VP Harris visits Houston's emergency operations center ahead of AFT convention Thursday

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Vice President Kamala Harris made a visit to the city of Houston's Emergency Operations Center on Wednesday and received a briefing on the ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Beryl.

The vice president's return to Harris County marks her second trip to Texas this month. She will continue her visit with a scheduled keynote speech at the American Federation of Teachers' (AFT) 88th National Convention on Thursday.

More than 3,500 members and leaders of the AFT union -- which represents teachers, school staff, higher education workers, nurses and healthcare professionals and public employees -- will gather in Houston to hear Harris speak, according to a news release from the AFT.

Harris will lay out "the critical role of labor unions and workers in creating a flourishing working class," the release said.

Thursday's address comes days after the executive council of the AFT unanimously voted to endorse Harris for president -- the first union to do so.

Harris will speak at the convention at 10 a.m. Thursday, according to the AFT.