Vice Presidential Pool Reports of March 15, 2024

VP Supplemental Pool report #1 - Irish PM arrival

Irish PM Leo Varadkar and his husband Matthew Barrett arrived at the Vice President's residence at the Naval Observatory at 8:44am in an armored SUV.

They were greeted by the Vice President and the Second Gentleman and posed for photos at the steps of the residence.

The initial conversation was inaudible to pool apart from a "Good morning!" from the VP.

Varadkar was wearing a charcoal suit, light blue shirt and green tie while the Vice President wore a black suit and green shirt.

Former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe was seen entering the residence at 8:28am.

National security advisor Jake Sullivan arrived just after.

Pool was brought through security at the Naval Observatory just before 7:30am ET. Pool was taken to the back of residence to wait outside shortly afterwards.

A member of the space force left the residence as pool arrived under cloudy skies and a temperature of about 60F.

US press were joined at the back of the residence by the Irish media at 7:42am.

Total press group numbered just under 20 people.

As is the case at some other US government institutions, the Star Spangled Banner could be heard on the premises at 8am.

A light rain began at about 8:24am and stopped shortly after.

Press was brought to the front of the residence for the arrival at 8:25am.

VP supplemental pool report #2 - Remarks by VP and Taoiseach

Pool was brought into the VP's residence at 9:07am ET for the annual St Patrick's Day breakfast.

At several round tables in the somewhat cramped dining area, the VP was seated with the Taoiseach, and the Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff was seated at another table with Matthew Barrett.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and the US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland, former Congressman Joe Kennedy III, were seated at the Vice President's table.

The vice president toasted with orange juice and both she and the Taoiseach made short remarks.

No time was given for questions.

Here's a summary of their remarks:

VP Harris:

On Ukraine:

"Last month you became the first Taoiseach to attend the Munich security conference, joining me and dozens of other global leaders, and you have made clear that you intend that Ireland will play a positive role on the world stage, given the security challenges that we all face. We are proud to work with you to support the people of Ukraine and their fight for democracy and independence."

"Under your leadership, Ireland has hosted one of the highest per capita populations of Ukrainian refugees, a testament to the generosity and the compassion of the Irish people. And I commend you for leading by example when you hosted in your own home, a refugee from Kyiv days after the invasion began."

On the Middle East:

"Regarding the conflict in the Middle East, triggered of course by Hamas's … terrorist attack, Ireland has been a leader in providing food, water, and medicine to the people of Gaza."

Taoiseach:

On the Middle East:

"I believe you Madam Vice President showed great courage and leadership in recent weeks when you spoke publicly in favor of a ceasefire in Gaza. I'm sure it couldn't have been easy. But it was the right thing to do. And your words echoed all over the world.

"Like you, we call for the unconditional and immediate release of all of the hostages, a very significant increase in humanitarian aid, food medicine, sanitation, electricity, and an end to the fighting by both sides, Israel and Hamas. And we support the work of the United States."

"It's a terrible humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. A very human tragedy, which I think will haunt us all for years to come."

"In Ireland, we know how quickly atrocities can lead to calls for vengeance, creating new cycles of hatred and bitterness. But we also know that the cycle can be broken."

"The United States helped us to find peace … Let us work together to build a just and lasting peace in the Middle East for Israel, Palestine, and its Arab neighbors."

"We know from our own story, that finding peace can be a long painful process. And it takes time to build trust and build relationships. American politicians on both sides of the aisle helped to encourage and nurture these relationships in Northern Ireland over many decades. And we thank you all so much for that."

Introductory remarks:

VP Harris:

"This year we celebrate 100 years 100 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland."

"And as we know, the Irish people have been a part of American history and the American story ever since the beginning, way beyond those 100 years. In 1776, three signatories to the Declaration of Independence were Irish-born."

"Then in the 19th century, Frederick Douglass found refuge in Ireland when he fled slavery," she said, adding that it was the first time he "felt like a man because of the kinship and the dignity."

"America has of course served as a place for millions of Irish immigrants and their descendants, including those who have held the highest offices in our land. And currently, of course, that is our President Joe Biden."

"When it comes to human rights, Ireland made history in 2015 when it became the first nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriage by referendum."

"On a personal note, Taoiseach you have been an extraordinary role model with people all around the world as one of the only openly LGBT leaders in history."

"And you so graciously talked last year here about the work that you and I have done to support and fight for the rights of the LGBT community. And to see you and Mr. Barrett on the world stage – It's important for so many reasons, as our long march of progress continues"

Taoiseach

About the annual breakfast, the Taoiseach said: "This act of friendship and hospitality, I believe goes back to when President Biden was vice president and lived here. And it celebrates I think a wonderful relationship between our two countries."

Speaking about having been both Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, the Taoiseach said to laughter: "I'm not gonna lie, I know which one I prefer. I do even find it a little bit easier, even when it's harder."

"President Biden when he served as vice president showed enormous courage and leadership in 2012 when he spoke out in favor of marriage equality, helping to encourage the administration of the country along the road to greater equality. I remember that interview really well. And it was a very significant intervention at the time."

VP Supplemental Pool #1 - marijuana roundtable

Press was ushered into the Roosevelt room at 2pm. VP sat at head of table. Fat Joe to her right, KY Gov. Beshear to her left. Press was ushered out at 2:10. No Q&A.

Fat Joe was first to talk, saying he was honored to be serving as "moderator."

VP spoke about WH efforts to improve policing (ie database for police misconduct) and re-entry programming.

Says there are "very significant" steps the admin has taken, pointing to making SBA loans avail to formerly incarcerated individuals and expanding Pell grant opportunities.

Some quotes … more on the livestream below:

"Historically there are disparities along racial lines" in sentencing, such as crack v. powder cocaine.

"I believe … nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed."

On rescheduling marijuana, she said: "They need to get to it as quickly as possible. And they need to have a resolution … this issue is stark, when one considers the fact that on the schedule currently, marijuana is considered as dangerous as heroine … and more dangerous than fentanyl, which is absurd."

Says there's "much more" work to do.

All that follows is passed along on background from a White House official:

On Friday, March 15, Vice President Kamala Harris will convene a roundtable conversation about marijuana reform where she will highlight various actions that the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to advance long-overdue criminal justice reforms. She will be joined by Grammy-nominated artist and philanthropist Fat Joe, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, White House Director of Public Engagement Steve Benjamin, and individuals who received pardons for prior marijuana convictions. The 1:25PM ETconversation will have a pool spray at the top that will be livestreamed at www.WhiteHouse.gov/Live.

President Biden and Vice President Harris have consistently delivered on their pledge to advance justice reforms. This includes pardoning tens of thousands of people for federal marijuana possession and commuting unjustly long sentences for nonviolent drug offenses. They have also issued the boldest policing reform Executive Order in history to ban choke-holds and restrict no-knock warrants for federal law enforcement, and establish the first-ever federal database to track misconduct for federal law enforcement. Additionally, the Justice Department has held law enforcement officers and police departments accountable for civil rights violations.

Background on the Biden-Harris Administration's work on marijuana reform:

• In 2022 and 2023, President Biden issued presidential proclamations granting blanket clemency for simple marijuana possession, use, and certain related offenses. President Biden also issued individual pardons to people convicted of other marijuana offenses.

• In 2022, President Biden urged all governors to pardon state offenses, which has led to thousands of people being impacted. For example, just one week after this call to action, Governor Beshear announced that people convicted of simple marijuana possession could apply for state pardons. Governor Kate Brown also pardoned more than 47,000 state convictions for possession.

• In 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration launched an independent administrative process to look at rescheduling marijuana.

Additional background on the Vice President's work to reform the justice system:

In January, Vice President Harris traveled to Las Vegas, NV where she announced a forthcoming Small Business Administration rule that will make those with criminal records eligible for SBA loan programs that help individuals start and run small businesses.

She has spent her career working to make the criminal justice system more fair. Her work as District Attorney, Attorney General, U.S. Senator, and Vice President has focused on protecting vulnerable communities, creating a fair and equal system, addressing gun violence, and ensuring accountability of law enforcement.

Reentry:

• Beginning with her time as District Attorney, the Vice President has led on the issue of prisoner reentry and efforts to reduce recidivism.

• As Senator, Vice President Harris introduced the Fair Chance at Housing Act of 2019, which would have helped remove barriers to obtaining federal housing assistance for individuals with criminal records.

• As District Attorney, she launched the Back on Track program, which allowed first-time low-level drug offenders to get a high school diploma and a job instead of prison time.

Addressing Gun Violence:

• As Senator, the Vice President co-sponsored the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019 and the Assault Weapons Ban of 2017 among other bills.

• As Attorney General, the Vice President introduced legislation to close the "bullet button" loophole that allowed gun users to easily convert handguns to semi-automatic weapons.

Sentencing Reform:

• As Senator, Vice President Harris cosponsored the Justice Safety Valve Act, which would have eliminated all mandatory minimums by letting judges issue sentences below the mandatory minimum.

• As Attorney General, Vice President Harris created the Bureau of Children's Justice to focus on children's civil rights in the child welfare, education, and juvenile justice systems.

Police Reform:

• As a Senator, she sponsored the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would have improved the use of pattern and practice investigations, required federal uniformed police officers to wear body cameras, banned no-knock warrants in drug cases at the federal level, and banned chokeholds and carotid holds at the federal level.

• As Attorney General, the Vice President requested additional resources in order to investigate officer-involved shootings statewide. She also supported pattern and practice investigations. Additionally, she launched a first-of-its-kind open data platform called Open Justice, which created an unprecedented level
  of transparency and accountability with the public about law enforcement activities in California.