Harris promises labor reform in Houston speech
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Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to American Federation of Teachers delegates in Houston yesterday. Photo: Montinique Monroe/Getty Images
Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed her support for sweeping legislation bolstering workers' rights to a crowd of unionized teachers Thursday in Houston.
Why it matters: Harris is already defining her priorities to drum up support early into her campaign as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
Driving the news: In a keynote speech to American Federation of Teachers delegates at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Harris pledged to sign the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act if it reached her desk.
- The bill would weaken states' anti-union laws and give more power to organized workers, among other provisions.
- It was originally introduced in 2019 and reintroduced in each congressional session since but hasn't gone on to the White House.
AFT delegates voted Monday to endorse Harris for the Democratic nomination for president, becoming the first major union to do so.
- The AFT, with 1.8 million members, is the second largest teachers union and a powerful bloc of Democratic voters.
Between the lines: Harris' support for the PRO Act could have implications on her pick for vice president, particularly with Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), who is a top contender to become her running mate.
- He previously signaled skepticism over a PRO Act provision extending collective bargaining rights to independent contractors, telling HuffPost in 2021 he "would like to see some changes" to the bill before voting in favor.
- Those comments worried union leaders, who spoke to ABC News this week.
- Kelly endorsed the legislation the day after ABC News' story published, saying, "I would vote for it today."
What they're saying: Harris on Thursday bemoaned the possibility of a second term for former President Donald Trump and the promotion of extreme conservative priorities, like the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025.
- "We are not going back," Harris said. "No, we will move forward, and one of the best ways to keep our nation moving forward is to give workers a voice, to protect the freedom to organize, to defend the freedom to collectively bargain, to end union busting."
- "President Joe Biden and I promised to sign the PRO Act into law. I promise you, I will keep that promise."
Harris visiting Texas twice in as many weeks is likely not an overt push to swing the state.
- Neither her speech Thursday in Houston nor another delivered at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's annual conference July 10 in Dallas mentioned Texas' political climate or criticized Republican state leaders.
- Instead, her speeches were geared toward promoting the Biden-Harris administration's accomplishments and drumming up support for the ticket.
Yes, but: Her candidacy overall has energized some of the state's voters, particularly Black and Asian American Texans.
The other side: Harris County Republican Party head Cindy Siegel blasted the vice president for visiting Houston but not the U.S.-Mexico border.
- "The border crisis is the number one issue for Texas voters," Siegel said in a statement.
- "So, naturally, she is coming to Houston to talk to a group of woke educators rather than make a trip to our southern border."
What's next: The Democratic National Convention begins Aug. 19 in Chicago, where delegates will formally select the head of their ticket.
- The Texas Democratic National Delegation this week voted to endorse Harris as the party's nominee.