What Do We Know About Vice President Harris’ Record on Science-Based Policy?
There is a lot of excitement about last week’s change in the race for the White House, and rightly so. With President Biden stepping aside and Vice President Harris seemingly on her way to the Democratic Party nomination, there is a lot of new energy and interest among Democrats, but also Independents as recent polls indicate.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the attacks on the Democratic Party candidate from the Trump campaign and the Republican Party have changed, but not that much. To Mr. Trump, seemingly everyone else is dumb as a rock, incompetent, evil, corrupt, a threat to democracy, low energy,…..Projection is a remarkable force in his psyche. Of course the change in attacks is adding deep racism and misogyny to the vitriol coming from Trump and his running mate. It isn’t the least bit subtle. Calling a highly educated, accomplished woman of color who has served in local, state, and federal elected offices a “DEI hire” is as offensive as it is absurd. Projection again seems rampant when unqualified white men occupy senior positions in government or other sectors and accuse everyone else of only getting a job because of an unfair system. So it goes in our current politics.
VP Harris and Science
Here at SciLight, we have posted extensively about the threats to science-based policymaking posed by another Trump Administration. We base that on our experience working in science policy during the first Trump Administration and several other past administrations under Republican and Democratic administrations. We also based our work on a review of the intended blueprint for the next Trump Administration should he win the election, Project 2025. And a recent analysis of the VP candidate on the ticket with Mr. Trump, Sen. Vance. The impact on science is likely to be dire in our view.
So, what about VP Harris? She has more of a public record than Mr. Vance because of her time in the Senate and the White House. Senator Harris was in office during the 115th, 116th, and briefly in the 117th Congress. She was a very active senator, sponsoring 164 bills and co-sponsoring 1,197, according to Congress.gov. As Vice-President, she served as the President of the Senate with the responsibility of serving as a tiebreaking vote 33 times in that closely divided body.
She also has a personal history that may influence how she addresses science issues. Her mother was a highly accomplished cancer researcher and passed away from cancer, a life event that never leaves your thoughts. That doesn’t make VP Harris a scientist, but it certainly gives her perspective (to use the current meme, she didn’t just fall out of a coconut tree but was shaped by the world around her).
Through her career at all levels of government in which she served she has reportedly stressed the importance of following the science on policy issues concerning health, technology and the environment. That’s a good start, but does not a record make.
As a Senator
In the U.S. Senate, Harris served on the Select Intelligence, Budget, Environment and Public Works, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Judiciary Committees. Each of these committees confronts science-based issues.
During the 115th and 116th Congressional sessions, Senator Harris sponsored some notable legislation that we consider critical for science. Examples include: The Climate Equity Act of 2020, which requires the analysis of the impact of legislation, regulation, and spending related to climate and the environment on frontline communities experiencing environmental injustice (that is, bearing a disproportionate impact of the costs of action or inaction). In a similar vein she sponsored the Environmental Justice for All Act.
Sen. Harris sponsored legislation concerning research, such as the Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act and the Black Maternal Health Act. And worker safety legislation on Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention, and Combating Sexual Harassment in Science.
Environmental protection and conservation are other themes of some of her sponsored legislation, including the PUBLIC Lands Act, the Wildfire Defense Act, and the Living Shorelines Act.
This is just a selection (see more of Harris’ sponsored science-based legislation at the end of this post). Unfortunately, introducing legislation does not guarantee success. In our closely divided Senate, with the filibuster still part of the rules of that body and a Republican President, few bills have been passed in the 115th and 116th sessions, and many of those that did pass were ceremonial. None of the Sen. Harris-sponsored bills listed above were signed into law. But, 25 bills that she co-sponsored were signed into law during those two congresses. These include science-related legislation such as the Broadband and DATA Act related to broadband access, the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act, and the Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act.
As Vice President
As noted above, one of the critical roles a vice president plays is as a tiebreaker on votes in the Senate. In that role, VP Harris has been called upon to vote 33 times when the Senate was deadlocked 50-50. All but one of those votes concerned nominations to lead federal agencies or to serve on the federal judiciary. But that one other vote was a big one. VP Harris is why the Inflation Reduction Act, the most important US statute to address climate change, passed - because she cast her tie-breaking vote.
Throughout her career, the Vice President has been an outspoken advocate for action to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to a warming climate. She represented the US at the most recent Conference of the Parties 28 in Dubai speaking forcefully for renewed action. And she clearly recognized that underserved communities, particularly Black, Indigenous and People of Color are on the frontlines of climate impacts and need action now.
VP Harris has chaired the National Space Council. She has been directly involved policy discussions on how to address the emergence of artificial intelligence in our society and economy. And she has been a forceful voice in the White House on health care and women’s health issues.
President Harris and Science
From this review of accomplishments, what can we expect about science policy if Kamala Harris becomes president? Unfortunately, our forecasting model is still in development right next to the SciLight time machine and crystal ball. But we have some good evidence from her past actions and words.
President Harris will continue strengthening the country’s healthcare system through improvements in Obamacare and women’s health programs. She will do all she can to address equity in health care policies – for women of all races and particularly those most in need - Black, Indigenous women of color. Health security is not just the responsibility of medical treatment. It is also environmental health, preparing for future pandemics, and ensuring access to care for all people. If President Harris is faithful to her record, this will be a critical focus of her presidency.
President Harris will recognize that the climate crisis will be a major force affecting every aspect of the US economy, the health and safety of our people, and the ability to address virtually every domestic and international policy. The strong start made through the Inflation Reduction Act is just that, a start. But far more is needed. Even in a politically divided country, as President Biden has shown, government can act based on scientific evidence. It isn’t a matter of getting everyone to “believe” in climate change but of persuading people they are acting in their own self-interest and those of their constituents.
Finally, President Harris knows that scientists need to be able to act on science. The science and technology community needs to be stronger, more diverse, renewed with new talent, and free from political censorship or interference.
That sounds pretty good to us.
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Relevant Legislation Sponsored by Senator Harris
S.4781 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act of 2020Sponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 10/01/2020)
S.4513 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Climate Equity Act of 2020Sponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 08/06/2020)
S.4401 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Environmental Justice For All ActSponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 08/03/2020)
S.4397 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act of 2020Sponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 08/03/2020)
S.4248 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) COVID–19 Bias and Anti-Racism Training Act of 2020Sponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 07/21/2020)
S.4188 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)Water for Tomorrow Act of 2020Sponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 07/02/2020)
S.4118 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Improving Pandemic Preparedness and Response Through Diplomacy ActSponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 06/30/2020)
S.4048 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Fair and Accurate Census ActSponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 06/23/2020)
S.3963 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)COVID–19 Whistleblower Protection ActSponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 06/15/2020)
S.3721 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) COVID–19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force Act of 2020Sponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 05/13/2020)
S.3424 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2020Sponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 03/10/2020)
S.3288 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) PUBLIC Lands ActSponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA]
S.2882 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Wildfire Defense ActSponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 11/18/2019
S.2893 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Preparing Superfund for Climate Change Act of 2019Sponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 11/19/2019)
S.2466 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Water Justice ActSponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 09/11/2019)
S.1730 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Living Shorelines Act of 2020Sponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 06/05/2019)
S.1600 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Maternal CARE ActSponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 05/22/2019)
S.1299 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) 21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities ActSponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 05/02/2019)
S.1111 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Central Coast Heritage Protection ActSponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA]
S.1110 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests ActSponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 04/10/2019)
S.1109 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection ActSponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 04/10/2019)
S.1067 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2019Sponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 04/08/2019)
S.2396 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Safe and Secure Decommissioning Act of 2018Sponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 02/07/2018)
S.2722 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Environmental Justice Right to Know Act of 2018Sponsor: Harris, Kamala D. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 04/19/2018)