Our outstanding economic team

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in Wilmington, Delaware

Mr. President-elect, congratulations on choosing this outstanding economic team.

And to our nominees and appointees, thank you for your continued service to our nation.

This is the team we need to deliver immediate economic relief to the American people, to get our economy back on track, and to make sure it works for working people.

And, as President-elect Biden noted earlier, completing that task could not be more urgent.

Cases of COVID-19 are spiking.

And beyond the tragic loss of life, the toll of this recession continues to mount.

Across America, one in six adults with children say their families are hungry; one in three adults are having trouble paying their bills; and the number of open small businesses has fallen by nearly 30 percent due to this pandemic, while many others are hoping they can stay afloat until a vaccine is available.

These are the struggles — the worries — that keep people up in the middle of the night.

But Americans are not united by their worries alone.

They’re united by their aspirations — for themselves and their families.

Because no matter where you live or what language your grandmother speaks, everyone wants to be able to get a job and keep a job.

No matter what your gender or who you love, everyone wants to be able to buy a home and keep a home.

And no matter how you worship or who you voted for in this election, everyone wants to be able to give their children a decent education, even during a pandemic.

Joe and I understand that.

We were raised to respect the dignity of work.

That’s why I’ve always fought for working people — from standing up for middle class families who’d lost their homes in the Great Recession to joining picket lines to advance workers’ rights.

And I look forward to collaborating with this extraordinary team to put working people front and center in this administration.

These public servants are some of America’s most brilliant minds.

They are proven leaders, whose talents, achievements, and life stories reflect the very best of our country.

And they not only have the experience and expertise to help end this economic crisis and put people back to work, they also share our commitment to building an economy — an America — where everyone has access to a higher minimum wage and affordable health care.

Paid family leave and paid sick leave.

Homeownership, and capital to start a small business.

An America where opportunity is within reach for everyone. For all The People.

So, we’ve got a lot of work to do, to build that America.

And President-elect Biden and I, with this economic team, will be ready to hit the ground running on day one.

Because that’s what this crisis demands.

And that’s what the American people deserve.

Thank you.