Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden on the American Rescue Plan at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School

Concord, New Hampshire

This is an honor, Steve. Thank you. And on behalf of all the teachers in the United States, thanks.  

Thank you, Vivian! What you said was so heartfelt, and I truly appreciate it.  

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! 

And thank you to Principal Kris Gallo and Vice Principal Carol McCarthy, for welcoming all of us here. You’ve both led this school through a difficult year with resilience and grit. 

I feel at home here. My son Beau clerked here, right in the courthouse. I have so many good friends here in New Hampshire: the Brodericks and the McAuliffes. So I feel like I’m part of the family here.  

Let me start by saying something directly to the families of the shooting victims in Atlanta last night: My heart is with you. 

And I hope all Americans will join me in praying for everyone touched by this senseless tragedy.  

I had the chance to meet with Senators Shaheen and Hassan this morning, and thank them for their work—especially all that they did to strengthen the American Rescue Plan. 

They made sure that New Hampshire has the COVID support it needs, schools will have plans to reopen, and that health insurance premiums will be reduced by hundreds of dollars. My husband is grateful for their partnership. 

Congresswoman Annie Kuster, thank you for coming.  

The whole McAuliffe family—I know Scott and Caroline don’t remember me from all those years ago, but your father and I did spend some time out there talking to teachers about our favorite Senator, my husband Joe. It’s great to be back.  

Christa McAuliffe is a hero of mine.  

I was an educator as well when she was training to be the first teacher in space, and my fellow educators and I were so proud of what she was doing. 

She taught us all to dream big and never stop learning.  

And her legacy drives this school and its mission for the children of Concord. 

It inspired a generation of girls across the country to learn more, to be brave—who grew up to be scientists and researchers, and yes, astronauts. 

There’s a saying Christa loved—and it’s inscribed on the coin we are unveiling today: “I touch the future. I teach.” 

This coin, like her life, is a tribute to all educators.  

It’s a reminder of the incredible power we hold to write our history and shape our future.  

It’s a recognition of the obligation we have to keep working towards a time when all students have what they need to thrive. 

So, thank you to all of the educators who touch the future, and especially those who are joining us today. 

As a teacher for over 30 years, I feel most at home in a classroom. I love seeing the colorful displays and the sights and sounds of learning here at the Christa McAuliffe School. 

Educators, parents, and students—this entire community has come together to bring kids back to the classroom. 

But even with your best efforts, not all students are able to come back.  

Which means parents are still having to take time off work or figure out child care solutions. 

This school, like schools across the country, can’t fully reopen without help. 

Today, I’m here to tell you: With the American Rescue Plan, help is here.  

We’re going to reopen schools—and we’re going to do it safely. 

Like our schools, families need help too. They are hurting in ways that they never have before. 

They’re living every day, just holding their breath, knowing that they’re one car repair away from financial disaster. 

So, what will this mean for your family? 

There are so many ways the American Rescue Plan will strengthen our families and communities.  

But in addition to reopening schools, I want to tell you about some other big investments that are going to change millions of families’ lives. 

So, let’s start with direct payments.  

Here’s what’s important: Millions of individuals will qualify for $1,400. In fact, it might already be in your bank account. And that means a typical family of four will get $5,600 altogether. 

For some, this money is going to be the difference between putting food on the table or going hungry.  

For many, it’s going to allow them to fix the appliance that’s been broken or get new tires for their car. 

It’s the chance to take a breath again. 

And when we help families stop holding their breath about paying their bills, they can shop at local businesses and restaurants, whose owners and employees benefit too. 

Now to child care. This is the one that’s so important to me. 

For years, I’ve heard from my students, my colleagues, my friends and neighbors, that child care is devastating their finances. 

And this pandemic has made the problem so much worse. 

Like schools, parents need child care to be able to work—which is one of the reasons that a record number of women have dropped out of the workforce entirely. 

Child care isn’t a Republican or Democratic issue. It’s a family issue—and it’s urgent.  

There can be no recovery without a place for working parents to send their children. 

The American Rescue Plan is going to make sure that child care providers have what they need to reopen safely and lower costs.  

But it’s also going to help families pay those costs. In fact, many families will be able to get back half of what they already pay in child care.  

My husband, Joe, has been a single dad—he knows how important it is to keep your children safe.  

He’s going to make sure that all families have choices to get the child care they need. 

When schools like Christa McAuliffe are open full-time, and child care providers are safe and affordable, parents can focus on the careers they love and support their families. 

When our neighbors can stop worrying about how they’re going to put food on the table or keep their homes, they invest in their communities. 

They make our cities and towns better places for everyone. 

What I want you to know is this: 

We are going to safely reopen our schools.  

We’re going to get people back to work. We’re going to lift up the families who are struggling to get by. 

And we’re going to be stronger than ever. 

That’s what the American Rescue Plan is all about: help today so we can build back better tomorrow. 

Thank you, New Hampshire. Thank you, Christa McAuliffe.  

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