There is a new bill in the House of Representatives called H.R. 637, sponsored by our 1st District Representative, Dr. Andy Harris. This broad, sweeping bill seeks to reclassify several chemicals so that they would no longer be regulated nor considered, “air pollutants,”
Dr. Harris’s bill says these are no longer air pollutants: methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, carbon dioxide. I researched these chemicals, and I can’t find any reason why we would want these chemicals in our air, unregulated. These chemicals are gasses that contribute to air pollution. If they go into our air, they will impact our crops, livestock, seafood, soil and waters that are the bounty of our Chesapeake Bay region, not to mention our lungs! Remember smog, acid rain, greenhouse gasses? The polluted Potomac River? Let’s work together in a bipartisan way to protect our Bay Region. You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Our God given air, soils, and water, need our good stewardship. This bill can be found online here. It is a very short, easy read, yet disastrous for our Bay Region. Our representatives work hard and deserve our respect. Often they may not know how we feel about certain bills.
Let’s make sure Mr. Harris knows that this bill is not in the best interest of a healthy 1st District Baltimore, Eastern Shore, and Chesapeake Bay Region. Dr.. Harris’ local office can be reached here . I encourage you to make your concerned, red and blue voices heard.
Chris Koch
Mary Wood says
Rep. Harris is a doctor.Surely he must have learned in medical school about what gases go into the atmosphere and cause damage to human lungs. He is supposed to represent our district which includes the East side of the Bay. His bill would do damage to efforts to clean up its waters.
joe diamond says
These gasses & the processes that produce them are not part of medical school curricula.
However Dr. Harris would have a better shot at understanding the health results from encountering them. As a group they are not even cited as having an effect of human health. They are cited as a package of byproduct gases that contribute to global warming.
SO, in the absence of a presentation that these gasses do not contribute to global warming, why would we listen to the man from Cockeysville, MD. Take a look at the congressional district we & Doctor Harris share. His house is in the big pocket over near Baltimore.
Seek expert advice on the gasses…….Dr. Harris does not seem to be that source………….but he is led by The Republican Party as led by Donald Trump.
joe
Darby Hewes says
You should also read his bill 610 regarding Education cutbacks and vouchers.
Earl Runde says
Thanks to The Spy for alerting us to another idea Rep Harris has that is not in our best interests. As Reported in the Kent County News, he is refusing to hold town meetings with his constituents.
Faye Marriner says
As a resident of the eastern shore of Maryland I don’t understand the reasoning of Dr. Harris presenting this bill.
It is certainly not in the best interest of the Chesapeake Bay region and will allow harmful gazes to pollute our envitonment.
I do not support this bill.
Deirdre LaMotte says
I am so sick and tired of these far right, unpatriotic, Corporate -owned Republicans . Why in heavens name would anyone, especially a Representative from the Chesapeake Bay region, propose such a Bill? Pressure from Chemical Industries is the only reason I can imagine. Insanity. We must defeat this dreadful man.
Michael Johnson says
Andy Harris doesn’t even get the concept that sewage runs down hill ! Ya’ll keep voting for him though.
Dominic Terrone says
If Andy Harris would be so kind as to spend about a week or two in an enclosed chamber with copious levels of methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexaflouride and carbon dioxide, he’d be doing his 1st District voters a big favor. Then we’ll know he’s correct. Or not.
Otherwise, I believe him as far as I can throw him.
Richard White says
Dear Andy Harris,H.R. 637, sponsored by you, our 1st District Representative. This broad, sweeping bill seeks to reclassify several chemicals so that they would no longer be regulated nor considered, “air pollutants,” Please do not Dr. Harris’s bill says these are no longer air pollutants: methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, carbon dioxide.l I can’t find any reason why we would want these chemicals in our air, unregulated. These chemicals are gasses that contribute to air pollution. If they go into our air, they will impact our crops, livestock, seafood, soil and waters that are the bounty of our Chesapeake Bay region, not to mention our lungs! Remember smog, acid rain, greenhouse gasses? The polluted Potomac River? Let’s work together in a bipartisan way to protect our Bay Region. You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Our God given air, soils, and water, need our good stewardship. Be the leader that stood up for the right thing, something you can be proud of when your term is over in the future.