During a recent interview with Robin Roberts, Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris opened up about the challenges and obstacles she faces as she enters the White House. She began by discussing the experience of seeing electoral votes officially come in earlier this week. Sitting next to her husband, Doug Emhoff, the results of the election started to feel "real" to her.
"It started to really feel real,” she said.
“I was watching it as the states were coming in with my husband. And we were watching it, and he looked at me, he said, 'See? It-- it's happening. It's really happening.'"
Less than six weeks from today, things will become even more real as Harris and President-Elect Joe Biden will officially be sworn in and take office. When takes the oath, Harris will become the nation's first Black, South Asian American, woman and historically Black university graduate to become Vice President. During that moment, she says she will not only be thinking of herself, but also the millions who have been impacted by her mother and all of those she may inspire to be greater than they already are.
“I'll be thinking about my mother,” Harris said.
“I'll be thinking about all those girls and boys. You know, before the pandemic struck, fathers and the mothers that would bring them around and say, 'You know, you can do anything.'”
While Inauguration Day will surely be one she remembers for a lifetime, she believes that the real work starts now. As the Biden-Harris administration takes office, the country faces a pandemic, widespread unemployment, an economic downturn and much more. Moving forward, Harris is determined to work with her administration, party and the GOP to create a new coronavirus relief bill.
“I don't understand the hesitation. The people are suffering,” Harris said.
“The moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures are about to end. The extension that people need of benefits is very real. And the people here in Washington, D.C., have got to stop living in a bubble."
Her comments come as Congress is reportedly nearing a $900 billion coronavirus relief deal. The deal is expected to extend the student loan payment freeze, continue eviction moratoriums and possibly dole out $600 payments to Americans. More details regarding the deal will come throughout the day.
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