Vice Presidential Pool Reports of December 17, 2024

VP Supplemental Pool #1- Checking in from MD/ Speech Excerpts

Greetings from Prince George's County, MD, where Vice President Harris will deliver a speech to young people today.

I'll be your print pooler for her remarks.

The VP is scheduled to speak at 11:35 p.m., and her speech will be live streamed at www.whitehouse.gov/live.

Here's some background from the VP's team, including excerpts from her remarks.

On Background From a White House Official:

Today, Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Prince George's County, MD to address high school and college students, recent graduates, and apprentices who have been active in their local communities. The Vice President will be joined by Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, and Senator-Elect Angela Alsobrooks. The Vice President's 11:35AM ET remarks will be livestreamed at www.whitehouse.gov/live.

The Vice President's remarks will focus on the importance of sustained civic engagement for the purpose of preserving and expanding fundamental freedoms for future generations of Americans. She will reiterate that it has been individual, private citizens who have been at the forefront of every fight for progress throughout American history. And she will say that the leadership of every day Americans is even more urgent and necessary in the months and years ahead.

Here are excerpts from the Vice President's remarks as prepared (immediately reportable):

• "Over the past several weeks, I have received tens of thousands of letters from people across our nation. Americans from every walk of life. People of every age, race, faith, and political party. These letters share a common theme. Yes, there is disappointment, but there is resolve for the future."
• "As we approach the end of this year, many people have come up to me, telling me they feel tired…maybe even resigned…That they're not sure whether they have the strength, much less the desire, to stay in the fight. But let me be very clear: no one can't walk away. We must stay in the fight. Every one of us. Including the fight for an economy that works not just for those at the very top, but for working people—for all Americans. The fight to make sure everyone has a fair shot to pursue their ambitions. The fight for our ideals. For our country. We must stay in the fight. Because that is the responsibility that comes with the privilege of being an American."
• "Everyone, please, get some rest over the holidays, and spend time with the people you love. And then I urge you…I challenge you… to come back ready. Ready to march into the future. Chin up, shoulders back, and forever impatient for change…. And ready to get back to work fighting for opportunity and freedom, back to work fighting for fairness and dignity, back to work fighting for this country we love and the future we share."

Tuesday's speech–and its focus on young leaders—will be a continuation of Vice President Harris' broader, future-focused leadership. The Vice President continues to believe that leaders must look 10, 20, 50 years out, and take steps now to achieve an affirmative, optimistic vision for the future. As part of this approach, the Vice President believes strongly in empowering and investing in young leaders. She has consistently focused on energizing, engaging, lifting up, and partnering with young leaders throughout the country and the world.

· During her travels to 36 states since taking office, she has regularly met with young leaders in their local communities – from climate leaders in Colorado and gun safety advocates in Virginia to STEM students, girl scouts, and Divine Nine members.

· The Vice President embarked on a nationwide Fight for Our Freedoms College Tour where she mobilized more than 15,000 students while making nine stops at HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, community colleges, apprenticeship programs, and state schools. During each stop, she took questions directly from young leaders on issues critical to the future of our nation, including reproductive freedom, gun safety, the environment, voting rights, and the economy.

· In her 17 trips abroad, the Vice President has regularly met with young leaders – from climate activists in Thailand to innovators in Tanzania. On her historic trip to Africa, Vice President re-framed the U.S. approach to Africa and made clear our priority is investing in the energy, dynamism, and creativity of Africa's young leaders, where the median age is 19.

· Vice President Harris has had a regular presence on high school and college campuses. She visited nearly 20 college campuses last year after visiting 14 schools in 2022. She has also visited registered apprenticeship programs across the country.

· The Vice President has regularly participated in national convenings geared towards young leaders. This includes speaking at Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund's annual Gun Sense University and Gun Violence Awareness Day, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's annual conference, a meeting of young entrepreneurs while in Durham's historic Black Wall Street district, and a gathering of Jack and Jill of America participants.

VP Supplemental Pool# 2--VP arrives in PG County/ Program begins

The VP arrived at Prince George's Community College, located in Largo, MD, at 11:12 a.m.

The program began at 11 a.m. in the college's Performing Arts Center. It's a full house, now spilling into standing-room only.

Reminder, the VP's remarks are streaming live at WH.gov/Live at 11:35 a.m.

Passing along the speaking program from the VP's office:

The Vice President delivers remarks to high school and college students, recent graduates, and apprentices who have been active in their local communities.

Speaking Program

Secretary Paul Monteiro, Maryland Department of Service and Innovation
Lieutenant Governor Aruba Miller, MD
Senator-Elect Angela Alsobrooks, MD
Governor Wes Moore, MD
Lauren Meuer, Introducer
The Vice President

VP Supplemental Pool #3- VP Speech Highlights/ Wheels up to DC

The VP was introduced at 11:49 a.m by Lauren Meuer, a student who is participating in Maryland Corps Service Year Program.

She introduced the VP as someone who had shown a strong commitment to youth, a "trailblazer" and "the first woman to be elected Vice President of the United States."

The VP began her remarks at 11:50 a.m., 15 minutes behind schedule.

After a very enthusiastic reception, she topped her remarks by acknowledging the school shooting that took place in Madison, Wisconsin on Monday and talk about gun violence.

"We as a nation must renew our commitment to end... both mass shootings and every day gun violence that touches so many communities."

"We must be committed to have the courage to know that solutions are in hand, but we need elected leaders to have the courage to step up and do the right thing."

The VP then turned to her scheduled remarks/ topic at hand, which was largely focused on telling the crowd to "stay in the fight."

She told the crowd that she came by to express "gratitude," and to "reaffirm our shared commitment to the work ahead."

She said she had received tens thousands of letters, and read a letter from a young person named Sasha, who said she was not giving up her drive and passion. She encouraged the crowd to do the same.

The VP said they were a generation that was "rightly impatient for change," who do not "allow your spirit or your sense of purpose to be defeated."

She did not mention President-elect Trump by name, but hit several of her campaign stump speech highlights, including the line about how the test of a leader is not who you beat down, but who you lift up and there's more than unites Americans and divides us.

Some other quotes/color of note:

"The movements for civil rights, women's rights, workers rights, the United States of America itself, would never have come to be if people had given up their cause after a court case, or a battle, or an election did not go their way," she said.

The crowd let out a long, affirming, "mmmmmmm..." when she said this line.

"What Sasha wrote, and what we here know is that in moments like this, the true test of our character is how resilient and persistent we are to pursue the future that we all can see. The true test of our commitment is whether, in the face of an obstacle, do we throw up our hands, or do we roll up our sleeves?"

There was another moment that solicited a strong crowd response.

After telling the group to stay true to their "spirit and their sense of purpose," she said, "And I ask you to remember the context in which you exist," which caused the crowd to chuckle.

She then paused and said: "Yea, I did that," with a little smile and nod.

The crowd cheered and clapped.

"I ask you to remember that this struggle is not new," she continued. "It goes back nearly 250, years, to Lexington and Concord."

She told the group to get some rest over the holidays, and then challenged them to "come back ready-- ready to chart our path to the future."

She wrapped her remarks at 12:06 p.m. to a standing ovation and cheers.

Per the VP's office, the VP was wheels up from Prince George’s Community College via Marine Two en route the U.S. Naval Observatory at 12:17 p.m.

Tried to check as many quotes against the transcript as possible so you don't have to, but always recommend!

That's it from me!

Best,

Erica

VP Supplemental Pool#4-- Arrival at VP Residence/ Lid

Per the VP's office, the Vice President arrived at the U.S. Naval Observatory at 12:33 p.m.

We have a lid.

Have a great day