Congressman Harris Vote Update – November 2021

The Congressman’s legislative actions during the last month.

A listing of all roll call votes in the United States House of Representatives can be found at Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Votes.   A summary of Congressman Harris’ recent voting activity can also be found at Andy Harris (R-Md.) | Represent | ProPublica.

The Congressman’s legislative actions during the last month included these:

November 19, 2021:  H.R.5376:  Build Back Better Act.    The bill passed the House by a vote of 220 to 213.   Congressman Harris joined all Republicans and 1 Democrat to vote NO.  Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details. 

Congressman Harris posts his recent votes on his website.  Votes and Legislation | Congressman Andy Harris (house.gov).   Most often, he does not explain the reasons for his votes.  In this case, however, he issued a press release to decry the “reckless spending” bill that will “make inflation worse, further raise gas and heating oil prices, bolster our national debt, incentivize illegal immigration, do nothing to address record opioid deaths” and “bankrupt the country,” among other things.  The Congressman stated he “joined the “bipartisan opposition to the Democrats’ socialist … spending spree that includes the largest tax increase in American history….” Harris Votes "No" on Build Back Better Act | Congressman Andy Harris (house.gov).

Apocalyptic in tone and invoking the specter of national demise, the press release does not address specific provisions in the bill.  Mr. Harris also does not enlighten his constituents as to why he considers the bill “socialist” or how the legislation will “bankrupt the country.”  The bill still has to go through Senate review and will most likely will return to the House for approval of Senate changes.

The White House described the Build Back Better Framework in late October.  Build Back Better Framework | The White House.  The framework referenced universal preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds; limiting child care costs for families to no more than 7% of income for families earning up to 250% of state median income[1]; strengthening the Medicaid home health program for older Americans and people with disabilities; investments in clean energy; investment in housing affordability and reducing price pressures, including in rural areas; investment in work force development and improving the immigration system.  The bill’s costs would be offset by, among other things, stopping profitable corporations from paying zero in tax, stop rewarding corporations for shipping jobs overseas, ask the highest income Americans to pay their fair share, and investment in IRS enforcement.    The Congressional Budget Office has provided a cost estimate for H.R. 5376, but did not count any additional revenue that may be generated by additional funding for tax enforcement.  Summary of Cost Estimate for H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act | Congressional Budget Office (cbo.gov).

The Congressman states that the bill includes the largest tax increase in American history, but omits to say that that the bill restructures and increases tax rates for certain corporations and high-income individuals.  H.R.5376 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Build Back Better Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress.  The Congressional non-partisan Committee on Taxation issued a report on November 23, 2021 correcting an error in the calculation of the average tax rate for calendar year 2020 for taxpayers with incomes in excess of $500,000.  The corrected reports indicate that individuals reporting income of $1 Million Dollars or more will be primarily affected.  GetFile.aspx (jct.gov).  According to the Speaker of the House, the corrected analysis from the Joint Committee on Taxation affirms that that the Build Back Better Act will dramatically cut taxes for people making less than $400,000 and increase taxes on those making more than $1 million.  NBC: Biden's safety net package would raise, not lower, taxes on millionaires, new estimates show | Speaker Nancy Pelosi

The Congressman’s statement that he joined “bipartisan opposition” to the bill is misleading at best. The sole Democrat to vote against Build Back Better stated he did so because he believed elimination of the existing $10,000 cap on state and local tax (SALT) would benefit the wealthy, but not the middle class.  An Update for My Constituents on Negotiations on the Build Back Better Act | by Congressman Jared Golden | Nov, 2021 | Medium.  As one may recall, before 2017, there was no limit on the amount of state and local taxes taxpayers could claim on their tax returns.  The 2017 Republican Congress Tax Cuts and Jobs Act limited the eligible SALT deduction to $10,000 per year. What proposed SALT changes could mean for your next tax bill - Vox

November 19, 2021:  H.R. 6060 – To Amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit governmental discrimination against health care providers that do not participate in abortion. Text - H.R.6060 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): To amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit governmental discrimination against health care providers that do not participate in abortion. | Congress.gov | Library of Congress.  As of November 28, the text of the bill had not been received.  The Congressman’s press release links to the text.   Harris Re-introduces Conscience Protection Act to Defend Rights of Healthcare Providers | Congressman Andy Harris (house.gov)

The Congressman states the bill will strengthen the rights of health care providers to object to medical procedures on moral and religious grounds.   Current enforcement of existing conscience provisions is conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The Congressman’s press release states that his bill would provide for a private right of action for “employees to defend their conscience rights in court by suing their employer.”   

November 17, 2021:  Censuring Representative Paul Gosar.  H. Res. 789.  H.Res.789 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Censuring Representative Paul Gosar. | Congress.gov | Library of Congress.  According to the House summary, the resolution censures Representative Paul Gosar for posting a video on his social media accounts that depicts violence against Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and President Biden.   

Congressman Harris voted NO.  221 Democrats and 2 Republicans voted yes; 207 Republicans voted no.  3 Republicans did not vote.

November 16, 2021: H.R. 147:  H.R. 147 Brave Act. H.R.147 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): To amend title 10, United States Code, to make certain improvements to services and benefits for veterans and separating members of the Armed Forces with respect to apprenticeship programs, and for other purposes. | Congress.gov | Library of Congress  The bill requires the Department of Labor to provide information concerning apprenticeship programs to members of the Armed Forces who are separating from active duty. The bill passed 427 – 0.

November 5, 2021: H.R. 3684 – Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.  According to the bill summary prepared by the Congressional Research Services, the bill:

• extends FY2021 enacted levels through FY2022 for federal-aid highway, transit, and safety programs;
• reauthorizes for FY2023-FY2026 several surface transportation programs, including the federal-aid highway program, transit programs, highway safety, motor carrier safety, and rail programs;
• addresses climate change, including strategies to reduce the climate change impacts of the surface transportation system and a vulnerability assessment to identify opportunities to enhance the resilience of the surface transportation system and ensure the efficient use of federal resources;
• revises Buy America procurement requirements for highways, mass transit, and rail;
• establishes a rebuild rural bridges program to improve the safety and state of good repair of bridges in rural communities;
• implements new safety requirements across all transportation modes; and
• directs DOT to establish a pilot program to demonstrate a national motor vehicle per-mile user fee to restore and maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund and achieve and maintain a state of good repair in the surface transportation system.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22HR+3684%22%2C%22HR%22%2C%223684%22%5D%7D&s=

Funds for Maryland are expected to include

• $4.1 billion for federal-aid highway projects over five years
• $1.7 billion for revitalizing almost a quarter of aging public transportation vehicles, and over $150 million to the Washington Metro Transit Authority to improve safety and make repairs over eight years.
• $844 million for improving water infrastructure and ensuring clean drinking water in communities 
• $238 million to continue the restoration of Chesapeake Bay over five years
• $409 million for bridge replacement and repairs over five years
• $200 million for expanding broadband coverage, including providing internet access to at least 148,000 Marylanders who currently do not have such service 
• $158 million for airport infrastructure improvements development over five years. 
• $63 million for supporting the expansion of an electric vehicle charging network over five years
• $15.9 million for protecting Marylanders against cyberattacks
• $7.9 million for protecting against wildfires over five years, and for preparing infrastructure for the impact of extreme weather events 
• Maryland will also benefit from the bill’s $3.5 billion national investment in housing weatherization programs, which would cut energy costs for low-income households. 

Source:  Infrastructure law includes nearly $8 billion for Maryland projects (delmarvanow.com)

The bill had passed in the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 69 to 30 (1 not voting) U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 117th Congress - 1st Session.  The House voted to concur in the Senate Amendment and the bill passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 228 to 206. 

Governor Hogan supported the infrastructure bill.  Governor Larry Hogan on Twitter: "The bipartisan infrastructure bill will improve quality of life for Marylanders, spur economic growth, and modernize our infrastructure to meet the needs of the 21st century. https://t.co/WG6mcKrerI" / Twitter. 

All members of the Maryland Congressional delegation voted in favor of the bill except for Congressman Harris who voted N0.   

The Congressman’s November 6, 2021 tweet stated that “we need infrastructure – but we also need to pay for it.  Yesterday’s infrastructure bill added hundreds of billions of dollars to the federal debt.  We have to stop spending our children and grandchildren’s money.”   Rep. Andy Harris, MD (@RepAndyHarrisMD) / Twitter.  

The potential for Maryland’s children and grandchildren to benefit from cleaner water, better roads, and broadband appears not to have been a factor for the Congressman.

November 4, 2021:  H.R. 3992:  Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2021.  H.R.3992 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): POJA Act of 2021 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress.  The bill passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 224 to 200.  According to the bill summary, the bill prohibits employers from limiting, segregating or classifying job applicants passed on an applicant’s age.  It also requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to study and report on claims received from job applicants involving age discrimination.  Harris voted NO.

October 26, 2021.  H.R.  2119, Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021.  H.R.2119 - 117th Congress (2021 -2022): Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress.  According to the bill summary, the bill modified, expanded and reauthorizes through FY2026 the Family Violence and Prevention Services program, which funds emergency shelters and supports related assistance for victims of domestic violence.  The bill passed the House 228 to 200.  Harris voted NO. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Vote Details 

Conclusion:  The Congressman continues a pattern of mostly voting NO, with little substantive  explanation for his vote and little – if any - detail as to why a particular bill would benefit – or not benefit -  voters in the First Congressional District.

[1] Household median income in Maryland in 2020 is estimated at $94, 284.  Maryland Economy - Income