America witnessed the awkward relationship in between President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris firsthand on Monday when the White Home incorrectly presented ironworker union organizer Heather Kurtenbach as Kamala Harris stepped up to the podium.
The comical moment happened outside the White House during the infrastructure finalizing ceremony where Heather Kurtenbach was welcomed to introduce President Joe Biden after a string of various lawmakers touted the infrastructure bill.
“Please welcome Heather Kurtenbach,” the commentator said as Harris stepped to the podium, triggering an uncomfortable laugh.
“In a moment,” Harris said.
Kurtenbach (Harris) presented President Biden, an irregular relocation that came one day after CNN provided a lengthy report about stress emerging between the Harris and Biden teams.
Now that all of America knows her name thanks to an unexpected gaffe, it is fair to ask: Who precisely is Heather Kurtenbach?
U.S. President Joe Biden responds as Heather Kurtenbach, Organiser and Political Director of Iron Worker local 86, speaks during a signing event for H.R. 3684, the Facilities Financial Investment and Jobs Act Upon the South Yard of the White House in Washington, DC, on November 15, 2021. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/ AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP by means of Getty Images)
According to Building Entrepreneur, Kurtenbach has been part of Iron Workers Resident 86 for over 15 years, having joined in 2005 after being released from prison when her brother-in-law encouraged her to put in an application.
“I pertained to the Iron Employee Resident 86 in 2005. I had recently been launched from incarceration. I couldn’t discover a task anywhere. Nobody would employ me,” she told the publication.
“I offered it whatever I had on assessment day. And ever since, every day I head out; I work hard; I appear on time,” she added.
Throughout her period, Kurtenbach has gradually risen from supervisor to basic foreman, eventually ending up being an apprenticeship trainer. In 2019, she became the very first female business agent for the Iron Employees union. Her experience of going up through the ranks from nothing has just inspired her to assist other ladies coming out of imprisonment. Through her program Trades Related Apprentice Training (TRAC), Kurtenbach has formed a “partnership between the prison system in Washington and unions representing the building and construction trades (the Carpenters, Iron Workers, Laborers and Cement Masons unions).”
“The Iron Employees union has language written into its standards that permits Kurtenbach and her coworkers the opportunity to assist the TRAC candidates by providing them with boots, assisting with union initiation costs, and so on, through several 501(c)( 3) charities,” noted the outlet.
On top of her work with legislators to pass labor-friendly laws, Kurtenbach intends to make the construction industry more inclusive for females, believing that it needs to adjust to supply them with better PPE.
“Women require much better PPE. A lot of times when we go to buy a pair of work boots, they don’t even have our size. Professionals are just now starting to come around with smaller sized, better-fitting PPE for female workers,” she said. “It would do marvels for retaining talent.”
“I likewise wish to see females standing together more and sticking up for each other. Because we are so couple of, tradeswomen tend to be standoffish. We require to support each other more,” she included.
Throughout her speech at the White House on Monday, Kurtenbach praised President Joe Biden for thinking in women like her.
“That’s what’s great about America,” she exclaimed. “And having a president who believes someone like me should be standing here.”
“On behalf of Local 86 in Seattle and union employees everywhere, I am honored to present the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden,” she concluded.