Vice President Kamala Harris visited Seattle at present to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Discount Act, a measure that’s directing billions of {dollars} into clear power efforts and is the signature local weather invoice of the Biden administration.
Harris spoke at an occasion at McKinstry and toured the power effectivity firm’s facility. She was joined by Power Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Washington elected officers U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, Gov. Jay Inslee, U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland, and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.
Washington’s officers have been cheerleaders for the Inflation Discount Act, touting native firms which might be benefiting from the measure. The act creates $369 billion of climate-related investments over a decade, with $270 billion delivered within the type of tax incentives.
“We’re creating tens of millions of good-paying, clear power jobs,” Harris instructed the gang at McKinstry. “We’re rebuilding America’s manufacturing. And we’re driving American innovation — one thing this state is aware of so nicely.”
Harris additionally promoted the Biden administration’s creation of 13 million new jobs, discount of the unemployment fee and slowing inflation.
After the occasion, Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff attended a fundraiser co-hosted by Microsoft President Brad Smith and his spouse Kathy Surace-Smith. In response to the Seattle Times, the fundraiser had a minimal donation of $5,000 with contributions going to the Biden Victory Fund, which helps the to reelect the president and vice chairman in addition to Democratic get together organizations.
Smith was a prime fundraiser main as much as President Biden’s first time period, and he and Surace-Smith final yr hosted the president at a personal fundraiser in Seattle’s Madison Park neighborhood. Biden is operating once more for workplace, with former President Trump because the lead Republican candidate to date.
The Seattle space and Washington state are establishing the area as a hub for a number of local weather tech sectors, making it a receptive viewers for Harris’ clear power message.
The Pacific Northwest is residence to firms growing and constructing superior batteries, fusion power, sustainable aviation fuels and hydrogen — all of which garnered assist within the Inflation Discount Act.
The measure additionally addresses well being care prices, decreasing some drug costs and chopping insurance coverage premiums and contains tax breaks for customers buying electrical autos and making power effectivity investments of their properties.
The Inflation Discount Act was signed into legislation on Aug. 16 final yr after a tied vote amongst senators that cut up alongside get together strains, with a tiebreaker from Harris.
That is the vice chairman’s second journey to Seattle since taking workplace. Her first go to was in October 2022, throughout which she introduced a five-year, $5 billion program to fund the acquisition of electric school buses and likewise campaigned for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, who later gained her reelection.
Harris is scheduled to depart Seattle at 3:35 this afternoon for Los Angeles.