Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Raleigh-Durham, address small business growth

Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the Raleigh-Durham area Thursday to highlight the Biden-Harris administration’s investments in small businesses, White House officials told McClatchy.

Harris’ trip follows a report from the Census Bureau earlier this week that showed more than 10.5 million small businesses were formed during President Joe Biden’s first two years in office.

“There have been more new small businesses created in the last two year period than in any two year period in history,” a White House official told McClatchy, though small business applications have typically increased year-over-year. The last time applications fell was between 2008 and 2009.

“Supporting small businesses has been a priority for the Biden Harris Administration and has been an area of focus for the Vice President,” the White House said.

Harris last visited North Carolina in September to promote the administration’s efforts to reduce health care costs and increase access, The News & Observer reported. During her visit to Durham, she was joined by Gov. Roy Cooper, Durham Mayor Elaine O’Neal and U.S. Rep. David Price.

On Sunday, Harris gave a speech in Tallahassee, Florida to mark the 50-year anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion case overturned last year by the Supreme court.

In her speech, Harris spoke in support of reproductive rights and took what appeared to be jabs at Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to run for president in 2024, The Tampa Bay Times reported.

Harris also announced that President Joe Biden will sign a memorandum aimed at protecting legal access to abortions via medication.