Vice Presidential Pool Reports of March 22, 2024

Good morning from JBA,

I will be your pooler for the VP's trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico and Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

The VP will visit Puerto Rico to highlight economic support for its recovery during her first visit to Puerto Rico as VP.

According to a White House official, "Vice President Harris will travel to Puerto Rico to highlight the Administration's actions to advance Puerto Rico's recovery and renewal, and to uplift the impact of Puerto Rican artists and trailblazers on the Island, the continental U.S. and the world."

The VP is expected to visit a residential home, deliver remarks, tour a community center and attend a campaign reception, before heading to Ft. Lauderdale. Tomorrow, she will visit Parkland with a focus on gun violence.

The VP landed at JBA via Marine 2 at 10:15 a.m. and deplaned at 10:19 a.m. She did a double hand wave at Sec. of Energy Jennifer Granholm (who ran to grab a jacket from a vehicle just ahead of the VP's arrival in the brisk temperatures) and Deputy Sec. of Housing and Urban Development Adrianne Todman before giving them each a hug.

She waved to press before boarding AF2 at 10:19 a.m.

The VP came to the back of the plane for an OTR with press for about 5 minutes.

She said on the record she had seen the maps in regards to Rafah and there was no safe way for civilians to get out.

Consider this your wheels up at 10:30 a.m.

Further background information and today's schedule below.

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Background on the trip from a White House Official:

On Friday, March 22, Vice President Harris will travel to Puerto Rico to highlight the Administration’s actions to advance Puerto Rico’s recovery and renewal, and to uplift the impact of Puerto Rican artists and trailblazers on the Island, the continental U.S. and the world. The Vice President will be joined by Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman, and Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi.

In Puerto Rico, the Vice President will visit a residential home in Canóvanas, located 30 minutes outside of San Juan, where she will highlight how the HUD-funded Home Repair, Reconstruction, or Relocation (R3) Program is helping Puerto Ricans repair and rebuild their homes. The R3 program also leverages other federal investments to help homes on the island become more energy independent and resilient, which the Vice President will highlight. At 2:55PM ET, before departing the home, the Vice President will deliver brief remarks, which will be livestreamed atwww.whitehouse.gov [whitehouse.gov].

The Vice President will then visit a community center in the heart of San Juan where she will hear from center staff about their work to support local artists. She will also meet with Puerto Rican trailblazers in the arts and other fields, and leaders representing community-based organizations. At the community center, the Vice President will uplift the impact of Puerto Rican art, culture and ingenuity on the nation and world, and the strong connection between the Island and the Puerto Rican diaspora.

Throughout her visit, the Vice President will reaffirm the Administration’s commitment to working with Puerto Rico in its continued effort to fully recover and build a resilient, sustainable, and prosperous Puerto Rico, where the Island is once again at the forefront of innovation.

The Vice President last visited Puerto Rico in 2017, when she saw first-hand the devastation left behind by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. As Senator, Vice President Harris led efforts to hold the previous Administration accountable for their response to the consecutive disasters. Her advocacy for the people of Puerto Rico continued through her term as Senator and into her time as Vice President.

This is the Vice President’s first trip to Puerto Rico since being sworn in. President Biden and Dr. Biden visited the Island in October of 2022, and Dr. Biden visited again earlier this week.

Additional Background on the Repair, Reconstruction, or Relocation (R3) Program

R3 provides assistance for the repair or reconstruction of single-family homes damaged by Hurricanes Irma and/or Maria. The program provides federal funding to low- and moderate-income households, and prioritizes elderly and disabled applicants, as well as those with significant property damage. Thus far, the program has assisted more than 6,000 homes across the Island.

Additional Background on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Actions to Support Puerto Rico

The Biden-Harris Administration has taken historic actions to support Puerto Rico’s recovery and renewal, specifically by prioritizing the removal of funding barriers, establishing robust partnerships between the federal government and government of Puerto Rico, and by making historic investments. To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has invested more than $140 billion to support a range of efforts in Puerto Rico, including rebuilding and improving infrastructure; supporting energy resilience, particularly through investments in clean energy; and supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs by increasing access to capital. Additional information about the Administration’s work to support Puerto Rico can be found [attached].

Additional Background on the Vice President’s leadership supporting the people of Puerto Rico

Vice President Harris has long advocated for parity for U.S. Territories, including Puerto Rico. When then-Senator Harris took office, she took on an active role as an advocate for Puerto Rico in the chamber understanding that the people of Puerto Rico did not have Senate representation.

• In 2017, as U.S. Senator, Vice President Harris visited Puerto Rico as part of a congressional delegation to see firsthand storm-affected areas and ongoing relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. During her visit, Vice President Harris met with staff at the San Juan Children’s Hospital, traveled to the mountain municipality of Barranquitas, visited the Palo Seco power plant outside of San Juan, and held discussions with local leaders on how to quickly restore power and rebuild a stronger and more sustainable electric grid.
• In 2018, as U.S. Senator, Vice President Harris introduced the Counting Our Unexpected Natural Tragedies (COUNT) Victims Act, which directed a study to provide best practices and policy recommendations on quantifying mortality and significant morbidity among populations affected by major disasters. This bill was signed into law as part of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, which was attached to the 2018 FAA Reauthorization.
• In 2018, as U.S. Senator, Vice President Harris met with San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz to discuss the continued needs of the island and how to best advocate for aid when the Trump Administration refused to help.
• In 2019, as U.S. Senator, Vice President Harris was vocal about ensuring that any emergency disaster supplemental package should not move forward unless it contained critical aid for Puerto Rico. She stood firm on this commitment despite the package containing critical funding to address California’s wildfires. Ultimately, the Trump Administration approved a package with aid for both California and Puerto Rico.
• In the Senate, Vice President Harris fought to ensure that any COVID relief measure also included equitable aid for U.S. Territories, including Puerto Rico.

For reference, here is the daily guidance from the VP's office:

DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024

At 10:15 am ET, the Vice President will depart Washington, DC en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico. This departure from Joint Base Andrews will be pooled press.

At 1:40 pm ET, the Vice President will arrive at Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport. This arrival will be pooled press and open to pre-credentialed media.

At 2:10 pm ET, The Vice President will depart Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport en route to Canóvanas, Puerto Rico, where she will visit a residential home and highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s actions to support Puerto Rico’s recovery and renewal.

At 2:55 pm ET, the Vice President will deliver brief remarks to press before departing Canóvanas, Puerto Rico. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Adrianne Todman, and Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi will also participate. These remarks will be pooled press and livestreamed at WhiteHouse.Gov/Live.

At 3:50 pm ET, the Vice President will visit a community center in San Juan, Puerto Rico where she will receive a tour and hear from center staff and community leaders. This event will be pooled press.

At 5:30 pm ET, the Vice President will deliver remarks at a campaign reception. These remarks in San Juan, Puerto Rico will be covered by an editorial pool.

At 6:30 pm ET, the Vice President will depart Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport en route to Fort Lauderdale, FL. This departure will be pooled press.

At 9:15 pm ET, the Vice President will arrive at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport. This arrival in Fort Lauderdale, FL will be pooled press.

AF2 was wheels up from JBA at 10:33 a.m. and landed at Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport at 1:38 p.m. where it is a balmy 86 degrees.

It was an uneventful flight and there were no other visits to press following the VP's initial visit before takeoff.

Further context on her on the record comment during it:

She responded to a question about the importance of next week's meeting with the Israeli's and if we were at a breaking point.

The VP said she had looked at the maps. "There is no where for those people to go and be safe." She reiterated the size of the population now there. (Thanks to co-pooler for direct quote).

The VP disembarked AF2 at 2:01 p.m. She waved to a crowd (who your pooler is told is made up of community members) further back before walking down the stairs. She was greeted by Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi who she briefly spoke with.

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Adrianne Todman followed off AF2 and in the greeting Line.

The VP’s office passes along:

Upon arrival in San Juan, PR, the Vice President was greeted by: Governor Pedro Pierluisi, Mayor Miguel Romero, City of San Juan, PR, Senator José Luis Dalmau, Puerto Rico Senate President, Rafael Hernández, Speaker of Puerto Rico House of Representatives, and Colonel Evaristo Orengo III, 156th Airlift Wing Commander.

The VP then made her way to the crowd. Your pooler estimates it to be at least a hundred people, including kids and families. People held up small American flags and phones as she made her way down the fence line. The VP was out of earshot of the press pool. The pool was moved to the vans as she was about halfway down the line.

We are next headed to Canóvanas, Puerto Rico, where the VP is expected to tour a residential home and deliver remarks to the press.

The motorcade is rolling at 2:13 p.m.

The Vice President's motorcade arrived at a residential home in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico at 2:41 p.m. It is about a half hour outside San Juan.

En route, the motorcade passed people heading into the airport standing outside their vehicles, and along fences, holding their phones up as the motorcade went by. Closer to the residence on the roads outside a mall, people hung out their cars taking photos as they waited for the motorcade to pass, with more standing outside businesses and homes as the motorcade continued. One girl held a sign imploring help to fix their home.

She got out of the motorcade at 2:44 p.m. saying "hello" as she walked up the driveway of the home. She shook hands and spoke with residents
of the home who greeted her, before all went inside.

The house is a white, rectangular shaped home with two large windows in the front. Two folding chairs sit on the patio with several potted plants.

At 2:52 p.m. the group, including Granholm and Todman, walked outside and to the side of the home.

The VP is expected to give remarks. Her remarks will be live streamed athttps://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

The VP walked to the front of the home at 2:58 p.m. stopping to chat with a woman sitting on the porch. Harris said she "had to get permission from the mother of the house" as she then crossed the lawn to a podium set up in the front yard.

She began speaking at 3:05 p.m., to tout the administration's support of Puerto Rico's recovery.

Harris started by thanking Granholm, Todman and Pierluisi, but gave a special thanks to the "matriarch of the family."

"We're talking about energy and solar that's where the power is right there" she said after pointing back to the woman sitting on the front porch she spoke with.

"She had tears in her eyes explaining what it was like before this work happened and she described to me the fear that she had that was so fundamental," Harris said.

Harris said the island is home to "some of the most talented and innovative people in our nation" particularly highlighting biotechnology.

She recalled the damage after Hurricane Maria but explained communities retain "grit" and need supplied with the capacity and resources. Harris said the administration has invested more than $140B in Puerto Rico, and that it includes what they're doing to upgrade homes, facilities and technology. She talked about the solar panels that are hurricane resistant. What it means for a multi generational family is "extraordinary," Harris said in terms of the quality of life.

The installation of the smart technology, Harris said, "will allow for more consistent energy sources for the families that are here, which again is about an upgrade on quality of life and just the well being and dignity of each family to be able to satisfy their basic needs."

She also touted investments that have aided infrastructure, energy sources and small business owners.

"There is still more work to do," Harris said, noting they are doing it with urgency and optimism.

Before Harris' remarks,

Governor Pierluisi said "frequent visits that we get from members of the cabinet of the Biden Harris administration confirms President Biden and the vice President, VP Harris, have our back" with reconstruction in Puerto Rico. He described the home as a 60 year old home destroyed by Hurricane Maria that the benefited from the R3 program, calling it resilient and self sufficient. "It's not about funding it's about quality of life, everybody wants to have a safe home."

(Previous background from a WH official on the program:

Additional Background on the Repair, Reconstruction, or Relocation (R3) Program

R3 provides assistance for the repair or reconstruction of single-family homes damaged by Hurricanes Irma and/or Maria. The program provides federal funding to low- and moderate-income households, and prioritizes elderly and disabled applicants, as well as those with significant property damage. Thus far, the program has assisted more than 6,000 homes across the Island.)

In introductory remarks, Deputy secretary Todman touted the HUD program. Sec. Granholm said they will have 70k additional homes and said they expect this summer will "be the summer of solar."

Before departing, the VP went back to talk with the matriarch of the home.

The VP's motorcade departed at 3:16 p.m. en route to a community center in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

VP travel pool report #5- community center meet and greet

The VP's motorcade arrived at the Goyco Community Center in Santurce, a neighborhood within San Juan, about 3:45 p.m. for a visit to hear about the center's work to support local artists.

The motorcade was greeted with a mix of several dozen, loud demonstrators and onlookers on the sidewalk. One held a sign that said "Kamala Harris war criminal," another called the USA and Israel genocidal.

Your pooler was not able to see the VP exit the motorcade or enter the community center. The pool gathered in a hallway inside, off the entrance and saw the VP walk by as she received a tour of the center at 3:54 p.m. She asked about education, but your pooler was not able to hear the entirety of the conversation.

The VP then stopped in a courtyard within the community center where a six person group of musicians played. Harris clapped her hands and nodded along as she watched and listened. A singer then performed accompanied by a piano. Harris stood with her hands folded looking on, clapping once the song concluded. Harris then went up to the performers to shake their hands, telling the singer "thank you for sharing." She then spent time meeting and talking with other attendees, your pooler is told are community organizers.

Chants from the crowd outside were drowned out by the music but faintly audible once the music stopped inside. The pool was led out at 4:09 p.m. as Harris continued her greetings. Your pooler could hear some in the thinned out group outside chanting "USA" as we walked back to the vans.

This stop follows a visit to a residential home outside San Juan that was damaged during Hurricane Maria but has since been outfitted with solar panels and water tanks, through a federal program.

The pool is holding in vans outside the community center.

VP travel pool report #6- arrival campaign event

The VP's motorcade was rolling at 4:44 p.m. from the community center.

Your pooler is told the VP did an interview with WAPA tv.

The VP's motorcade arrived at what appears to be an apartment building called La Casa around 4:50 p.m. for a campaign fundraiser.

The pool is holding.

VP travel pool report #7- campaign event remarks and wheels up

The VP walked into a room off a small kitchen at 5:20 p.m. to applause from what your pooler estimates to be a couple dozen attendees.

The VP began speaking at 5:21 p.m. in front of a wall of book cases and a fire place.

She thanked host Nick Prouty and Governor Pierluisi, noting the Governor "does not pass up the opportunity" to have a list of what Puerto Rico needs. "Mad respect," Harris said.

On the topic of Puerto Rico, Harris recalled her time in the Senate and said she was "accurately" aware there was no senator and felt a "sense of duty and responsibility" to lift up their voices. She detailed "an understanding that it is home to some of the most talented and innovative people anywhere," calling it part of "the heart beat of culture that has influence and impacted people around the world."

Harris talked about the home she visited earlier in the day outfitted with solar panels after Hurricane Maria. "We realized we need to make these things resilient and more resilient for any island." "Because of what happened here then the innovation was spurred to think about being smarter around how we build and manufacture and place solar panels."

Turning to the election, Harris said, "we are going to win" going on to say "everything is at stake."

Harris went on to talk about meeting world leaders. "I will tell you that because… they understand the role and responsibility that the United States of America plays around the globe in terms of upholding fundamental foundational values."

Harris then talks about the "full on attacks on fundamental rights" and said "but the thing about being a role model is people watch what you do to see if it matches what you say."

Harris touted the administration's work to lower insulin costs, expand high speed internet, on infrastructure investments and strengthening nato

She said on "the other side" is "…someone who has indicated an intention to weaponize the Department of Justice. Someone who has speaking of Puerto Rico used words like dirty and poor and corrupt."

"What we are looking at is fundamentally an election that's going to require us each to answer a question," Harris said, doing on to state what kind of country and world do we want to live in?"

The VP concluded her remarks at 5:36 pm

On Background from the Biden-Harris Campaign:

This afternoon in San Juan, Vice President Harris attended an event for the Biden Victory Fund hosted by Nick and Valantina Prouty.

The VP's motorcade left at 5:50 p.m. headed to Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport.

The VP exited the motorcade at the airport at 6:08 p.m. She took a picture with staff before boarding AF2 at 6:08 p.m.

Additionally, more details were provided about her stop at La Goyco Community Center.

On background from a WH official:

The Vice President visited La Goyco Community Center, a center dedicated to supporting local artists. There, she was greeted by the Center's Founder and Executive Director, Mariana Reyes, as well as President and CEO of the Hispanic Federation, Frankie Miranda, both of whom led her through a brief tour of the center. At the conclusion of the tour, the Vice President observed performances by local artists. She then greeted nearly two dozen local leaders, who lead community organizations with a variety of different focuses, including health care, LGBTQI+ rights, and education.

AF2 is rolling at 6:19 p.m. The VP is next headed to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Please consider this your wheels up at 6:24 p.m.

VP travel pool report #7a- fuller quotes and correction

VP Harris said she was "acutely" aware, not accurately, of Puerto Rico's representation in the Senate during her time as a senator. The VP called Puerto Rico part of the "heart beat of culture that has influenced and impacted people around the world." Your pooler regrets the typo.

Additional quotes:

"The work that is happening here that shows what we can do with this innovation to lift up the dignity of people, creating consistency because there is a clean and a consistent source of energy that allows them to do their daily work in a way that meets the needs of the environment."

"When I think about the full on attacks on fundamental rights, and you put that in the context of one understanding that leaders of the United States walk into these rooms traditionally, around the world," with their chin up and shoulders back, as Harris mentioned democracy, going on to say, "but the thing about being a role model is people watch what you do to see if it matches what you say."

Harris said on the other side "...is someone who openly has said, the former president, that he admires dictators and will be a dictator on day one, someone who has indicated an intention to weaponize the Department of Justice, someone who has speaking of Puerto Rico, used words like dirty and poor and corrupt."

VP travel pool report #8- Ft. Lauderdale arrival

AF2 landed at 9:06 p.m. at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport.

The flight was uneventful, though bumpy as it neared Florida.

The VP disembarked AF2 at 9:20 p.m. to a rainy tarmac. She waved to press, but did not make any comments.

The motorcade began rolling at 9:22 p.m. and arrived at the RON at 9:42 p.m.

Tomorrow, the VP is expected to visit Parkland, FL to focus on gun violence where she will meet with families who lost loved ones during the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.

Until then, this is a good night from your pooler.