Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden at a Visit to Fort Buchanan

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Thank you, Imani. Your strength is inspiring to us all – thank you for sharing your story with us today. The President and I are so proud of your family’s service to our country and we work each day to keep our sacred obligation to provide for you and all military families.

I’m grateful to all the military leadership here for the warm welcome.

Food is love. Thank you to the Robert Irvine Foundation and the Fort Buchanan MWR team for a delicious meal.

And I’m honored to be joined by Governor Pierluisi and Mayor Romero.

Thank you all for spending part of your Sunday with me.

Before we begin, I want to recognize Staff Sergeant Fidel Cruz Llanos. May we always remember his heroism and his sacrifice.

Please join me in a moment of silence for him and to honor his family.

The United States doesn’t demand military service of our citizens. You step forward.

You are the brave and the bold – committed to protecting our freedoms and democracy – to putting other’s safety above your own.

You show up every day for this island – making sure the bay is protected, saving boats when they’re in distress, preparing for every storm and every contingency, deploying when duty calls.

And when things are hard – you’re the first to help and the last to leave.

You miss time with your family so other families can know security.

And we have to make sure that service is an opportunity of dignity and honor, of pride and accomplishment for the entire family.

You, military kids and spouses, may not wear a uniform, but the President and I know you serve our country too. Your happiness and wellbeing are critical to our national security. And we have a sacred obligation to all of you.

That’s why Joining Forces — my White House initiative to support military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors — is working to ensure that you have the resources and opportunities you need. And just yesterday, Joining Forces was here with other members of Joe’s administration to help servicemembers and their families who want to start their own businesses.

Because when families have the opportunities you deserve, our service members can do their duty knowing that those they love most are able to thrive.

The Bidens are a military family.

My father was a Navy Signalman in World War II. And our son, Major Beau Biden, served for a year in Iraq as part of the Delaware Army National Guard.

So, as a military mom, and as your First Lady, I’m here to let you know how much all of you mean to me and to your Commander-in-Chief, President Biden.

Thank you for what you do every day for Puerto Rico and for our nation.

And President Biden is working every day to make sure people in Puerto Rico have the resources and support you need.

That’s why he’s invested in Puerto Rico – creating over 100,000 jobs and providing billions for infrastructure. He’s fought pharmaceutical companies and lowered the cost of insulin. He’s made sure that Puerto Rican families get the same child tax credit as the rest of the nation. And Joe’s calling on Congress to do the same for SNAP, Medicaid, and SSI.

Puerto Rico matters to the President. All of you matter to him.

And from day one he’s made sure that this island is well represented in our Administration by people like our amazing Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona – because Joe believes in the people here and he won’t stop fighting for you.

For tomorrow and all the days to come, know that he and I are with you.

To the families here, we are forever grateful for your service. May we continue building a nation that is worthy of your sacrifice. And may God bless our troops, their families, caregivers, and survivors.

Now, I’m excited to meet all of you.

###