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[inaudible conversation] [inaudible conversation] >> the president of the united states. [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause]

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[applause] [applause] [applause] members of congress, by the high privilege and honor of presenting to the president of the united states. [applause]

[applause] [applause] >> mr. speaker, mr. vice president, members of congress, the first lady of the united states, and my fellow americans, less than one year has passed since i first stood at this podium in this majestic chamber to speak on behalf of the american people and to address the concerns, the hopes, dreams.

that night, our new administration had already taken very swift action. i'm attentive optimism was already sweeping across our la land, each day since we have gone forward with a clear vision and a righteous mission. to make america great again for all americans. [applause] [applause] over the last year we have made incredible progress and have achieved extraordinary success. we have face challenge we have expected and others we could have never imagined.

we have shared in the heights of victory in the pains of hardship. we have endured floods and fir fires, and storms. through it all, we have seen the beauty of america so in the steel and america's spine. each test has forged new american heroes to remind us who we are and show us what we can be. we saw the volunteers of the cajun navy racing to the rescue with their fishing boats to say people in the aftermath of a totally devastating hurricane. we saw strangers shielding strangers from a hail of gunfire on the las vegas strip. we heard tales of americans, like coast guard petty officer, ashley leppert who is here tonight in the gallery with melania. [applause]

[applause] ashley was aboard one of the first helicopters on the scene in houston during hurricane harvey. through 18 hours of wind and rain, ashley braved live power lines in deep water to help save them 40 lives. ashley, we all thank you. thank you very much. [applause] [applause]

we heard about americans like firefighter david dahlberg. he is here with us also. david face down walls of flame to rescue almost 60 children trapped in a california summer camp threatened by devastating wildfires. to everyone still recovering in texas, florida, louisiana, puerto rico, and the virgin islands, everywhere, we are with you, we love you, and we always will pull through together, always. [applause] [applause]

thank you to david and the brave people of california. thank you very much, david. great job. some trials over the past year touched this chamber very personally. with us tonight is one of the toughest people ever to serve in this house. a guy who took a bullet, almost died and was back to work three and a half months later, the legend from louisiana, congressman steve scalise. [applause] [applause] [applause]

i think it they like you, steve. we are incredibly grateful for the heroic efforts of the capital police officers, via alexandria police, and the doctors, nurses, and paramedics who saved his life and the lives of many others, some in this room. [applause] [applause] in the aftermath of that terrible shooting we came together not as republicans or democrats, but as representatives of the people. but, it is not enough to come together only in times of tragedy. tonight, i call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to

seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people. this is really the key. these are the people we were elected to serve. [applause] [applause] over the last year the world has seen what we always knew, that no people are so fearless, daring, or determined as americans. if there is a mountain, we climate. if there is a frontier, we cross it. if there is the challenge, we tame it. if there is an opportunity, we

seize it. let's begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our union is strong because our people are strong. [applause] [applause] and we are building a safe, as strong and proud america. since the election we have created 2.4 million new jobs. [applause] including 200,000 new jobs in manufacturing alone. [applause] after years and years of wage

stagnation, we're finally seeing rising wages. [applause] unemployment claims have hit a 45 year low. [applause] is something i'm very proud of, african-american unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded. [applause] [applause] and hispanic american unemployment has also reached

the lowest levels in history. [applause] small business confidence is at an all-time high. the stock market has smashed one record after another, gaining $8 trillion and more in value in just this short time. [applause] the great news for americans, 4o1k retirement pension and college saving accounts have gone through the roof. just as i promise, what i promise the american people 11 months ago, we enacted the biggest tax cuts and reforms in american history. [applause]

[applause] our massive tax cuts provide tremendous relief for the middle class and small business. to lower tax rates for hard-working americans, we nearly doubled the standard deduction for everyone. [applause] now, the first $24000 earned by a married couple is completely tax-free. [applause] we also doubled the child tax

credit. [applause] the typical family of four, making $75000 will see their tax bill reduced by $2000, slashing their tax bill and half. [applause] in april, this will be the last time you'll ever file under the old and very broken system and millions of americans will have more take-home pay starting next month, a lot more. [applause]

we eliminated an especially cruel tax that fell mostly on americans making less than $50000 a year, forcing them to pay tremendous penalties simply because they cannot afford government ordered health plans. we repealed the core of obama care, the individual mandate is now gone. [applause] [applause] we slashed the business tax rate. from 35% all the way down from

21% so american companies can compete and win against anyone else anywhere in the world. [applause] these changes alone are estimated to increase average family income by more than $4000. a lot of money. [applause] small businesses have also received a massive tax cut and cannot deduct 20% of their business income. here tonight are steve and sandy of stout manufacturing. a small beautiful business in ohio. they have just finished the best year in their 20 year history. [applause]

[applause] because of tax reform they are handing out raises, hiring an additional 14 people, and expanding into the building next door. [applause] one of the employees, corey adams is also with us tonight. corey is an all-american worker. he supported himself through high school, lost his job during the 2008 recession and was later hired where he trained to become a welder. like many hard-working americans, corey plans to invest his tax cut race into his new

home and his two daughters education. corey, please stand. [applause] [applause] and he is a great welder i was told that by the man who once that company that is doing so well. congratulations corey. since we passed tax cuts, roughly 3 million workers have already gotten tax-cut bonuses. many, thousands and thousands of dollars per worker, and it is getting more every month, every week. apple has announced it plans to invest a total of $350 billion

in america and hire another 20000 workers. [applause] just a little while ago, exxon mobil announced a 50 billion-dollar investment in the united states. [applause] this, in fact, is our new american moment. there has never been in better time to start living the american dream. so, to every citizen watching at home tonight, no matter where you have been or where you have come from this is your time. if you work hard, if you believe in yourself, if you believe in

america, then you can dream anything, you can be anything and together we can achieve absolutely anything. [applause] tonight, i want to talk about what kind of future we are going to have and what kind of a nation we are going to be. all of us together as one team, one people, and one american family can do anything. we all share the same home, the same heart, the same destiny, and the same great american flag.

[applause] together, we are rediscovering the american way. in america we know that faith and family, not government and bureaucracy, are the center of american life. the motto is, in god we trust. [applause] [applause]

and we celebrate our police, our military, and our amazing veterans as heroes who deserve our total and unwavering support. [applause] here tonight is preston, a 12-year-old boy from redding, california who noticed that better and scrapes were not marked with flags on veterans day. he decided all by himself to change that. he started a movement that has now placed 40000 flags at the graves of our great heroes. preston, a job well done. [applause]

[applause] young patriots like preston teach all of us about our civic duty as americans. i met preston a little while ago and he is something very special that i can tell you. a great future. thank you very much for all you have done. [applause] preston's reverence for those who have served our nation reminds of us of why we salute our flight. why we put our hands in our hearts for the pledge of allegiance, and while we probably stand for the national anthem. [applause]

[applause] [applause] americans love their country and they deserve a government that shows them the same love and loyalty in return. for the last year we have sought to restore the bonds of trust between our citizens and their government. working with the senates, we are appointing judges who will interpret the constitution as written. including a great new supreme court justice mr circuit court judges than any new

administration in the history of our country. [applause] we are totally defending our second amendment and have taken historic actions to protect religious liberty. [applause] [applause] we are serving our brave veterans, including giving our veterans choice in their health care decisions. [applause]

[applause] last year congress also passed, and i signed up the landmark virginia accountability act. [applause] since its passage, my administration has already removed more than 1500 virginia employees who fail to give our veterans the care they deserve. we are hiring talented people who love our pets as much as we do. [applause] todd i will not stop until our

veterans are properly taken care of. that has been my promise to them from the very beginning this great journey. [applause] all americans deserve accountability and respect. that is what we are giving to our wonderful heroes, our veterans. [applause] tonight, i call on congress to empower every cabinet secretary with the authority to reward good workers and to remove federal employees who undermined the public trust or fail the american people.

[applause] hard drive to make washington accountable we have removed more regulations in the first year than any administration in the history of our country. [applause] we have ended the war on american energy and we have ended the war on beautiful clean coal. [applause]

we are now very proudly and exporter of energy to the world. [applause] in detroit, i halted government mandates that crippled america's great, beautiful autoworkers so that we can get motor city revving its engines again. that is what is happening. [applause] [applause] many car companies are now building and expanding plants in the united states, something we have not seen for decades. chrysler is moving a major plant

from mexico to michigan, toyota and mazda are open up a plant in alabama. a big one. we have not seen this in a long time. it is all coming back. [applause] [applause] very soon auto plants and other plants will be opening up all over our country. this is all news americans are totally unaccustomed to hearing. for many years companies and jobs were only leaving us. but now, they are coming back, they want to be where the action is.

they want to be in the united states of america. [applause] [applause] exciting progress is happening every single day. to speed access to break through tears unaffordable generic dru drugs, last year the fda approved more new and generic drugs and medical devices than ever before in our country's history. [applause] we also believe that patients

with terminal illness should have access to experimental treatment immediately that could potentially save their lives. people who are terminally ill should not have to go from country to country to seek a cure. i want to give them a chance right here at home. it is time for congress to give these wonderful, incredible americans the right to try. [applause] [applause] one of my greatest priorities is to reduce the price of

prescription drugs. [applause] [applause] in many countries these drugs cost far less than what we pay in the united states. it is very, very unfair. that is why i have directed my administration to make fixing the injustice of high drug prices one of my top priorities for the year. [applause] [applause] and prices will come down substantially, watch. america has also finally turn

the page on decades of unfair trade deals that sacrificed our prosperity shipped away our companies, our jobs, and our wealth. our nation has lost its well but we are getting it back so fast. the air of economics surrender totally over. from now on we expect trading relationships to be fair and very importantly, reciprocal. [applause] [applause] we will work to fix bad trade deals and negotiate new ones. they will be good ones, but they will be fair. we will protect american workers

and american intellectual property through strong enforcement of our trade rules. [applause] as we rebuild our industries it is time to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. [applause] america is a nation builders. we built the empire state building in just one year. isn't it to disgrace that it cannot take ten years just to get a minor permits approved for the building of a simple road.

[applause] i am asking both parties to come together to give us safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure that our economy needs and our people deserve. [applause] tonight, i am calling on congress to produce a bill that generates at least $1.5 trillion to the new infrastructure investment that our country so desperately needs. every federal dollar should be leveraged by partnering with state and local governments, and where appropriate, tapping into private-sector investment to permanently fix the infrastructure deficit.

and, we can do it. [applause] any bill must also streamline the permitting and approval process, getting it down to no more than two years and perhaps even one. together, we can reclaim our great building heritage. [applause] we will build gleaming new roads, bridges, highways, railways, and waterways all across our land. we will do it with american hearts, american hands, and american grit. [applause]

we want every american to note the dignity of a hard days work. we want every child to be safe in their home at night. we want every citizen to be proud of this land that we all love so much. we can lift our citizens from welfare to work, from dependence to independence, and from poverty to prosperity. [applause] as tax cuts create new jobs, let's invest in workforce

development and let's invest in job training, which we need so badly. [applause] let's open great vocational schools so our future workers can learn a craft and realize their full potential. let's it supports working families by supporting paid family leave. [applause] [applause] as america regains its strength, opportunity. >> extended to all citizens. that is why this year we will embark on reforming our prisons to help former inmates who have

served their time get a second chance at life. [applause] struggling communities, especially immigrant communities will also be helps by immigration policies that focus on the best interest of american workers and american families. for decades, open borders have allowed drugs and gangs to pour into our most vulnerable communities. they have allowed millions of low-wage workers compete for jobs and wages against the poorest americans. most tragically, they have caused the loss of more innocent lives. here tonight or to bothers into mothers, evelyn, freddie,

elizabeth, and robert, their two teenage daughter kayla and lisa were close friends on long island. in september 2016 on the eve of the 16th birthday, such a happy time it should've been, neither of them came home. these two precious girls were brutally murdered while walking together in their hometown. six members of the savage ms 13 gay have been charged with their murders. many of these gang members took advantage of glaring loopholes in our laws to enter the country as illegal, on a company alien minors. they wound up in the girls high

school. leveling, elizabeth, freddie and robert, tonight, everyone in this chamber is praying for you. everyone in america is grieving for you. please stand. thank you very much. [applause] [applause] [applause]

[applause] i want you to know that 320 million hearts are breaking for you. we love you. thank you. [applause] while we cannot imagine the depths of that kind of sorrow, we can make sure other families never have to endure this pain. tonight, i'm calling on congress to close the deadly loopholes that have allowed ms 13 and other criminal gangs to break into our country. we are proposed new legislation that will fix our immigration laws and support our ice and border patrol agents. these are great people. they work so hard in the midst of such danger.

so that this can never happen again. [applause] the united states is a compassionate nation. we are proud that we do more than any other country anywhere in the world to help the needy, the struggling, and the underprivileged all over the world. as president of the united states, my highest loyalty, mike greatest compassion, my constant concern is for america's children, america's struggling workers, and america's forgotten communities. i want our youth to grow up and

achieve great things. i want our port to have their chance to rise. so tonight, i'm extending an open hand to work with members of both parties, democrats and republicans to protect our citizens of every background, color, religion, and creed. [applause] my duty, and the sacred duty of every elected official in this chamber is to defend americans, to protect their safety, their families and communities and their right to the american dream. because, americans are dreamers too. [applause]

[applause] here tonight is one later in the effort to defend our country, homeland security investigations special agent martinez, he goes by dj and cj. he said call me either one. so we will call you cj. he served 15 years in the air force before becoming a nice agent spending less 15 years fighting gang violence and getting dangerous criminals off our streets. at one point ms 13 leaders ordered his murder and they wanted it to happen quickly. but, he did not cave to threats or fear.

last may, he commanded in operation to track down gang members on long island. the seam arrested 400 including 220 ms 13 gang members. have to tell you, what the border patrol and ice have done, we have sent thousands of ms 13 horrible people out of this country or into our prisons. i want to congratulate you, cj. you are brave guy, thank you very much. [applause] [applause] i asked cj, what is the secret

he said, we are just tougher than they are, i like that answer. now, let's get congress to extend to you and all of the people in this great chamber we have to do it. cj, we are going to send you reinforcements i will send them to quickly. it is what you need. [applause] over the next few weeks, the house and senate will be voting on an immigration reform package. in recent months my administration has met with both democrats and republicans to craft a bipartisan approach to immigration reform. based on the discussions we presented congress with a detailed proposal that should be

supported by both parties as a fair compromise. one where nobody gets everything they want, but our country gets the critical reforms it needs and must have. [applause] here are the four pillars of our plan. the first pillar of our framework generously offers a path to citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants were brought here by their parents at a young age. that covers almost three times more people than the previous administration covered. [applause]

wonder our plan, those who meet education and work requirements and show good moral character can become full citizens of the united states over 12 years. [applause] the second pillar fully secures the border. [applause] [applause] that means building a great wall on southern border that means hiring more heroes like cj to keep our communities safe.

[applause] our plan closes the terrible loopholes exploited by criminals and terrorists to enter our country. it finally ends the horrible and dangerous practice of catch and release. [applause] the third pillar ends the visa lottery, a program that randomly hands out green cards without any regard for skill, merit, or the safety of american people. [applause] time to begin moving toward a

merit-based immigration system. one that admits people were skilled and want to work. who contribute to our society and who will love and respect our country. [applause] the fourth and final pillar protects the nuclear family by ending chain migration. [applause] [applause] under the current broken system a single immigrant can bring in unlimited numbers of distant relatives, under our plan, we

focus on the immediate family by limiting sponsorships to spouses and minor children. [applause] . . [applause] these outdated immigration systems, and finally bring them into the 21st century. [applause]

these pillars represent a compromise and one that will create a safe, modern and lawful immigration system. washington has tried and failed to solve this problem. this congress can be the one that finally makes it happen. most importantly, these pillars will produce legislation that fulfills my ironclad pledge to sign a bill that puts america first. [applause] so let's come together, set politics aside and finally get

the job done. [applause] these reforms will also support our response to the terrible crisis of opioid drug addictio addictions. never before has it been like it is now. in 2016 we lost 64,000 americans to drug overdoses. 174 deaths per day, seven per hour we must get tougher on drug dealers and pushers if we are going to succeed in stopping this scorched. [applause]

my administration is committed to fighting the drug epidemic and helping to get treatment for those in need for those who've been so terribly hurt. the struggle will be long and difficult, but as americans always do, in the end, we will succeed, and we will prevail. [applause] as we have seen tonight the most difficult challenges bring out the best in america, we see a vivid expression in the story of

the family of new mexico. ryan is 27-years-old, an officer with the albuquerque police department. he is here tonight with his wife, rebecca. [applause] last year brian was on duty when a pregnant homeless woman prepared to inject heroine and he told her he was going to harm her unborn child she began to weep and told him she didn't know where to turn that badly wanted a safe home for her baby. at that moment, he said he felt

god speak to him. you will do that because you can. he took out a picture of his wife and their four kids. then he went home to tell his wife, rebecca. in an instant, she agreed to adopt. a named their daughter hope. ryan and rebecca, you embody the goodness of the nation. thank you. [applause]

thank you, ryan and rebecca. as the rebuild strength and confidence here at home the also restore our strength and standing abroad. around the world, we face regime's and rivals like china and russia that challenge our interest, the economy and values. in conferencing the strangers, we know that weakness is the surest path to conflict and unmatched power is the surest means to our true and great defense. to fully fund our great

military. [applause] we must modernize and rebuild our nuclear arsenal, hopefully never having to use it, but making it so strong and so powerful that it will deter any acts of aggression like any another nation or anyone else. [applause] perhaps someday in the future there will be a magical moment

when the countries of the world will get together to eliminate the nuclear weapons. unfortunately, we are not there yet. last year, i also pledged that we would work with our allies to extinguish isis from the face of the earth. one year later i am proud to report that the coalition to defeat isis has liberated very close to 100% of the territory just recently held by these killers in iraq and syria and other locations as well. [applause]

but there is much more work to be done. we will continue our fight until isis is defeated. the army staff sergeant is here tonight. last november justin and his comrades the chief petty officer were on a mission to buildings that were rigged with explosives so that civilians could return to that city hopefully soon and hopefully safely. clearing the second floor of the vital hospital, stacy was severely wounded in explosion. immediately into the booby-trapped and unbelievably

dangerous and unsafe building and found in very bad shape she applied pressure to the wound and insert a tube to reopen the airway and he then performed cpr for 20 minutes during the ground transport and maintained artificial respiration for two and a half hours and through emergency surgery. he would have died if it were not for justin's selfless love for his fellow warrior. tonight he is recovering in texas and justin is wearing his new star for valor.

[applause] [applause] [applause] to do things like place bombs in

civilian hospitals are evil. when possible we have no choice but to annihilate that when necessary. we must be able to detain and question them. but we must be clear terrorists are not criminals, they are unlawful enemy combatants. [applause] when captured overseas they should be treated like the terrorists they are they've released hundreds and hundreds of dangerous terrorists only to meet them again on the

battlefield including the isis theatehere that we captured andd and released. and including the secretary who is doing a great job. thank you. [applause] to re-examine the military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities in guantánamo bay.

we continue to have all necessary power for the terrorists wherever we chase them down. in many cases now it will be guantánamo bay. [applause] our worry is in afghanistan that has new models of engagement. [applause] we no longer tell our enemies

our plans. in the u.s. senate just months before, i recognized jurors jerusalem as the capital of israel. [applause] shortly afterwards dozens of countries voted in the united nations general assembly against america's sovereign right to make this decision.

in 2016, american taxpayers send the same countries more than $20 billion. to help ensure that the dollars always serve american interests and only go to friends of america. [applause] as we strengthen friendships all around the world we are also restoring clarity of.

america understands that the people of iran and their courageous struggle for freedom. my administration has also imposed tough sanctions on the communist and socialist dictatorships in cuba and venezuela.

it's a cruel dictatorship in north korea, north korea is reckless pursuit of nuclear missiles could very soon threaten our own land. we are waging a campaign of maximum pressure to prevent that from happening. past experience has taught us that complacency and concessions only invites aggression and provocation. that got us into this very dangerous position we need only look at the depraved character of the north korean regime to understand the nature of the nuclear threat but it could pose to america and our allies.

a hard-working student at the university of virginia integrates today and he was on his way to study a broad nation he joined a tour to north korea and its conclusion this wonderful young man was arrested and charged with crimes against the state. after a shameful trial the dictatorship was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor before returning him to america last june horribly injured and on the verge of death. he passed away just days after his return.

here with us tonight along with the brother and sister. [applause] incredible people. thank you very much.

[applause] tonight we pledge to honor the memory with total american resolve. thank you. finally, we are joined by one eyewitness to the ominous nature of this regime. in 1996, he was a starving boy in north korea. one day he tried to steal coal

from a railroad car for a few scraps of food which are very hard to get. he passed out on the train tracks. he woke up as a train ran over his plans and he then endured multiple amputations without anything to dole the pain or the herd. what little food they had to help him recover and ate dirt themselves permanently stunting their own growth. later he was tortured by the north koreans from returning to me great visit to china. the tormentors wanted to know if he had meant any christians.

he had resolved after that to be free. some traveled thousands of miles on crutches all across china and southeast asia to freedom. most of his family followed and they were caught trying to escape and was tortured to dea death. it is with the regime fears most, the truth. today he has a new leg but i understand you still keep those old crutches as a reminder of how far you've come. your great sacrifice is an inspiration to us all. thank you. [applause]

[applause] the story is a testament to the yearning of every human soul to live in freedom. it was the same yearning for freedom that nearly 250 years ago gave birth to a special place called america. it was a small cluster caught between the great ocean and

wilderness. they could fool themselves and they could chart their own destiny. and together they would light up the entire world. that's what americans have always strived for and have always done. atop the dome of the capitol stands the statue of freedom. for the monuments of our ancestors who fought and lived and died to protect her from the monuments to washington and jefferson and lincoln and king

memorials to the heroes of georgetown. and there are others who went down in the waters of the pacific. freedom stands tall over one more monuments. this one is capital, this living monument to the american people. [applause]

whose heroes live not only in the past but all around us. for the hope and pride in defending the american way, they work in every trade and they sacrificed to raise a family. if they carthey care for our cht home and defend our flag abroad and they are strong bombs and raise kids. the nation belongs entirely to the mtv [applause] [applause]

to serve them and protect them and to always be worthy of them. americans fill the world regarding music. they pushed the bounds of science and discovery and forever remind us of what we should never forget. the people dreamed of this country, the people don't this country and it's the people who are making america great again.

[applause] as long as we are proud of who we are and what we are fighting for, there is nothing we cannot achieve as long as we have confidence in our values, faith in our citizens and trust in our god we will never fail. our families will thrive, our people will prosper, and our nation will forever be safe and strong and proud and mighty and free.

thank you and god bless america. good night. [applause] [applause]

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is [inaudible conversations]

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this is continuing coverage on c-span2. the president's first state of the union address. you might recognize the place we are standing right now camped along with many media outlets. this is statuary hall not far from the chamber where the president spoke and it's pretty much become a tradition for the members to talk to reporters after the president's speech and we will do this for roughly an hour or so i always start with the lineup on both sides of the aisle. the member we are going to talk to this evening