 27, 2022 – H.R. 7311:  Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act

According to the Congressional summary, the bill requires the Department of State to report to Congress a strategy and implementation plan outlining U.S. efforts to counter Russia’s malign influence and activities in Africa.  H.R.7311 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress.

The bill passed the House 415 to 9.  Congressman Harris voted Yea. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details

April 27, 2022 – H.R. 4693 – Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021

According to the Congressional summary, the bill directs the U.S. Agency for International Development to leverage resources to address malnutrition with focus on preventing and treating malnutrition globally.   H.R.4693 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

The bill passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 384 to 44.  Congressman Harris voted Nay. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details

April 7, 2022 -   H.R. 6968:  Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act

According to the congressional summary, the bill generally prohibits the importation of Russian products that are classified under chapter 27 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (which includes mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation, bituminous substances, and mineral waxes), with an exception for prior contracts or agreements.

Originally introduced in the House of Representatives on March 8, 2022, the bill was amended in the Senate and the amendment agreed to by the House of Representatives on March 7 on a broadly bipartisan basis:  413 Yea votes and 9 Nay votes.  Congressman Harris voted Yea.  Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details. The President signed the bill into law on April 8, 2022. H.R.6968 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress.

April 7, 2022 - H.R. 7108:  Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act

According to the congressional summary, the bill suspends normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus. It also permanently authorizes the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions based on violations of human rights, and it revises the President's authority to impose these sanctions. Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to proclaim increases in the rates of duty applicable to products of Russia or Belarus. This authority terminates on January 1, 2024.The President may restore normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, subject to congressional disapproval. H.R.7108 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Originally introduced in the House of Representatives on March 17, the bill passed the Senate with amendment and the House of Representatives agreed to the Senate amendment on April 7.  The bill passed the House of Representatives on a broad bi-partisan basis:  420 to 3.  Congressman Harris voted Yea. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details; Actions - H.R.7108 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

April 7, 2022 – H.R.3807:  Restaurant Revitalization Fund Replenishment Act

According to the congressional summary, the bill provides an additional $42 billion in FY2021 for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, which was established to support restaurants and other food and beverage purveyors in response to COVID-19. The bill gives priority to previous applicants who have not yet received a grant.  H.R.3807 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Restaurant Revitalization Fund Replenishment Act of 2021 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

The bill passed the House of Representatives with limited Republican support (i.e., 6 Republican votes). Congressman Harris voted Nay.  Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details.

According to his website, the Congressman, who describes himself as an “advocate for restaurant owners since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, opposed the bill because of “gimmick” and “make-believe funding.”  https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/harris-issues-statement-restaurant-revitali   The press release published on the Congressman’s website neither explains the nature of the “gimmick” or whether allegedly still unspent Covid relief funds have already been committed or scheduled to be spent over time, even if not yet spent.  Media | Congressman Andy Harris (house.gov)

April 6, 2022 - H.R. 7276:  Ukraine Invasion War Crimes Deterrence and Accountability Act

According to the congressional bill summary, the bill requires the President to report to Congress on atrocities committed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine since February 24, 2022.  H.R.7276 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): To direct the President to submit to Congress a report on United States Government efforts to collect, analyze, and preserve evidence and information related to war crimes and other atrocities committed during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine since February 24, 2022, and for other purposes. | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on March 29 and passed the House on April 6, 2022 with broad bipartisan support:  418 to 7.  Congressman Harris voted Yea. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details

April 6, 2022:  House Resolution 1037

The House of Representatives recommended by a vote of 220 to 203 to find Peter K. Navarro and Daniel Scavino, Jr., in Contempt of Congress for Refusal to Comply with Subpoenas Duly Issued by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the Capitol.   Congressman Harris voted Nay. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details

April 5, 2022:  House Resolution 831

The House of Representatives passed a resolution calling on the United States Government to uphold the founding democratic principles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and to establish a Center for Democratic Resilience within the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The resolution passed with substantial bipartisan support:  362 to 63.  Congressman Harris voted Nay.  Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details

March 29, 2022:  H.R. 6865:  Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022

According to the Congressional summary, the bill authorizes appropriations through FY2023 for the Federal Maritime Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard, and revises a variety of requirements concerning Coast Guard personnel, operations, infrastructure and environmental requirements.  Among other things, the bill revises requirements concerning sexual assault, sexual harassment, foreign workers, vessel safety, navigation, ship construction, shipping cargo and oil spills.  H.R.6865 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

The bill passed the House of Representatives on March 29, 2022 by a vote of 378 to 46.  Congressman Harris voted Yea.  Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details.   

March 24, 2022 – H.R. 5641:  SPEED Recovery Act

According to the congressional bill summary, the bill increases to $1 million the threshold for eligibility for assistance for what qualifies as a small project under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, thereby allowing more recovery projects to proceed under simplified procedures. H.R.5641 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): SPEED Recovery Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

The prior threshold, established in 1988, was $35,000 and adjusted to account for the Consumer Price Index inflation in 2022 was $139, 000.  If it passes the Senate and signed into law, the bill would reduce the burden on communities seeking relief for disaster recovery by increasing the projects eligible for the simplified procedures.  H. Rept. 117-274 - SMALL PROJECT EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE DISASTER RECOVERY ACT | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Congressman Harris voted Yea. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details

March 31, 2022 – H.R. 6833:  Affordable Insulin Now Act

According to the Congressional summary, the bill limits cost-sharing for insulin under private health insurance and the Medicare prescription drug benefit.  Specifically, the bill would cap cost-sharing under private health insurance for a month's supply of selected insulin products at $35 or 25% of a plan's negotiated price (after any price concessions), whichever is less, beginning in 2023.

The bill would cap cost-sharing under the Medicare prescription drug benefit for a month's supply of covered insulin products at $35 beginning in 2023.  H.R.6833 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Affordable Insulin Now Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Congressman Harris voted with other Republicans to send the bill back to committee.  When that motion to recommit failed, he voted Yay with only 11 other Republicans to support the bill.  The bill was introduced by and supported by all Democrats except for one who did not vote. https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2022102. 

February 4, 2022 - H.R. 4521:  United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021

According to the Congressional bill summary, the bill has multiple provisions addressing U.S. technology and communications, foreign relations and national security, domestic manufacturing education, trade and other matters.  The provisions include:  funding to support U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, research and development and supply chain security, funding for wireless supply chain innovation, requiring federal infrastructure programs to provide for the use of materials produced in the U.S., imposing sanctions on China for cybersecurity and human rights abuses, initiatives related to elementary and secondary education, including those to increase computer science education, and requiring the U.S. Trade Representative to take certain actions related to digital trade and censorship practices.   H.R.4521 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress 

The bill passed the House on February 4, 2022 by a vote of 222 to 210.  Congressman Harris voted Nay. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details.

The bill passed the Senate on March 24, 2022, by a vote of 68 – 28.  The bill now returns to the House for resolution of differences.

The Congressman has updated his website to give it a more modern look.  While he continues to list “recent votes” he continues to not provide his reasons for all his votes.  https://harris.house.gov/about/votes-and-legislation.  First District residents deserve more than an occasional press release or generic mailer.  They deserve to know the facts, and to know how and why the Congressman thinks the vote will serve the interests of First District residents.