Vice President Harris on Friday promised to eliminate “unnecessary degree requirements” for some federal jobs in an effort to win over middle-class voters in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania.
“For too long, our country has promoted only one path to success: a four-year college degree. Our country needs to recognize the value of other paths, additional paths like apprenticeships and technical programs,” Harris told the Wilkes-Barre crowd, drawing applause.
“As president, I will eliminate unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs and create more jobs for people without a four-year college degree. We understand that requiring a particular degree doesn't always speak to someone's skills,” Harris said.
She also promised to call on the private sector to follow suit.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (Democrat) was a leading candidate to be Harris' early pick for vice president, but Signed a presidential order Last year, the Keystone State passed a bill that eliminated the four-year college degree requirement for most jobs in state government.
The pledge came as the vice president promised to champion the middle class if elected president this fall, even as she has sought to highlight her own record to appeal to critics.
“I come from a middle-class background, I know where I come from and I will never forget that, and I will always put middle-class workers first,” Harris said Friday.
Her speech at the rally was interrupted by what appeared to be a protest against the Gaza war, and Harris briefly went off topic while speaking directly in response.
“Now is the time to achieve hostage negotiations and a ceasefire. We have been working day and night to make that happen. I respect your voices, but now it is my time to speak out,” she said to cheers, repeating phrases she has used at previous events.
Harris and former President Trump are locked in a fierce battle for the White House, with the Democrat leading by 3.5 percentage points nationally in the latest Hill/Decision Desk poll.
Harris visited Pennsylvania twice on Tuesday, but the DDHQ tally shows her leading by just one percentage point.
