Vice Presidential Pool Reports of November 16, 2023

VP Travel Pool #1 - Remarks at Apec event on women's economic empowerment in San Francisco

VP entered a conference room at the Intercontinental Hotel at 1:19 PM to address the APEC Women's Economic Participation in the Industries of the Future Meeting.
Approx 180 people were in attendance and cheered.

Here are some quotes
"Women around the world should be able to fully participate in economic, political, and social life and they must be able to participate equally and in positions of leadership.
Currently, however, that is not the case"
She announced the launch of the "Women in sustainable economy initiative" (WISE) (see background below)
VP said that empowering women is "critically important", "morally right, ethically right" and added: "It's just really good for business."

Remarks concluded at 1:25 pm and pool was ushered out.

Sharing this, on background, attributable to a White House official

Today, November 16, 2023, Vice President Harris will speak at the "Women's Economic Participation in the Industries of the Future" event on the sidelines of APEC. There she will announce the launch of the "Women in Sustainable Economy Initiative" or "WISE." This initiative includes $840 million of public and private sector commitments, including $163 million from the U.S. government.

The Vice President is committed to the economic empowerment of women and other underserved communities:
1. Over the past 8 months, the Vice President has partnered with the private sector and philanthropies to generate a total of $2.4 billion to economically empower women around the world, including the $900 million she announced today for Women in the Sustainable Economy initiative.
2. During the Vice President's travel to Ghana in May 2023, she promoted inclusive economic growth, innovation, and regional integration as well as investment in women and girls, and announced $1 billion in public and private sector investments to empower women globally, with an emphasis on closing the digital gender divide.
3. As part of her effort to address the root causes of migration, the Vice President has led a public-private partnership that has generated for than $4.2 billion in private sector investments to provide economic opportunities to people in that region.
4. Along with President Biden, Vice President Harris launched the United States' first-ever national gender strategy to advance the full participation of all people – including women and girls – in the U.S. and around the world in October of 2021.

VP POOL REPORT #2: APEC Business Advisory Council meeting

At 5:24 pm local time, Vice President Kamala Harris and representatives from other APEC countries came into one of the summit rooms for a "Dialogue with APEC Leaders." Dominic Eng, chairman of the APEC Business Council 2023, gave a brief introduction of the vice president.

Harris began her remarks at 5:27pm. She said it was her "privilege" for formally welcome leaders to her home state. She said the Indo-Pacific is "critical" to the security and prosperity of America.

She said that as President Biden has said and made clear, the Biden-Harris administration is committed to strengthening our multilateral engagement in the region, including through APEC.

It has "also emphasized public-private collaboration," domestically and internationally. From Tokyo to Singapore to Silicon Valley, she said she had engaged CEOs on supply chain resilience to the growth of semiconductor production.

The U.S. has been an "engine" of economic growth, she said. "And this will continue."

Referred to Biden announcement today of $50 billion in investment in APEC countries. Said this week they will also discuss at APEC opportunities for their economies in climate, empowerment of women and AI.

"The president and I have worked to execute the most aggressive climate agenda in American history as part of our global commitments," she said.

There is much more work for everyone attending to do and said their collective ambition must meet the moment, she said, reminding attendees of the other investments and initiatives the U.S. announced today at the summit.

She turned the event back over to Eng at 5:35pm local time. He told her they "truly appreciate" her vision for an interconnected, innovative and inclusive Asia Pacific region. He finished at 5:41 pm and pool was led out.

On Background From a White House Official:
Today, Vice President Kamala Harris is attending the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Meeting along with APEC leaders and CEO's. The Vice President has consistently been committed to strengthening public-private partnerships as a critical way to grow our economies.
• Vice President Harris convened businesses and leaders throughout Silicon Valley to discuss issues of critical importance – from supply chain resilience to the growth of semiconductor production.

• Vice President Harris also convened CEOs in Singapore and Tokyo to strengthen supply chainsaround the world.

• The Vice President led partnerships with the private sector that focused on economic opportunity in northern Central America in addition to climate resilience and digital inclusion on the continent of Africa.

Vice President Harris's involvement in today's events underscore the critical nature of the Indo-Pacific region to the security and prosperity of the American people while also reaffirming the United States' enduring commitment to an open, interconnected, prosperous, secure, and resilient future in the region.

VP Pool Report #3: campaign fundraiser

VPOTUS motorcade left at 5:50 local time from the Moscone Center for her evening fundraiser in Piedmont. It is her last event of the day before departing for LA.

Motorcade arrived at 6:15 pm at a private residence.

At 6:30 pool was brought inside. Roughly 55 people were packed inside. Among the artwork hanging on the wall in the room where the fundraiser took place: one of former President Barack Obama.

According to the Biden-Harris campaign: The Vice President was speaking at a campaign reception at the home of Quinn Delaney and Wade Jordan in Piedmont, California.

Wade called Harris their "home grown vice president" in his brief opening remarks. Loud applause followed.

Quinn spoke of the work the administration had done on jobs and also after Dobbs and said the VP was there "that whole time, being part of the decision-making, pushing strategy and really making a difference in Washington" Said one thing that isn't always shown in the media is how much work the VP has done with global leaders, going all over the world, including her trip to Africa, and been the "front person for the administration globally."

The VP's formal introduction came from the second gentleman, who Quinn said they heard from earlier. (Pool wasn't there for those earlier remarks.)

"This is not even a close call right now," he said of the upcoming election. "You've got literally democracy and freedom on one hand, and not having it on the other hand. So this is a binary choice. We need to win this election," Doug Emhoff said.

Introducing his wife, he said: "You have known her for her whole career," he said mentioning her career as San Francisco DA and California AG and US senator.

"I love her so much. And I'm so so proud of her," he said.

He mentioned her visit to London and her engagements at APEC. "I'm just so immensely proud to be your first second gentleman but prouder to be the husband of Kamala Harris," he said to applause and a standing ovation for Harris as he wrapped his remarks.

Harris replaced him at the lectern, which had to American flags on either side.

"Thank you, Dougie," she said.

She said her husband offered to come over early while she was delayed at the APEC conference. She asked guests to forgive her for being "so tardy" and thanked them for waiting.

"So many of the people in this room have been on this journey with since the very beginning," she said.

She said their hosts have been "dear, dear friends to me and to Doug and to our family" and thanked them for having them this evening.

"We love you madam vice president," Quinn told her

"I love you back," Harris said.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee was in the room, Harris pointed out. She called her a "dear friend, and an extraordinary leader, and a courageous leader, and in so many ways, for so many of us, a conscience of our country."

She said that California state senator Josh Becker was also present.

Said she would keep her remarks short so they can have a discussion. (Note pool wasn't there later for the discussion.)

"This is probably one of the most challenging times in our country," she said.

The election in 11 months will be "fundamentally about who we are as a nation and what we stand for."

Said she had met with more than 100 world leaders now. Some repeatedly.

When they walk in representing the U.S., "We walk in those rooms chin up, shoulders back," she said, "with the self-appointed and earned authority to talk about the importance of democracy, rule of law."

When you're a role model, people watch what you do to see if it matches what you say, she said.

"People around the world are watching what is happening in our country right now," she said.

She told the America's back but for how long story, saying it had happened to her, too. But she said it has happened recently to her also.

Said that in the last several months, including when she was in the UK, of the many topics that came up with leaders, "The first thing, I'm not kidding you, that each one of them said – the first thing they said: we hope you're going to win.

"But out of self interest" she added. "Out of self-interest because of what they know the future of our country means and represents for the future of their countries."

She said she believes everything that foundational to who the US is and what it aspires to be is at stake in the election.

She said the press in the room and the pundits would say: "Well, you guys are going to have a hard road."

"Yeah, we are, because it's an election for president of the United States," she said to laughter. "A reelect. Yeah, it's going to be hard. And we're going to have to make our case. And we're going to have to earn the reelect, of course. And you know what, we've got a lot of good material," she said to clapping.

The optimism is there, she said, but they had to engage and organize. She said there was record turnout in 2020 – record young turnout -- because of Democrats' work and because they knew what was possible. She brought up insulin costs as one example. High speed internet and lead pipes was another.

She repeated: "We have a lot of good material. Our challenge will just be to remind people who brung it to them."

Laughter and clapping.

"But you know, when people want to talk about the polls, on and on about the polls, let me tell you, everything we have accomplished is highly, highly popular with the American people. We just got to remind them who did it. And we all did it. And that's what we are going to do over the next 11 months. And we are going to win," she said to clapping.

She said there is a lot of work ahead, bringing up what she described as attacks on fundamental rights that she believes is part of an agenda and he college tour.

Press was led out at 6:51pm local time.

Pool left from the event separately from the VP, who is heading to the airport afterward. That's a wrap for tonight. Have a good evening, everyone.

VP Pool Report #4 fundraiser hosts -- correx

The Biden-Harris campaign said the hosts' names were Quinn Delaney and Wade Jordan --- but Quinn Delaney is married to *Wayne* Jordan. Thanks to San Francisco press for the flag.