By Ruth Ogunsanwo
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
One day after President Biden addressed a joint session of Congress to push an aggressive legislative agenda that would see the biggest government expansion in generations, Vice President Kamala Harris came to Baltimore today to tell voters why the White House proposals are important for the American people.
Harris echoed some of the same points the president made in his speech Wednesday night, saying the Biden administration has met numerous challenges in its first 100 days and will push legislation to help working families by expanding the social safety net.
“I am proud that we have provided relief to 4 million small business in our country,” Harris said after touring the mass vaccination center at M&T Bank Stadium with Gov. Larry Hogan today. “In 100 days, we have created more new jobs than any other administration in history.”
Harris said that when she and Biden took the oath of office, more than 10 million Americans were out of work, schools were closed, business were closed and democracy was under assault as the U.S. Capitol was assaulted on Jan. 6 by insurgents trying to stop the certification of Biden’s victory.
Harris said as daunting as these challenges were, the administration was not deterred. She said the White House developed the American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion package passed by Congress last month to help those suffering from the economic challenges caused by the pandemic.
“On day 50 of our administration, Biden signed the plan into law,” Harris said. “It is because of this law we are lifting half of America’s children who are living in poverty out of poverty.”
Harris also touted the American Jobs Plan, Biden’s proposal to spend $2.7 trillion on infrastructure improvements over the next 10 years. She said the plan will put Americans to work fixing roads, getting rid of pipes that poisons children, and expanding broadband so that every American has access to high speed and affordable internet.
The vice president also pushed the American Families Plan, which would establish universal pre-K, provide free tuition at community colleges, and lower the cost of childcare, among other things. The bill calls for a tax increase on corporations and those earning more than $400,000 a year to cover a portion of the $2.7 trillion price tag.
“America’s aspiration is the courage to see beyond crisis and to build crisis,” Harris said. “It’s about our endurance, our perseverance, and our ability to keep pushing forward.”
Harris and Hogan toured the M&T Stadium mass vaccination site, which recently hit a milestone by surpassing 200,000 vaccines.