First Lady Jill Biden is leaving her husband, President Joe Biden, and the White House behind. At least, temporarily.
According to the Poughkeepsie Journal, on Friday, the first lady will visit Dutchess County, New York to check out the new Dutchess County Mechatronics Lab in Fishkill, New York.
According to a White House communications director, Jill Biden will also take a tour of the DAY ONE Early Learning Community center.
First lady Jill Biden to tour NY mechatronics lab: What to know about Poughkeepsie visit https://t.co/6ahOJbYynv via @pokjournal
— richard p. mchugh The Great Democrat (@gorevidal) October 4, 2023
The program, new to the area, will be crucial in training for specialized positions to combat labor shortages in the high-tech mechatronics field.
The outlet noted:
Dutchess Community College will be enrolling its first cohort of 30 students into its mechatronics program this fall. Mechatronics, described as "intersection of mechanical systems, electrical systems, control systems and computers," will train technicians and help fill the labor shortages companies like OnSemi may be experiencing.
Undoubtedly, the first lady, on behalf of the White House, is making rounds in the area as the U.S. government prepares to pour billions of dollars into the chip manufacturing industry.
The goal is to lessen dependence on foreign countries, namely China, for such technology.
The lab is reportedly a product of President Biden's "American Rescue Plan," which aside from spiking inflation and wrecking the economy, aimed to bolster the domestic tech industry.
The outlet added:
The first lady will attend the mechatronics lab's ribbon cutting event at the Fishkill campus.
The first lady's visit to the community center, according to the White House, aims to "to highlight the importance of early childhood education and strengthening our educator workforce."
It's not the first appearance by a Biden to the tech-heavy area.
Last year, President Biden visited the IBM plan in Poughkeepsie, in part to tout his job numbers at the time.
President Biden tours the IBM plant in Poughkeepsie, New York pic.twitter.com/lj1PcXrgtS
— The Hill (@thehill) October 7, 2022
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), slammed the president at the time, writing, "Biden’s Far Left policies have plunged our economy into a recession, stolen wages from our workers, and destroyed our seniors’ retirement savings. New Yorkers see through his failed victory lap in Poughkeepsie."
