Andy Harris

On November 2, 2010, Andy Harris was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 1st congressional district. Harris, a Republican, defeated Democratic incumbent Frank Kratovil in a closely watched race. Prior to his election to Congress, Harris was a practicing physician and served in the Maryland State Senate. His win was part of a larger Republican wave in the 2010 midterm elections, which saw the GOP gain control of the House of Representatives. Harris has since been re-elected multiple times, and he has become known for his conservative positions on issues such as healthcare, taxation, and government spending.

On September 12, 2012, Andy Harris took a prominent stand against the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare. As a professional physician, Harris vociferously opposed the legislation, arguing that it would lead to increased government control over healthcare, raise costs, and limit patient choice. He supported efforts to repeal and replace the ACA, aligning with the Republican Party's broader strategy. Harris's opposition, backed by his medical background, made him a key voice in the ongoing debate over the future of healthcare in the United States, although the ACA was ultimately upheld in subsequent legislative and judicial challenges.

In 2014, Andy Harris made headlines for his opposition to efforts to decriminalize marijuana in Washington, D.C. Harris used his position on the House Appropriations Committee to insert a rider into a congressional spending bill that blocked the District of Columbia from using its local funds to implement marijuana decriminalization. This move sparked significant controversy and debates about the rights of D.C. to govern its own affairs without interference from Congress. Critics argued that Harris was subverting the will of D.C. voters, who had supported decriminalization, while Harris defended his actions by citing concerns about public health and federal drug laws.

In 2015, Congressman Andy Harris was involved in activities related to the House Select Committee on Benghazi, which was investigating the 2012 Benghazi attack that resulted in the death of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. The committee, led by Republicans, sought to uncover details about the attack and the Obama Administration's response, particularly scrutinizing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's role. Harris was a vocal participant in pushing for accountability and transparency, amidst accusations from Democrats that the investigation was politically motivated to damage Clinton's presidential bid.

Congressman Andy Harris expressed his support for President Trump's executive order issued on January 27, 2017, which temporarily banned travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. The executive order, known as the travel ban, was met with widespread protests and legal challenges. Harris defended the ban as a necessary measure for national security, stating that it was important to ensure proper vetting processes for immigrants and refugees entering the United States. The travel ban and its subsequent revisions were criticized by many as being discriminatory against Muslims, leading to prolonged legal battles and debates about its constitutionality.

In June 2018, Congressman Andy Harris faced criticism over his position regarding the Trump Administration's policy of separating families at the U.S.-Mexico border as part of its zero-tolerance immigration enforcement. Critics, including many of his constituents, protested outside of his district office, calling on him to speak out against the policy, which was widely condemned for causing trauma to thousands of children separated from their parents. Harris's response was that he supported securing the border but acknowledged the need for a more humane way to address immigration and ensure family unity, amidst intense public pressure and backlash.

On December 18, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Congressman Andy Harris voted against the articles of impeachment, aligning with the majority of Republican representatives. Harris stated that he believed the impeachment process was a politically motivated attack by Democrats against Trump, lacking sufficient evidence of wrongdoing. Despite the House passing the articles of impeachment, Trump remained in office after the Senate acquitted him in early 2020. The event highlighted the deep partisan divides in Congress over the impeachment process.

In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congressman Andy Harris endorsed the use of hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug, as a potential treatment for COVID-19. Harris, who is a physician, echoed claims made by President Trump and others that the drug could help combat the virus. However, this position was controversial, as health experts and studies later disputed the drug's effectiveness and warned of potential side effects. Harris's endorsement was part of a larger debate over treatment strategies during the pandemic, reflecting the political and scientific challenges faced by policymakers and medical professionals.

On January 6, 2021, Congressman Andy Harris was among those who objected to the certification of the Electoral College results during the Joint Session of Congress. This was the same day that the U.S. Capitol was violently breached by a mob seeking to overturn the 2020 Presidential election results, which declared Joe Biden the winner. Harris, along with other Republican members, participated in objections to the certification of results from certain states, citing baseless claims of widespread election fraud. The event led to widespread condemnation and debates over the role of political leaders in fomenting the insurrection and challenging democratic processes.

On January 25, 2022, a heated altercation occurred on the House floor involving Congressman Andy Harris. During a vote, Harris and another Congressman, Colin Allred from Texas, had a tense exchange over the continued masking requirements and COVID-19 protocols in Congress. Witnesses reported that the confrontation nearly escalated into a physical altercation, highlighting the highly charged atmosphere and partisan tensions within the House of Representatives regarding the handling of COVID-19 measures. Both lawmakers later downplayed the incident and emphasized the importance of focusing on legislative work amid the pandemic challenges.