Governor Abbott Statement On President Trump’s State Of The Union Address

“Tonight, President Trump laid out a clear and compelling vision for our nation—one where all Americans have access to even greater opportunity and shared prosperity. Through the first three years of his presidency, President Trump has kept his promises to protect America’s national security, make our communities safer, and build an economy that lifts up every American. From slashing taxes and regulations to securing trade deals like the USMCA, this administration continues to usher in incredible economic growth and opportunity for American workers. Nowhere is this success more apparent than in Texas where the President’s commonsense economic policies, combined with the Texas economic model, have elevated the Lone Star State to extraordinary new heights. I thank the President for his leadership and look forward to working with his administration to continue to grow the economy and ensure a brighter future for every Texan.”

President Donald J. Trump’s Great American Comeback Story

“America is thriving, America is flourishing, and yes, America is winning again like never before.” – President Donald J. Trump

RESTORING
AMERICAN STRENGTH AND SUCCESS: President Donald J. Trump has worked to
deliver a new era of American strength and prosperity.

• Over the past 3 years, President Trump has delivered an incredible comeback for our great Nation.
• President Trump is following through on his promises and championing reforms that put American families and workers first. 
• President Trump is laying out an optimistic vision about how we can continue this progress and build a better future for all. 

UNLEASHING THE AMERICAN ECONOMY:
President Trump has revitalized the economy and unleashed a new wave of
prosperity for all Americans.

• The
  President’s policies have given new life to the American economy,
  delivering prosperity and new hope for American workers and businesses.
• Incomes
  are rising, poverty and welfare rolls are falling, and millions of jobs
  are being added, resulting in historically low unemployment rates.
• Americans of all backgrounds are thriving, and workers are coming off the sidelines.
• This economic revolution is leaving no American behind – with the lowest income workers seeing the biggest gains.
• Under
  President Trump, America is leading the world in oil and natural gas
  production – creating jobs and driving growth across the country and
  increasing energy independence.

FIGHTING FOR FAIR TRADE:
President Trump is ending the years of disastrous trade deals and
igniting a blue collar boom for American workers.

• President
  Trump has rejected the calamitous trade policies of the past and is
  securing fair, reciprocal trade deals that put Americans first.
• The
  President delivered on his promise to renegotiate NAFTA, replacing it
  with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
• The
  President has confronted China for its trade abuses, imposing historic
  tariffs and achieving a Phase One Agreement that protects our
  intellectual property and boosts exports.
• President
  Trump’s efforts have restored America’s manufacturing might and created
  a boom of new, high-paying blue collar jobs for American workers.

CHAMPIONING AMERICA’S WORKING
FAMILIES: President Trump’s economic agenda is helping American workers
and their families get ahead. 

• President Trump is calling on Congress to support his plan to provide vocational training at every high school in America.
  
  • The
    President has led the way on workforce development to ensure all
    Americans have the training and education they need to thrive.
  
  
• The
  President is asking Congress to expand paid parental leave to every
  family in the country – following legislation he signed providing paid
  parental leave for Federal employees.  
• To
  leave a better America for future generations to come, President Trump
  announced the United States will join the One Trillion Trees Initiative.

PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM:
President Trump is committed to ensuring that every young American has
the chance to pursue the best possible education for themselves. 

• President
  Trump is calling on Congress to pass the Education Freedom Scholarships
  and Opportunity Act and give 1 million Americans the freedom to attend a
  school of their choice.
• President
  Trump wants to ensure that no parent is forced to send his or her child
  to a failing school or one that is not a good fit.
• The
  President has invested nearly $1.5 billion in the development of public
  charter schools, helping these schools grow to serve more than 3
  million students.

SMART AND SAFE IMMIGRATION:
President Trump is fulfilling his promise to secure our southern border
and fix our broken immigration system.

• The Trump Administration is working on legislation to transform American immigration into a system based on merit.
• President
  Trump is delivering on his promise to build the border wall, with more
  than 100 miles of construction already completed and more on the way.
• The
  President successfully negotiated agreements with multiple countries in
  the region to stop the surge of migrants flooding to our border.
• President
  Trump is empowering our immigration enforcement officers and protecting
  our communities from uncontrolled migration, dangerous criminals, and
  lethal drugs.

PUTTING PATIENTS FIRST: President
Trump is empowering patients by working to lower drug prices and
increase access to high-quality, affordable healthcare options for all.

• President Trump is expanding affordable healthcare options after the disaster of Obamacare. 
• President Trump is combating high drug prices and is delivering results.  
• The President has increased transparency in healthcare to empower patients and is committed to ending surprise medical billing.
• President Trump has worked to promote quality care for all American patients, including Americans struggling with addiction.  

DEFENDING LIFE AND LIBERTY: President Trump has been a steadfast advocate for the American values that we all cherish.

• President Trump has defended religious liberty here and around the world.
• President
  Trump has unequivocally stood for the life of the unborn and became the
  first president to attend the annual March for Life rally. 
• President Trump has stood up for Americans’ First and Second Amendment rights.

RESTORING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP: President Trump has taken action to ensure America is once again respected throughout the world.

• The
  President is rebuilding America’s military, securing nearly $2.2
  trillion for our Nation’s defense over his first 3 years in office.
• President Trump worked with Congress to establish the Space Force, the first new branch of the military since 1947.
• President
  Trump has defeated the ISIS territorial caliphate, eliminated their
  leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and launched a decisive strike to kill
  Iran’s terrorist general Qassem Soleimani.
• The
  President is pursuing transformational peace around the world,
  including releasing his bold vision for peace between Israel and the
  Palestinian people.
• 
  The President is putting an end to the endless wars that have cost our country for too long.
  

Chair DeFazio Responds to President Trump’s State of the Union Address

Washington, D.C. —
Chair
of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter
DeFazio (D-OR) released the following statement in response to President
Donald Trump’s State of
the Union address:

“Tonight,
President Trump spent a great deal of time talking up the strength of
the U.S. economy. It’s true that CEOs and high-dollars donors,
especially those
hell-bent on gutting environmental protections, are doing better than
ever under this administration. But President Trump barely mentioned the
need to invest in our communities and help regular Americans by
rebuilding our nation’s crumbling infrastructure.
That is incredibly disappointing, because the reality is that three
years into his administration, President Trump has yet to put forth a
single new idea that would fix our roads, bridges, ports, airports,
water infrastructure, and transit systems, or show
any leadership on how our country funds significant infrastructure
investment. This is a massive missed opportunity.

“Fortunately, House Democrats aren’t waiting on President Trump to move forward and work on behalf of
all Americans. Last week, I stood with my Democratic colleagues
to unveil our framework for a five-year, $760 billion investment to
address our country’s most urgent infrastructure needs, from tackling
our growing maintenance backlog, to designing safer
streets, to putting the U.S. on a path toward zero emissions and
increasing resiliency. This framework is the launchpad we need to create
millions of jobs while curbing carbon pollution and building smarter
and safer infrastructure that meets the needs of
a 21^st century economy. We need to move forward with bold
action and real investment. What our country doesn’t need is the same
worn-out excuse from this Administration that ‘streamlining’ and cutting
environmental protections is the answer to making
progress on infrastructure.

“To
underscore the danger of cutting critical regulations and putting
polluters ahead of people, my guest to the State of the Union was Joe
Moll with the McKenzie
River Trust in Eugene, Oregon. Joe knows firsthand the perils of
rolling back clean water protections, which is a Trump Administration
gift to industry at the expense of the American people. The fact is
anyone who likes to fish or swim in their local lakes
and streams or who wants clean drinking water should be alarmed by this
Administration's priorities.

“While
I am disappointed the President said just one sentence about our
nation’s transportation infrastructure, my Committee will continue to
draft comprehensive
legislation to improve the lives of everyday Americans, while bringing
our nation's infrastructure into a state of good repair and ensuring the
projects we undertake are smarter, safer, and made to last.”

President Donald J. Trump Is Devoted To Protecting American Freedoms And Promoting American Values

“In America, we believe in the majesty of freedom and the dignity of the individual.” – President Donald J. Trump

DEFENDING RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: President Donald J. Trump is a steadfast advocate for religious liberty.

• President Trump is committed to protecting the liberty and freedom of our religious communities, organizations, and students.  
• The Trump Administration issued new guidance to protect religious liberty and expression in public schools.
  
  • The Administration’s action will help protect each student’s constitutional right to pray.
  
  
• The Trump Administration took crucial action to support and defend Jewish students who face anti-Semitism on college campuses.
• President
  Trump reversed the Obama-era policy that prevented the government from
  providing disaster relief to religious organizations.
• The
  President signed an Executive Order establishing the Faith and
  Opportunity Initiative, which recognizes and promotes the essential
  contributions of faith-based organizations.

PROTECTING INNOCENT LIFE: President Trump is the most fearless pro-life president in American history.

• Since his first day in office, President Trump has taken historic action to protect the sanctity of every American life.
• President Trump has urged Congress to pass legislation banning the horrendous practice of late-term abortion.
• Last year, President Trump took action to end Federal research using fetal tissue from abortions.
• Shortly
  after taking office, President Trump issued a memorandum reinstating
  and expanding the Mexico City Policy, banning funding to organizations
  that provide abortion overseas.
• The Trump Administration issued a rule preventing Title X family planning funds from supporting the abortion industry.
• President Trump became the first sitting president to address the annual March for Life rally.

STANDING UP FOR AMERICANS’
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS: President Trump is a strong champion and defender
of Americans’ First and Second Amendment rights.

• President
  Trump signed an Executive Order promoting free speech and inquiry at
  colleges and universities receiving Federal research or education
  grants.
• President
  Trump held the first ever Presidential Social Media Summit to celebrate
  and promote freedom of speech on social media platforms.
• 
  The President has made clear that he will always stand up for Americans’ Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms.
  

The Trump Administration’s Immigration Agenda Protects American Workers, Taxpayers, And Sovereignty

“To
defend American Workers and Families from every walk of life, my
Administration has undertaken an unprecedented effort to secure the
Southern Border of the United States.” – President Donald J. Trump
 

SECURING
OUR BORDER: President Donald J. Trump is continuing to safeguard
America’s borders from uncontrolled migration, dangerous criminals, and
lethal drugs.

• President Trump has taken action to end catch and release and stop the surge of migrants flooding to our border.
• The
  President secured historic cooperation agreements with the Governments
  of Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala to control migration
  flows.
  
  • At
    President Trump’s urging, Mexico enhanced its border security efforts
    and deployed thousands of troops to address this crisis.
  
  
• The border wall is being built as promised—with more than 100 miles of wall constructed and much more to come.
• As a result of President Trump’s efforts, illegal immigration has plummeted in recent months.
  
  • Border apprehensions at the southern border have dropped by 75% since May of last year—the height of the border crisis.
  • Apprehensions have declined for 8 consecutive months.
  
  

SAVING AMERICAN LIVES: President
Trump is committed to stopping the flow of criminal aliens and deadly
drugs across the border and into our communities.

• President
  Trump has empowered the brave men and women of immigration law
  enforcement and given them the tools they need to keep our country safe.
• Last year, the heroic men and women of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested more than 120,000 criminal aliens.   
• These
  criminals were responsible for nearly 2,000 homicides, more than 5,000
  sexual assaults, more than 10,000 burglaries, and more than 45,000
  assaults.   
• President Trump is standing up to “sanctuary” states and localities who harbor and protect criminal illegal aliens.  
  
  • The United States should be a sanctuary for law-abiding American citizens, not criminal aliens.
  
  
• President Trump is calling on Congress to pass the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act.
  
  • This
    critical legislation enables victims of open borders to sue the radical
    and lawless jurisdictions responsible for the harm inflicted.  
  
  

REFORMING OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM
TO PUT AMERICA FIRST: President Trump wants a merit-based immigration
system that protects American workers and serves the national interest.

• The
  Administration is working to propose legislation that would replace our
  randomized system of legal immigration with one based on skill and
  merit.
  
  • President Trump is committed to restoring integrity to our immigration system.
  
  
• 
  President Trump is also calling on Congress to finally pass voter I.D. legislation to protect our elections.
  

President Donald J. Trump’s Unwavering Commitment To American Workers And Their Families

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP’S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO AMERICAN WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

 “Strong and loving families build up our neighborhoods, sustain our
communities, invigorate our cities, pass down our values, and make a
brighter future for every citizen.” – President Donald J. Trump

PROMOTING
OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES: American workers and
families are at the forefront of the Trump Administration’s pro-growth
economic agenda.

• President
  Trump is working to provide American workers with the tools and
  opportunities to win in today’s economy and the economy of the future.
• President Trump is implementing policies that will help working families across the country prosper.
• The success of American workers and their families is essential to our shared national prosperity.

STRENGTHENING AMERICA’S WORKERS:
President Trump is dedicated to equipping American workers with the
education and training they need to excel in in-demand and
family-sustaining careers.

• President
  Trump is calling on Congress to support his plan to provide vocational
  training at every single high school in America.
• The
  President is encouraging private-sector investments with his Pledge to
  America’s Workers, prompting more than 400 companies to pledge jobs and
  educational opportunities for nearly 15 million American workers.
  
  • This
    includes training in cutting-edge areas like artificial intelligence,
    quantum computing, cybersecurity, and secure 5G so workers are able to
    thrive in the jobs of tomorrow.  
  
  
• The
  President released common sense occupational licensing reform
  principles calling on State and local leaders to improve the economic
  mobility of American workers.
• Thanks to the President’s strong commitment, Americans are coming off the sidelines and thriving in today’s booming economy.
  
  • In
    the fourth quarter of 2019, a record 74.2 percent of workers entering
    employment came from outside of the labor force, rather than from
    unemployment.
  
  

SUPPORTING WORKING FAMILIES: President Trump is advocating for policies that will benefit American working families.

• The
  President is urging Congress to pass legislation that will expand paid
  parental leave to every working American mother and father.
• President
  Trump’s call to action follows his signing of legislation late last
  year that enacted 12 weeks of paid parental leave for Federal employees.
• The
  President created the first paid family leave tax credit for employers
  who offer paid leave to their employees making $72,000 or less, helping
  those least likely to receive the benefit.
• The
  President signed the largest-ever increase in Child Care Development
  Block Grants – expanding access to quality, affordable child care for
  more than 800,000 low-income families.
• President Trump’s historic tax cuts expanded the Child Tax Credit, providing a boost to families across the country.
• 
  40
  million American families are benefiting from the expanded Child Tax
  Credit, with each family seeing an average of $2,200 more in their
  pockets as a result.
  

President Trump’s Broken Promises to the American People

From Leader Hoyer:

The President campaigned on numerous promises to the American people, and four years into his presidency, he is letting the American people down on pledge after pledge. Ahead of tonight’s State of the Union Address, here’s a look at what the President promised he would deliver to the American people and how he has fallen short with policies that put the wealthiest ahead of working families:

HEALTH CARE
TRUMP PROMISE: “We’re going to have insurance for everybody… We’re going to have a healthcare that is far less expensive and far better.” [Washington Post, 1/15/19]

REALITY: Instead of working to make health care affordable for Americans, President Trump and his Administration have repeatedly sought to undermine protections offered by the ACA through executive orders and the courts. In fact, he is seeking to strike down the law and its protections entirely.

“A Republican lawsuit, backed by the Trump administration, is trying to destroy ‘Obamacare’ in its entirety, and a Texas judge has already ruled in the GOP's favor. The 5th Circuit, in a move that appeared awfully political, recently left the future of the nation's health care system in limbo, almost certainly until after the election.” [MSNBC, 01/13/20]
LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES
TRUMP PROMISE: “When it comes time to negotiate the cost of drugs, we are going to negotiate like crazy…” [Wall Street Journal, 02/04/16]

REALITY: House Democrats passed transformative legislation that takes the unprecedented step of giving the Department of Human Services the power to negotiate directly with drug companies and making the lower drug prices negotiated by Medicare available to Americans with private insurance as well as those on Medicare. The President refuses to work with Democrats to enact it into law.

“Mr. Trump has retreated from his 2016 campaign pledge to let Medicare negotiate for drug prices. The White House has backed away from supporting Mrs. Pelosi’s bill after initially negotiating with her on it.” [Wall Street Journal, 12/12/19]
GROWING THE ECONOMY AND RAISING WAGES
TRUMP PROMISE: “‘Under my administration, the era of economic surrender is over and the rebirth of American industry is beginning… [Tax cuts] will be rocket fuel for our economy.’” [The New York Times, 09/29/17]

REALITY: While President Trump inherited a strong economy, his policies are preventing its benefits from being broadly felt by all Americans. In fact, his signature economic achievement was a tax giveaway to the wealthiest Americans that did not yield the promised GDP growth of 6%, did not raise wages, and resulted in trillion dollar deficits.  

“The cornerstone of President Trump’s domestic economic agenda is the tax cut he signed into law in late 2017. It would, he said, lift U.S. sustained annual economic growth to 3%, or even as high as 6%. His advisers said it would boost average household incomes by at least $4,000 a year. His Treasury secretary said it would pay for itself. Nearly two years later, none of those things have happened, and there is scant sign they will.” [WSJ, 10/30/19]

“…One widely publicized feature of the 2017 tax law hasn’t held up: The bonuses many companies announced for employees—often described as sharing the benefits of the corporate tax cut with workers —haven’t been repeated, even as company tax savings persist.” [Wall Street Journal, 01/04/20]

Here’s a closer look at how President Trump’s economic promises fell short:

• GDP growth:
  Trump promised GDP growth as high as 6 percent. However, in the seven
  quarters before and after passage of the Republican tax law, GDP is now 2.1 percent, a decline from just last year.
• Business investment:
  The Trump Administration predicted a flood of business investment, but
  in reality it has slowed since the tax cut, falling from an average
  annual growth rate of 4.6 percent in the seven quarters before enactment
  to a 3.5 percent annual rate in the seven quarters following the tax
  cut.
• Household income:
  The Administration predicted that the tax cuts would bring an increase
  of $4,000 to $9,000 or more per household. However, household income
  increased only $550 in the first year after the tax cuts went into
  effect.
• Unemployment: The unemployment rate was at 4.1 percent before the tax cuts took effect, falling just over one-half of 1 percent since then.

BRINGING MANUFACTURING JOBS BACK TO THE U.S.
TRUMP PROMISE: “President
Donald Trump has been boasting about creating manufacturing
jobs…‘Factory floors across this land are once more crackling with
life,’ Trump told workers at a Royal Dutch Shell Plc plant in Monaca,
northwest of Pittsburgh. ‘Our steel mills are fired up and blazing
bright. The assembly lines are roaring.’” [Bloomberg, 08/14/19]

REALITY: The manufacturing sector isn’t seeing the revitalization that Trump promised.

“America's manufacturing downturn isn't letting up. Factory activity
contracted for the fifth consecutive month in December, registering a
worse drop than expected. The Institute of Supply Management's
manufacturing purchasing managers' index logged its lowest level since
June 2009 at 47.2, compared with the consensus forecast of 49. It stood
at 48.1 in November. Any number below 50 denotes a contraction.” [CNN, 01/3/20]
INFRASTRUCTURE
TRUMP PROMISE: 
“…The president promised during his campaign to ‘build the next
generation of roads, bridges, railways, tunnels, sea ports and airports
that our country deserves.’” [Roll Call, 05/08/17]

REALITY: After
agreeing the nation needs a $2 trillion infrastructure package, the
President walked away from his own infrastructure proposal and
negotiations over how to pay for it or any other infrastructure package.
He has refused to lead on this issue.

“Trump, who has repeatedly said he wants to improve the nation’s
infrastructure, abruptly walked out of a meeting with leading Democrats
on Wednesday and declared there would be no ‘investment’ until
congressional investigations into his personal finances and
administration cease… Beyond outlining the broad themes of an
infrastructure policy, the Trump administration has not yet mounted the
kind of sustained policy effort necessary to turn the president’s
campaign promise into legislation.” [Washington Post, 05/26/19]
MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND SOCIAL SECURITY
TRUMP PROMISE: “Save Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security without cuts. Have to do it.” [Presidential Campaign Announcement Speech, 06/16/15]

REALITY: After his tax cuts for the wealthy exploded the deficit, Trump said he’d consider cutting Medicare and Social Security programs.

“During an interview with CNBC on Wednesday, Trump was asked, ‘[Would]
entitlements ever be on your plate?’ Entitlements are, of course,
Washington-speak for Medicare and Social Security. Trump responded, ‘At
some point they will be,’ adding, ‘It’ll be toward the end of the year.’
Just in case Trump misunderstood, Joe Kernen followed up, reminding him
this was something he had ‘said you wouldn’t do in the past’ and
specifically mentioning Medicare. Trump cut him off. ‘Well, we’re going
to look.’” [Washington Post, 01/23/19]

And just last week, the Trump Administration proposed an illegal scheme
to block grant Medicaid and undermine access to care for low-income
Americans, seniors, rural communities, those with disabilities, low
income pregnant women, and Americans seeking treatment for opioid
addiction.

“President Donald Trump’s administration is taking its most audacious
step yet to roll back Medicaid... Medicaid would no longer pay whatever
is necessary to provide medical care to the people in or near poverty
who qualify for its benefits…Trump has already tried to fundamentally
alter the Medicaid program through work requirements, though he’s been
stopped in the courts. But the block grants represent an even more basic
remaking of Medicaid on his watch, one that would lead to spending cuts
and fewer benefits.” [Vox, 01/30/20]
REDUCING THE DEFICIT
TRUMP PROMISE:
 “[Trump] insisted that he would be able to get rid of the nation’s more
than $19 trillion national debt ‘over a period of eight years.’”
[Washington Post, 4/2/16]

REALITY: The GOP tax law will add $1.9 trillion to the national debt, according to CBO.
Despite a deficit forecast to exceed $1 trillion for the rest of the
decade and beyond, Trump Administration officials continue to claim the
tax cuts will pay for themselves. 

“The Congressional Budget Office predicted on Tuesday that the United
States deficit will top $1 trillion annually over the next 10 years,
ultimately reaching $1.7 trillion in 2030... Mr. Trump promised to pay
off the national debt as president, but in three years in office, he has
instead added to it with big tax cuts and increased federal spending.
Mr. Trump and Republican lawmakers have claimed the tax cuts will pay
for themselves through increased economic growth, which would ostensibly
produce higher tax revenues… But…federal revenues declined. The latest
C.B.O. forecast shows no indication that officials there expect rapid
growth will return any time soon, as Mr. Trump and his team have
projected. [The New York Times, 1/28/20]


DRAINING THE SWAMP
TRUMP PROMISE:
“It is time to drain the swamp in Washington, D.C. This is why I'm
proposing a package of ethics reforms to make our government honest once
again.” [ President Trump, Campaign Rally, 10/17/16]

REALITY: While House
Democrats passed comprehensive government reform legislation, H.R. 1,
the President has refused to work with Democrats to see it enacted into
law. The President was impeached due to his abuse of power and
obstruction of Congress and many of his associates have been sent to
prison or face criminal charges. His Administration has been mired in
ethics conflicts, and the former U.S. government ethics chief has said
the U.S. is “close to a laughingstock” due to the number of ethics issues created.  

“For all his theatrics, he is not actually fighting corruption any more
than a WWE wrestler is actually fighting his opponent. Put simply, there
is no prospect that he will, in fact, drain the swamp. Indeed, they
will attack whistle-blowers in an attempt to raise the cost of flagging
corruption. They will seek to interpret what is unlawful as narrowly as
possible. And when behavior is lawful but unethical, they will seek to
dismiss complaints about it, as if denouncing politicians for being
merely unethical is illegitimate… In fact, when his tenure is over,
there will be a dark irony to his supposed drain-the-swamp agenda. Its
most notable instances of holding sleazy Americans accountable will
involve men such as Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, and
Michael Cohen, whose bad behavior might’ve escaped the attention of
authorities forever but for their being dragged into the spotlight by
Trump. [The Atlantic, 10/04/19]
PREVENTING GUN VIOLENCE
TRUMP PROMISE:
Days after the El Paso and Dayton shootings, the President said that he
would work with Congress to advance background checks. “President
Donald Trump said Friday that he thinks ‘very meaningful background
checks’ can pass Congress... ‘I want to see it happen,’ he said. ‘We
need intelligent background checks. This isn't a question of NRA,
Republican or Democrat.’ He said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
was ‘totally on board.’ Republican senators, he said, ‘are looking for
me to give a signal.’" [ABC News, 08/09/19]

REALITY: In less
than two weeks, the President fell silent on the issue, softened its
urgency, and made no indication he would act. House Democrats passed
bipartisan legislation to expand background checks over a year ago, and
he has refused to engage on the issue.

“After discussions with gun rights advocates… including talks with Wayne
LaPierre, the chief executive of the National Rifle Association — Mr.
Trump’s resolve appears to have substantially softened, and he has
reverted to reiterating the conservative positions on the gun issue he
has espoused since the 2016 campaign. Speaking to reporters on Sunday as
he departed from New Jersey and returned to Washington, Mr. Trump said
he was ‘very, very concerned with the Second Amendment, more so than
most presidents would be,’ and added that ‘people don’t realize we have
very strong background checks right now.’” [New York Times, 8/19/19]
MAKING AMERICA SAFER
TRUMP PROMISE:
“Together, we will lead our party back to the White House, and we will
lead our country back to safety, prosperity, and peace. We will be a
country of generosity and warmth.” [President Trump, 07/21/16]  

REALITY: The President’s chaotic and impulsive actions have undermined foreign policy and national security.

“… The last two years should not distract from a building crisis of U.S.
foreign policy, of which Trump is both a symptom and a cause. The
president has outlined a deeply misguided foreign policy vision that is
distrustful of U.S. allies, scornful of international institutions, and
indifferent, if not downright hostile, to the liberal international
order that the United States has sustained for nearly eight decades. The
real tragedy, however, is not that the president has brought this
flawed vision to the fore; it is that his is merely one mangled
interpretation of what is rapidly emerging as a new consensus on the
left and the right: that the United States should accept a more modest
role in world affairs.” [ Foreign Affairs, January/February Edition 2019]

The President has failed to defend America’s interests abroad or promote stability:  

• On Russia: The
  President has refused to take a stand against the active threat Putin
  plays in undermining our democracy and that of our allies.  He continues
  to side with Putin over the U.S. intelligence community and spout
  conspiracy theories rather than tackle the threat of election
  interference. 
• On Syria:
  President Trump withdrew American troops in Syria, abandoned our
  Kurdish allies in Syria, and threatened the containment of ISIS.
• On North Korea:
  Trump engaged in flashy, self-aggrandizing photo ops with North Korea
  and got nothing in return.  North Korea continues to test missiles and
  develop nuclear technology while the U.S.-led sanctions regime has
  deteriorated. 
• On Afghanistan: 
  Trump invited the Taliban to Camp David on the weekend of 9/11, with no
  deal in place, then quickly flipped his position.  Even Republicans
  criticized him.
• On Ukraine: 
  Trump attempted to bully an ally into doing a “favor” for him and
  withheld security assistance as part of the pressure campaign.
• On Corruption:  Trump’s corrupt practices and conflicts of interest have undermined U.S. credibility and leadership around the world. 

PROTECTING DREAMERS
TRUMP PROMISE: “I
hope we’re going to come up with an answer for DACA. Let's see if we
can get something done. I really think that we have a chance to do it. I
think it's really important. You're talking about 800,000 people.
You're talking about lots of other people who are affected, including
people who live in our country, from a security standpoint.” [President
Trump, 01/08.18]

REALITY: The
President ended the DACA program, creating a crisis that he refuses to
solve. During negotiations in 2018, the Administration moved the
goalposts by including separate issues in the DACA negotiations and
rejected serious, bipartisan proposals.  House Democrats passed the
American Dream and Promise Act to provide a pathway to citizenship and
permanent solution to protect Dreamers
“Trump thrust the future of millions of undocumented immigrants who were
brought to the United States as children into peril by promising “NO
MORE DACA DEAL,” and he directed congressional Republicans to pass tough
anti-immigration legislation…. After canceling DACA, Trump said he
would like to reach a deal with Congress to protect dreamers from
deportation in exchange for funding to build his long-promised wall at
the U.S.-Mexico border. The president, however, went on to reject
immigration proposals from congressional Democrats in recent months.”
[Washington Post, 04/02/18]

President Donald J. Trump Is Fighting For Fairer Trade That Benefits American Workers

“To
build on our incredible economic success, one priority is paramount —
reversing decades of calamitous trade policies.” – President Donald J.
Trump  

REJECTING
THE FAILED POLICIES OF THE PAST: President Trump Donald J. Trump is
standing up for American workers and stopping the disastrous trade deals
of the past.

• President
  Trump is turning back the failed trade policies of past administrations
  that closed more than 60,000 American factories and shipped millions of
  jobs overseas.
  
  • In the decades following NAFTA’s implementation and China’s accession to the WTO, America lost 1 in 4 manufacturing jobs.
  
  
• No
  longer is America turning a blind eye towards the unfair trade policies
  that have harmed American companies and workers for far too long.
• President Trump understands that any trade deal our country enters into must be a fair deal for American workers.

NEGOTIATING BETTER DEALS:
President Trump has delivered for the American people – negotiating new
trade deals that put Americans first.

• President
  Trump signed USMCA into law, making good on his promise to terminate
  NAFTA, and replace it with a much better deal for the American people.
• The
  President confronted China’s unfair trade policies head-on and imposed
  historic tariffs, resulting in a groundbreaking phase one trade
  agreement with China.
  
  • This
    agreement will begin rebalancing our trade relations, protect American
    intellectual property, combat counterfeit trafficking, and expand
    markets for American businesses.
  
  
• Thanks
  to the President’s efforts, we have signed two new trade agreements
  with Japan that will benefit American agricultural exports and grow our
  digital trade for the future.
  
  • Japan will open its market to approximately $7 billion in American agricultural exports.
  • The President’s efforts will help boost the already approximately $40 billion worth of digital trade between our two countries.
  
  
• The President has renegotiated our trade deal with South Korea, providing a boost to America’s auto industry.
• The President is working to negotiate even more new trade deals in the coming year.

IGNITING A BLUE COLLAR BOOM:
President Trump’s efforts to support America’s manufacturing are
bringing back jobs and igniting a blue collar boom.

• President Trump is bringing back American manufacturing after years of neglect by past administrations.
• Manufacturers around the country are adding thousands of new, high-paying jobs for American workers.
• Since the President’s election, more than 500,000 manufacturing jobs have been added to the American economy.
  
  • Comparatively, 20,000 manufacturing jobs were lost in the 12 months prior to the election. 
  
  
• Blue collar workers, on average, are on track to see almost $2,500 more in annual wages.

President Donald J. Trump Is Rebuilding Our Military And Protecting America’s Interests Abroad

“We
desire peace, cooperation, and mutual gain with all.  But I will never
fail to defend America’s interests.” – President Donald J. Trump

REBUILDING AMERICAN STRENGTH: President Trump is investing in the resources our military needs to keep our country safe.

• President Trump knows that the world needs a strong and respected America in order to achieve peace.
• The
  President has made it a priority to carry out a historic rebuilding of
  our Nation’s defense, securing nearly $2.2 trillion in funding during
  his first three years in office.
  
  • This includes $738 billion secured for fiscal year 2020 alone.
  
  
• The President is supporting our troops, providing the largest military pay raise in a decade.
• President Trump worked with Congress to establish the Space Force, the first new branch of the military since the 1940s.

COMBATING TERROR: President Trump
has taken bold and decisive action to confront the threat of terrorism
and protect American lives.

• Under President Trump’s leadership, the ISIS territorial caliphate was destroyed.
• The President directed a daring nighttime operation that brought ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi to justice.
• The
  President ordered a decisive strike against Qassem Soleimani – a
  terrorist responsible for the deaths and wounding of thousands of
  Americans.

STANDING UP FOR FREEDOM: President Trump has stood up for freedom around the world.

• President
  Trump has stood with the Venezuelan people as they have faced horrific
  oppression and violence under the illegitimate Maduro dictatorship.
  
  • The
    Trump Administration has enacted crippling sanctions on Maduro, his
    Cuban sponsors, and his cronies, cutting off their financial resources.
  • President
    Trump responded to the Venezuelan people’s fight for democracy and led
    an international coalition to recognize Juan Guaido as the legitimate
    interim president.  
  
  
• President Trump has spoken out in support of the proud Iranians raising their voices against oppression by the brutal regime.
  
  • President
    Trump has put in place a maximum pressure campaign of sanctions on the
    Iranian regime, which will stay in place until it changes its behavior.
  
  

PURSUING PEACE: President Trump
is working to put a stop to the endless wars and make the world a more
peaceful and prosperous place for all.

• From the Korean Peninsula to the Middle East, and to the Balkans, the Trump Administration is pursuing the spread of peace.
• Rather
  than recycling the failed strategies of the past, the President
  released a bold and ambitious vision for peace between Israel and the
  Palestinians.
• In Afghanistan, the Trump Administration is engaged in peace talks to finally end America’s longest war.
• President
  Trump will not allow America to be dragged into another endless war,
  and remains determined to bring our troops home while keeping America
  safe.

President Trump Is Fighting For Every Family’s Freedom To Choose The Best Possible Education For Their Children

“For
decades, countless children have been trapped in failing government
schools.  In my Administration, these children are forgotten no longer.”
– President Donald J. Trump

CHAMPIONING
EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM: President Donald J. Trump is ensuring our Nation’s
children have the opportunity to fulfill their God-given potential.

• President
  Trump is calling on Congress to pass the Education Freedom Scholarships
  and Opportunity Act and give 1 million children the freedom to attend a
  school of their choice.
• The
  Administration’s school choice plan, which has more than 120
  Congressional co-sponsors, would bolster existing State scholarship
  programs and encourage more States to pursue education freedom policies.
• This
  historic investment in America’s children creates a $5 billion annual
  tax credit for donations to state-based, locally-controlled
  scholarships.
• These
  scholarships will help families pay for expenses such as tuition, dual
  enrollment, out-of-district transportation, tutoring, and
  apprenticeships.

IMPROVING OUTCOMES: For too long, forgotten children across our country have been failed by our education system.   

• No parent should be forced to send their child to a failing school or one that is not a good fit.
• The “Nation’s Report Card” shows that nearly two-thirds of our children are not proficient readers.  
• Countless families want to provide their children with better educational options, but they are being denied that opportunity.  
  
  • Surveys show millions more families would choose a charter school if they had access to one today.
  • In
    Pennsylvania alone, 50,000 students remain on a scholarship waitlist
    after the State’s Democrat governor vetoed a school choice expansion
    bill.  
  
  
• The
  American people recognize that students have the best chance to succeed
  when they receive an education tailored to their individual learning
  styles, talents, and interests. 
  
  • In
    a recent survey, 78% supported Education Freedom Scholarships,
    including 83% of African Americans, 83% of Latinos, and 78% of
    Millennials.
  
  

EXPANDING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY:
President Trump has made it a priority of his Administration to promote
high-quality educational opportunities for all students.

• President
  Trump and his Administration have taken action to restore local control
  over education and stop Federal overreach that limits teachers and
  students.
• The
  President has directed a minimum of $200 million in annual funding
  since 2017 to prioritize STEM and Computer Science education.
  
  • This critical funding has helped more women and minorities access high-demand skills.
  
  
• The
  Administration has invested nearly $1.5 billion in the development of
  public charter schools, helping these schools grow to serve more than 3
  million students.
• The President secured permanent funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
• The
  President simplified the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
  (FAFSA) form, helping 20 million families who apply every year to
  qualify for Federal student aid.
• President
  Trump signed legislation reauthorizing the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship
  Program and reversed an Obama-era policy that denied scholarships to
  low-income students.

President Donald J. Trump’s State Of The Union Address: Remarks As Prepared For Delivery

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
 
     Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States, and my fellow citizens:

     Three years ago, we launched the great American comeback.  Tonight, I stand before you to share the incredible results.  Jobs are booming, incomes are soaring, poverty is plummeting, crime is falling, confidence is surging, and our country is thriving and highly respected again!  America's enemies are on the run, America's fortunes are on the rise, and America's future is blazing bright.

     The years of economic decay are over.  The days of our country being used, taken advantage of, and even scorned by other nations are long behind us.  Gone too are the broken promises, jobless recoveries, tired platitudes, and constant excuses for the depletion of American wealth, power, and prestige.

     In just 3 short years, we have shattered the mentality of American decline, and we have rejected the downsizing of America's destiny.  We are moving forward at a pace that was unimaginable just a short time ago, and we are never going back!

     I am thrilled to report to you tonight that our economy is the best it has ever been.  Our military is completely rebuilt, with its power being unmatched anywhere in the world -- and it is not even close.  Our borders are secure.  Our families are flourishing.  Our values are renewed.  Our pride is restored.  And for all these reasons, I say to the people of our great country, and to the Members of Congress before me:  The State of our Union is stronger than ever before!

     The vision I will lay out this evening demonstrates how we are building the world's most prosperous and inclusive society -- one where every citizen can join in America's unparalleled success, and where every community can take part in America's extraordinary rise.

     From the instant I took office, I moved rapidly to revive the United States economy -- slashing a record number of job-killing regulations, enacting historic and record-setting tax cuts, and fighting for fair and reciprocal trade agreements.  Our agenda is relentlessly pro-worker, pro-family, pro-growth, and, most of all, pro-American.  We are advancing with unbridled optimism and lifting high our citizens of every race, color, religion, and creed.

     Since my election, we have created 7 million new jobs -- 5 million more than Government experts projected during the previous administration.

     The unemployment rate is the lowest in over half a century.

     Incredibly, the average unemployment rate under my Administration is lower than any administration in the history of our country.  If we had not reversed the failed economic policies of the previous administration, the world would not now be witness to America's great economic success.

     The unemployment rates for African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Asian-Americans have reached the lowest levels in history.  African-American youth unemployment has reached an all-time low.

     African-American poverty has declined to the lowest rate ever recorded.

     The unemployment rate for women reached the lowest level in almost 70 years -- and last year, women filled 72 percent of all new jobs added.

     The veterans' unemployment rate dropped to a record low.

     The unemployment rate for disabled Americans has reached an all-time low.

     Workers without a high school diploma have achieved the lowest unemployment rate recorded in United States history.

     A record number of young Americans are now employed.

     Under the last administration, more than 10 million people were added to the food stamp rolls.  Under my Administration, 7 million Americans have come off of food stamps, and 10 million people have been lifted off of welfare.

     In 8 years under the last administration, over 300,000 working-age people dropped out of the workforce.  In just 3 years of my Administration, 3.5 million working-age people have joined the workforce.

     Since my election, the net worth of the bottom half of wage-earners has increased by 47 percent -- 3 times faster than the increase for the top 1 percent.  After decades of flat and falling incomes, wages are rising fast -- and, wonderfully, they are rising fastest for low-income workers, who have seen a 16 percent pay-increase since my election.  This is a blue collar boom.

     Real median household income is now at the highest level ever recorded!

     Since my election, United States stock markets have soared 70 percent, adding more than $12 trillion to our Nation's wealth, transcending anything anyone believed was possible -- this, as other countries are not doing well.  Consumer confidence has reached amazing new heights.

     All of those millions of people with 401(k)s and pensions are doing far better than they have ever done before with increases of 60, 70, 80, 90, and even 100 percent.

     Jobs and investment are pouring into 9,000 previously-neglected neighborhoods thanks to Opportunity Zones, a plan spearheaded by Senator Tim Scott as part of our great Republican tax cuts.  In other words, wealthy people and companies are pouring money into poor neighborhoods or areas that have not seen investment in many decades, creating jobs, energy, and excitement.  This is the first time that these deserving communities have seen anything like this.  It is all working!

     Opportunity Zones are helping Americans like Army Veteran Tony Rankins from Cincinnati, Ohio.  After struggling with drug addiction, Tony lost his job, his house, and his family -- he was homeless.  But then Tony found a construction company that invests in Opportunity Zones.  He is now a top tradesman, drug-free, reunited with his family, and he is here tonight.  Tony:  Keep up the great work. 

     Our roaring economy has, for the first time ever, given many former prisoners the ability to get a great job and a fresh start.  This second chance at life is made possible because we passed landmark Criminal Justice Reform into law.  Everybody said that Criminal Justice Reform could not be done, but I got it done, and the people in this room got it done.

     Thanks to our bold regulatory reduction campaign, the United States has become the number one producer of oil and natural gas in the world, by far.  With the tremendous progress we have made over the past 3 years, America is now energy independent, and energy jobs, like so many elements of our country, are at a record high.  We are doing numbers that no one would have thought possible just 3 years ago.

     Likewise, we are restoring our Nation's manufacturing might, even though predictions were that this could never be done.  After losing 60,000 factories under the previous two administrations, America has now gained 12,000 new factories under my Administration with thousands upon thousands of plants and factories being planned or built.  We have created over half a million new manufacturing jobs.  Companies are not leaving; they are coming back.  Everybody wants to be where the action is, and the United States of America is, indeed, where the action is.

     One of the single biggest promises I made to the American people was to replace the disastrous NAFTA trade deal.  In fact, unfair trade is perhaps the single biggest reason that I decided to run for President.  Following NAFTA's adoption, our Nation lost one in four manufacturing jobs.  Many politicians came and went, pledging to change or replace NAFTA -- only to do absolutely nothing.  But unlike so many who came before me, I keep my promises.  Six days ago, I replaced NAFTA and signed the brand new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) into law.

     The USMCA will create nearly 100,000 new high-paying American auto jobs, and massively boost exports for our farmers, ranchers, and factory workers.  It will also bring trade with Mexico and Canada to a much higher degree, but also to a much greater level of fairness and reciprocity.  This is the first major trade deal in many years to earn the strong backing of America's labor unions. 

     I also promised our citizens that I would impose tariffs to confront China's massive theft of American jobs.  Our strategy worked.  Days ago, we signed the groundbreaking new agreement with China that will defend our workers, protect our intellectual property, bring billions of dollars into our treasury, and open vast new markets for products made and grown right here in the United States of America.  For decades, China has taken advantage of the United States, now we have changed that but, at the same time, we have perhaps the best relationship we have ever had with China, including with President Xi.  They respect what we have done because, quite frankly, they could never believe what they were able to get away with year after year, decade after decade, without someone in our country stepping up and saying:  Enough.  Now, we want to rebuild our country, and that is what we are doing.

     As we restore American leadership throughout the world, we are once again standing up for freedom in our hemisphere.  That is why my Administration reversed the failing policies of the previous administration on Cuba.  We are supporting the hopes of Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans to restore democracy.  The United States is leading a 59-nation diplomatic coalition against the socialist dictator of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro.  Maduro is an illegitimate ruler, a tyrant who brutalizes his people.  But Maduro's grip of tyranny will be smashed and broken.  Here this evening is a man who carries with him the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of all Venezuelans.  Joining us in the gallery is the true and legitimate President of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó.  Mr. President, please take this message back to your homeland.  All Americans are united with the Venezuelan people in their righteous struggle for freedom!  Socialism destroys nations.  But always remember, freedom unifies the soul.  

     To safeguard American Liberty, we have invested a record-breaking $2.2 trillion in the United States Military.  We have purchased the finest planes, missiles, rockets, ships, and every other form of military equipment -- all made in the United States of America.  We are also finally getting our allies to help pay their fair share.  I have raised contributions from the other NATO members by more than $400 billion, and the number of allies meeting their minimum obligations has more than doubled.
 
     And just weeks ago, for the first time since President Truman established the Air Force more than 70 years earlier, we created a new branch of the United States Armed Forces, the Space Force.  

     In the gallery tonight, we have one of the Space Force's youngest potential recruits:  13-year-old Iain Lanphier, an eighth grader from Arizona.  Iain has always dreamed of going to space.  He was first in his class and among the youngest at an aviation academy.  He aspires to go to the Air Force Academy, and then, he has his eye on the Space Force.  As Iain says, "most people look up at space, I want to look down on the world."

     Sitting beside Iain tonight is his great hero.  Charles McGee was born in Cleveland, Ohio, one century ago.  Charles is one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen -- the first black fighter pilots -- and he also happens to be Iain's great-grandfather.  After more than 130 combat missions in World War II, he came back to a country still struggling for Civil Rights and went on to serve America in Korea and Vietnam.  On December 7th, Charles celebrated his 100th birthday.  A few weeks ago, I signed a bill promoting Charles McGee to Brigadier General.  And earlier today, I pinned the stars on his shoulders in the Oval Office.  General McGee:  Our Nation salutes you.

     From the pilgrims to our Founders, from the soldiers at Valley Forge to the marchers at Selma, and from President Lincoln to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Americans have always rejected limits on our children's future.

     Members of Congress, we must never forget that the only victories that matter in Washington are victories that deliver for the American people.  The people are the heart of our country, their dreams are the soul of our country, and their love is what powers and sustains our country.  We must always remember that our job is to put America first!

     The next step forward in building an inclusive society is making sure that every young American gets a great education and the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.  Yet, for too long, countless American children have been trapped in failing government schools.  To rescue these students, 18 States have created school choice in the form of Opportunity Scholarships.  The programs are so popular, that tens of thousands of students remain on waiting lists.  One of those students is Janiyah Davis, a fourth grader from Philadelphia.  Janiyah's mom Stephanie is a single parent.  She would do anything to give her daughter a better future.  But last year, that future was put further out of reach when Pennsylvania's Governor vetoed legislation to expand school choice for 50,000 children.

     Janiyah and Stephanie are in the gallery this evening.  But there is more to their story.  Janiyah, I am pleased to inform you that your long wait is over.  I can proudly announce tonight that an Opportunity Scholarship has become available, it is going to you, and you will soon be heading to the school of your choice!

     Now, I call on the Congress to give 1 million American children the same opportunity Janiyah has just received.  Pass the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act -- because no parent should be forced to send their child to a failing government school. 

     Every young person should have a safe and secure environment in which to learn and grow.  For this reason, our magnificent First Lady has launched the "Be Best" initiative -- to advance a safe, healthy, supportive, and drug-free life for the next generation, online, in school, and in our communities.  Thank you, Melania, for your extraordinary love and profound care for America's children.

     My Administration is determined to give our citizens the opportunities they need regardless of age or background.  Through our Pledge to American Workers, over 400 companies will also provide new jobs and education opportunities to almost 15 million Americans.  

     My Budget also contains an exciting vision for our Nation's high schools.  Tonight, I ask the Congress to support our students and back my plan to offer vocational and technical education in every single high school in America. 

     To expand equal opportunity, I am also proud that we achieved record and permanent funding for our Nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

     A good life for American families also requires the most affordable, innovative, and high-quality healthcare system on Earth.  Before I took office, health insurance premiums had more than doubled in just 5 years.  I moved quickly to provide affordable alternatives.  Our new plans are up to 60 percent less expensive.  I have also made an ironclad pledge to American families:  We will always protect patients with pre-existing conditions -- that is a guarantee.  And we will always protect your Medicare and your Social Security.

     The American patient should never be blindsided by medical bills.  That is why I signed an Executive Order requiring price transparency.  Many experts believe that transparency, which will go into full effect at the beginning of next year, will be even bigger than healthcare reform.  It will save families massive amounts of money for substantially better care.

     But as we work to improve Americans' healthcare, there are those who want to take away your healthcare, take away your doctor, and abolish private insurance entirely.  One hundred thirty-two lawmakers in this room have endorsed legislation to impose a socialist takeover of our healthcare system, wiping out the private health insurance plans of 180 million Americans.  To those watching at home tonight, I want you to know:  We will never let socialism destroy American healthcare!

     Over 130 legislators in this chamber have endorsed legislation that would bankrupt our Nation by providing free taxpayer-funded healthcare to millions of illegal aliens, forcing taxpayers to subsidize free care for anyone in the world who unlawfully crosses our borders.  These proposals would raid the Medicare benefits our seniors depend on, while acting as a powerful lure for illegal immigration.  This is what is happening in California and other States -- their systems are totally out of control, costing taxpayers vast and unaffordable amounts of money.  If forcing American taxpayers to provide unlimited free healthcare to illegal aliens sounds fair to you, then stand with the radical left.  But if you believe that we should defend American patients and American seniors, then stand with me and pass legislation to prohibit free Government healthcare for illegal aliens!

     This will be a tremendous boon to our already very-strongly guarded southern border where, as we speak, a long, tall, and very powerful wall is being built.  We have now completed over 100 miles and will have over 500 miles fully completed by early next year.

     My Administration is also taking on the big pharmaceutical companies.  We have approved a record number of affordable generic drugs, and medicines are being approved by the FDA at a faster clip than ever before.  I was pleased to announce last year that, for the first time in 51 years, the cost of prescription drugs actually went down.

     And working together, the Congress can reduce drug prices substantially from current levels.  I have been speaking to Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa and others in the Congress in order to get something on drug pricing done, and done properly.  I am calling for bipartisan legislation that achieves the goal of dramatically lowering prescription drug prices.  Get a bill to my desk, and I will sign it into law without delay.

     With unyielding commitment, we are curbing the opioid epidemic -- drug overdose deaths declined for the first time in nearly 30 years.  Among the States hardest hit, Ohio is down 22 percent, Pennsylvania is down 18 percent, Wisconsin is down 10 percent -- and we will not quit until we have beaten the opioid epidemic once and for all.

     Protecting Americans' health also means fighting infectious diseases.  We are coordinating with the Chinese government and working closely together on the Coronavirus outbreak in China.  My Administration will take all necessary steps to safeguard our citizens from this threat. 

     We have launched ambitious new initiatives to substantially improve care for Americans with kidney disease, Alzheimer's, and those struggling with mental health challenges.  And because the Congress funded my request, we are pursuing new cures for childhood cancer, and we will eradicate the AIDS epidemic in America by the end of the decade.

     Almost every American family knows the pain when a loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness.  Here tonight is a special man, someone beloved by millions of Americans who just received a Stage 4 advanced cancer diagnosis.  This is not good news, but what is good news is that he is the greatest fighter and winner that you will ever meet.  Rush Limbaugh:  Thank you for your decades of tireless devotion to our country.  Rush, in recognition of all that you have done for our Nation, the millions of people a day that you speak to and inspire, and all of the incredible work that you have done for charity, I am proud to announce tonight that you will be receiving our country's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  I will now ask the First Lady of the United States to please stand and present you with the honor.  Rush, Kathryn, congratulations!

     As we pray for all who are sick, we know that America is constantly achieving new medical breakthroughs.  In 2017, doctors at St. Luke's hospital in Kansas City delivered one of the earliest premature babies ever to survive.  Born at just 21 weeks and 6 days, and weighing less than a pound, Ellie Schneider was born a fighter.  Through the skill of her doctors -- and the prayers of her parents -- little Ellie kept on winning the battle for life.  Today, Ellie is a strong, healthy 2-year-old girl sitting with her amazing mother Robin in the gallery.  Ellie and Robin:  We are so glad you are here.

     Ellie reminds us that every child is a miracle of life.  Thanks to modern medical wonders, 50 percent of very premature babies delivered at the hospital where Ellie was born now survive.  Our goal should be to ensure that every baby has the best chance to thrive and grow just like Ellie.  That is why I am asking the Congress to provide an additional $50 million to fund neo-natal research for America's youngest patients.  That is also why I am calling upon the Members of Congress here tonight to pass legislation finally banning the late-term abortion of babies.

     Whether we are Republican, Democrat, or Independent, surely we must all agree that every human life is a sacred gift from God!

     As we support America's moms and dads, I was recently proud to sign the law providing new parents in the Federal workforce paid family leave, serving as a model for the rest of the country.  Now, I call on the Congress to pass the bipartisan Advancing Support for Working Families Act, extending family leave to mothers and fathers all across the Nation.

     Forty million American families have an average $2,200 extra thanks to our child tax credit.  I have also overseen historic funding increases for high-quality child care, enabling 17 States to serve more children, many of which have reduced or eliminated their waitlists altogether.  And I sent the Congress a plan with a vision to further expand access to high-quality childcare and urge you to act immediately.

     To protect the environment, days ago, I announced that the United States will join the One Trillion Trees Initiative, an ambitious effort to bring together Government and the private sector to plant new trees in America and around the world. 

     We must also rebuild America's infrastructure.  I ask you to pass Senator Barrasso's highway bill -- to invest in new roads, bridges, and tunnels across our land. 

     I am also committed to ensuring that every citizen can have access to high-speed internet, including rural America.

     A better tomorrow for all Americans also requires us to keep America safe.  That means supporting the men and women of law enforcement at every level, including our Nation's heroic ICE officers.

     Last year, our brave ICE officers arrested more than 120,000 criminal aliens charged with nearly 10,000 burglaries, 5,000 sexual assaults, 45,000 violent assaults, and 2,000 murders.

     Tragically, there are many cities in America where radical politicians have chosen to provide sanctuary for these criminal illegal aliens.  In Sanctuary Cities, local officials order police to release dangerous criminal aliens to prey upon the public, instead of handing them over to ICE to be safely removed.

     Just 29 days ago, a criminal alien freed by the Sanctuary City of New York was charged with the brutal rape and murder of a 92-year-old woman.  The killer had been previously arrested for assault, but under New York's sanctuary policies, he was set free.  If the city had honored ICE's detainer request, his victim would be alive today.

     The State of California passed an outrageous law declaring their whole State to be a sanctuary for criminal illegal immigrants -- with catastrophic results.

     Here is just one tragic example.  In December 2018, California police detained an illegal alien with five prior arrests, including convictions for robbery and assault.  But as required by California's Sanctuary Law, local authorities released him.

     Days later, the criminal alien went on a gruesome spree of deadly violence.  He viciously shot one man going about his daily work; he approached a woman sitting in her car and shot her in the arm and the chest.  He walked into a convenience store and wildly fired his weapon.  He hijacked a truck and smashed into vehicles, critically injuring innocent victims.  One of the victims of his bloody rampage was a 51-year-old American named Rocky Jones.  Rocky was at a gas station when this vile criminal fired eight bullets at him from close range, murdering him in cold blood.  Rocky left behind a devoted family, including his brothers who loved him more than anything.  One of his grieving brothers is here with us tonight.  Jody, would you please stand?  Jody, our hearts weep for your loss -- and we will not rest until you have justice.

     Senator Thom Tillis has introduced legislation to allow Americans like Jody to sue Sanctuary Cities and States when a loved one is hurt or killed as a result of these deadly policies.  I ask the Congress to pass the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act immediately.  The United States of America should be a sanctuary for law-abiding Americans -- not criminal aliens!

     In the last 3 years, ICE has arrested over 5,000 wicked human traffickers -- and I have signed 9 pieces of legislation to stamp out the menace of human trafficking, domestically and around the globe.

     My Administration has undertaken an unprecedented effort to secure the southern border of the United States.  

     Before I came into office, if you showed up illegally on our southern border and were arrested, you were simply released and allowed into our country, never to be seen again.  My Administration has ended Catch-and-Release.  If you come illegally, you will now be promptly removed.  We entered into historic cooperation agreements with the Governments of Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala.  As a result of our unprecedented efforts, illegal crossings are down 75 percent since May -- dropping 8 straight months in a row.  And as the wall goes up, drug seizures rise, and border crossings go down.

     Last year, I traveled to the border in Texas and met Chief Patrol Agent Raul Ortiz.  Over the last 24 months, Agent Ortiz and his team have seized more than 200,000 pounds of poisonous narcotics, arrested more than 3,000 human smugglers, and rescued more than 2,000 migrants.  Days ago, Agent Ortiz was promoted to Deputy Chief of Border Patrol -- and he joins us tonight.  Chief Ortiz:  Please stand -- a grateful Nation thanks you and all the heroes of Border Patrol.

     To build on these historic gains, we are working on legislation to replace our outdated and randomized immigration system with one based on merit, welcoming those who follow the rules, contribute to our economy, support themselves financially, and uphold our values.

     With every action, my Administration is restoring the rule of law and re-asserting the culture of American freedom.  Working with Senate Majority Leader McConnell and his colleagues in the Senate, we have confirmed a record number of 187 new Federal judges to uphold our Constitution as written.  This includes two brilliant new Supreme Court Justices, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh.

     My Administration is also defending religious liberty, and that includes the Constitutional right to pray in public schools.  In America, we do not punish prayer.  We do not tear down crosses.  We do not ban symbols of faith.  We do not muzzle preachers and pastors.  In America, we celebrate faith.  We cherish religion.  We lift our voices in prayer, and we raise our sights to the Glory of God!

     Just as we believe in the First Amendment, we also believe in another Constitutional right that is under siege all across our country.   So long as I am President I will always protect your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

     In reaffirming our heritage as a free Nation, we must remember that America has always been a frontier nation.  Now we must embrace the next frontier, America's manifest destiny in the stars.  I am asking the Congress to fully fund the Artemis program to ensure that the next man and the first woman on the moon will be American astronauts -- using this as a launching pad to ensure that America is the first nation to plant its flag on Mars.

     My Administration is also strongly defending our national security and combating radical Islamic terrorism.  Last week, I announced a groundbreaking plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.  Recognizing that all past attempts have failed, we must be determined and creative in order to stabilize the region and give millions of young people the change to realize a better future.

     Three years ago, the barbarians of ISIS held over 20,000 square miles of territory in Iraq and Syria.  Today, the ISIS territorial caliphate has been 100 percent destroyed, and the founder and leader of ISIS -- the bloodthirsty killer Al‑Baghdadi -- is dead!

     We are joined this evening by Carl and Marsha Mueller.  After graduating from college, their beautiful daughter Kayla became a humanitarian aid worker.  Kayla once wrote, "Some people find God in church.  Some people find God in nature.  Some people find God in love; I find God in suffering.  I've known for some time what my life's work is, using my hands as tools to relieve suffering."  In 2013, while caring for suffering civilians in Syria, Kayla was kidnapped, tortured, and enslaved by ISIS, and kept as a prisoner of Al-Baghdadi himself.  After more than 500 horrifying days of captivity, Al-Baghdadi murdered young Kayla.  She was just 26 years old.

     On the night that United States Special Forces Operators ended Al‑Baghdadi's miserable life, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, received a call in the Situation Room.  He was told that the brave men of the elite Special Forces team, that so perfectly carried out the operation, had given their mission a name -- "Task Force 8-14."  It was a reference to a special day:  August 14th -- Kayla's birthday.  Carl and Marsha, America's warriors never forgot Kayla -- and neither will we. 

     Every day, America's men and women in uniform demonstrate the infinite depths of love that dwells in the human heart.

     One of these American heroes was Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Hake.  On his second deployment to Iraq in 2008, Sergeant Hake wrote a letter to his 1-year-old son, Gage:  "I will be with you again," he wrote to Gage.  "I will teach you to ride your first bike, build your first sand box, watch you play sports and see you have kids also.  I love you son, take care of your mother.  I am always with you.  Dad."  On Easter Sunday of 2008, Chris was out on patrol in Baghdad when his Bradley Fighting Vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.  That night, he made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  Sergeant Hake now rests in eternal glory in Arlington, and his wife Kelli is in the gallery tonight, joined by their son, who is now 13 years old.  To Kelli and Gage:  Chris will live in our hearts forever.

     The terrorist responsible for killing Sergeant Hake was Qasem Soleimani, who provided the deadly roadside bomb that took Chris's life.  Soleimani was the Iranian Regime's most ruthless butcher, a monster who murdered or wounded thousands of American service members in Iraq.  As the world's top terrorist, Soleimani orchestrated the deaths of countless men, women, and children.  He directed the December assault on United States Forces in Iraq, and was actively planning new attacks.  That is why, last month, at my direction, the United States Military executed a flawless precision strike that killed Soleimani and terminated his evil reign of terror forever.

     Our message to the terrorists is clear:  You will never escape American justice.  If you attack our citizens, you forfeit your life!

     In recent months, we have seen proud Iranians raise their voices against their oppressive rulers.  The Iranian regime must abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons, stop spreading terror, death, and destruction, and start working for the good of its own people.  Because of our powerful sanctions, the Iranian economy is doing very poorly.  We can help them make it very good in a short period of time, but perhaps they are too proud or too foolish to ask for that help.  We are here.  Let's see which road they choose.  It is totally up to them.

     As we defend American lives, we are working to end America's wars in the Middle East.

     In Afghanistan, the determination and valor of our warfighters has allowed us to make tremendous progress, and peace talks are underway.  I am not looking to kill hundreds of thousands of people in Afghanistan, many of them innocent.  It is also not our function to serve other nations as a law enforcement agency.  These are warfighters, the best in the world, and they either want to fight to win or not fight at all.  We are working to finally end America's longest war and bring our troops back home!

     War places a heavy burden on our Nation's extraordinary military families, especially spouses like Amy Williams from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and her 2 children -- 6-year-old Elliana and 3-year-old Rowan.  Amy works full time, and volunteers countless hours helping other military families.  For the past 7 months, she has done it all while her husband, Sergeant First Class Townsend Williams, is in Afghanistan on his fourth deployment to the Middle East.  Amy's kids have not seen their father's face in many months.  Amy, your family's sacrifice makes it possible for all of our families to live in safety and peace -- we thank you.

     As the world bears witness tonight, America is a land of heroes.  This is the place where greatness is born, where destinies are forged, and where legends come to life.  This is the home of Thomas Edison and Teddy Roosevelt, of many great Generals, including Washington, Pershing, Patton, and MacArthur.  This is the home of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Amelia Earhart, Harriet Tubman, the Wright Brothers, Neil Armstrong, and so many more.  This is the country where children learn names like Wyatt Earp, Davy Crockett, and Annie Oakley.  This is the place where the pilgrims landed at Plymouth and where Texas patriots made their last stand at the Alamo.

     The American Nation was carved out of the vast frontier by the toughest, strongest, fiercest, and most determined men and women ever to walk the face of the Earth.  Our ancestors braved the unknown; tamed the wilderness; settled the Wild West; lifted millions from poverty, disease, and hunger; vanquished tyranny and fascism; ushered the world to new heights of science and medicine; laid down the railroads, dug out canals, raised up the skyscrapers -- and, ladies and gentlemen, our ancestors built the most exceptional Republic ever to exist in all of human history.  And we are making it greater than ever before!

     This is our glorious and magnificent inheritance.

     We are Americans.  We are the pioneers.  We are the pathfinders.  We settled the new world, we built the modern world, and we changed history forever by embracing the eternal truth that everyone is made equal by the hand of Almighty God.

     America is the place where anything can happen!  America is the place where anyone can rise.  And here, on this land, on this soil, on this continent, the most incredible dreams come true!

     This Nation is our canvas, and this country is our masterpiece.  We look at tomorrow and see unlimited frontiers just waiting to be explored.  Our brightest discoveries are not yet known.  Our most thrilling stories are not yet told.  Our grandest journeys are not yet made.  The American Age, the American Epic, the American Adventure, has only just begun!

     Our spirit is still young; the sun is still rising; God's grace is still shining; and my fellow Americans, the best is yet to come!

     Thank you.  God Bless You.  God Bless America.
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE WHITE HOUSE,
    February 4, 2020.

President Trump Is Working To Ensure That Every American Has Access To Better Healthcare At Lower Cost

“[W]e
believe in freedom. We believe in choice. We believe in the highest
standard of care in the world.” – President Donald J. Trump

EXPANDING
OPTIONS AND EMPOWERING PATIENTS: President Donald J. Trump is
empowering patients and providing access to quality, affordable
healthcare options.

• While
  Congressional Democrats have proposed a radical government takeover of
  your healthcare, the President is empowering patients and expanding
  affordable options for all.
  
  • The
    Administration increased the availability of short-term, limited
    duration plans, providing options that can be up to 60 percent cheaper
    than Obamacare plans.
  • The
    Administration’s expansion of Health Reimbursement Arrangements will
    give millions of Americans more options to select a health plan that
    meets their needs.
  • The
    President is working to expand Association Health Plans, which will
    make it easier for employers to join together and provide affordable
    coverage to their employees.
  
  
• The
  Administration has taken action to improve transparency in healthcare
  prices, encourage competition, lower costs, and put patients in charge.  
• President Trump will always protect patients with pre-existing conditions. 
• The President has challenged Congress to pass legislation ending the outrageous practice of surprise medical billing.

DRIVING DOWN DRUG PRICES: President Trump is working to drive down prescription drug prices for all Americans.

• President
  Trump has taken decisive action to lower drug prices for American
  patients, resulting in declines after years of rising prices.
• President
  Trump is challenging Congressional Democrats to come to the table and
  help find a bipartisan solution to continue lowering drug prices for
  American patients.
• The Trump Administration announced a plan to allow the safe and legal importation of drugs from Canada.
• The Administration approved a record number of affordable generic drugs last year for the third consecutive year.

IMPROVING CARE FOR ALL: American
patients deserve access to high quality and innovative care, and
President Trump is working to make sure they have it.  

• President
  Trump has taken action to help Americans struggling with addiction,
  increasing funding for opioid and pain research and expanding treatment
  resources.
  
  • Drug overdose deaths declined in 2018 for the first time in nearly 30 years.
  
  
• President Trump launched a plan to end the HIV epidemic in America within 10 years.
• President Trump has worked to increase Alzheimer’s and child cancer research funding.
• The
  President launched an initiative to improve treatment options for
  patients with kidney disease and expand access to lifesaving
  transplants.
• The President has taken action to protect and improve Medicare for our seniors.
  
  • Medicare Advantage premiums have declined 28% under President Trump.
  
  
• The President signed an Executive Order to help modernize influenza vaccines.
• President Trump is making access to mental health treatment a priority of his Administration.
• 
  The
  President signed Right to Try legislation, giving terminally ill
  patients the chance to explore innovative treatment options.
  

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump Announce Special Guests for the State of the Union Address

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are pleased to announce that the following individuals will be their special guests for the President’s third State of the Union address:
 

Tony Rankins from Cincinnati, Ohio:  After serving in the United States Army in Afghanistan, Tony Rankins suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and became addicted to drugs.  He lost his job and his family, served several prison sentences, and ended up living out of his car.  A company called “R Investments” helped train Tony in carpentry, painting, brick work, and other construction trades.  Today, he works in an Opportunity Zone in Cincinnati, Ohio, and his new job has helped him overcome drug addiction and reunite with his family.

Deputy Chief Raul Ortiz from Del Rio, Texas:  Deputy Chief Ortiz has helped protect America’s homeland for nearly three decades.  Prior to joining U.S. Border Patrol in 1991, Ortiz served in the United States Army.  In 2019, he became Chief Patrol Agent of the Del Rio Sector, which made him responsible for all Border Patrol operations in 41 Texas counties—including 210 miles of border between the United States and Mexico.  Recently, Ortiz was promoted to Deputy Chief of U.S. Border Patrol, the second in command for more than 20,000 agents and professional staff. His awards include the Superior Civilian Service Medal, among the Department of Defense’s highest civilian honors.

Jody Jones from Farmersville, California:  On December 17, 2018, Jody’s brother, Rocky Jones, was shot and killed by an illegal immigrant in Tulare County, California.  The criminal alien who committed this brutal murder had previously been arrested for violent crimes and had been deported twice.  The criminal alien was arrested in December 2018 for the sixth time, but because of California’s sanctuary state policy, he was released from jail.  A few days later, the criminal alien went on a 24-hour “reign of terror,” injuring several people, robbing a gas station, leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase, and killing 51-year old Rocky, who was known as a kind and gentle soul.  Rocky leaves behind a precious daughter and 4 brothers who are still grieving the loss of their loved one.

Ellie and Robin Schneider from Kansas City, Missouri:  Ellie was born at just 21 weeks and six days.  She is one of the youngest babies to survive in the United States.  With the help of an incredible medical team – and the prayers of her parents and their community -- Ellie kept beating the odds, exceeding milestones, and fighting for life.  Today, Ellie is a happy, healthy two-year-old girl who brings endless joy to her mother, Robin, and her entire family.

Janiyah and Stephanie Davis from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:  Janiyah is a fourth grade student from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  She loves art and math, but for too long she has been assigned to low-performing schools.  Her mom, Stephanie, is a hard working single mother who is hoping for the expansion of school choice to be able to send Janiyah to a school that best serves her needs.  
 
Kelli and Gage Hake from Stillwater, Oklahoma:  Kelli Hake was at home with her one-year-old son, Gage, when she received the terrible news that her that her husband, Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Hake, had been killed serving on his second tour of duty in Iraq.  While on patrol, Sergeant Hake’s Bradley fighting vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb supplied by the Iranian terrorist leader Qasem Soleimani.  Kelli and Gage directly suffered from Soleimani’s campaign to kill and maim U.S. service members.  Last month, President Donald J. Trump ordered the killing of Soleimani as he was once again trying to initiate attacks on American service members.

Paul Morrow from Montgomery, Alabama: Paul is a United States Army veteran. After leaving the military, Morrow started a successful contracting business and today is building a new concrete plant in an Opportunity Zone in Montgomery, Alabama. This new plant will help support several brand new F-35 jets that are stationed in the region.

Ivan Simonovis from Caracas, Venezuela:  Ivan was the Chief of Police in Venezuela’s capitol city and esteemed as the nation’s top cop.  He was imprisoned in 2004 for protecting protesters and was held in captivity for nearly 15 years by the Chavez and Maduro regimes.  He escaped from Venezuela in 2019 and was brought to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where immigration agents welcomed him to the United States.