First Lady Jill Biden visits Madison

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - First Lady Jill Biden stopped Thursday in Madison to highlight the importance of access to cancer screenings and to show her appreciation for educators.

The First Lady arrived in the afternoon to Dane County Regional Airport. Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway met up with Dr. Biden to welcome her to the capital city. Rhodes-Conway and Dr. Biden were joined by Democratic Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, and the trio headed to Exact Sciences to learn more about early cancer detection.

The First Lady received a tour of the laboratory at Exact Sciences, which makes, among other things, devices that can detect colon cancer earlier. She also spoke with lab techs that are a part of the process at the laboratory.

Improving access to cancer screenings is a focus of President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative, which aims to lower cancer death rates and raise awareness. Dr. Biden talked about how a big part of the Cancer Moonshot initiative is increasing cancer screenings.

“Joe’s budget invests in programs to help improve access to this type of care, so everyone no matter where they live have the opportunity to be screened when they need it,” Dr. Jill Biden said.

Access to care was also a big topic at her next stop in Madison, the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness. A roundtable was held to talk about how cancer affects the Black community. Founder Lisa Peyton-Caire explained that the African American community is the least likely to be diagnosed with cancer, and the most likely to die from it.

“This Moon Shot, the President’s initiative is so important to Wisconsin, as well as to the nation because we feel those casualties, but we also have survivors in our audience,” Peyton-Caire said.

First Lady Biden, who has been a teacher for over 30 years, then headed to an educator appreciation event at Glacier Edge Elementary School, in Verona. The school was hand-picked by the White House for Biden’s visit.

Hundreds of public educators and union members filled the gymnasium at the school to hear about how state and federal lawmakers are going to support them through the next school year.

“To signing the bipartisan gun safety bill, to loan forgiveness for public servants and here in Wisconsin he is grateful for the incredible partners like Senator Baldwin and Governor Evers,” First Lady Biden said.

Governor Tony Evers, who is also a former educator, met up with the First Lady at the school event.

The First Lady capped off her time in Madison by talking at a political finance event with Sen. Baldwin and Gov. Evers.

Wisconsin Republican Party Chair Brian Schimming said he was happy to welcome the First Lady to town, but not the Biden Administration’s policies.

“Look, we’ve had 16.9-percent cumulative inflation over the Biden administration time, a little bit over three years, the average household has lost over $10,000,” Schimming said.

Her stop in the Badger State is one of three places Jill Biden was visiting this week. She stopped in Indiana and Chicago on Wednesday.

The First Lady’s visit comes as President Joe Biden visited Milwaukee two weeks ago.

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