First lady Jill Biden announces 'help is here' as she details American Rescue Plan

First lady Jill Biden announces ‘help is here’ as she details American Rescue Plan

First lady Jill Biden made a visit to Burlington County, New Jersey on Monday. The First Lady toured Samuel Smith Elementary school in the afternoon. The nature of the visit was to remind the nation that while students return to classrooms, it takes resilience to continue these efforts. 

BURLINGTON, N.J. - First lady Jill Biden made a visit to Burlington County, New Jersey on Monday.

The First Lady toured Samuel Smith Elementary school in the afternoon. The nature of the visit was to remind the nation that while students return to classrooms, it takes resilience to continue these efforts.

After the tour, she delivered remarks with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

"With the American Rescue Plan, help is here!" first lady Biden said. "We're going to open schools and we're going to do it safely."

She spoke of the difficulties families are facing due to the pandemic, but that the American Rescue Plan is focused on stregthening communities.

She announced three different categories of help for families during the pandemic, which included direct payments to support families, childcare, and saving jobs.

"And this pandemic has made the problem so much worse. Like schools, parents need childcare in order to work," she explained. As a result, a record number of mothers have left the workforce in order to take care of their children Dr. Jill Biden added.

"There can be no recovery without a place for working parents to send their children. The American Rescue Plan is going to give them the help they need."

She expressed that the federal government will be providing aid to states to ensure first responders such as firefighters and other forces remain in order to help.

"We are going to safely open schools. We are going to get people back to work. We are going to life up the families that are struggling to get by and we are going to be stronger than ever. That is what the American Rescue Plan is all about. Help today so we can build back better tomorrow," she said.

Her visit to the area comes just a day before President Joe Biden is expected to visit Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Last week, President Biden directed states to make all adults eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine no later than May 1. Delaware County, one of the state's most populated areas, was among several southeastern counties that rallied for an increased shipment of doses last week.