Arizona Leaders React to Vice President Harris Calling for a Manufacturing Renaissance in “The Industries of the Future” Along with a Doubling of Apprenticeships

In Pittsburgh last week, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke again of her Opportunity Economy Agenda for the country.

Before this event, the Vice President had already outlined Pro-Growth and Pragmatic Progressive Programs she would put forth in this New Way Forward-Opportunity Economy Agenda including:

• $25,000 in tax credits to purchase a home.
• $50,000 to help start a small business.
• Restoration of the American Rescue Plan expanded Child Tax Credit with the added component of $6,000 for families with newborn children.
• An expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit.
• Providing Prescription Drug Benefits to Non-Seniors

During her Pittsburgh address, the Vice President, building on the successes of the Biden/Harris program achievements like The CHIPS and Science Act, The Infrastructure Law, and The Inflation Reduction Act, added four more dynamic economic nationalist programs to her Opportunity Economic Agenda. They are:

• Launching a Manufaturing Renaissance in “The Industries of the Future.” In her address, the Vice President said “The third pillar of the Opportunity Economy is leading the world in the industries of the future. From our earliest days, America’s economic strength has been tied to our industrial strength. The same is true today. So, I will recommit the nation to global leadership in the sectors that will define the next century. We will invest in biomanufacturing and aerospace while remaining dominant in AI, quantum computing, blockchain, and other emerging technologies. We will expand our lead in clean energy innovation and manufacturing so the next generation of breakthroughs—from advanced batteries to geothermal to advanced nuclear—are not just invented, but built here in America by American workers.”
• Doubling the number of Apprenticeships. In her remarks, the Vice President declared, “We will double the number of registered apprenticeships by the end of my first term. We will eliminate degree requirements while increasing skills development for half a million federal jobs and challenge our private sector to make a similar commitment to emphasizing skills, not just degrees.
• Calling on “the private sector to do more to lift up workers through equity, profits, and benefits. So more people can share in America’s success.”
• Building the industries of the future faster by cutting Red Tape. In her comments, the Vice President relayed that “The simple truth is, in America, it takes too long and costs too much to build. Whether it’s a new housing development, a new factory, or a new bridge, projects take too long to go from concept to reality. It happens in blue states and red states. And it’s a national problem. I will tell you this. China is not moving slowly. And we can’t afford to, either. As President, if things are not moving quickly, I will demand to know why. And I will act. I will work with Congress, workers and businesses, cities and states, community groups and local leaders, to reform permitting. Cut red tape. And get things moving faster. Patience may be a virtue. But not when it comes to job creation or America’s competitiveness. The Empire State Building was built in a year. The Pentagon, 16 months. No one can tell me we can’t build quickly in our country.

Reaction to Vice President Harris’s new proposals has been very positive.

At an East Valley Moms for Kamala event in Gilbert last week (September 26, 2024,) both Marlene Galan Woods and Nicole Stanton (the wife of Representative Greg Stanton) had heard of the Vice Presidents remarks earlier in the day in Pittsburgh and reacted favorably to it.

Mrs. Stanton said:

“Everyone is worried about the economy. That’s the thing that people talk about who are not naturally drawn to Vice President Harris. They want to talk about the economy. I think, for the people in this room, obviously Reproductive Rights are very important, but the economy is something that is kind of a universal concern to people. And I think today, her speech gave people a lot of comfort around that. She’s got a plan. It’s detailed and hopefully she’ll have a Congress that will help her accomplish it.”

Mrs. Galan Woods commented:

“The bottom line is that I trust Kamala Harris and I think the speech what I heard of the speech… I‘m a capitalist. That speech (Harris’s) isn’t socialism…This is a woman who is behind small business. Behind the economy. She wants to build a strong economy, but one that works for everyone. Not just the people at the top. So I think her speech went a long way, especially in Pennsylvania but around the country. They’re going to be hearing that, Vice President Kamala Harris is a capitalist and that I think is a headline.”

Tempe Mayor Corey Woods, responding to a request for comment, wrote:

“Vice President Harris has laid out a pragmatic vision to lift up the middle class, lower costs, and invest in manufacturing and infrastructure. Her vision and proven ability to deliver results for the American people make her the clear choice to be the next President of the United States.”

At a Get Out the Vote Event in Maryvale yesterday (September 28, 2024,) both Arizona House District Three Nominee Yassamin Ansari and Senator Mark Kelly voiced their support for the Vice President’s commitment to launching a Manufacturing Renaissance for the industries of the future.

Ms. Ansari offered:

“I think that should be something that is looked upon very favorably by Arizona. Arizona has become a hub for manufacturing in the United States. We want to be at the Forefront of Chips manufacturing and the semiconductor industry. And we have a lot of very strong labor unions here in the state who are benefiting both labor unions and non-labor workers, who are benefiting from, all of the new jobs.”

“I’m very excited to see that Vice President Harris wants to continue and build upon what President Biden has done when it comes to investing in jobs in the United States.”

Ms. Ansari also responded to a follow-up on Maricopa County Community Colleges receiving a grant from the CHIPS Act to train workers in semiconductor manufacturing, saying:

“That’s fantastic. The community college system here in Maricopa County deserves a lot more attention. There’s actually a proposition on the ballot this year too without raising any taxes and making sure they get a little bit more funding, and I think that is one that I’m excited to support, especially with sectors like semiconductor and also with nursing and TV technology. We really need our community colleges to be strong to help train the next generation of workers.

Senator Kelly conveyed:

“She’s spot on. The United States is the best. We are the best innovators in the world by far in the United States. We create Industries and even other countries benefit. But we usually benefit first and in a lot of these industries, you can create good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree that you can actually raise a family on. That’s why Kamala Harris supported the Chips and Science Act that we passed that’s going to create great-paying jobs here at TSMC and Intel. We have the same opportunity to do similar things in AI, Quantum Computing, and the Aerospace industry. We’re by far the leaders in Aerospace and to be able to double down on that and she has a plan to do that.”