This week former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic pick for president, announced his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris. To many Black women, especially her sorors (Alpha Kappa Alpha), the pick was right on point and was met on social media with a lot of cheers and support. With Harris on the ticket, this would make the first time that an African American woman was named a vice presidential candidate by a major party in the U.S.
Born in Oakland, California, the HBCU Howard University and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law graduate has a long road ahead of her as she battles to the voting polls in November. As we hear more from her, we can see how and where she stands on certain issues. While there are many rumors, tales of her history in California and more, we can only wait to see the plan she and Biden roll out for the American people.
Right now, we can take a look at where she currently stands on health issues.
Maternal Health
According to a press release back in 2018, Harris introduced the Maternal Care Access and Reducing Emergencies (CARE) Act, which specifically aims to “reduce the racial disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity.” The bill would create two new grant programs: One grant would provide implicit-bias training for medical schools and other health training programs, with a priority for those focused on obstetrics and gynecology. The other grant would go toward creating pregnancy medical home programs in 10 states to help provide health care services to new mothers. Finally, the bill would also direct the National Academy of Medicine to investigate and provide recommendations on how best to incorporate the recognition of implicit biases in testing at medical training programs.
More recently, Harris introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act earlier in 2020. The act is composed of nine individual bills, each addressing a specific aspect of Black maternal health. That includes studying and investing in the maternal health needs of veterans, providing funding to community-based organizations that support Black maternal health, and improving support for incarcerated women in need of maternal health care.
Medicare for All
Back when she was running for President herself, Harris put much of her weight behind a Medicare for All plan which she co-sponsored along with Senator Bernie Sanders. Her plan was to transition every American into her version of a “Medicare for All” system within 10 years.
The plan, which will allow private insurers to remain if they follow specific rules. Harris’ plan also rules out a tax on the middle class, which was favored by a lot more people than her initial plan.
According to her old presidential website, Harris wrote this:
“When Kamala’s mother was diagnosed with cancer, it was one of the worst days of her life. But Kamala was so grateful that her mother had Medicare. She believes we must guarantee Medicare for All.
Kamala’s plan for Medicare for All expands on the progress made under Obamacare, immediately offers an improved Medicare buy-in, and transitions the country to a Medicare system we are all in so that we can take on insurance and drug companies. Her plan will reduce costs, keep options for public or private Medicare plans, and ensure a smooth transition.
Affordable health care also means lowering the cost of prescription drugs by taking on pharmaceutical manufacturers and private insurance companies. That’s what Kamala has done throughout her career. As Attorney General, she won a more than $320 million settlement from insurance companies that defrauded elderly Californians and people with disabilities. As president, Kamala will continue the fight. She’ll prosecute opioid makers profiting from the health crisis they’ve helped cause, allow Medicare to negotiate for cheaper prescription prices, and shut the revolving door between pharmaceutical companies and our government.
Kamala also believes