Vice Presidential Pool Reports of April 22, 2024

VP travel report #1 - DC departure

Good morning from Joint Base Andrews, where it is a sunny day in the low 50s.

I'll be your pooler today.

Vice President Kamala Harris boarded Air Force 2 at 10:12 a.m.

Estimated wheels off was 10:15 a.m.

VP travel report #2 - Wisconsin airport arrival

Good morning,

The vice president has arrived at La Crosse Regional Airport after a somewhat bumpy descent across windy skies. The weather here is mostly cloudy and in the high 50s.

In the back cabins, during the flight, Air Force 2 televisions were playing coverage of Trump's trial on CNN.

Wheels down was approx. 11:25 a.m.

VP travel report #3 - VP greeting at JBA

On Background From A White House Official:

Upon arrival at JBA, the Vice President was greeted by Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.

VP travel report #4 - WI arrival greeters

On Background From A White House Official:

Upon arrival in WI, the Vice President was greeted by Secretary Sarah Godlewski and Attorney General Josh Kaul.

VP travel report #5 - health care workers event

Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday unveiled new national minimum staffing standards for federally-funded nursing homes and a new requirement to help increase pay for home health care workers.

In a round table with health care leaders and nursing workers, Harris denounced the impact of staffing shortages at nursing facilities across the company and lauded the work of home health care workers as crucial to guaranteeing people safety and dignity.

"I say it is about time that we start to recognize your value and pay you accordingly," she said to cheers and applause from an audience of about 30 people gathered at the Hmoob Cultural and Community Agency in La Crosse, Wis. Some attendees are wearing purple and yellow SEIU union shirts.

In her remarks, Harris said Medicaid pays $125 billion a year to home health care companies, which covers about hundreds of thousands of workers. But until now those companies have not been required to report how their federal dollars are being spent, she said. The rule change will require that 80 percent of that money be spent on paying workers as opposed to administrative expenses.

Harris called the changes historic.

Below is the list of round table participants:

• Administrator Chiquita- Brooks Lasure
• April Varrett, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer
• Lisa Briggs, CNA, Jewish Home and Care Center
• Lisa Gordon, CNA and Med Tech, Monroe Health Care Services
• Aryanna Arnone-White, CNA, Oakwood Village Senior Living Facility

VP travel report #6 - more quotes/off script-moment at health event

Health care workers at the community center round table spoke about their work and emphasized that the many of the people who do what they do are women, women of color, and immigrant.

In an off-script moment, Vice President Harris jumped in to take a shot at those attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, saying there were "people in our country right now" who may not want to have conversations that include the issue of pay equity based on gender. "Whether it be in the WNBA or recognizing that the traditional work of women, nurses teachers remains underpaid, especially when you when you measure it based on the value of the work."

Harris ended the event by thanking the participants. "I just can't thank you enough because, you know, I took care of my mother when she was sick, and she had cancer. And I did a fraction of what you do."

Full Otter here.
https://otter.ai/u/D9onoxxwP-WLaMuYkEwj4r-ZIbA

VP travel report #7 - La Crosse campaign event begins

Secretary Sarah Godlewski gave an impassioned rebuke of Donald Trump and what she called his "egregious attacks on abortion." She is followed by Representative Mark Pocan, who says the attacks on women in Wisconsin are even worse. About 100 people are seated at long tables at the Las Crosse center for the event.

The livestream link is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCoriPynZcs

VP travel report #8 - La Crosse departure

Good afternoon, we've made it back to La Crosse regional airport.

Vice President Kamala Harris boarded Air Force 2 at approx. 2:34 p.m.

Wheels up should be about 2:45 p.m.

VP travel report #9 - JBA arrival

We've made it back to JBA. Wheels down was approx. at 5:35 p.m.

VP travel report #10 - Harris exits + no questions

Vice President Kamala Harris descended the stairs of Air Force 2 just after 5:45 p.m.

She waved to the press without taking questions. Your pooler attempted to shout over the noise for her reaction to the college protests. It went unheard.

That's it from me.

Until next time!