Vice President Harris visits Denver to showcase COVID-19 relief bill

WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Denver Tuesday, March 16 to tout the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that Congress passed March 10.

The visit is part of a campaign by the Biden administration to highlight the contents of the bill, which the president signed March 11.

Harris was joined by her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. The two planned to visit a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Salud Clinic in Fort Lupton, but opted for a virtual meeting due to time constraints. 

Around 1:30 p.m., Harris met with Governor Jared Polis and small business owners at Maria Empanada on South Broadway in Denver to discuss the benefits of the relief bill for small businesses.

The vice president's visit came a few days after Governor Jared Polis and top Colorado lawmakers announced their own stimulus plan, this one tallying at $700 million. It was dubbed the Colorado Recovery Plan. 

“Here in Colorado, we only get to spend money we have,” Polis said during the press conference.

However, in a later statement, the governor commended the passage of the federal stimulus package.

“I congratulate the United States Congress on passing President Biden’s Stimulus bill. This federal stimulus package provides $1400 per person to most Coloradans, rent assistance, and as well extends several necessary unemployment benefits,” Polis said in a statement. “This relief package also directly assists restaurants and other small businesses struggling during this economic crisis caused by COVID-19. I’m grateful to Colorado’s federal delegation members who voted in favor of this federal package.”

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a press conference that President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden will also be "hitting the road" to promote the stimulus package, as will other members of the cabinet.