Vice Presidential Pool Reports of March 4, 2024

VP pool report #1

Good afternoon from the Hyatt Regency, where the vice president is stopping by the 2024 International Association of Fire Fighters Legislative Conference.

Pool was told the stop was embargoed until the VP arrived on site.

Pool was informed the VP arrived at the Hyatt Regency at 1:06pm ET but we have not yet seen her. Pool is waiting for her to enter a large ballroom at the hotel, where other speakers are talking.

Guests are seated at tables in rows facing a stage with a podium bearing the lAFF logo and reading #LegCon2024. The IAFF - which represents more than 340,000 firefighters and paramedics, per its website - is holding its 2024 conference in Washington on March 3-6.

Background from the White House:

On background from a White House Official:

This afternoon, will Vice President Harris make a surprise drop-by at the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) legislative conference in Washington, DC. There, she will meet with lAFF leadership and deliver brief remarks.

In her remarks, the Vice President will thank lAFF leadership for their partnership, she will thank lAFF members for their service to communities across the country, and she will uplift the Administration's actions to support current and former firefighters, including investments in fire departments, investments in wildfire response, resilience, and recovery, and increasing federal fire fighter wages.

VP pool report #2 — questions on Gantz, Israel

The VP took two questions from reporters outside the ballroom as she left on her meeting with Benny Gantz this afternoon and whether there is any distance between her and the president on the Israel-Hamas war.

On message to Gantz, she said they would discuss getting the hostage deal done, getting aid in and "getting that six-week cease-fire."

"The president has been an extraordinary leader in getting us to this point that we have the six-week deal."

On if there is any daylight between her and the president on the issue: "The president and I have been aligned and consistent from the very beginning."

Fuller quotes and more from the event to come but here is an otter:
https://otter.ai/u/BALO4oXYGRKCNedyjDPvy-Whwq8

VP pool report #3

The vice president entered a ballroom at the Hyatt Regency and took the stage at 1:15pm ET.

She was introduced by Frank Lima, a former boxer and Los Angeles City fire captain, per IAFF website. The VP hugged him as she joined him on stage and referred to him as a "dear friend" when she started remarks.

VP praised those in attendance, calling their work "noble."

"Yours is not just a profession, it is a calling," she said "You each take an oath to save lives."

"You have answered a calling to protect people in their most dire moments of need," she said.

She noted her brother-in-law just retired as a firefighter in California last year.

The VP spoke about health risks that fire fighters face, saying "we've still not done enough as a nation to give you the equipment and the resources you need."

She went on to say she attended every fire fighter memorial in California when she was attorney general.

VP brought the crowd to its feet when she talked about what the administration is doing on Safer and AFG grants.

The VP wrapped remarks at 1:25 to a standing ovation. She promptly left the stage and room.

Otter of her remarks: https://otter.ai/u/oNBJbCSCM8XeHii3BU4fHJX1ffo

Pool was then taken to a hallway near an elevator to wait for the VP. She took two questions as she left and then got in the elevator.

Another quote from her response to reporters on Israel-Hamas war:

"I will tell you that it is important that we all understand that we're in a window of time right now where we can actually get a hostage deal done," the VP said. "We all want this conflict to end as soon as possible and how it does matters."

Resending the otter of her response to two questions on the war: https://otter.ai/u/BALO4oXYGRKCNedyjDPvy-Whwq8

That's all, have a good Monday.