About Andy Harris
Andrew P. Harris was born on January 25, 1957. Andy lives in Cockeysville with his wife Sylvia (Cookie) and their five children; Joseph, Rebecca, Irene, Jessica, and Daniel.
Military Service:
U.S. Naval Reserve Medical Corps (Lt. Commander, 1988-94; Commander, 1994-present) and active service during Operation Desert Storm. Commanding Officer, The Johns Hopkins Naval Reserve Medical Unit, 1989-92.
Professional Medical Career:
Andy maintains a full-time practice as a nationally recognized obstetric anesthesiologist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he also is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine. He is involved in the following national and statewide professional associations: American Society of Anesthesiology (obstetric anesthesia subcommittee 1993-94, 98-99); Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (Board of Directors 1996-present); Maryland-D.C. Society of Anesthesiologists (President 2005–present)
Community Involvement:
Andy has been an active member of his church for over 25 years. His community leadership roles have included: Thornleigh Neighborhood Improvement Association (vice-president, 1984-85; president, 1985-86); Sherwood Community Association (Board of Directors, 1987-91); St. Joseph's School Home-School Association (Vice-President, 1992-94); St. Joseph’s School (Board member, 2003- present); Maryland Leadership Council (Board of Directors, 1995-98); North Central Republican Club (Treasurer, 1997-98; Vice-president, 1998).
Education:
College of Arts and Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University, B.S. (human biology), 1977; School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, M.D., 1980; School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, M.H.S. (health policy & management), 1995.
Public Office:
Andrew P. Harris M.D. was elected to the Maryland Senate in 1998 and is serving his third term in the Maryland General Assembly, representing the 7th legislative district which includes parts of Baltimore and Harford Counties. The only physician in the Senate, Senator Harris currently serves on the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee (Health Subcommittee) and the Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing. He served as Senate Minority Whip during the Ehrlich administration. Andy Harris won the Republican nomination for Congress in Maryland's first congressional district on February 12, 2008.
To learn more about Andy Harris, visit www.AndyHarris.com.
Harris on the Issues
Cost of Energy
- Temporarily suspend the federal and state gasoline taxes of $.42 from Memorial Day through Labor Day
- Increase efficiency and simplify the refining process by temporarily reducing the over 40 different gasoline blends nationwide to four blends.
- Open domestic natural gas and oil production in areas such as off the Aleutian Islands, in ANWR, and on the continental shelf to decrease our dependence on oil from foreign countries.
- Increase long-term oil-refining capacity by establishing fast-track approval for construction of new refineries and expansion of existing refineries.
- Provide incentives for technological innovations in alternative forms of energy like nuclear, cellulosic ethanol, solar, geothermal, and hydrogen cells.
Economy
Key Principle: Andy Harris believes in lowering taxes and decreasing wasteful government spending to stimulate economic growth.
American workers are the hardest working and most innovative in the world. Sadly, our country is in a tough economic time. Higher energy costs, rising food prices, and an overall increase in the day-to-day cost of living are causing working families to struggle to make ends meet.
As Andy has been traveling the district, he has seen first hand the struggles families in the first district are facing. Though the economy is in a rough place right now, Andy has confidence in the free-market system and the talent of American workers to bring us out of this slowdown.
As a member of Congress, Andy will fight to lower taxes and decrease wasteful government spending to stimulate economic growth. He believes that hard-working Americans understand how to spend their money better than the government. Tax cuts under John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan stimulated the economy, and the same will occur if taxes are lowered today.
Healthcare
Key Principle: Andy Harris believes in expanding healthcare to the uninsured and lowering healthcare costs through free-market principles.
Everyday Andy works in the hospital, he sees first hand the issues facing the healthcare industry. As a physician, Andy wants to bring his experience and expertise in healthcare to improving the access and affordability of healthcare for all residents in the first district. Andy knows first hand the issues facing healthcare in the United States.
Every American should have access to quality affordable healthcare. Andy believes in using free-market principles to expand coverage to the uninsured and lower costs. Andy is opposed to socialized government run healthcare (ie HillaryCare). HillaryCare will only lead to limited rationing of healthcare coverage. Americans would be forced to wait six months or a year for certain surgeries as has become the case in government run healthcare systems around the world.
Americans must remember though the healthcare system in the United States has problems, the United States leads the world in innovation and quality of healthcare. Each day new discoveries are made to help people live longer and healthier lives. Andy will continue to fight for policies that allow innovation so America will continue to be the world leader in healthcare innovation.
Education
With five children in school, Andy understands the importance of providing a quality education to our children in order to let them succeed in today's workplace.
In the State Senate, Andy was the leader in insisting on accountability in our school systems whenever taxpayer dollars were spent on education. His leadership was key in passage of Governor Ehrlich's landmark charter school legislation.
Illegal Immigration
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Protecting Our Second Amendment Rights
Key Principle: As a naval officer with an expert pistol qualification who believes in the historical basis and the value of the 2nd amendment, Andy supports the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.
Andy Harris believes each law-abiding citizen has the right to keep and bear arms. Andy is a pistol expert in the US Naval Reserves and is an NRA life member. As a State Senator, Andy has received “A+” ratings from the NRA numerous times, and has been endorsed by the NRA. Andy is a member of and has been endorsed by the Gun Owners of America.
Andy's Positions:
- The right to keep and bear arms is an individual right that cannot be taken away from a law-abiding citizen. Therefore, the federal government does not have the right to keep records of who does and who doesn't possess firearms.
- National right-to-carry laws with reciprocity should be enacted.
- The right to self-defense means that an American should be allowed to take any means necessary to defend their home and loved ones from loss or harm - without fear of government or personal legal action when self-defense is used ( ie. the Castle Doctrine).
- Public lands should be made available to citizens for legal hunting.
Support of the Military
As a member of the military, Andy understands the necessity of a strong national defense. As a member of Congress Andy will:
- Fully fund our men and women in uniform fighting the War on Terror
- Improve the healthcare provided to members of the military and our Veterans.
- Continue to fight terrorists where they are, so they do not attack us here at home again.
To learn more about Andy Harris, visit www.AndyHarris.com.