Vice President Kamala Harris In Connecticut To Talk About Efforts To End Child Poverty

Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Connecticut Friday afternoon and spent time in New Haven to promote the latest round of federal coronavirus relief. The vice president was greeted by Gov. Ned Lamont and members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation as she arrived aboard Air Force Two at Tweed New Haven Airport.

The visit was intended to highlight child poverty and to tout the American Rescue Plan’s efforts to tackle the problem.

She toured the Boys and Girls club in the city and spoke with workers there, accompanied by members of the state’s congressional delegation.

Outside on Columbus Avenue, a crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the vice president’s motorcade. Andrea Serna, wearing a sweater with “Kamala” written on the front of it, stood with her sister. 

“We love Kamala and Joe Biden, and I think they’re a really good representation of our community here in Connecticut,” she said. “I’m very proud of someone like her as the first female vice president -- I’m glad we can have someone in the White House and finally be represented.”

Harris left for West Haven, where she stopped at a child care development center with new U.S. education secretary -- and Meriden native -- Miguel Cardona. They were welcomed to the center by a class of 5-year-olds. Harris sat cross-legged on the floor with the class to share her experiences of becoming vice president.

Harris said she’s particularly concerned about the mental health of poor children who’ve been out of school during the pandemic, something she says can begin to be addressed by the expanded child tax credit that’s included in the American Rescue Plan.

“So that we can improve the well-being of our children, understanding that [it] is not only about their education health, it is also about their mental health, it’s about their physical health.”

Cardona, Connecticut’s former education commissioner, emphasized that the cooperation of educators is needed to help implement the recovery.

“In order for this American Rescue Plan to really make the difference that we want it to make, we have to make sure that we are talking to one another,” he said. 

Speaking at a news conference ahead of the visit, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro thanked the Biden administration for the support the new law provides to families, including the expansion of the child tax credit, a change she lobbied for specifically.

“In our state of Connecticut, a third of kids will be lifted out of poverty, half out of deep poverty,” she said. “It is really extraordinary that expansion, and what a lifeline it is.”

For the moment, the credit is for tax year 2021; DeLauro told reporters she believes Biden and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi are committed to making it permanent.

This story has been updated. WSHU’s Ebong Udoma contributed to this report.