Chestertown, MD — Today, Heather Mizeur, Democratic nominee for Congress, demanded that her opponent, Rep. Andy Harris, explain his latest vote against the interests of 9/11 families and first responders. Harris was one of just 31 House members who voted Friday against the Fairness for 9/11 Families Act.
All but one Democrat and a vast majority of Republicans in the House voted to increase compensation for 5,000 victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks, as well as their spouses and dependents, using unspent Covid-19 relief funds. In opposing the measure, Harris joined hands with a small number of his fellow House extremists, including Lauren Boebert, Louie Gohmert, and Andy Biggs.
This is not the first time that Andy Harris has voted against 9/11 families and first responders. In 2019, he was one of only 12 House members to oppose a bill permanently renewing the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund. First responders fought for over a decade to win passage of the bill to address the long-term health effects of the 9/11 attacks.
Harris, who had voted for a tax cut bill adding nearly $2 trillion to the national debt, called the $10 billion Victim Compensation Fund bill “fiscally irresponsible.” His vote on the Compensation Fund was cited by the International Association of Fire Fighters when they took the highly unusual step of censuring him earlier this year by unanimous vote.
Opposing the Fairness for 9/11 Families Act wasn’t even Harris’ only shameful vote on Friday. Along with fewer than 25 percent of House Republicans, he opposed a bill to help veterans at risk of hunger by establishing an Office of Food Security at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“What’s most galling about all this is the hypocrisy,” said Heather Mizeur, candidate for Congress in Maryland’s First District. “Andy Harris posts ‘We will never forget’ on the anniversary of 9/11, then votes against the brave first responders who gave everything that day. He claims to support veterans, but opposes their interests at every turn. First District voters have come to realize that Harris is not who he says he is. Actions speak louder than words, and Harris’ record against first responders and veterans has been appalling.”
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