Biden visits Black-owned flooring company to promote rescue plan

March 16 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden traveled to a Black-owned flooring company in eastern Pennsylvania on Tuesday to discuss how his American Rescue Plan offers vital aid to small businesses.

Biden spoke with Kristin Smith and James Smith, owners of Smith Flooring in Chester Township near Philadelphia, as part of his "Help Is Here" tour, which aims to demonstrate how the $1.9 trillion aid package is helping millions of Americans affected by COVID-19.

"We're in a position where it's going to bring immediate relief -- $1,400 -- to 85% of the American public," Biden said of the plan. "We're going to get 100 million shots in people's arms within the first 60 days of my administration and 100 million checks out -- 100 million people who are going to be getting, not a joke, a check for $1,400, which would change their lives."

Biden noted that people in minority communities have been the "hardest hit" by the pandemic and said his administration is working hard to get vaccines to those areas.

"That's why we put these vaccines in community health centers. That's why we have them in drugstores now. That's why we have mobile units," he said.

The Smiths said they currently have about 12 employees but have had as many as 23 at their peak during the summertime, adding they expect to benefit from Biden's plans to open schools, which are some of their largest customers.

"I think it's going to allow for you to bring folks back and increase your business," the president said.

First lady Jill Biden visited New Jersey and Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday to tour an elementary school in Burlington.

"What I want you to know is this," she said at the event, according to NJ.com. "We are going to get people back to work, we are going to lift up the families who are struggling to get by and we're going to be stronger than ever."

Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff are also visiting cities nationwide this week to promote the plan. Harris and Biden will appear at an event in Atlanta on Friday.

After visiting Philadelphia, Biden will travel to his home in Wilmington, Del., for an overnight stay before returning to Washington.