On Thursday, President Joe Biden revealed that Vice President Kamala Harris will spearhead the newly-established federal Office for the Prevention of Gun Violence. Harris faced criticism for handling border issues and voting rights legislation. The new office aims to collaborate with the Community Justice Action Fund and Everytown for Gun Safety to synchronize federal efforts to tackle gun violence.
Harris promised, “We will tirelessly work to curb the widespread issue of gun violence in every community, as we cannot afford to waste any more time or lives.”
Nevertheless, Harris has been scrutinized for her performance in various policy areas like gun control, artificial intelligence (AI), and immigration. For instance, her attempt to elucidate the complexities of AI in a July roundtable discussion could have been clearer and more clear.
During the discussion, Harris stated, “AI, or artificial intelligence, is essentially about machine learning. The issue here is the kind of information that’s fed into these machines, which then influences the decisions made by the technology.”
Last year, Biden entrusted Harris with addressing the “root causes” of the migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. However, the crisis continues to escalate despite her interventions. Instead of implementing measures like the ‘Remain-in-Mexico’ policy endorsed by former President Donald Trump or fortifying the border, Harris opted to invest in Central American countries, a move criticized by entities like the National Border Patrol Council. Some media outlets, including CNN, have pointed out that border crossings remain historically high despite her investment strategies totaling $4.2 billion in the private sector for Central America.
Furthermore, Harris was responsible for leading Democrats in an extensive legislative campaign to safeguard voting rights. The party, however, still needs to pass its flagship voting rights bill, known as the For the People Act, or H.R. 1, due in part to the Senate’s 60-vote rule. New York Magazine described her role as the “visible champion of a destined-to-fail initiative” in this regard.
