Scalise was at the event to talk about his faith and how it played a role last year when he was shot while practicing for the annual republican baseball game. This is an hour and a half. Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States. [applause] mr. President , good to see you. I want to tell you a story about this wristband that i wear every day. On it are the words of the golden rule. Practice the golden rule every day. The golden rule is a statement made by jesus, recorded in the sermon on the mount and the gospel of matthew. It is translated in various ways but it goes Something Like this do unto others as you would have done unto you. After a local event, a physician in my hometown of st. Petersburg, florida came up to me and handed me one of these. I put it on and i wear it every day. I do so to remind myself that even in this noisy, conflicted , and acrimonious world of politics that we want to treat everybody the way we would like to be treated. I hope you will all take this sentiment with you today when you leave. Remembering how jesus wanted all of us to live, fairly and compassionately. As i mentioned, it has been a privilege that we have enjoyed this last year to lead a weekly Prayer Breakfast that need to that meets in the capital every thursday morning. That is how we got to do all of this. We eat, we sing, we share praises and prayer needs. One of our members shares their stories and we pray. We walk into that room as republicans and democrats, we come in with differences with our strongly held views, but we always walk out with a little more understanding, more together and more unified. We are certainly all imperfect, but we are on a Journey Towards civility, reconciliation, towards that spirit of love that jesus shows us. That is what prayer does. A prayer is not just asking god for stuff. It is about a relationship with him, a real relationship about listening and trying to live out what we hear. Prayer is that language of love. Here we all are, people from 50 states, 140 countries. I wish i could join your table and join your conversations. Those we would like to introduce those who are going to lead us through this breakfast. I want to honor a few special guests who are here with us today. Welcome the president of guatemala. [applause] please also join me in welcoming the president of kosovo. [applause] we are also grateful to have the Prime Minister of kosovo. [applause] finally, please join me in welcoming the president of latvia. [applause] i will introduce the people on my end of the table. Please hold your applause until the end. First, our singers wife, emily, thank you for being with us. Our singer, matthew west, what a great song. Thank you for your talent. Beside mr. West is rabbi marvin. He has twice been named the most influential rabbi in america. We have from oklahoma, senator James Lankford, cochair of the senate Prayer Breakfast group. On his other side is my colleague and friend, congressman Cedric Richmond of louisiana, who is also chairman of the congressional black caucus. Also in the louisiana section, congressman Steve Scalise, the majority whip of the house of representatives. [applause] next to the person who needs no introduction, but who i will be privileged to introduce is the speaker of our house, my wonderful wife christie holmgren. [applause] we are privileged to have senator chris coons of delaware, a host of this event last year as well. Next is congresswoman dennings. She rose to become the First Female Police chief in the city of orlando. She gets the last word this morning, saying our closing prayer. Next is Army Major Scott smiley and his wife tiffany. Next is the first lady of rwanda. The last time we had a meal together was at her Prayer Breakfast. And finally, a great friend of this breakfast. David beasley. He is now the executive director of the u. N. World food program. The largest humanitarian organization in the world. Thank you all for guiding us. I would ask you all please direct your attention to the side screen for an introduction of our next guest. The United StatesArmy Major Scott smiley. He was born to serve. A star in his high schools football team, he followed his brother to west point, graduating in 2003. In on the inside of his new officers class ring was his favorite bible verse, i could do all things through christ, who gives me strength. Now, a officer in mosul, he noticed a suspicious vehicle to the right, driving slowly with its backside dragging on the ground. A telltale sign of a car bomb. Suddenly, there was a bright flash. Scott smileys world went black. He quickly realized the terrifying reality. The blast had left him fully blind and paralyzed on one side. Fear soon turned to anger. In time, he would regain the use of his limbs, but his blindness was permanent. Bitterness became part of his new reality. However, the love of his wife, family, and friends remained. On a trip to hawaii and in need of an escape, he convinced a friend to take him surfing. To his surprise he was a , natural. Surfing turned into skydiving. Mountain became climbing. He summitted mount rainier. He would eventually return to active duty, the first lined officer in u. S. History. He retired the first blind officer in u. S. History. He retired. He completed the toughest competition in sports, the ironman triathlon. Though his world was different, it was not impossible that he could do all things through christ and that he was still scotty. Lets honor major scott smiley and his wife, tiffany. [applause] thank you. God bless you all. Thank you so much. I am beyond honored. We are beyond honored and humbled to be with you this morning. I remember waking up in the medical center, blind the rest of my life. Not just losing both of my eyes, but also paralyzed on the right side of my body. I truly felt worthless. I remember saying to my dad, some soldier, huh . I began to believe some of the words being spread around the hospital. He was such a soldier. He will never be able to work again. He will most likely not be able to continue his education. I began to lose my purpose in life. More importantly, i began to lose my faith in god. It was the love of christ, my beautiful bride who stood by my side, every moment, every waking moment and sleeping moment. I began to question my favorite verse, philippians 4 13 i can do all things through christ, who strengthens me. My family enabled me to believe in that again. The first just says i can. There is no mention of eyesight. I can do all things to christ who gives me strength. There is that purpose and resolve that i was able to become the armys first activeduty blind officer, first Blind Company commander. I was able to continue my education and become a true ironman. [applause] there was love and support. I began to understand that we are not fighting in a world that is seen, but a world that is unseen. It is the faith that we have that carries us forward every moment, no matter the trials or tribulations that may face us. If we stay the true course, we can live with the purpose and live with a faith. We can do all things through christ who gives you strength. Thank you. [applause] im going to read a reminder of the safety of abiding in the presence of god, psalm 91. He who dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty. I will say of the lord, he is my refuge and my fortress. My god, in him i will trust. Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler. From the perilous pestilence, he will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will take refuge. His truth shall be your shield and your buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night nor of the arrow that flies by day. Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noon day. 1000 may fall at your side and 10,000 at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the lord, who is my refuge, even the most high, your dwelling place. No evil shall befall you nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. He shall give his angels charge over you. To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they will bury love, lest your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra. He has set his love upon me, therefore i will deliver him. I will set him on high because he has known my name. He shall call upon me and i will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. With long life, i will satisfy him and show him my salvation. Please bow your heads with me in thanks and glory. Thank you for all that you have given us, the life, the freedom, this beautiful country. Help us each and every day to know your love, understand that with faith, we can do all things through jesus, who gives us strength. Be with us this day. We thank you for the food and the hands that prepared it and the unity we have working together. We ask this in jesus name, amen. Thank you all. [applause] let me begin by asking the almighty to bless our great country, the United States of america, our president donald trump, the members of congress, the cabinet, and all the distinguished World Leaders that are gathered here today for this national Prayer Breakfast. The difference between prayer greatophecy commented the that intury thinker is prophecy, it is god who initiates the call. In prayer, it is always men who dial first. The other difference is that unlike men, gods line is never busy. In deuteronomy 30 it says the commandments i have given are not in the heavens, for you to say who can ascend. As the psalmist proclaims, the heavens belong to god but the earth was given to man. No human being is ever consulted about when he would like to be born. Nor is he advised on the precise time of his death. The great blessing of life is every mans ability to turn the opposed fate he is born with into destiny. To convert life, on the alterable challenges into god given opportunities. A man by the name of Simon Wiesenthal did exactly that. He began his career as an architect but cannot escape holocaust where 89 members of his family were murdered. Especially that unforgettable day when he heard that his beloved mother, rosa, was one of the hundred placed on a cattle car, got to be carted off to the death camp. Determined to see her one last time, he chased after that cattle cart as it left the platform, shouting out her name over and over. She never heard his desperate cry, as she was carted off to the death camp. When the war ended and the whole world went home to forget, he alone remained behind to remember. He refused to live out his life as a silent spectator, trapped forever by faith. Instead he picked himself up by , the bootstraps, turned his faith into destiny and changed roles from being a mere observer to becoming gods partner, to begin a new chapter that meant tracking down more than 1100 nazi war criminals. Amongst them, he brought to justice the commandants from treblinka and those who arrested anne frank. Switching roles from a builder who brought to justice the killers who had destroyed homes. I will never forget what he said at the celebration of his 90th birthday at the Imperial Hotel in the anna. In vienna. Hundreds of people attended the event. When he got up to speak, he said i never celebrate my birthday, but today is an exception. Do you know why i chose this hotel . This hotel was hitlers favorite hotel. He has a permanent suite and i wanted to come here to show that his thousand year reich is no more. We, the jewish people, who he wanted to exterminate, are still here, singing and dancing, even in his favorite hotel. [applause] this idea of turning faith into destiny is the main message of exodus chapter two. Moses saw the bush was burning but not consumed. So he turned his eye and looked at this great site and wondered why is the bush not consumed . When the almighty saw moses turning towards the bush, he said i have seen the affliction of my people, heard its outcry. Now go to the pharaoh and you shall take my people, the children of israel out of egypt. Who am i that i should go to the pharaoh and take the children out . I am not a man of words. I am slow of speech. Yes, replied the almighty, who has made mans mouth . Is it not i . Now therefore go. Still not satisfied, moses later demands of god, show me thy face. To which the almighty says, you can only see my back. My face shall never be seen. God was teaching moses that earth is your space, not your creators. Its future, standing up to evil, feeding the hungry, caring for the infirm, placing the seeds for a better tomorrow for your childrens children. That is in your hands, not mine, said the creator. And so it was that moses, a humble man with a speech impediment accepted the task. He delivered gods moral code, a capsule for survival, which to this very day 3500 years later, still remains the core value of all religions and humankind. May god allow each of us to reach our fullest potential. Let us convert our faith into destiny for the betterment of mankind. [applause] good morning. I am so pleased you could all join us for this remarkable breakfast of reflection, friendship, worship and fellowship. We gather today as gods children to share our experiences and common understanding in a world that too often focuses on not on the things that unite us put on the but on the things that divide us. We get to meet with faith leaders, missionaries, national leaders, with those living out gods call. That we would welcome and help a stranger, the orphan, the widow, the prisoner, the outcasts, all those among us that might need our help. We represent all parts of the world. Each week i am blessed to sameerience that fellowship with my Senate Colleagues in the senate Prayer Breakfast along with my cochair James Lankford of oklahoma. We gathered to pray, sing, and worship and witness to each other about our faith journeys. It is the one time a week that we listen to each other and trust each other. When we see each other not as opponents but as creations of our god. We share a common bond, striving to live out each day as a witness to gods justice, glory , and grace. Thank you for joining us here in that same spirit. On behalf of my colleagues in the senate, welcome. Let me offer a prayer for World Leaders. Would you please bow your heads and join me in prayer. Heavenly father, i address you as the god of no country and the god of all countries. I am astounded by the infinite variety of your creation, by the range of human person and thousands of ways we are collected into cultures, languages, groups and nations. , it tells us something about you that you created all of us and love all of us. My prayer is for the leaders of the world. I pray for those with titles. Senator, congressman, king. I pray for those who lead in less public ways, in the arts and faith communities and in family life. Leadership was your idea in the first place. A way for us to make the most of our lives together. You gave us the image of leader as servant and shepherd. Inspire the leaders of our world to care for and nurture their people. To be watchful for threats and to be humble. Bless our world with better leaders by helping all of those who lead to seek your wisdom and your way. In jesus name i pray, amen. [applause] it is a joy for us to be together. While i wish you could look in on it, i am glad you cannot look in on our gathering. It is about 20 or 30 of us that gather each week to be able to talk, pray and be able to encourage each other. We begin with sharing prayer requests, what is happening with our families and our personal lives. It is an incredibly vulnerable thing to say to someone else, i have needs and i want you to know it. As surprising as it may sound, senators cannot do everything. Weve not been able to do a lot for a while. We understand that there is someone much larger than us. We did not create the world. We have the opportunity to stop and speak to the one who did and say this is what we need. Whoever is speaking that week picks the song. I am determined that some of my colleagues try to pick the most of the secure song i have never heard of aired heard of. If you ever want to really be vulnerable in front of a group of friends, sing together. Upsing and one of us stands and shares our story, personally, what we are doing in our personal life all what we are doing spiritually, what we are reading in scripture and how we are walking with god. I have had the opportunity of being with you around the world. Our time is not complicated. It is just us. Your time can be like that wherever you are. To gather with people that others see as enemies or opponents and sit down and say lets try praying together. Chris mentioned earlier the passage from the sermon on the mount. What was called the golden rule. Just before that, jesus made this statement, ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened. We often do our own work and we do not stop to ask, seek and knock. This is a Prayer Breakfast, but we would encourage you, wherever you are in your workplace or whatever legislative body that you serve to start your own time, that together you ask, seek, knock. Admit together that we do not know everything and we do not run everything. We have the opportunity to speak to who does. Lets take one more moment to pray together. Father, our leaders need your wisdom. You said when we lack wisdom, we should ask you. From around the world, for a moment we stop and declare again we do not know everything. We are so grateful to know the one that does. Give us the humility as leaders to ask, to seek, to knock. To come to you to get guidance. I pray for our president and Vice President , that you would overwhelm them with wisdom and direction. For leaders across the United States, whether they be in courtrooms or legislative bodies or mayors, leaders in school boards. We need your guidance. You are the one who knows the way. Today, we declare, if you will guide, we will follow. Thank you jesus for your great love for us. In your name we pray, amen. [applause] the words of jesus of nazareth, for i was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Then the righteous will answer him saying when did we see you hungry, feed you or give you drink . When did we see you a stranger or clothe you . When did we see you sick or visit you . The king will answer you as you , did it to one of the least of brothers, you did it to me. Then he says, for i was hungry and you gave me no food. I was thirsty and you gave me no drink. I was a stranger and you did not me sick inand visit prison. They also answered, when did we see you hungry, thirsty or a stranger or sick or in prison . He will answer, saying truly, i , say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. 815 Million People in the world today go to bed hungry. 110 Million People around the world go to bed not knowing were the next meal is, on the brink of starvation. Every five seconds, as we sit here in this room, a child is dying of starvation. Yet there is 300 trillion of available wealth in the world today. Should one child go to bed hungry . This breakfast is not about preaching or politics. Even though this world is facing the worst humanitarian crisis since world war ii, the leadership of the United States and the men and women in this room may have their differences from day to day in washington, but i can assure you these men and women have come together to bring about hope to the hopeless. Help to those who are hungry. I want to applaud these men and women because amidst this tough time, it was these democrats and republicans who meet together every wednesday and thursday morning, working with the president of the United States to deliver more food aid than any other time period in world history. [applause] this Prayer Breakfast is not just about preaching and politics. It is about loving our neighbor. Let us pray. Lord, you have told us that every human being on the face of the planet is created in your image. That image is not republican or democrat, black or white, male or female, that image is beautiful. That image, when one child suffers, as you said when we do not help just one of the least of these, we are not helping you because that is your image. When we help the poor and needy, we are helping you. Lord, give us the continued strength and wisdom because we know out there in the world, we know you use food as a weapon of peace, reconciliation. There are those out there like isis, al qaeda and extremists who want to use food as a weapon of war and starvation to recruit. Lord, continue to strengthen the men, women and leaders of this , room, from nations all over the world from president s and Prime Ministers from all over the world, give them the wisdom to continue to stand for the vulnerable, for the poor, for the needy. So that their hopes and dreams can be fulfilled. There is so much wealth in the world today. May the leaders of this nation and nations around the world continue to provide the policies that will bring sustainability and resilience for our children, so that not one will die, nor one will go to bed hungry. Bless the men and women in this room and the leaders all around the world. In the name of jesus of nazareth, amen. [applause] mr. President , you know the history of this event is back 60 66 years to president eisenhower. We pray for our country and express our prayers for god to bless the person and family who occupy the white house. Mr. President , we, along with millions of americans pray for you. We pray for gods comfort and wisdom to guide you as you lead this nation and our challenging world. Ladies and gentlemen, the 45th president of the United States, donald j. Trump. [applause] President Trump thank you very much and thank you for that kind introduction. I want to thank you for serving as cochairs. Its an honor to be with so many faith leaders, members of congress, and dignitaries from all around the world as we continue this extraordinary tradition. Im very glad to be joined by many members of my cabinet. They are doing a terrific job. I want to extend our appreciation to the first lady of rwanda for leading the opening prayer. Thank you. Thank you very much. [applause] President Trump i also want to thank my great friends, mark burnett and roma downey. Where are they . Stand up. You deserve it, even though he comes from hollywood. Roma, thank you very much. Thank you for being here. Major Scotty Smiley and tiffany, were moved by your faith and your courage and are inspired by your service and sacrifice. That was really beautiful. Thank you very much. Thank you. [applause] to my friend and everybodys friend, Steve Scalise. We are so glad to have you with us today. Your presence reminds us of jesus words in the book of matthew, with god all things are possible. You are fantastic. You really are. Fantastic man. [applause] President Trump america is a nation of believers and together we are strengthened by the power of prayer. This morning our hearts are full of gratitude as we come together for the 66th annual national Prayer Breakfast. But our hearts are also saddened by the absence of the cofounder of this wonderful breakfast who passed away last year, doug coe, who everybody loved. [applause] President Trump for 60 years doug devoted his time and passion to this Prayer Breakfast and to many other wonderful causes. Today we are blessed to be joined by dougs wife, jan, and two of their sons, david and tim. [applause] President Trump thank you. Thank you very much. Great man. I want to thank you for carrying on dougs legacy, also, and bringing our nation together in prayer. You are indeed carrying on his great legacy. Each year, this event reminds us that faith is central to American Life and to liberty. Our founders invoked our creator four times in the declaration of independence. Our currency declares in god we trust. [applause] President Trump and we place our hands on our hearts as we recite the pledge of allegiance and proclaim we are one nation under god. [applause] President Trump our rights are not given to us by man. Our rights come from our creator. [applause] President Trump no matter what. No earthly force can take those rights away. [applause] President Trump that is why the words praise be to god are etched atop the Washington Monument and those same words are etched into the hearts of our people. Today, we praise god for how truly blessed we are to be american. [applause] President Trump across our land we see the splendor of gods creation. Throughout our history we see the story of gods providence. And in every city and town we see the lords grace all around us through a million acts of kindness, courage and , generosity. We love god. We see the lords grace in the Service Members who risk their lives for our freedom. We see it in the teachers who work tirelessly for their students and the police who sacrifice for our communities and sacrifice they do. [applause] President Trump and we see the lords grace in the moms and dads who work two and three jobs to give their children the chance for a better and much more prosperous and happier life. As the bible tells us, for we are gods handiwork created in jesus christ to do good works. Americas heroes rise to this calling. In their selfless deeds, they reveal the beauty and goodness of the human soul. When catastrophic hurricanes struck, First Responders and everyday citizens dove into Rushing Waters to save stranded families from danger and they saved them by the thousands. Neighbors opened their homes to those in need of food, clothes, shelter. Firefighters braved blinding smoke and flames to rescue children from devastating wildfires. During the horrific shootings, strangers shielded strangers, and Police Officers ran into a hail of bullets to save the lives of their fellow americans right in las vegas. A terrible day. A terrible night. But such bravery. Families have adopted babies, orphaned by the Opioid Epidemic and given them loving homes. Communities and churches have reached out to those struggling with addiction and showed them the path to a clean life, a good job, and a renewed sense of purpose. And soldiers, sailors, coast guardsmen, airmen and marines have spent long months away from home defending our Great American flag. [applause] President Trump all we have to do is open our eyes and look around us and we can see gods hand in the courage of our fellow citizens, we see the power of gods love at work in our souls, and the power of gods will to answer all of our prayers. When americans are able to live by their convictions to speak openly of their faith and to teach their children what is right, our families thrive. Our communities flourish, and our nation can achieve anything at all. [applause] President Trump together as americans, we are a tireless force for justice and for peace. We have witnessed this truth over the past year. For years, isis had brutally tortured and murdered christians, jews, religious minorities, and countless muslims. Today, the coalition to defeat isis has liberated almost 100 of the territory just recently held by these killers in iraq and all throughout syria. [applause] President Trump much work will always remain, but we will never rest until that job is completely done and we are really doing it like never before. [applause] President Trump we know that millions of people in iran, cuba, venezuela, north korea, and other countries suffer under repressive and brutal regimes. America stands with all people suffering oppression and religious persecution. Last week, during the state of the union, the world was inspired by the story of a north korean defector, mr. Ji seongho who is now back in souh korea. Before his escape when seongho was being tortured by north korean officials, there was one thing that kept him from losing hope. Over and over again, he recited the lords prayer. He prayed for peace and he prayed for freedom. And now as you know, seungho is free and a symbol of hope to millions of people all around the world. [applause] President Trump here with us today is another symbol of hope. A very brave 9yearold girl named sophia marie campapeters. Sophia suffers from a rare disease that has caused her to have many strokes. At one point, the doctors told sophia that she would not be able to walk. Sophia replied, if youre only going to talk about what i cant do, then i dont want to hear it. Just let me try to walk. [applause] President Trump she tried and she succeeded and one of her doctors even told her mom and theyre right here in the front row where they should be this little girl has god on her side. [applause] President Trump thank you, sophia. Thank you, mom. Great mom. I said, do you love your mom . She said, i have a great mom. I love my mom. Right . Just two weeks ago sophia needed to have a very highrisk surgery. She decided to ask the whole world to pray for her and she hoped to reach 10,000 people. On january 24, as sophia went into surgery, she far surpassed her goal. Millions and millions of people lifted sophia up in their prayers. Today we thank god that sophia is with us and shes recovering and shes walking very well. [applause] President Trump and i have to say this, sophia. You may only be 9 years old but you are already a hero to all of us in this room and all over the world. Thank you, sophia. [applause] President Trump heroes like sophia come from all across our country and from every different background. But they all share one thing in common. Through their love, their courage, their sacrifice, we glimpse the grace of almighty god. So today, inspired by our fellow citizens, let us resolve to find the best within ourselves. Let us pray for that extra measure of strength and that extra measure of devotion and let us seek to build a more just and Peaceful World where every child can grow up without violence, worship without fear, and reach their godgiven potential. As long as we are true to americas founding and the example that all of these great founders have set, we can all be heroes to everybody and they can be heroes to us. As long as we open our eyes to gods grace and open our hearts to gods love, then america will forever be the land of the free, the home of the brave, and the light onto all nations. [applause] President Trump thank you for this incredible event and to our wonderful hosts and thank you to all of our heroes for serving, protecting, and inspiring america each and every day. God bless you and god bless america. Thank you very much. Thank you. [applause] President Trump, thank you for being with us and inspiring us today. Our prayers go with you now and until we are together again next year. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you President Trump. We will ask everyone to remain in their seats until the president departs. Thank you, President Trump. [applause] please turn your attention to the side screens. Shots being fired. Victims involved. A victim down in a baseball field. A total of five down. A congressional ballgame. Police are on the scene right now. This was the gop Baseball Team and House Majority whip Steve Scalise has been shot. He was praying during those moments to see his family again. When he arrived, he was in critical condition. The shooter was taken down by a member of the security detail who had already been shot. Without these two heroes, agent bailey and agent greiner, many lives would have been lost. The significance of these injuries are considerable. It was one wound. Severe blood loss and damage to organs. The outpouring of support for steve and his family and has been inspiring. He is a fighter. It is a long recovery ahead. He is going to be ok. He is going to walk. He joined the house gop conference on the phone today. He was talking about work, getting back to work and getting things done. Love, oftpouring of warmth, of prayer means more to me than you can imagine. You have no idea how great this feels to be back here at work in the peoples house. [applause] what a terrifying day that was for all of us. I think every member of congress felt deeply connected to steve on that day. Every american did. It was an attack on one of our own brothers, on our democracy. To tell the story of what came after that day, please welcome two of our fellow members of the house of representatives, one a democrat, one a republican. Most importantly, two good friends. Congressional black caucus chairman Cedric Richmond and House Majority whip Steve Scalise. [applause] blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of god. Many people wonder how steve and i can be such great friends when we disagree on 80 of most issues. Let me clarify. We do not differ on the end goal of helping the needy and protecting our citizens and caring for our elders. We do not disagree on where we want to end up. Most times, we disagree on how but we know that we month the same thing. Even when it comes to the congressional baseball game, we want the same thing. We want to win. [applause] [laughter] win and theywe dont. [laughter] but the other thing is that our faith unites us. Our faith allows us to put purpose first. We put purpose over politics. We put purpose over profit. Because at the end of the day, we know we are here on earth to fulfill the purpose, i make this world a better place, and make this country a more perfect union. Allgree that we were created in the likeness of god. No matter what country, no matter what state, no matter what city, no matter what zip code, no matter what block. We were all made in the likeness of god. And the last thing that i dont that we agree on is what the lord requires of us, and that is to do justly, to love mercilessly, and to walk with thy god. Crossed many have times. Steve was a very conservative legislator, and i was chairman of the legislative black caucus when katrina and rita hit. And it was in those times of need and struggle where our people were the most vulnerable that they have ever been, that we forged a connection. And the connection was based song lord, dont move my mountain, but give me the ability to climb. And when you think of that song, we are asking for god to give us the ability to fix what needs to be fixed, and here in congress, we should sing that song every day. Of days, i would just go back to that day of the democrats heard the news, and we were just doing our daily baseball practice. I had my threeyearold, little cedric, their with me. Shooting, there was a at the Congressional Republican we dontpractice, and know any details yet, but we do know that people were injured. So, we came together, and then over the phone, we got the news that steve was one of the people that was hit. Called in all of our democratic Baseball Team, and the first thing we did was we got on our knees, and we prayed. Prayeded for safety, we for health, we prayed for divine intervention, and we prayed for a miracle. About politics. It was a reminder of how fragile life is. Whether it is at the hands of a gunman or family, life is precious. And then i started to think, as i think back about steves story of the good samaritan, and how the lord, not only works in mysterious ways, but will send various kinds of people to be that good samaritan. So, in steves case, it was david bailey, a young africanamerican male, and , africanriner, a gay american, but i am sure at that time, none of that mattered. What mattered was protecting lives. And so, as much as steve and i ever can be together and share a podium without joking, i wanted to the serious at this Prayer Breakfast because that is a mercy and thee strength of our god. But more importantly, the faith that we have to have in the courage that we have to have to march on. And i will tell you, when i got to the hospital, and i think i was the first member of congress at the hospital. The only thing i could think of was not steve, crazy enough. I was thinking about his wife, jennifer, and his kids madison and harrison. How do you tell them what happened . They are in new orleans getting ready to come up for a baseball game to watch their dad lose to me. [applause] [laughter] but how do you tell them something that bad happened . And as they gathered in the hospital to continue to pray, jennifer and the kids to continue to pray and work out jennifer and the kids getting here, what i knew was steves faith and love for his family, and it would take a lot more than one bullet to keep him from his family. And to make him question his faith. Up with that, let me bring so baseballend, a so player, but a great man of faith, and a great leader for our republican congress, and the majority whip of the United States congress, congressman Steve Scalise. [applause] mr. Scalise thank you all. Thank you so much, cedric, for being here and being a part of and have aand up in, little fun, but also get serious about our faith and our friendship. It is a true friendship, a deep friendship, and it goes back a long ways. Cedric and i served together in the state legislature. When katrina hit, we both represented parts of the state in new orleans. The water did not know any political boundaries. There were people in deep need, and people who were hurting and struggling to had lost everything, and we needed become together. And we needed to come together, and we did, and we stayed Close Friends ever since. I get every bottle of some other things he said about the baseball game. He failed to point out that in 2016 when i did play in the game, we actually beat cedric and his democratic colleagues. [applause] this pastor, i was unable to play this past year, i wasnt able to play, but i lost. But it will be a different day in 2018, cedric. I cannot thank you enough for being here, for being a part of this and for our friendship and our familys friendship. s lovelyand cedric wife are great friends and we do get together from time to time, and we share stories, but we also share a great bond. A lot of people are confused about that. How can ahead of the congressional black caucus, and the majority whip on the republican side be Close Friends . And i think hopefully it serves as a lesson to all that sure, we have differences, but our differences make our country great. The fact that we are able to express our faiths that may be different, and to fight for the things we believe in, and the cedric said, i believe we want to get to the same place, but sometimes we have different roads to take to get there, but we had that ability because of the way our country was founded. As all of you come together for this event, i want to thank you for being a part of this, so many World Leaders, so many people of faith. Faith leaders, all around our country, you are what hold the bond together that make this country so strong. Who would have thought that one of the hottest tickets to get in washington is a gathering of over 3000 people of faith to come together at 7 30 in the morning comes to share our belief in god . This is one of the toughest ticket to get in washington, and i really want to thank randy and charlie for keeping this great tradition going. 66 years of a national Prayer Breakfast. Thank you. Senator Clinton Langford as well. Thatis a great reminder although you hear about the political differences, you dont hear about the times we comes together we come together. Whether it is legislation for republicans and democrats do come to agreement, but also when we share our faith together in ways like we do now. And believe me, this is a nation that was not founded in agnostic views. This was a nation founded with a deep belief in god. Our Founding Fathers talked about it when they were preparing to draft the constitution. , whoct, Thomas Jefferson was the author of the constitution, if you go to the Jefferson Memorial right now, go read this inscription from Thomas Jefferson. God who gave us life, gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secured when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of god . s you cannot separate church and state. This idea that [applause] i am a catholic. We have people of all faiths. This idea that you could just check your faith at the door, people would say, when you are voting on issues, how do you separate your faith from the way you vote . Faith is part of who you are. It is part of who i am. It is a part of what establishes the value set by bring to this job, and i would hope everybody brings a set of values rooted in faith when they are making consequential decisions. That doesnt just affect the country, but affects the entire world. One of the most unique things about the United States is that we were founded in a deep belief in god, and is President Trump just said, the rights we have were not given to us by men, but given to us through men by god. The first actual right we have in the constitution through the bill of rights is the right to express our faith. And i appreciate what the president has done the fight for religious freedom. When he challenged us last year to repeal the johnson amendment. [applause] mr. Scalise and i am proud to say that we passed a successful amendment to the johnson bill last year. When you are trying to express your views, you should not be fearing intimidation by your government that you can express sure faith freely. [applause] mr. Scalise this all comes to us as part of the founding of this great nation, and so, when i was watching that video, and it is hard not to tear up because it brings back so many memories, but you know, when the shooting started, i did not even , i never saw the shooter. I did not necessarily hear the first gunshot. First practicing for our baseball game, another great tradition of congress that goes back generations where republicans and democrats get together and play a game of baseball, and fort great friendships and forge great friendships and raise about a half 1 million in local charities. When i found out after the fact, after the shooting, there was an increase interest there was an increased interest in the game. We had 25,000 people, to hington National Ballpark the 25,000 people come to washington National Ballpark. Aboutstead of raising 500,000, event raised 1. 5 million with 25,000 people there. [applause] mr. Scalise and there were so many things that were rooted in faith that natalie started that day, but carried me throughout my recovery, that i am still engaged in. Comes, andst shot you dont, i was looking in the direction, and i saw a tractor. I thought he tractor backfired, and then a second shot comes. By the third shot, i was hit and fell to the ground. When i fell to the ground, my first instinct was to start crawling to try to get away. I was crawling, and then eventually, my arms gave out. Went intoy body just a shutdown mode, i could still hear everything going on. I heard a gunfight. Detailmy Capitol Police that were there were engaging with the shooter, but i cannot see anything. And so, the first thing i thought of was to pray. I just started praying. And i said, i am going to put this in gods hands. I have always been a man of faith. I dont go around talking about it a lot, but i had a conversation with god every night. I dont just talk to him to ask him for things. I try to remember every night to thank god for the good things that happened that day, and to thank him so that if there is something i want, i am not just asking him, it should be a two way street. We should ask god for the things he delivers to us every day. He delivers for us in so many ways, and we ought to thank him for it. But i asked him for something that that point because i knew that it was bad, and i did not know how bad i was hit. And the first thing that came to mind, i have a 10yearold daughter who is daddys little girl. The first thing that came to my mind was, god, please dont let madison walk up the aisle alone. It draws a lot of emotion from me. But i just did not want to see that visual carry itself out. And then i started praying the ability to see my family again. And at that point, i am hearing gunfire backandforth. Im him hearing a different caliber i am hearing a different caliber of fire. I prayed that they would be successfully carrying out their duties. Thank for the United StatesCapitol Police, some of whom are here today. [applause] we always ought to thank Law Enforcement when we see them. Are secret service around here another Law Enforcement agents, but they quietly do their jobs to keep us safe, and usually, they do not have to engage, but this day, they did. And both were shot in the shootout, and continued to battle the gunmen. And believe me, this would have like sandye just hook or sutherland springs. It would have been a massacre, that is what the shooter set out to do. There were at least it team members of congress who would have been shot out in that dugout. If it wasnt for the u. S. Capitol police, it would have been that way, but through the grace of god, it wasnt. Believe me, god answered prayers. There were miracles that happened on that baseball field that day. Not to just save my life, but others. Just ask one of my colleagues. The first shot that was fired was maybe 30 feet from trent kelly and the gunman was looking right at him. There was a chainlink fence between trent and the gunman, and it was a direct shot and it hit a link in the chain link fence, and the bullet veered just enough to miss him. You tell me god was not on that field performing miracles . [applause] if my colleague brad from ohio was not there that day, he was playing in the outfield, but he was a combat surgeon. He served time in iraq, and one at this jobs was if somebody was injured on the battlefield, he would get them ready so that when the helicopter took them away, they could make it to the hospital. Well, i was his patient that day. To see if there were signs of life, and he said, he saw movement in my feet and arms and knew i was still alive, but he knew that the way i was hit, they could have been really bad. As soon as the shooter went men, brad made a beeline to and applied a turn a kit. I lost almost all of my blackberry somehow miraculously i lost almost all of my blood, and somehow miraculously, made it through. [applause] mr. Scalise cedric figured what hospital i was at and was the first one there in his baseball uniform. They initially took me to George Washington, and they did not have a pad there, so they were driving me in ambulance fighting virginia traffic and they were not moving very fast. One of the emts saw a helicopter. One of the park police, park that theyicopter have, senate helicopter, and he took a gamble and said, i think that helicopters coming for steve. We are not going to make it to George Washington. To go to the turns baseball field and sure enough, the helicopter landed on the baseball field. They transported me, and four minutes later, i am in the hospital with a ultimately saved my life. I would not have made it to George Washington if it wasnt for that helicopter. [applause] mr. Scalise so jennifer and i referred to those is a little miracles. True miracles that happened along the way. And then Something Else happened. And as i was in the hospital fighting for my life for the first few hours, by the time jennifer got to the hospital, cedric was there, President Trump and maloney a cane to the hospital and melani came to the hospital and provided comfort to her as well and she did not know if i was going to make it through, and by the grace of god, i did. Surgeries, a lot of blood transfusions, so many people prayed. So many of you prayed for me, and i cannot thank you enough for those prayers because many of you i know. Many of you in this room i serve with and no through other means, but a lot of you i dont know and of never met, but you prayed for me, too. Let me just share with you. You do it all the time, you are faith leaders, my friend has cancer, can you pray for them . When you prefer somebody you dont know, they feel it. I felt that prayer. The prayers of so many people i had never met before. It wasnt just the prayer groups from my local church, but colleagues from other states saying, i was in a Shopping Center and someone came up to me and said, how was a congressman who was shot . We are praying for them. Thank you for those prayers. They are felt. They truly lifted me up and lifted my family up through an incredibly difficult time. As you continue to pray for my recovery, i appreciate it. I am happy to say david bailey is back on our team and the Capitol Police detail. [applause] and crystal is still working through her recovery, so please keep crystal in your prayers because there is going to be a day when she comes back and is able to serve again. So i appreciate all the prayers that you give to all of us who are recovering, and continue to fight through this. Is incredibly uplifting as well because as much as some people want to focus on the negative, i never had the opportunity to do that because i was overwhelmed with all of the outpouring of love and support and prayers from so many people. And so, i got to see the good in people. I got to see what is great about this country. It is easy to harp on the negative things that happened to us every day, and each of us have struggles in our life, but you know what . If you just tune that out, and you look around at all of the wonderful things that god presents to us, he is sending a signals everyday. He is sending of science, and their baby bad signs he is sending us signs, and they may be bad signs but i have had so many good things happen to me. It is because of the deep faith in god. As i close, i want to share something that i someone i was able to return. It was such a wonderful feeling to be able to return to work. I spent over 15 weeks in the hospital battling, to be able to come back to the house chamber, under those words that are inscribed in god we trust, we pray every morning in the house and the senate when we open up for business. We actually say prayers and in god we trust is above on the roster. When i went home for the first time and it was at my church for the first time, during the sermon, i started flipping through the methyl let, and there is a different scripture. I flipped back to june 14, and i wanted to read the scripture of that day. And i got goosebumps when i read the scripture for june 14. I want to read it to you. Alm 24. S the lord is the stronghold of my life. Whom should i dread . When those who do evil draw near, they stumble and fall. The man who meant to do evil stumbled and fell through the grace of god. That was the scripture on june 14. I still get goosebumps to this day when i read it. That is what we put on our christmas card. God is good and god is great, and god has blessed this great nation, not only to bring together so many great leaders that are here today, but every single day, the fact that no matter where you are in the world, if you believe in freedom, if you believe in the ability to express your religious faith, that be can above the capital beacon above the capital, tells everyone around the world that the United States is the place that stands up for those religious freedoms that we all hold so dear because we are a nation that was founded under god. So, thank all of you for being here, and may god continue to bless this United States of america. [applause] what an incredible morning. One powerful story of redemption after the other. And each one, a glimpse of gods grace in our lives and a reminder that the author of all stories is not done when our stories are in the middle of a broken chapter. How many of you believe that gods plan for each one of our stories is to be victorious, a come back story . Are you thankful for that this morning . [applause] shaking your head in disgrace, and i can read the disappointment, it is written all over your face. It comes as a whisper in my ear. Saying, who do you think you are . Looks like you are on your own from here. Grace can never reach that far. But in the shadow of that shame, deep down beyond the blame, i can hear you call my name, saying it is not over in my heart, stop the beat so loud now, drowning out the doubt, i might be down, but i am not out. Betweenthere is no line , and they are fighting for a sacred space, but i am living proof that down, i amlying , singing in victory hallelujah, grace every time. Words cannot describe the way it loves the soul. All the broken in size begin to heal. And grace returns. In the shadow of that shame, deep down beyond the blame, i can see you, name, saying it is not over in my heart, stop the beat so loud, drowning out the doubt, i might be down, but i am not out, is a war between the guilt and green, fighting for a sacred space. Graceam living proof that wins every time. Down, i am rising , singingtory hallelujah, grace has been returned. For the prodigals son, grace wins. At the woman for the woman, grace wins. For the blind man of the beggars, grace wins. For always and forever, grace unknowns. Grace wins for the words you and me, grace wins. For the people on the cross, wins. ,or the world that is lost there is no war between guilty guilt and grace, and they are fighting for a sacred space, but we are living proof that grace wins every time. Hey, hey, hey. , we areore lying down rising up and victory, singing hallelujah, grace wins every time. I believe, every single time. Yes. We are all just living proof t grace wins every time amen. Thank you. [applause] let us pray. Father, we continue to thank you for this day. Lord, this is a day that you have made, and we shall continue to rejoice and be glad in it. Father, we thank you for the privilege of being able to call on your name. For youryou, father, love and protection, for the president , for his family. For thed, we thank you seed of life, and we pray that , andontinue to restore continue to strengthen his family. We rank you for cedric and his family we thank you percent of and his family and the precious gift of friendship, and we ask you that you will continue to bless major smiley and his wife tiffany as they stand on your word, which is for do all thingsan through christ who gives me strength. Fromlord, as we depart this place, we know that we will not depart from your grace. Is sufficient for any obstacle, any barrier that may try to stand between you and us. Father, we pray that you will continue to strengthen the tie that binds our hearts together as a nation, and binds our heart together to our friends and allies around the world. Prayer in pray this the name of the only one who can keep us from falling. Thank you, lord. Amen. [applause] sunday on cspans q a, New York TimesStaff Photographer doug mills talks about the photos he took while covering President Trump. He enjoys having us around, i really believe, despite his constant, you know, comments about fake news in the media and so forth, i really, really feel like he enjoys having us around because it helps drive his