Week in Review Dec 6 – 10

Monday, December 6, Vice President Harris met with a group of Black women leaders to talk about progress on the Build Back Better Act.

Official White House notes on the meeting say the group talked about “…progress on the Build Back Better Act, the Administration’s efforts to amplify and implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure law, and voting rights.” This was a follow-up meeting to a July gathering when the group met to talk about voting rights (photo below).

The Vice President wore her Dolce and Gabbana pinstripe jacket and trousers with a black top.

Tuesday, the 7th, marked the White House’s first-ever Maternal Health Day of Action. Attendees at the event included maternal care professionals, mothers, advocates, celebrities, and elected officials.

More from Mariel Padilla’s story for The 19th.

Vice President Kamala Harris issued a nationwide call to action for private and public sectors to improve health outcomes for pregnant people in the United States, where pregnancy-related deaths occur at a higher rate than in other countries with similar incomes.

“This challenge is urgent and it is important and it will take all of us,” Harris said. “ And to put it simply, here’s how I feel about this: In the United States of America, in the 21st century, being pregnant and giving birth should not carry such great risk. But the truth — and this is a hard truth — women in our nation are dying before, during and after childbirth.”

We return to The 19th story.

Harris also pointed out stark racial disparities. “When we know that for some women, the risk is much higher,” Harris said. “We should do something about it.”

Black women, like Brown’s daughter, are three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications as their White counterparts. Native American women are more than twice as likely to die, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And women who live in rural areas — where pregnancy care is often difficult to come by — are about 60 percent more likely to die.

Below, the Vice President with Olympic medalist Allyson Felix. Ms. Felix is one of several women responsible for Nike’s expansion of its maternity policy.

And from The Grio’s story by Nii-Quartelai Quartey: 

Vice President Harris made clear that the White House is taking unprecedented action when she highlighted $3 billion in new maternal health investments proposed in the yet to passed Build Back Better Act, in addition to new commitments to support safe pregnancies and childbirth, and reduce complications and mortality in the year following birth.  he Vixce President

The Vice President wore her Dolce and Gabbana ‘microcheck’ jacket and trousers with a black top.

Wednesday, December 8, the Vice President was on Capitol Hill, where she cast her 15th Senate tie-breaking vote.

The vote confirmed Massachusetts District Attorney Rachael Rollins as the next US Attorney for Massachusetts. Ms. Rollins is the first Black woman to hold the position. Ms. Harris wore what looked the olive/khaki suit that I believe is a Dolce and Gabbana design with a black turtleneck.

Thursday, December 9, Vice President Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff joined President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at a Capitol service for former Senator Bob Dole.

The former Republican Senator from Kansas, a WWII veteran, died at the age of 98 on December 5. Below, the Vice President’s statement.

Another view.

Vice President Harris wore her Dolce and Gabbana black blazer and pants atop a Dolce and Gabbana knit shell with a lace insert.

Friday, December 10, the Vice President conducted a swearing-in ceremony for former Senator Jeff Flake, now the US Ambassador to Turkey. I believe that is the Senator’s wife, Cheryl, seen in the photo below.

Ambassador Flake served as one of Arizona’s senators from 2013 – 2019.

Vice President Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff joined President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at the National Cathedral for former Senator Dole’s funeral. It appeared the Vice President wore an Akris V-Neck dress with her ‘Pietro’ jacket by Akris Punto.

Embed from Getty Images

Later that day the Vice President changed into trousers and a jacket for an event with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff at their Naval Observatory home.

The couple invited children from local schools to make ornaments.

The Vice President said in a social media post, “The last two years have been incredibly difficult for kids and so many didn’t get to celebrate the holidays last year. @SecondGentleman and I invited kids from across Washington, D.C. to come to our home to make ornaments and celebrate the holiday season.”

Ms. Harris looked like she was in her black Dolce and Gabbana suit with the UFO red blouse we saw for the National Christmas Tree lighting earlier this month.

Throughout the week, Vice President Harris wore her Tahitian pearl necklace and stud earrings.