The graduates our local lawenforcement officers from across the country that completed the course. The president s remarks are just under an hour. [applause] mr. President im going to ask all of our elementary, middle, and High School Students to raise their hands. You all just admitted to the president you are skipping school today. [laughter] when you return to class, tell them that you met the president in a very special place. Quantico was home to native americans for thousands of years. General washington marched his army through quantico on the way to our victory at yorktown. 100,000 Union Soldiers camped on quantico during the civil war. In 1917, Young Marines trained at quantico to join world war i. In the last century and this century, this is where the fbi, the dea, and the finest Law Enforcement professionals in our nation have come to prepare to protect the American People and uphold the constitution. This is a very special place. Im the assistant director of the fbi visitors, we are happy to have you. Members of the fbi, dea, marine corps, and Academy Family welcome home. If you have a young child with you, they are going to get frustrated and cry. Those noises have become a welcomed part of this reunification so stay in with us. To begin the ceremony, if you are able, please stand for the presentation of colors by the United States marine corps honor guard and our national anthem. Afterward, please remain standing for the invocation. Attention. Forward march. Colorguard, halt. Present arms. Starspangled banner forward march. Colorguard,colorguard, holt. Father god, we ask for your special graces to rest on us on this awesome day. Blessed are you lord god of all creation whose goodness fills our hearts with joy. Blessed are you who have brought us together in this sacred place, the fbi academy of quantico, this day to work in harmony and peace. Strengthen each one of us with your grace and wisdom. Thank you for your story in our lives as we write our history this morning. May you be evident on every page. For the love of god, amen. Before we continue, lets take a moment to remember carlos wolf and sandra cohen who we lost this week as well as the 24 Law Enforcement professionals who died in the line of duty since the session began. Please join me for a moment of silence in their honor. Please be seated. So in the early 1930s, amidst prohibition, the height of the gangster era, there were loud voices calling for a National Police force in the United States. The fbi and the major city chiefs and sheriffs offered as an alternative to open a National PoliceTraining School where we would bring back the finest leaders in Law Enforcement around the country and create a place where they would Exchange Best Practices and lessons learned. That was the start of this great partnership. During the 270th session, over 3800 credit hours were completed. The men and women graduating are the result of the continued commitment to improve bettering ourselves and our profession. It is my pleasure digit is the distant list members of the platform party. Please hold your applause until everyone has been introduced. A warm welcome to the president of the United States, the attorney general of the United States, the director of the fbi, our class spokesperson, dea special agent in charge, the president of the National Academy associates, jeff walker, Deputy Assistant director, executive assistant director of the fbi. In the third row, fbi chaplain, jeff mccormack, the unit chief of the National Academy unit, the associate dean of the university of virginia and the dean of academics here in quantico. Please welcome todays platform party. [applause] in honor of the president s commitment to be here today, 270 carried one of our yellow bricks through the six mile crucible a event our yellow brick road run. So the class knows the president just signed that brick backstage and that will be exhibited here in your honor. [applause] today we have graduates of past sessions, some representing multiple generations of graduates. Would the past graduates please stand and be recognized . [applause] each graduating class selects a spokesperson to represent them. The spokesperson for 270 is craig wiles. His career spans 37 years. He currently serves as the special agent in charge for the dea new Orleans Division where he has oversight of 525 agents, task force officers, diversion investigators, and professional Staff Members in louisiana, arkansas, alabama, and mississippi. Hes been assigned to the bahamas, southwest asia, and major cities throughout the United States. Hes conducted a highprofile drug investigations in the United States and afghanistan. Hes the recipient of the dea administrators award and received the first dea purple heart for injuries sustained during the 1996 olympics. Craig has been married for 27 years, he has a daughter ashley and a son, austin. Please welcome craig wiles. [applause] craig this is going to be a tough act to follow. Good morning. On behalf of the fbi National Academy session 270, we welcome our distinguished guests. President trump, welcome. We are humbled. [applause] craig your presence here demonstrates your strong commitment to Law Enforcement and your strong commitment to the citizens and the communities we serve. A few days ago, we were assembled in this auditorium and the announcement was made you would be attending and this room erupted with energy. [applause] attorney general sessions, thank you for your strong leadership and your commitment to Law Enforcement, sir. Director ray, thank you for meeting with us and sharing your thoughts on the importance of relationships. We could not agree more. Together, we can accomplish anything. We also want you to know you have one of the finest training staffs here at quantico. Thank you. [applause] we also welcome the members of the fbi Training Team here at the National AcademyAssociates Association and the Beautiful People who work with service, source, and goodwill to ensure that this academy run smoothly. 270 welcomes the many active and retired Law Enforcement officers as represented here today by general kelly. We welcome the former National Academy graduates, including my father, ralph wiles who stood at this same moment 40 years ago and spoke to his class, 110, as the class president. Dad, i listened to you that day and tried to live up to every word. I love you and thank you for your service. [applause] most importantly, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude and our love to our families. Helen keller told us alone we can do little, together we can do so much. To my classmates, you have my highest respect. In my 37 years of Law Enforcement service, ive worked with the finest and you are a team above all others. Because of this experience, i have never been more enthusiastic and optimistic about the future of our profession. We have come a long way since reporting as 224 individuals representing 220 Different Police agencies from 48 states in 20 different countries, from malta to argentina from san diego to boston. We have learned that the only true difference as guardians is the shape of our badge. We know very well this profession is a calling to serve, we understand the importance of doing the right thing in our personal and professional lives. Congratulations to newly promoted captains for being those examples. Today, leadership is based on a strong ethical base blended with empathy and emotional intelligence. Our continued Selfless Service will transform the way the world our continued Selfless Service will transform the way the world looks at Law Enforcement. Without knowing it, the poet Raymond Chandler described 270 when he said down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean who is neither tarnished nor afraid, he is the hero. The last 11 weeks have been a dialogue on successful leadership, community engagement, Collaborative Partnerships which lead to legitimacy, transparency, and trust in every Community Around world. With a focus on constitutional policing which protects the rights of all individuals as much as it promotes Public Safety and quality of life. We learned that we can positively shape and impact our profession, we have experienced so many positive leadership events, whether it is walking the grounds of the 9 11 memorial, navigating the waters around the statue of liberty, or visiting independence hall, the birthplace of our democracy. Thank you for those lifelong memories. The academy motto of knowledge, courage, integrity, demands that as leaders we enable our people to unleash their potential. Today, our profession is facing challenges. We must remember what we stand for and do the right thing. We must always follow our internal values of excellence, behavior, and ethics, and we must never forget our obligation to our profession, our citizens, and our families. We understand the importance of relationship and that our character is the most important trait. It is expected in all of our leaders. I learned from my parents the the importance of honor. Honor your faith, on or your family, and honor yourself. We do not have to look far to realize our values. The world has continued to turn. Just since we reported, there is been two terrorist attacks in new york city that killed eight and wounded others. A lone gunmen attacked a peaceful concert in las vegas, our hearts continue for the members of your agency. A cowardly gunmen attacked a service in texas, killing 26 and wounding 20 others. A colleague of mine was killed in afghanistan from a suicide bombing, reminding us that evil lives around the world. Theres been over 10,000 Drug Overdose deaths and 24 Law Enforcement heroes have been killed in service to this great country, the most recent losses of deputy chief States Marshall sandra cohen along with fbi supervisory special agent carlos wolf in rockville, maryland, and of officer Kenneth Copeland in texas. These remind us that our primary mission is always to protect life. This will never change. Although these crimes offend our values and everything we stand for, they define our resolve. As first responders, we will always run to the fight. Dr. Martin luther king said the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. For you and i, what we have seen cannot be unseen. There are so many victims and so many damaged families. They require and expect that we operate every day at our best. We know these numbers can be overwhelming for the faint of heart. Although professionalism, dedication, for many are just words. For me, these describe our fabric. They are part of our dna. It is the relationships developed here that strengthen our skills to face the many evils that threaten our communities. There is no greater calling than this honorable profession, that of a Law Enforcement officer. Although this is our calling to serve, we must always remember our families. It is from their support we achieve success. We know the last 11 weeks have not been easy for you. We have shared many loving conversations about families from sports to school. In fact, eric hill learned that his wife is due in april with a baby boy. We also shared the loss of two mothers and a grandmother. You will always remain in our thoughts and prayers. Our prayers continue for the unit chief and his wife who is undergoing cancer treatment. 270 represents hundreds of families who have sacrificed more than we will know while cheering us on. I can tell you during many of the challenges, i focused on the faces of my family to get me through. Today we celebrate our parents, our spouses, and our children. Although this is a chapter for you and i, our families are the ones that kept the lights on and continue to ensure that lifes challenges were faced and met. We are the lucky few who can say we live our dream. Dave willis said family is not defined by last names or blood, it is defined by commitment and love. It means having each others backs, it means choosing to love each other even on those days you struggle to like each other. It means never giving up on each other. This became 270s ethos in the classes, the challenges, and on the yellow brick road. My parents taught me that true empathy means stepping outside of your own to view things from the perspective of the other person. We are all blessed to have a loving support system. Never forget and make no mistake, for you and i, this is where we were supposed to be. Our spouses and children had no choice. Today and every day we should celebrate their unselfish devotion and we commit to them that we will never miss an opportunity to tell them we love them. I encourage you to spoil your cheering team at every chance. As it has been said, what we do in life echoes in eternity. Continue to honor your faith, your family, and yourself. A coach said at the best, every day and every play the right way. 270 issues a warning to evil. 270 is our family and we never give up. May god continue to bless each of you and empower you with the confidence that you make a difference. Thank you for your service and i salute you for your dedication and courage. [applause] director, as the assistant director of your training division, i certify that all present members have met or exceeded all requirements for graduation. Ladies and gentlemen, would you join me in welcoming the director of the fbi . [applause] thanks, dave. The 269th may have been the first class i met with, but this class is my first National Academy graduation. For that reason, i particularly enjoyed all of our conversations last week. Im excited to be here and see you all today. I would like to extend a special welcome to President Trump and attorney general sessions, both of whom we will hear from in a moment. I want to thank the families here, everybody in this room knows that our families are the support system that makes Law Enforcement work. You help us make it through every day and you are waiting for us when we come home every night. Thank you for being here and thank you for all the sacrifices and support you have brought. In 1935, when the fbi Police Training school opened its doors to its first 23 students, im not sure anyone imagined we would all be here all these years later, watching our 270th graduation. You came to quantico 11 weeks ago as strangers but you leave today as lifelong friends. Those friendships mean you can pickup the phone, day or night, anywhere around the world and find someone who will stand beside you in the toughest of circumstances, or provide some insight you might not have considered. Forging those friendships, those partnerships, is what the National Academy does best. As the world becomes smaller and the perils loom larger, we have learned that a threat to one of us can be a threat to all of us. We have learned that working together is not the best option, it is the only option. For more than 80 years, this program has served as a bridge between state and local Law Enforcement. Today you join the ranks of more than 50,000 graduates from more than 170 countries. To put that in perspective, there are more than 50,000 of those yellow bricks on decks and bookcases all around the world. More than 50,000 bricks that have helped pave the way for global Law Enforcement cooperation. That cooperation begins here, it cannot end here. Your bricks do not represent a challenge, they are a challenge, a challenge to build on this foundation after you leave the academy. A challenge to stay in touch and continue helping each other throughout your careers. This session is ending, but the work is far from done. It is up to you to ensure that the network that you see in this auditorium grows larger and stronger and that yellow brick road grows longer and wider. Your jobs are not easy but today you have more than 200 new partners standing by, ready to help you in any way you can. That bond of trust and teamwork represents the best of who we are and what we can accomplish when we work together. According to the fbi history books, it has been quite a while since we hosted a president for a National Academy graduation. In 1957, president eisenhower addressed the 60th session. Five years later in october of 1962, president kennedy delivered remarks at the graduation of the 70th. Last, president nixon spoke at the graduations of the 83rd session in 1969, which was held in the white house, and the 87th session in 1971. After a 46 year hiatus, it is a great honor to welcome a president back to the National Academy. [applause] as i was saying backstage, mr. President , the National Academy is one of the fbis crown jewels. In february, President Trump addressed the Major County Sheriffs Association and called for a Great National partnership, a new beginning between Law Enforcement and the citizens we serve. By joining us today, he is renewing that call. Mr. President , there is no better place to talk about the importance of partnerships than here at the National Academy, surrounded by some of the finest Law Enforcement leaders from here at home and around the world. To the outstanding graduates of the 270th, thank you for being part of the National Academy, for your support of the fbi, and all you do, and all you will do for Law Enforcement. Now, to introduce the president , please join me in welcoming the attorney general of the United States, jeff sessions. [applause] thank you for that introduction and for inviting us to this fabulous academy. The American People appreciate what you do, the American People have always supported Law Enforcement. This is a special occasion indeed for these graduates and your families. I have the honor to introduce someone who supports Law Enforcement officers just as he promised 100 . Donald trump ran for office as a law and order candidate. I believe that is one of the biggest reasons he won. The American People spoke loud and clear they want to restore the rule of law and they want to be safe. Now he is governing as a law and order president , he is fulfilling his Campaign Promises and he is delivering results for the American People. The day i was sworn in as attorney general, he sent us an order you know he knows how to send a clear order. The order was to reduce crime in america. Not preside over increasing crime, but to reduce it. We embraced that goal as i know you do, and we are doing that with the indispensable help of our state and local Law Enforcement partnerships like those represented by these outstanding officers today. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our nations highest Law Enforcement official, the president of the United States. [applause] pres. Trump thank you. Wow. Thank you very much, everybody. That is a lot of years since the last president. We will be back. Thank you to attorney general sessions, thank you director wray, for hosting me here at the fbi National Academy to address our local police and sheriffs from all over america. It is an honor to stand here today with the incredible men and women of Law Enforcement. Thank you. [applause] pres. Trump we are here to celebrate your graduation from the National Academy at quantico. For over 80 years, this rigorous and worldrenowned program has trained Law Enforcement officers from all across the country. So respected. Let me begin by saying to each member of the graduating class, congratulations. You left home for 11 weeks to enroll in this program because you love your jobs, you love your communities, and you love your country. Earlier this week, you completed the six mile yellow brick road i just signed that beautiful brick. I just signed that brick. Designed for the marines to push even the toughest to their limit. You endured muddy waters, barbed wire fences, icy creeks, steep hills and so much more, knowing your you leak your elite training will help save lives. The training you received at quantico will give you that extra edge you need to diffuse the threat, to disarm a criminal, and to deliver a child safely to her mothers arms. I am here not only to congratulate you, but to honor you for your courage and your devotion. I want you to know that with me as your president , Americas Police will have a true friend and loyal champion in the white house, more loyal than anyone else can be. I tell you. [applause] pres. Trump i also want to take a moment to speak to all of the Law Enforcement families here today. You make tremendous sacrifices. American families can sleep soundly at night because of the burden you carry for all of us. On behalf of all americans, to every Law Enforcement family today, and all across the nation, thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you very much. [applause] pres. Trump you do that under the most difficult conditions. You rarely get the recognition you deserve, i can tell you that. Your families know what you deserve, and ultimately that is the most important thing. It is not a news story when our officers save a life, rescue a family, or stop a crime. It is just another day on the job. No matter the circumstances, you serve tirelessly, selflessly, and heroically. You do it because you believe in doing your duty and doing it properly. Being a Police Officer is not just a career, it is a calling. I have seen it, i have so many friends that are Police Officers, so many people in the fbi, these are great people. These are heroes for all of us. Thank you very much. [applause] pres. Trump as we as a country must do a better job showing our Police Officers the respect and gratitude that you have earned, so when you return home to your local precincts, i want you to deliver a message to your fellow officers. The president of the United States has your back 100 . [applause] pres. Trump i will fight for you and i will never let you down, ever. Now, more than ever, we must support the men and women in blue. In the last two years, america has seen a tragic rise in violent crime. In 2015 and 2016 we witnessed the steepest two year consecutive increase in murders in nearly half a century. When you look at what is going on in chicago, what the hell is going on in chicago . What the hell is happening there . [applause] pres. Trump for the second year in a row, a person was shot in chicago every three hours. You do not think these people in this room can stop that . They would stop that. Just north of our nations capital, in baltimore, someone was murdered nearly every day of this year. Police departments are overstretched, theyre underfunded, and they are totally underappreciated, except by me. [applause] pres. Trump instead of holding up our police as the role models and mentors they are, they have been subjected to malicious attacks on their character, their integrity. This antipolice sentiment is wrong and it is dangerous and we will not stand for it. Most concerning of all, we have seen an alarming increase in violent assaults carried out against our Police Officers. Last year an officer was assaulted in america on average, every 10 minutes. In 2016, more than 140 officers lost their lives serving in the line of duty. These deaths fill our hearts with pain and with grief. Every drop of blood spilled from our men and women in blue is a wound inflicted on our nation and when a brother or sister in uniform is hurt, on that day, all of america bleeds blue. I want to send a message to those who threaten violence against our police. We will protect those who protect us and we believe criminals who kill Police Officers should get the death penalty. [applause] pres. Trump one of my First Executive orders as president instructed the department of justice to take all necessary steps and legal actions to protect Law Enforcement from acts of violence against them. The department of justice has also announced more than 98 million in Grant Funding to help your local Police Departments hire desperately needed new officers. Also, just as i promised, we are allowing our local police to access surplus military equipment, something the previous administration, for some reason, refused to do. Explain that one to me, please. [applause] pres. Trump never understood that one. Somebody out there can explain, does anyone want to stand up and explain . It would be tough. If we want to bring down violent crime, we must stand up for our beliefs. All of us gathered here share a common goal. We want every child to be able to walk safely home from school and we want every mother and father to know their children will be secure when they tuck them in at night. No family should have to worry about bullets flying through windows or gangs recruiting on street corners. Every american child should be able to grow up in a Safe Community surrounded by a loving family and preparing to embark on a bright, beautiful future. As president , my greatest duty is to protect our nation and to protect our people. As we have witnessed recently, america faces grave threats. Terrorists have struck in the streets and subways of new york city twice in a few months. Both terrorists came to our country through the dysfunctional immigration system that we are correcting, and rapidly. One came through chain migration, chain migration. The other, a visa lottery. A lottery, you pick people. Do you think the countries are giving us their best people . No. What kind of a system is that . They come in by lottery. They give us their worst people. Put them in a bin. But in his hand is the worst of the worst, congratulations, youre going to the United States. Lottery system. We are calling for congress to end chain migration and to end the visa lottery system and replace it with a merit based system of immigration. [applause] pres. Trump we want a system that puts the needs of american families, taxpayers, and security first. That is why i have also directed the federal government, Law Enforcement to work closely with our state and local police to destroy criminal cartels like the savages of ms13. [applause] pres. Trump already this year, the department of justice has worked with partners in Central America to arrest and charge roughly 4000 ms13 members and the department of Homeland Security has arrested nearly 800 ms13 gang members and associates, an 83 increase from the Previous Year and we are much higher this year than last year. We will get rid of them completely very soon. Right . [applause] pres. Trump they are working hard. Earlier this year, ice officers conducted the largest crackdown on gangs in our country. In just six weeks, ice, great people and the Border Patrol agents and our Law Enforcement partners arrested nearly 1400 suspects and seized more than 200 illegal firearms and nearly 600 rounds of narcotics and over 600 pounds, that is a lot of stuff. Prosecutions of criminal firearm possessions were up 23 . To any member of ms13 listening, i have a message for you. We will find you, we will arrest you, we will jail you, we will throw you the hell out of the country. Somehow i like that better than jail, jail we have to take care of them. Who the hell wants to take care of them . [applause] the jail stuff is wonderful but we have to pay for it. These are killers, these are people who are sadists. We do not want them. They are getting out of here. Our cities should not be sanctuaries for criminals. They should be sanctuaries for americans. It is our duty to serve the hardworking citizens of our country who raise our families, cherish our values, salute our flag and make this land our home. These are the citizens you represent and these are the citizens you courageously protect. You are great people. You are incredible people, just so you understand. You are great people doing an incredible job. I hope your families know that. 90 agree. The other 10 that is not working out so well. [laughter] pres. Trump we heard from one such hero among us earlier today, your class spokesperson, dea officer craig wiles. It is amazing to see craigs father sitting in the very seat where craig sat 40 years ago when he was just 15 years old. Where is his father . Tthere he is. [applause] pres. Trump he is better looking than you, by the way. [laughter] it is a great story. Thank you for being here, really nice. Youre proud of your son, right . So am i. That day craig watched his father speak at this podium. He listened to his fathers words and was filled with pride and such devotion that at that moment he decided to become a Law Enforcement officer. Today it is incredible that his own children have joined us for this special moment. His daughter ashley is carrying on the legacy of her father and grandfather she now serves in Law Enforcement at the fbi. His son austin is in college and no matter what he chooses to do, we can confidently, with great confidence say he will always be better because of his fathers lifelong example of selflessness and courage and of love. Thank you craig and your family, it is a terrific story and a great honor to be with you. Thank you very much. [applause] pres. Trump as i look out in the audience today, i see many young, bright faces. To them and to many other Young Americans watching at home, of which there are many, there is the fake news back there. [laughter] pres. Trump fake news. Some of them are fine people. About 30 . You are the men and women who teach them what it means to be a Police Officer. You are always there for us. The men and women in blue in the dark of night, in the rush of danger, you break down doors, race down alleys, chase down suspects, and bring down criminals and you do it with strength and skill and pride. There is a reason your children look up to you with their eyes full of awe and wonder. There is a reason they rush to the window just to catch a glimpse of your sirens flashing by. To them, and to all of us, and to me, you are the guardians who keep us safe, to ward off danger and to confront evil so the good will always prevail. You represent the best of america, and you leave us with a debt we can never hope to repay. We honor you, we thank you, and we know that by your example, some of the children here today and watching at home will be inspired to fill your shoes, to continue your service, to follow in your footsteps and to take the oath to carry the badge, to wear the shield, and to join the ranks of heroes. Thank you to our police, thank you to our sheriffs, thank you to the fbi, and thank you to our Law Enforcement families. God bless you all. Thank you very much. [applause] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2014] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] the latest version of the tax reform bill is available for public view with a final vote in the house scheduled for tuesday. After the bill was filed in the house, ways and Means Committee chair kevin brady spoke to republicans to reporters for 10 minutes. Good evening, everyone. We have filed the