Vice President Kamala Harris sought to highlight the plight of women in the workforce amid the pandemic with a visit to a local small yarn and fiber business, which she called the “fabric of the community.”
She pressed the need for Congress to pass the administration’s $1.9 trillion relief package, which the Senate could take up as soon as today.
The vice president heard from the store’s owner and a few members of the staff and another female business owner who handles public relations for the shop. They outlined some of the difficulties of running a small business as a woman during the pandemic, including childcare issues, health concerns, and closures.
Told that a large portion of the shop’s business is now online, Harris said, “God bless the United States Postal Service, by the way,” calling them the “heroes of the moment.”
Harris touted Biden’s announcement that there will be “enough vaccines for everyone” by May, telling the group, “we’re going to get through this.”
Citing the relief package, she discussed the importance of supporting small businesses, citing statistics of women leaving the workforce during the pandemic.
She said Covid-19 has “highlighted the fissures and the failures of the system,” specifically referencing paid sick leave and paid family leave, as well as support for vaccinations and schools.
“This is literally about relief for people who need it,” Harris said of the legislation, adding that it will be “interesting to see” how history views this time, but added that the heroes – including the workers at small businesses – will be remembered.
