VP Kamala Harris lands in Houston Thursday for convention appearance, visit to Johnson Space Center
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Vice President Kamala Harris is visiting Houston Thursday, where she met with religious leaders and talked about gains made over the past year and a half, particularly in the Black community.
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This took place at the National Baptist Convention, the nation's largest African-American religious convention since 1886. There, Harris addressed the crowd for about 25 minutes.
"We count on the strength and the conviction of our faith leaders to help lead us forward," Harris said.
She talked about the expanded child tax credit families received in 2021, and said it lifted 40% of Black kids out of poverty.
Harris also told the crowd they're focused on helping minorities own homes.
"We've got to speak the truth about that," Harris said. "We are and were dealing with it because we know Black families, brown families can realize the full and true value of their homes, and pass that value on their homes to their children, and grandchildren."
The vice president also took aim at a piece of Texas legislation she remembers well.
In 2021, Texas Democrats broke quorum during a special session and met with Harris in D.C. They fled over the election integrity bill. It eventually passed.
Republicans said it was needed to make elections more secure, and expand voting hours across the state. However, it eliminated 24-hour and drive-thru voting in Harris County.
"We all know the freedom to vote should be sacred, and our democracy must be defended," Harris said.
The vice president will end her Houston visit on Friday after stopping by the NASA Johnson Space Center, where she will tour and chair the second National Space Council Meeting.
At the last meeting in December 2021, she emphasized building a STEM workforce and addressing climate change.
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