Press Release - "We've Seen Great Progress:" In Wide-Ranging 60 Minutes Interview, Vice President Kamala Harris Demonstrates "Invaluable" Leadership at Home and Abroad
In interview with CBS' Bill Whitaker, Vice President Harris addressed the Israel-Hamas conflict, Ukraine, reproductive freedom, Democracy, gun violence, and how she and President Biden have improved the lives of the American people.
WASHINGTON – Vice President Kamala Harris sat down with CBS' Bill Whitaker for a wide-ranging 60 Minutes interview that aired across the country tonight. The Vice President repeatedly highlighted how the Biden-Harris Administration has delivered "great progress" for people throughout America, addressed a range of domestic policy issues including gun violence, and discussed her continued leadership on the world stage. 60 Minutes also noted how she has made history as "the first woman district attorney for San Francisco, the first woman to serve as California's attorney general, the first woman of color elected senator from California, and the first woman and woman of color to be elected Vice President of the United States."
In case you missed it, here are five key moments from the Vice President's national interview that aired tonight on CBS' 60 Minutes:
1. President Biden praised the continued work of Vice President Harris while calling her partnership, advice, and counsel "invaluable."
"President Joe Biden told us in a statement, [the Israel-Hamas conflict] is as high-stakes and complex a situation as it gets, and Kamala is my partner in all of it. He told us Harris' advice and counsel are invaluable."
2. The Vice President demonstrated her leadership on the world stage while addressing what is occurring in Israel and Ukraine.
"A terrorist organization, Hamas, slaughtered hundreds of young people at a concert. By most estimates, at least fourteen hundred Israelis are dead. Israel, without any question, has a right to defend itself. That being said, it is very important that there be no conflation between Hamas and the Palestinians. The Palestinians deserve equal measures of safety and security, self-determination and dignity, and we have been very clear that the rules of war must be adhered to and that there be humanitarian aid that flows."
"We are as committed to Ukraine as we've always been, to authorize additional aid to defend itself against Russia's unprovoked aggression. That is not going to waver."
3. 60 Minutes highlighted the Vice President's nonstop travel as she represents America throughout the nation and around the world.
"Vice President Harris has visited 19 countries and met with more than 100 world leaders. But lately, she has been the administration's point person on domestic priorities – traveling the country talking up the Democrats' key issues."
"While in the air the vice president joined a secure video call with the president and their national security teams to discuss measures to keep the homeland safe. Once on the ground in Las Vegas, Vice President Harris went to the College of Southern Nevada, the eighth stop on her "Fight for our Freedoms" college tour."
4. Vice President Harris outlined how she and President Biden have worked together to deliver historic accomplishments for families across America.
"We came into office during the height of a pandemic, record unemployment. And because of our economic policies, we now are reducing inflation. We have created over 14 million new jobs. We've created over 800,000 new manufacturing jobs. Wages are up. And so, we've seen great progress."
5. In the wake of another devastating mass shooting, Vice President Harris addressed the epidemic of gun violence and once again called on Congress to renew the assault weapons ban.
"We've done some of the most significant gun safety laws in 30 years. But we still need an assault weapons ban. It doesn't have to be this way. There was an assault weapons ban at one time. It expired. Let's renew it."
Kamala Harris, Press Release - "We've Seen Great Progress:" In Wide-Ranging 60 Minutes Interview, Vice President Kamala Harris Demonstrates "Invaluable" Leadership at Home and Abroad Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/367455