Kamala Harris visits a Cuban restaurant to promote economic reforms

US Vice President Kamala Harris visited a Cuban restaurant in Washington on Monday to highlight the importance of small businesses in the economy and defend the infrastructure and social spending reforms that her government wants to approve.

Days after receiving Daniella Senior, an immigrant of Dominican origin who runs several gastronomic establishments in the US capital and its surroundings, at the White House, Harris wanted to visit one of those restaurants to "learn more about her business," according to the office of the vice president.

Harris went to Colada Shop, a Cuban restaurant painted turquoise blue and located in the popular entertainment area of ​​The Wharf, and ordered a full menu: three empanadas - one with picadillo, one with chicken and one with leek and carrot -, a mince pie and a coffee with milk and ice.

"The work that Daniella does here and that of her other businesses is a perfect example of why the two economic bills" promoted by the White House are so important, the vice president assured.

After speaking with several Colada Shop employees, Harris explained that "having access to affordable child care" is critical for them, at a time when at least 2.5 million women "have left the workforce" during the pandemic. partly for that reason.

In addition, she stressed that "access to capital" must be increased for small businesses run by women and minorities, and public transportation systems must be improved to "allow customers to reach" those restaurants and stores.

Senior, also the founder of Serenata & Zumo, was one of five small business owners from the Washington metropolitan area who visited the White House last Wednesday to talk with Harris about the needs of her businesses.

The visit came at a time of tension between the progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic Party over the dimensions of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan proposed by President Joe Biden and the social spending plan valued by now at 3.5 billion.

That second plan would allow all Americans, after the first decade of investments under the plan, to be guaranteed twelve weeks of paid maternity and paternity leave, as well as sickness or caring for a family member.

In addition, Biden's plan extends the free public education system by four years, which currently runs from the beginning of primary school at age 5 to the end of secondary school at 18.