In Allentown, Jill Biden talks up job training, education
The first lady appeared with Rep. Susan Wild, met with Latino community members
First lady Jill Biden came to the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday to tout the link between education and good-paying jobs as well as her husband President Joe Biden’s efforts to make the connection happen.
“That’s how we grow the middle class … it’s how we grow Latino economic power, too,” Jill Biden told a group gathered at Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Allentown campus.
Biden’s visit was not billed as a campaign stop on behalf of her Democratic husband — and she did not address media questions about President Biden’s poor debate appearance last week.
She was part of the “CHC on the Road” tour organized by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which on Tuesday included Democrats Nanette Barragán of California, who is the caucus chair, and Nydia M. Velázquez of New York.
Caucus members have been visiting cities such as Allentown, where more than half of the residents are Latinos, to hear their concerns. Jill Biden made a similar visit to Allentown in 2021 when the president saw his support from Latinos sagging. That support is still an issue, polling shows.
Jill Biden, a community college professor, said the president’s commitment to education as a pathway to economic success starts with his proposal for free universal preschool to prepare young children for success in school.
She said President Biden also has supported career and technical education, apprenticeships and workforce training programs. His latest proposal, which includes $7 billion in funding in the proposed fiscal 2025 budget, is called Classroom to Career.
“It would give every student in America the opportunity to take career-related community college courses while they’re still in high school,” she said.
Wild agreed that education is the key to economic security. “Setting up our children for success is one of our most fundamental responsibilities,” she said.
Biden lauded LCCC, the Allentown School District and St. Luke Univers.ity’s Health Network for creating workforce development opportunities for students.
LCCC President Dr. Anne D. Bieber said 80% of the high school students who participate in the college’s workforce development programs continue their education.
One such student was Heidee Rosado, who attended Tuesday’s discussion.
Rosado worked at St. Luke’s during high school then progressed to LCCC. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Cedar Crest College and is now an emergency room nurse at St. Luke’s Allentown emergency room.
She plans to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner via DeSales University.
State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, Wild’s challenger in the 7th District race, released a statement shortly before Jill Biden’s visit began.
In it, he brought up President Biden’s debate performance, which has led some Democrats to question whether he should stay in the race.
“Susan Wild was exposed for her multiple lies about President Biden’s capacity to serve,” said Mackenzie. “Today, she’s bringing in Jill Biden to the Lehigh Valley in an effort to improve their damaged image. Voters see through Susan Wild’s distractions, just like they saw with their own eyes the shocking debate performance by President Biden.”
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