Steelworkers endorse Harris’s bid for President

Roxanne Brown, United Steelworkers (USW) International Vice President At-Large, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to speak about the International’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for U.S. President and Made in America Week.

Brown said the USW was strongly supportive of President Biden’s re-election campaign until he announced that he would not accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for President. She called Biden the biggest champion of American workers in the nation’s history and said he has provided workers with a better path going forward. While she respects his decision, Brown added that she has so much gratitude for his leadership.

After Biden’s announcement, the Steelworkers were the first International Union to endorse Harris for President. She stressed the need to organize behind one candidate who will continue the policies of the most pro-worker administration in history. Union members are excited, and Brown said the USW is ready to put boots on the ground to help Harris win.

Made in America Week takes place from July 21-27 and Brown explained how the Biden-Harris administration’s legacy is built around “Made in America.” She said one of the tasks performed by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget is to implement the stronger buy American standards created by Biden’s Executive Order. For 70 years, the domestic procurement standard threshold was 55 percent of the materials needed to build a project. Biden’s Executive Order increased the threshold to 65 percent between 2024 and 2028 and in 2029, it will increase to 75 percent.

Learn more about the USW’s support of Harris including the need to educate and mobilize members ahead of the upcoming election by listening to the show above.