Vice President Kamala Harris Visits Philadelphia Union Workers

Vice President Kamala Harris poses for a photo with Philadelphia union workers on I-95 (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson).

Vice President Harris commended the construction workers for repairing the collapsed ramp on I-95.

Article by Dean Millard, Junior White House Correspondent

PHILADELPHIA - Following the collapse of a ramp on I-95 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that occurred on June 11th, Vice President Kamala Harris visited an area close to the collapse site on Tuesday. Upon arrival in Philadelphia, Harris was greeted by Senator Bob Casey and United States Representative Madeleine Dean.

Vice President Harris met approximately twelve construction workers near the collapse site, which was caused by a tanker fire. She praised the workers by saying, “You guys are doing extraordinary work,” according to Julia Terruso of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

In alignment with President Joe Biden’s initiative to create more union jobs to improve our nation’s infrastructure, Vice President Harris reemphasized how the administration is “investing in America’s businesses, America’s workforce and its union workforce,” Julia Terruso reported.

While near the collapse site, Vice President Harris also took the time to take pictures (as seen above) with the construction workers, as well as Robert and William Buckley, whose company is supervising the rebuilding effort of the collapsed ramp.

In addition to Vice President Harris’ visit to the collapse site while in Philadelphia, she also visited the Finishing Trades Institute, where she announced the Labor Department’s advancement of the administration’s priority to invest in fair pay for construction workers. This new initiative will help fulfill the administration’s economic vision. President Biden visited the same trade school back in March where he unveiled his 2024 budget proposal.

Specifically, these higher wages will result in “thousands of extra dollars per year in workers’ pockets to assist with a down payment on homes, save for retirement, or simply have more breathing room,” according to the fact sheet provided by the Office of the Vice President.

These wage increases would be in accordance with the administration’s hopes to update the Davis-Bacon Act, which could raise the pay for a heavy equipment operator’s wage in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania from $17 an hour to $28 an hour.

Overall, the wage increase contributes to the advancement of the administration’s “Bidenomics” economic agenda, which will serve as a pivotal component of the administration’s reelection campaign.

In her 20-minute speech at the Finishing Trades Institute, Vice President Harris reminded the audience of the administration’s key focus: “fighting to build a nation where every person, not just the wealthy...have the opportunity to thrive.”

Before arriving near the I-95 ramp collapse site, Vice President Harris did not hesitate to express her gratitude to the workers responsible for repairing the ramp. She acknowledged how the quick reconstruction is “a testament to the skills and the aptitude and the commitment and the diligence of the workers...”

Although the I-95 ramp is not permanently reconstructed, the workers implemented temporary repairs that helped the ramp reopen to its daily 160,000 drivers that utilize this area of I-95.