Vice Presidential Pool Reports of June 14, 2024

VP Travel Pool Report #1

Good morning from Joint Base Andrews.

Vice President Kamala Harris arrived at 10:28 a.m. and boarded Air Force 2 at 10:32 a.m.

Before boarding, Harris was greeted by Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo and Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves.

We're en route to Atlanta, where Harris will take part in a moderated conversation at the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. 38th Annual Conference.

We are taxiing and will be wheels up shortly.

VP Travel Pool Report #2 - Arrival in Atlanta

Hello! We've arrived in Atlanta.

Wheels down was at 11:57 a.m. The flight was uneventful.

The VP deplaned at 12:16 p.m. and delivered a brief statement criticizing the Supreme Court ruling striking down a ban on bump stocks. Harris said the ruling rolled back progress on combating gun violence.

Harris added there is a "clear contrast" between where the White House stands on gun violence compared to former President Donald Trump.

We are en route to the 100 Black Men of America Conference now.

VP Travel Pool Report #3 - Dispatch from the conference

Hello from the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, where Vice President Harris is participating in a moderated conversation with TV host Steve Harvey at the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. 38th annual conference.

The VP entered the stage at 1:34 p.m. Harris began by touting the administration's efforts to increase access to capital for small businesses, combat housing discrimination and provide debt relief.

"The essence of this tour is born out of a belief that people need more than just what is necessary to get by," Harris said. "We want to get ahead."

Harris is also highlighting her efforts to increase funding to community banks.

"[Community banks] are folks who, unlike the big banks, will see the dream that an individual has for what is possible," Harris said.

Harris noted Dr. Martin Luther King spoke at this hotel as part of his Poor People's Campaign shortly before his assassination.

Harvey mentioned how busy the VP has been lately.

"I am in the streets," Harris said as the crowd laughed.

Harvey delivered a forceful plea to the Biden administration to do more to message their accomplishments to Black voters.

"This administration needs to get the word out of what they're actually doing and what they've actually accomplished," Harvey said.

VP Travel Pool Report #4 - Harris on economic opportunity

During her conversation with TV host Steve Harvey, Vice President Harris said the administration was working on a policy to provide a $25,000 credit for downpayment for individuals who are the first generation in their family to own a home.

On the topic of housing discrimination, Harris said the administration wants to require home appraisers to receive racial bias training.

"We have forgiven over $160 billion in student loan debt," Harris said to large applause. "That was not without a whole lot of people that did not want that to happen."

The VP also discussed the administration's efforts to forgive emergency medical debt.

Harvey joked that Harris was talking about "emergency medical" situations, not "liposuction or BBL."

Reflecting on her tour of college campuses, Harris said she loves Gen Z and predicted the group would vote in large numbers in November.

Here's Steve Harvey's closing message urging the room to support the Biden-Harris ticket:

"Please quit tripping. When we get up to November, we got to get to these polls, because this other group talks about Make America Great Again. I don't know when it was supposed to be great for us. But when you start taking Black history out of schools, and you start getting rid of diversity inclusion, I got a real feeling when they think America was great."

Harris left the stage at 2:08 p.m.

VP Travel Pool Report #5 - departure from Atlanta

After a smooth motorcade ride from the Hyatt Regency to the airport, Vice President Harris entered Air Force Two at 2:28 p.m. We are taxiing now and will be wheels up shortly.

VP Travel Pool Report #6 - Arrival at JBA

Air Force Two was wheels down at Joint Base Andrews at 4:03 p.m. Vice President Harris exited the plane at 4:14 p.m. and took off in Marine Two at 4:18 p.m.

Thanks all, have a great weekend.