Congressman Andy Harris responded on March 12 to Governor Wes Moore’s announcement of “MeatOut Day in Maryland,” which encourages residents to reduce or eliminate meat consumption in favor of plant-based diets.
The proclamation is part of a national campaign led by the Farm Animal Rights Movement, an advocacy group that promotes annual outreach campaigns encouraging people to remove meat from their diets. The initiative aims to raise awareness about plant-based eating and its potential benefits.
In his statement, Harris said, “Maryland farmers and watermen have been under siege from the Moore Administration since his first day in office. The mass-covering of farm fields by subsidized and state-mandated solar panels is threatening livestock and poultry production across the state. And now, in the midst of a historically challenging year for Maryland’s oyster industry, instead of extending a helping hand to promote ‘Maryland’s Best,’ he openly encourages Marylanders to even further cut down their consumption of meat products.”
Harris continued, “This is yet another demonstration by ‘Governor IDGAF’ that he does not care about the Eastern Shore, or any rural communities that rely on these critical industries. Perhaps the Governor needs a reminder of what industries are represented on the State Seal, unless he plans on changing that too.”
Harris has served in the U.S. Congress representing Maryland’s 1st district since 2011 after replacing Frank Kratovil, according to available records. He previously served in both the Maryland House of Representatives and the Maryland Senate from 1999 to 2011. Harris was born in New York City in 1957 and currently lives in Cambridge. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1977.
The broader implications of this exchange highlight ongoing tensions between state policies promoting environmental initiatives and concerns among agricultural communities about their economic impact.
