First lady Jill Biden visits Intel plant in Chandler to highlight education as part of Arizona tour

First lady Jill Biden visits Intel plant in Chandler as part of Arizona tour

The first lady visited the plant to highlight Intel's partnership with Maricopa Community Colleges to educate students who are seeking careers in semiconductors and manufacturing. The program is partially funded by the American Rescue Plan. FOX 10's Linda Williams reports.

PHOENIX - First lady Jill Biden visited Arizona to highlight job training and cancer treatment programs, two policy priorities mentioned by President Joe Biden in his first State of the Union address.

The first lady's trip to Phoenix and Tucson on March 7 and 8 was announced by White House officials last week.

"This trip will focus on uniting Americans around issues with bipartisan support, like providing job training and ending cancer as we know it," according to the White House.

First lady toured Intel plant during Phoenix stop

On March 7, the first lady landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport just before 1:00 p.m. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego greeted her before the First Lady was whisked away to tour the Intel plant in Chandler.

The stop was aimed at highlighting Intel's partnership with Maricopa Community Colleges. The Biden Administration’s America Rescue Plan funded part of the program that educates students seeking careers in semiconductors and manufacturing.

Jill Biden spoke at a finance event for the Democratic National Committee in Chandler before heading to Tucson on Monday evening.

First lady touts Biden cancer initiative in Tucson visit

Jill Biden touted her husband’s push to eradicate cancer and the Biden administration’s efforts to improve health care for Native Americans during a stop Tuesday at the Tohono O’odham Nation outside Tucson.

Biden met with tribal health officials and leaders of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, who discussed their joint efforts to improve cancer screening and treatment for Native Americans.

"You’re doing a great job because you’re getting out into the rural areas and you’re reaching people," Biden said. "And that’s what we need. So really incredible. I mean, really, it’s inspiring."

She was joined by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra. Later, Biden visited the San Xavier del bac Mission, founded by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692.

"Oh, this is amazing. It’s beautiful," Biden said as she entered.

Elders welcomed the first lady to tribal lands with a traditional blessing, and a group of women performed a dance that honors the tribe’s tradition of basket weaving.

Biden commemorated International Women’s Day in the backyard of Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, where the first lady said she was thinking of the women in Ukraine fighting to protect their country from Russian invaders as well as women in Russia bravely protesting the war.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

First Lady Jill Biden delivers remarks to Air Force personnel and their families, Wednesday, June 9, 2021, at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)