Public Record
Public Land and Andy Harris
He talks about local control, outdoor heritage, and resisting “overreach.” His record supports cutting the very agencies and programs that protect access, habitat, water, and public lands— while aligning with privatization pressures that shrink the public’s stake.
What Harris says publicly
In public statements and broader conservative messaging, Andy Harris regularly frames himself as a defender of:
- Local control and property rights
- Outdoor heritage, hunting, fishing, and recreation
- Rural communities and land-based economies
- Opposition to federal “overreach” in land management
He often presents public land protections as excessive regulation and positions himself as standing up for landowners, sportsmen, and rural residents against Washington bureaucrats.
Voting record
Where Harris has supported Eastern Shore natural resources
Secured $93 million in Chesapeake Bay Program funding (FY2026)
As co-chair of the bipartisan Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, Harris helped pass $93 million in EPA Bay Program funding and $2 million for invasive blue catfish control — protecting the ecological and economic health of the Bay. (Source: Rep. Elfreth — Bay Task Force press release)
Played instrumental role restoring $60 million in Bay cleanup funding
Harris was credited with restoring $60 million in Chesapeake Bay cleanup program funding after earlier federal proposals had zeroed it out entirely — a significant intervention on behalf of the Bay's health and the communities that depend on it. (Source: Wikipedia — Andy Harris)
Secured dredging funding protecting Eastern Shore waterways
Harris secured $3.2 million for North East River dredging in Cecil County and led efforts to fund a $40–50 million replacement dredging vessel for the Army Corps — protecting navigable waterways that underpin the Shore's maritime economy and recreational use. (Source: Dredging Today — Harris dredge funding)
Where Harris has opposed public lands and conservation
Lifetime environmental score of 3% from League of Conservation Voters
The League of Conservation Voters, which tracks votes on environmental protection, clean energy, and public lands, has given Harris a lifetime score of 3% — reflecting consistent opposition to legislation protecting natural resources. (Source: Common Sense Eastern Shore)
Voted against the Coastal and Marine Economies Act
Harris voted against legislation that would have banned new offshore oil and gas drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts — even while publicly opposing offshore drilling near Ocean City. (Source: Wikipedia — Andy Harris)
Opposed conservation funding in Farm Bill negotiations
Harris voted against comprehensive Farm Bill packages that included conservation programs for working lands — funding that would have supported soil health, wetland protection, and water quality on Eastern Shore farms. (Source: GovTrack — Harris votes)
Impact on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Public land is not a western-only issue
While Maryland doesn’t have vast federal land holdings, public land policy still directly affects the Eastern Shore, including:
- Wildlife refuges and wetlands
- Coastal resilience and flood mitigation
- Chesapeake Bay restoration
- Public hunting, fishing, and outdoor access
- Tourism and recreation economies
Cuts to federal conservation and land programs ripple outward—impacting water quality, fisheries, and climate resilience in coastal regions like ours.
Economic consequences
- Public lands support outdoor recreation, tourism, and small businesses
- Conservation investments protect working waterfronts and rural economies
- Budget cuts shift long-term costs onto local governments and taxpayers
Public Statements and Voting Record
Bottom line: Public Statements and Voting Record
Where he has supported Eastern Shore natural resources
- Secured $93M in Chesapeake Bay Program funding (FY2026)
- Restored $60M in Bay cleanup funding
- Secured dredging funding for Eastern Shore waterways
Where he has opposed conservation
- Lifetime LCV environmental score of 3%
- Voted against Coastal and Marine Economies Act
- Opposed Farm Bill conservation program funding