Rep. Andy Harris touts federal wins for Eastern Shore, vows continued fight over offshore wind and farmland solar

Congressman Andy Harris told members of the Eastern Shore delegation on Jan. 23 that he secured federal investments for the district and promised to press federal authorities on issues ranging from dredging to energy policy. "We had about $50,000,000 in community project funding for 15 projects across the district," Harris said, citing support for volunteer fire companies, hospital construction and other local priorities.

Harris framed his federal priorities as support for local infrastructure and agriculture. He urged federal and state scrutiny of renewable projects placed on productive farmland, saying USDA has agreed not to administer certain loans for projects sited on productive fields and that broader tax-credit changes make some projects less attractive. "When a solar panel goes on a piece of farmland, that farmland's gone forever," Harris said, adding concerns about persistent chemicals on some imported panels.

Why it matters: the delegation represents largely rural counties where agriculture, seafood and small businesses are major economic drivers. Harris’s remarks signal sustained federal advocacy for projects the delegation views as critical, and they align with local worries about land use and energy costs.

Harris also described funding and project wins for coastal and maritime infrastructure. He said he secured language or funding to expand dredging capacity and cited a $40,000,000 item placed in a bill to obtain a new dredge vessel for the Army Corps of Engineers. "We got $40,000,000 put in 1 of the bills to actually, have, obtain another dredge vessel," he said, framing that as central to navigation and commerce in waterways that serve the Shore.

Delegates pressed Harris on specific local regulatory problems. Senator Carrozza raised the expiration of a Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) general discharge permit for animal feed operations and said the lapse had a local economic impact: "…that equated to about $30,000,000 in lost business for our builders, our realtors, our poultry farmers, our manufacturers." Harris said he would "look into that issue in particular" and suggested federal pressure (EPA nudges) could be part of the response if state permitting authority is failing.

Harris also described fisheries and agriculture priorities — including efforts to support blue catfish processing and to re-orient some federal oyster restoration spending toward public fisheries instead of sanctuaries — and urged the delegation to press the governor on state budget priorities that, he argued, push costs to local jurisdictions.

The session included a 20–30 minute Q&A with delegates who raised topics from dredging and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore veterinary-school accreditation to solar end-of-life and redistricting. Harris closed by thanking the delegation for the invitation and by reiterating his availability to follow up on federal matters.

The delegation moved to nonprofit and association presentations after Harris's visit; there were no formal legislative votes connected to Harris’s visit at the meeting.