Vice President Kamala Harris was as integral to the negotiations as anyone else in helping to reach a bipartisan deal so America could avoid defaulting on its debt obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, in two-plus years in office, the nation\u2019s first Black and woman vice president already has carved an indelible mark on many impactful policies that have seen significant increases in small and minority-owned businesses and record low Black unemployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harris, a force during her years in the U.S. Senate and as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, also has spearheaded work to help women retain autonomy over their bodies despite the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s controversial ruling to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an exclusive interview, the vice president pledged more of the same going forward from the Biden-Harris administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne of the most important aspects of where we are \u2013 and our goal was to avoid the kinds of losses [Republicans] had initially proposed \u2013 and that\u2019s very significant,\u201d Harris said of the bipartisan budget deal reached earlier in the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The deal places caps on spending for the next two years, claws back about $28 billion in unspent COVID relief money, and strips $20 billion of funds earmarked for the Internal Revenue Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Biden had slotted $80 billion for the IRS to help curtail tax cheaters, but the GOP sought to protect wealthy taxpayers who primarily seek loopholes to avoid paying federal taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The debt ceiling agreement restarts federal student loan payments even as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to rule on the legality of the Biden-Harris forgiveness plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Congress hopes to vote this week on the deal, which also added new work requirements for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Association Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Veterans and the unhoused are exempt from such requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been able to maintain what we needed to do to preserve social security, Medicare, and veterans\u2019 benefits. As a result, we actually see increases there,\u201d Harris stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a steady eye on the present and future, the vice president noted the administration sought to protect the economic gains made during its first two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn two years, we\u2019ve created 12.7 million jobs and 800,000 manufacturing jobs,\u201d Harris declared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA lot of these issues were what we were fighting to preserve. For example, if they required [new] work requirements, we would preserve many exceptions to the requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, Harris noted that any requirements for veterans and those who are housing insecure were non-starters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVeterans and housing-insecure people, not just the homeless, would be exempt. We were not willing to compromise,\u201d she insisted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The debt ceiling crisis and subsequent deal reminded voters of the significance of choosing candidates who have their constituents\u2019 best interest, Harris remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo many of the issues have to do with who is in elected office. It comes down to the power of the people to elect representatives who reflect their values,\u201d the vice president proclaimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen the majority of people on legislative bodies understand that you shouldn\u2019t create policies on the backs of poor people, that\u2019s policy that most respect our values,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She pledged that the administration would keep pushing forward, stand up, and speak up about the needs of working people and families whom she said have been on the outside of politicians\u2019 priority lists for too long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had to keep them on the inside of the priority list,\u201d she said of the Biden-Harris administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the fast-paced 20-minute interview, the vice president declared small business a passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said her mother and \u201csecond mother,\u201d Ms. Shelton, who lived two doors down and ran a nursery school above her childhood home, helped show her the importance of small businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMs. Shelton was a small business owner, matriarch to the community. She was a community leader, a civic leader, who mentored people in the community,\u201d Harris recalled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was raised with an understanding of the importance of small businesses. They aren\u2019t just business owners. They are civic leaders and community leaders and are so much a part of the community\u2019s cultural fabric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I was in the U.S. Senate, I was able to work with my colleagues to get an extra $12 billion put into community banks, which are banks that are in the community who understand the community and its needs and who will create access to capital often where the big banks don\u2019t give access to capital for our startups, young entrepreneurs, and small businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She maintained that the work has continued in her role as vice president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n