Vice President Kamala Harris headed to the Big Apple to help sell President Joe Biden’s sweeping economic agenda.
The VP traveled to New York, where she is expected to discuss “how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal and the Build Back Better Agenda will benefit working families,” according to the White House.
Harris arrived at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y., where she was greeted by greeted by Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., who represents parts of The Bronx and Westchester County, including Mount Vernon, Yonkers and New Rochelle.
Harris visited the Northeast Bronx YMCA, a recently opened facility which boasts multiple pools, fitness studios, youth and family programs and other amenities meant to serve the community.
“I’ve worked with the Y for years, and I’m a member of the Y,” Harris said, telling staffers that she “used to swim at the Y a long time ago.”
“It’s really beautiful,” the vice president said of the brand new facility.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Lt. Gov Brian Benjamin and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who also represents parts of The Bronx, were on hand at the YMCA for the event.
“How cool is this that she could have been anywhere in the country, anywhere in New York, and she’s right here in the Bronx?” Hochul said of Harris.
Hochul expressed that she was “so proud” to have the support of Biden and Harris.
Rep. Bowman, in his remarks before introducing Sec. Becerra, pledged that “we are going to deal with the climate crisis, and we are not going to leave people of color behind.”
Harris’ event comes as the two key pieces of Biden’s economic agenda – the $1 trillion Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill and the larger Build Back Better act aimed at expanding the social safety net – are under negotiation in Congress.
During Harris’ speech, she was interrupted by a protester who said that better infrastructure could have saved people who drowned in their basement apartments when Hurricane Ida ravaged the northeast nearly two months ago. The vice president, for her part, agreed.
“You are right, brother,” Harris said to the heckler, who continued to interrupt her while she was talking. “I know you are, and how about if you and I talk about that … after I give my comments, and I’m happy to talk with you.”
A man is removed by security after shouting questions at Vice President Kamala Harris, including about climate change and recent drownings, during her speech at the Northeast Bronx YMCA, in the Bronx borough of New York, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
“But right now, let’s talk about the agenda that will include speaking to all people and allowing everybody to be heard, because thats part of what we want in our democracy,” Harris continued. “Everybody gets a chance to talk, and everybody gets a chance to be heard.”
The heckler was removed from the room while the audience applauded the vice president’s comments.
Biden had a breakfast meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and were joined virtually by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as negotiations reach a fever pitch in Congress. Pelosi said after the meeting that a deal is “very possible.”
“I’m very optimistic,” Pelosi said, adding: “Whatever it is, it is going to be bigger than anything we have ever done for the American people.”
Pelosi declined to say whether or not a deal was possible Friday, saying only that there are some outstanding issues, including health care. The Speaker noted that it’s “up to the Senate and the White House to decide” if Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., the Senate’s centrist holdouts, are on board.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Friday that they are aiming to vote on both bills before Oct. 31, when a number of surface transportation programs are set to expire.
“The House will aim to consider the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Build Back Better Act this work period,” Hoyer said on the House floor Friday. “I hope to bring both of those bills to the floor next week, if they’re ready.”
At a CNN town hall in Baltimore on Thursday night, Biden also expressed confidence that a deal was within reach, telling the audience that “I do think I’ll get a deal.”
“We’re down to four or five issues,” Biden said of the ongoing negotiations, but did not detail what those issues are. “I think we can get there.”
“It’s all about compromise,” Biden said, adding: “Compromise has become a dirty word, but … bipartisanship and compromise still has to be possible.”
In order to reach an accord, the size of the sweeping 10-year spending plan has been whittled down to somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 trillion. On Thursday night, President Biden laid out what’s in it — and, importantly, what’s not.
For instance, the paid leave provision has been reduced to four weeks from the originally proposed 12 weeks.
“It is down to four weeks,” Biden confirmed. “The reason it’s down to four weeks is I can’t get 12 weeks.”
Biden also noted that it might be a “reach” to include dental and vision coverage in Medicare, a progressive priority opposed by moderate Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., one of the key centrist senators in the caucus.
Biden said that Sen. Manchin and “one other person” indicated they would not support the free community college provision, and said that Democrats are looking into expanding Pell grants to help bridge the gap.
“It’s not going to get us the whole thing,” Biden said, but noted that he would be forging ahead with his free college education plans in the coming months.
“I’m gonna get it done,” Biden pledged. “And if I don’t, I’m going to be sleeping alone for a long time,” referring to his wife, first lady Dr. Jill Biden, an educator and staunch education advocate.
Biden said that in an evenly divided Senate, every senator’s vote is crucial: “Look, in the United States Senate, when you have 50 Democrats, every one is the president.”
The bill, which was originally proposed at a $3.5 trillion figure and contained funding for paid family leave, education and climate programs, has been paired with a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, which received widespread bipartisan support when it passed the Senate earlier this summer.
The two pieces of legislation crucial to Biden’s agenda have been stalled as moderates and progressives have haggled over the price tag of the Build Back Better bill — which requires no Republican support thanks to the Senate’s budget reconciliation process — and the order in which both bills would be passed.
