BURLINGTON, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — First Lady Dr. Jill Biden on Monday returned to the state where she was born to tout the huge COVID-19 relief bill just signed by her husband.
Biden got a look at the COVID-19 mitigation measures in place at Samuel Smith Elementary School in Burlington, N.J. The first lady, who was born in Hammonton but grew up in Montgomery County, Pa., walked through the socially distanced classrooms and then addressed a small crowd of educators and elected officials outside.
"With the American Rescue Plan, help is here."
Help would be welcomed by Smith principal Marilyn Dunham, who said the pandemic has upended the pre-K through second-grade students in her school.
"The constant shifts from virtual online instruction to hybrid in-person instruction has caused a huge learning loss that must be rectified," Dunham said.
In addition to providing nearly $3 billion for New Jersey school districts, the First Lady said the plan includes money for child care and small businesses hammered by the effects of the virus.
"When schools like Samuel Smith are open full time, and child care providers are safe and affordable, parents can focus on the careers they love and support their families,” Biden said.
"We are going to get people back to work. We are going to lift up the families who are struggling to get by. And we’re going to be stronger than ever."
The first lady was accompanied by Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey's U.S. senators, Bob Menendez and Cory Booker.
Booker said everything in the massive relief bill is urgently needed.
"We’re not just facing a health crisis; we’re facing an economic crisis. We’re facing a rental crisis. We’re facing a crisis for our small businesses.”
Her visit was one a of a series of events by the president, the vice president and their spouses to promote the $1.9 trillion rescue plan.
A first lady of the United States hasn't visited Burlington County since 1999, when Hillary Clinton spoke at McGuire Air Force Base and Fort Dix to greet the first of 4,000 Kosovar refugees after being airlifted from the war-torn former country of Yugoslavia.
President Joe Biden last traveled to Burlington County in 2018 stumping for Congressman Andy Kim.