First lady Jill Biden visited Allentown Tuesday for a White House event focused on federal educational and workforce opportunities for Latino residents.
Biden’s visit was part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ “On the Road” tour, in which federal officials have traveled the country to meet with Hispanic residents and tout legislative accomplishments. She did not take questions or address recent comments from prominent Democrats about whether President Joe Biden is fit to run for reelection, following his shaky performance in his first presidential debate last week against Donald Trump.
Biden was joined by U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-7th District, and two members of the Hispanic Caucus: Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan, D-Calif., and Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y.
Barragan said “On the Road” is targeting areas with growing Latino populations for hosting events. Allentown’s population is more than 54% Latino, according to census data.
“We need to make sure we’re communicating, we’re engaging, and most of all, we are talking to folks about what we’re doing in Congress,” Barragan said of working with the Latino population. “There is no greater honor than to have the first lady with us. … who better to talk about education?”
Biden, who has taught English at Northern Virginia Community College for 15 years, said “a lot of my colleagues are here” in the audience at Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Allentown campus, where the event took place.
“Teaching isn’t just what I do. It’s who I am,” she said.
She touted several of President Biden’s recent initiatives on education and immigration reform, including a recent executive order that would allow participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to more quickly receive work visas, and a federal grant that helps fund high school career readiness programs.
In remarks before a moderated roundtable discussion, Biden called the Lehigh Valley a “place of transformation where iron ore turns to steel, and steel to prosperity,” referencing the shuttered Bethlehem Steel plant that once fueled the local economy.
“You are still transforming today, industries like manufacturing and distribution are thriving, and you are creating pathways to great careers in those fields,” Biden said.
Allentown officials announced last year that the city is in the running for up to $20 million in federal grant money that would bolster workforce initiatives and address high unemployment in some neighborhoods. Mayor Matt Tuerk said following the visit that he is “extremely optimistic” about Allentown’s chance to receive the award following Jill Biden’s visit.
Roundtable participants included LCCC President Ann Bieber, St. Luke’s University Health Network Director of Workforce Development Victoria Montero, Tuerk and St. Luke’s emergency room nurse Heidi Rosado.
A beneficiary of a touted education and workforce program, Rosado said she immigrated with her family to the mainland United States at age 9 from Puerto Rico. She participated in St. Luke’s health career exploration program in high school, which prompted her to pursue nursing.
“I would say continue investing in your youth, since they are the future of America. You know we go on to becoming first responders, nurses, doctors, teachers, just essential workers,” Rosado said.
Following the roundtable, which Biden listened to but did not participate in, she promptly left the room without taking questions from reporters. Biden participated in an event in Michigan later in the afternoon.
At a press gaggle afterward, Wild said she was “not talking politics today” when asked if she agreed with calls from some prominent Democrats that Biden should drop his reelection bid.
Wild also said she has “had such a busy schedule” that she has not recently had time to hear from constituents with concerns about Biden’s performance.
At the same time as Biden’s visit, a group of Republican protesters expressed their opposition to the Biden campaign in downtown Allentown. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Vote them out,” “Trump ’24,” “Tell the truth” and “Back the Blue.” The protest lasted just over an hour.
Ron Johnson, a Wilson resident and grant coordinator for the Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society, said he did not watch last week’s presidential debate. He said he is “frustrated” with politicians in general, but hopes to see Biden and Congress advocate for comprehensive immigration reform that protects undocumented migrant workers from deportation.
“I think it’s important that they are accessible to the people, and that the people are able to directly connect with their legislative staff and tell them, please look out for our families, our communities,” Johnson said of the visit from officials.