Though Vice President Kamala Harris may not have succeeded in securing the presidential office, her proposed plans don’t have to be discarded. With just two months remaining in office, she and President Biden should act swiftly to implement as many of her initiatives as possible.
Among these, the Opportunity Agenda for Black Men stands out as one of the most pressing. While certain elements require congressional approval, others can be enacted through executive action. Biden should take advantage of his presidential authority to make Harris’s promises a reality for Black men before the end of his term.
The Opportunity Agenda presents a wide-reaching vision of opportunity, addressing issues like wealth creation, healthcare access, and affordable housing. The plan includes provisions for forgivable loans to help Black men start businesses, tax reductions, and the introduction of a new voting rights bill.
Addressing disparities with bold initiatives for Black men’s futures
However, under the separation of powers, these promises cannot be fulfilled unilaterally by any president. Nonetheless, Biden has the opportunity to move forward with other aspects of the agenda that are within his executive reach.
For instance, Biden could initiate a public-private Health Equity Initiative specifically targeting Black men. He could also instruct the Office of Personnel Management to remove the college degree requirement for a significant number of federal jobs, expanding opportunities for many.
Additionally, steps could be taken to accelerate the removal of marijuana from the controlled substances list. These actions are well within the scope of federal law, either through existing statutes or under the president’s broad executive powers.
There are several compelling reasons why President Biden should pursue these actions. First, these measures would be beneficial policy-wise. Black men face higher risks of diseases like diabetes and prostate cancer and encounter specific barriers to healthcare access. A focused initiative to address these disparities could save lives.
Expanding federal job opportunities would also be transformative. Federal positions offer substantial stability, with a median tenure of 6.5 years compared to just 3.5 years in the private sector.
Allowing the 78% of Black men without a college degree to apply for these jobs would be life-changing. Legalizing marijuana would also eliminate a tool that has disproportionately targeted Black men, leading to higher incarceration rates.
Second, many of these proposals have widespread public support. A recent poll showed that 67% of Americans believe tackling health disparities should be a priority. Over the past two years, more than a dozen states have removed the college degree requirement for public sector jobs.
Support for marijuana legalization is also strong and bipartisan, with about half of Republicans and around 80% of Democrats in favor. By advancing these initiatives, Biden and Harris could boost their favorability ratings as they prepare to leave office.
Third, these actions would likely resonate deeply with Black men. Although Harris received praise for releasing her Opportunity Agenda, some criticized the delay in its announcement, suggesting it was a reactive effort to regain support among Black men.
Similarly, Biden faced accusations of pandering ahead of his Morehouse College speech earlier this year. Without immediate electoral pressure, taking action on parts of the Opportunity Agenda would allow both leaders to counter these critiques and show Black men that they are genuinely committed to addressing their needs.
In a time when more young Black men are losing trust in their leaders, taking these steps could help reverse this trend. Critics may argue that Biden’s efforts could be undone by President-elect Donald Trump after January 20. Others, skeptical that Trump will undo these policies, may prefer to avoid letting him take credit for their success.
While it’s impossible to predict Trump’s actions after taking office, it’s clear that he will do whatever benefits his base. He has already made promises about restitution for victims of DEI policies while also claiming to have done much for the Black community.
Having already achieved significant accomplishments for Black Americans over the past four years, Biden and Harris should use this final opportunity to solidify their legacy.
