God bless the usa to the heroes of tennessee President Trump two great gentlemen thank you very much. Please sit down. [cheers and applause] President Trump thank you very much. And i want to thank the trump thank you very much. And i want to thank the representative, somebody with a future. I do not know if i would trade him the future for the age, i the age, i would love to pick up that age. I was a good age but he has a tremendous future ahead of him and a very special thanks to matthew charles. I saw him on television the first time, when he had so much difficulty trying to get something that he was really entitled to, and i looked at that smile. That smile is infectious. He is a great gentlemen and we are very proud of him. I am very proud of being involved in criminal Justice Reform and getting it done, getting it passed, and we had a lot of votes that normally would not have gone that way. They were pushing me, some of them, at the end. We have some of the folks here, tim scott, lindsay, they are here, i will introduce them in a while. But we had tremendous help. This was a bipartisan bill. We had a lot of support from both sides and people that you would have least suspected really helped us a lot, so they have been trying to get this passed for many, many years. To everyone at the 2020 Bipartisan Justice Center, it is my great privilege to speak with you today and my true honor to receive the bipartisan justice award. I am very, very grateful for that, and it will be at a very high level in the oval office, a place called the oval office. Have you heard of that . It will be right in the oval office with me. I am very proud of it. Thank you. I also want to thank everyone from one of our nations incredible hbcus. I have been working with them we know benedict college. [cheers and applause] President Trump and a very dynamic president , dr. Rosslyn park woos artists. Where are you . The outstanding students who are joining us. You are outstanding and you have a tremendous future, thank you. Thank you all, thank you. [applause] President Trump we are thrilled to be on your campus and celebrate all we have achieved together, to discuss the actions we are taking to build the future of safety and opportunity and fairness for all americans. Four years ago, 20 africanamerican republicans and 20 africanamerican democrats founded the 2020 Bipartisan Justice Center to advance the reform, and i heard about it for so long and it was going nowhere, nowhere. But they all got together and you fought to fix a broken system. You sought to confront inequality and stop injustice, and you worked to restore hope and optimism where they really are needed the most, and where there was really little. With your help, last year we brought the whole country together to achieve a truly momentous milestone. They said it could not be done. Past administrations have tried and failed. Some did not try very hard, i will say that. But they tried and they failed. After years of waiting, we assembled a Historic Coalition and it was indeed historic. We had them so liberal you would not believe it and so conservative you would not believe it, and they got together. I said, how did we do that one . But it was a beautiful thing to watch, it really was. We rallied activist, faith leaders, Law Enforcement, and legislators alike. After a lot of effort, we passed the bill and i probably signed it into law, the most significant criminal Justice Reform in many generations. We call it the First Step Act. I like the idea of calling it criminal Justice Reform. But first step is good, because that allows a second step and a third step and that is ok, because we can go there too. [applause] President Trump but the First Step Act proves that we can achieve amazing breakthroughs when we come together as a nation and we put the interests of our citizens before the interests of any political party. Since we passed this landmark legislation, 10 states have followed our lead and passed legislation that takes critical steps to advance criminal Justice Reform at the state level. We gave it a beautiful steppingstone and some states have taken it to a level you would be very proud of, and it is only because of what we did that they were able to do it legally and in many other ways. So i want to say congratulations to all of the leaders here today from arizona, florida, louisiana, mississippi, missouri, michigan, nevada, oklahoma, oregon, and tennessee. Congratulations. Great job. Really great job. [applause] President Trump we are also grateful to all of the mayors, city council members, and state legislators who are fighting for reform in their own communities. I especially want to thank the South Carolina leaders, and i have their names written down there are so many of them. I will do this before you, henry. Is that ok . I want to introduce our great governor they love henry. [applause] President Trump they might like peggy more, but that is ok. We will do this first. State senator they have helped so much and harvey peeler. Where are you, harvey . [applause] President Trump gerald malloy, thank you very much. Thank you. [applause] President Trump state senator katrina healy, thank you so much President Trump state senator katrina healy, thank you so much. Thank you. House members, speaker j lucas. Jay . President trump thank you, jay. State leader gary simril. Celeste davis, chris murphy, robbie bobby croo ks, alex clemens i am glad you are able to be here and i left some out and they will probably never speak to me again, but that is ok. I have some names written down and they worked so hard, they had to be mentioned. They have been tremendous supporters of all of us. So all of you, thank you so much for being here. Thank you. [applause] President Trump with us this afternoon is a very special friend of mine. He was with me from day one, before it was fashionable. [laughter] President Trump and he picked a winner, like going to a horse race, isnt it . He picked a winner, but he had good feelings and he was a tremendously loyal friend and a great governor and has become more and more popular. I never want to see his Approval Rating go above mine, otherwise we will have to come in and give him one slightly negative speech about henry mcmaster. Thank you, henry. [cheers and applause] President Trump and also please peggy mcmaster, first lady. Congratulations on a job well done. Thank you. She has been by his side, i will tell you. Thank you very much, both. Lieutenant governor pamela evette, thank you so much. [applause] President Trump alan wilson is here someplace. Alan . Thank you, alan. [applause] President Trump thank you very much. Two friends of mine that are warriors, two very great people, you have them both. Senators and they fight, and lindsay said we are up to 50 already i have not even made a phone call already. 50 out of 53. They said, you get to 40 and that is pretty good, but we are up to 50. Lindsay said we are up to 50, did you hear that . Tim said it was going to happen. Two really great men they love your state and they love the people of this country, they love this country. Lindsey graham and tim scott. [applause] President Trump thank you, fellas. Thank you. All i can say is thank goodness they are on my side. Because if they werent, i would have big trouble, right . They are warriors. They have done so many things, tax cuts and all the things we have done for our military and choice, military choice. They were right in there, tim and lindsay. You never let the people down. Great job. [applause] President Trump and representative ralph norman, i want to just mention he has been a friend of mine, he has been a warrior. [applause] President Trump very popular guy. But we learned a lot, because ralph had one election he was so far ahead that people said hey, lets not vote. He is going to win too easily. That can never happen again, because he won, but it was closer than we thought. We only have to pretend that we are one point behind, right . He is a fantastic man and he has been incredible and he really is a popular person in South Carolina. Joe wilson, joe . Thank you, joe. [applause] President Trump joe is an incredible guy, been with us since day one, right, joe . He loves his state and he loves our country. Thank you, joe. Great job, i appreciate it. Columbia mayor steve benson steve, thank you very much. [applause] President Trump steve, thank you. Thank you, steve, great job. And my friends pastor Darrell Stott and kareem lanier. Where is Darrell Scott . Talk about a warrior, this guy was defending me on cnn. Low ratings cnn. [laughter] President Trump and he was brutal. He is a pastor, he is a man of the cloth, and boy, can he go at it. You have that little dichotomy, but it never let it bother him in what he has done in defending us, i will never forget it. Darrell scott has been incredible. When i saw him on television, i thought, we have to find out who that man is. He is fantastic. Thank you, darrell. [applause] President Trump and he is a very young guy how many years have you been married to your great wife . [inaudible] President Trump he says he is having their anniversary. He has an incredible wife. How many years . 38 years. You got to be kidding. Thats incredible. We are also joined by several outstanding members of my administration, people who have really made a difference. Secretary of h. U. D. Ben carson. [applause] President Trump a man that has had more impact on investment in various cities and inner cities and people that really need help, incredible. Inspirational man, an unbelievable athlete, and somebody that has done a job that we cant even believe what a great job he has done. Because opportunity you know, i do not know if you see what is happening with opportunity zones. I do not think there has ever been anything like it, and i have to give tim scott a lot of credit for that, maybe all of it. [applause] President Trump i talk about tim scott but they are not that familiar, but yeah. Senator from South Carolina. I could be in other parts of the country and tim scott why did you mention tim scott . Why didnt you take more credit . Because honestly, it was his idea, we got it done together. Tim, i do not think we could have picked a better person than scott turner to make this vision come true. It is the hottest thing there is. I do not think there has been anything like it. [applause] President Trump fantastic job, what a job. Jonathan holifield, who is with me, and j ron smith, who is with me, i want to thank him as well. Where is j. Ron . There he is. He doesnt want credit. He usually stays back there i want you to be right where you should be, but what a job you guys have done. Thank you. A very special thanks to someone who worked tirelessly to get this law passed a very special thanks to someone who worked tirelessly to get this law passed. And i took lindsay aside and i said, he could be a liberal. Jared kushner. He could be a liberal. [cheers and applause] President Trump he wanted to get that through. He came to me, i said, jared, ok. Just dont ever come again, please. Just leave it alone. [laughter] President Trump we got it right, didnt we, jared . We got a couple of folks who understood what we were doing and they were incredible. It has worked out. It has been a while and it has really worked out. Weve had tremendous support and a lot of people are very happy. I want to extend my warmest condolences to the friends and family of Elijah Cummings, who are celebrating his life today in baltimore not long ago i met with elijah in the oval office and i saw the passion he had with me for lowering Prescription Drug prices. He had a very strong passion for that. We are going to get it done. We are absolutely getting it done, but i was with elijah and i have rarely seen anybody want to do Something Like that, and we are going to have that done. Prices are coming down. The first year in over 50 years where they have actually come down, and if we can get support from the other side, we will get those prices so far lower than they are right now you would not even believe it. I think people would be very surprised. I want to give my warmest respects, please. [applause] President Trump every africanamerican leader here today we have a lot of great leaders from all parts of our country is very proud of a noble heritage. Throughout our history, africanamericans have strengthened, uplifted, sustained, defended, and inspired the United States of america. At the founding of our republic, africanamerican heroes gave their lives for the cause of independence. In the next century, leaders like sojourner truth, Frederick Douglass escaped the evils of slavery and fought for the ideals enshrined in the declaration of independence that we are all created equal, and that our rights come from god. [cheers and applause] President Trump its true. In the 20th century, africanamerican churches, civic organizations, and hbcus like this one, this great one that we have right here, it is a beauty. It is a nice auditorium to, i have to say. Go to a lot of places, it is one of the nicer ones. Do you mind if we come back . [laughter] President Trump you helped lead the righteous struggle to secure civil rights. Africanamericans have given their blood, sweat and tears for this nation. You are entitled to a government that protects your families, your jobs, your safety, your family, and always puts american citizens first. So true. So true. [applause] President Trump from the beginning, my vow has been to stand up for those who have been forgotten, neglected, overlooked and ignored, and we stand up loudly and clearly in our nations capitol. My goal has been to give a voice voiceless and to make those to see those who have been made to feel silent and invisible. Well, criminal Justice Reform was not a theme of my campaign initially. When i came into office, i heard from countless leaders and listened to many diverse points of view, including to our great Church Leaders and religious leaders. Everyone from governors to Law Enforcement officers, faithbased ministries, they all came to see me, ask me, to fight on behalf of this forgotten community. I knew criminal Justice Reform was not about politics to this day i am not sure that what i did was a popular thing or an unpopular thing, but i know it was the right thing to do. [applause] President Trump thank you. Last year, Kim Kardashian west and kanye west, they came to see me, really good people. They really are. They told me the story of a woman named alice judson. Alice had already served 22 years for a firsttime nonviolent drug offense, and she was going to be in prison for, it looked like at least another 28 years. Thats her whole life. During her time in prison, alice became a minister and mentored fellow inmates. An incredible woman. She took responsibility for her actions, but her sentence was simply not proportionate to her crime. That is why i commuted alices sentence, and i will never forget the scene. She came out of prison and there were her children, all grown up. Big strong guys, beautiful, really beautiful, incredible women with such love in their hearts. They embraced and they kissed and they hugged and they cried, outside of this big, monstrous prison. It was a scene that played all ver our country and it was a scene i dont think anybody has any idea, the impact of what had on a lot of people that dont maybe think like we do. Had an incredible impact. See. As a beautiful thing to there was so much love. That was true love and a truly appy family and that was something they never expected, 28 more years. Knew in that moment that i made the right decision, and were all delighted that alice us, shes been such an representative. Sometime ill sit her down and ask what is it that do you . Explain to it me, alice, because i would like to have a little bit of what you have, but been. As shes got an incredible warmth really is a nd she very special person. Ive gotten to know her. Alice, please come up and say a few word. Alice, thank you chlt [applause] [applause. [applause] i never, in my wildest dreams would have thought that i would be standing before such a group as this. What an honor. Being incarcerated, separated for my family for 22 years, almost 22 years, was one of the hardest challenges of my life. When one person goes to prison, it impacts not only that person but their family, their community, their society, for generations we are impacted. Criminal Justice Reform is not a partisan issue. We are human beings. Here, see theface faces of the ones you will never see unless we come together, unless we come together to act, to cause other families to be reunited, the way i was reunited with my family. It was only by the grace of god that our president s heart was touched by my story and signed papers to commute my sentence. [applause] and i want to thank all of you for the warm reception i have received since i came home. I think that my story touched so many that heard about it. Who read about it. Were just regular people. When i came home, i didnt come home as an exfelon. I came home as a returning citizen. [applause] want to say thank you again for all the work thats been done. Legislators f our who have come together and put aside all of their political to work on this ery important issue because this truly has become a movement and it is one that we as returning citizens would not allow you to forget. Those who have been left behind. Thank you. President trump thank you. Proud of you. [applause] thank you, alice. Alices story not only touched my heart, but showed me that significant disparities and injustices can exist in the criminal Justice System. I actually went to alice and said, you were in a prison for 22 years, you got to know a lot of people in that prison. How many were people like you, people that were there for so many years for something that really is time to come out, because i want their names. She knows the ones we are talking about, some great people are there. So we are going to work on that. Going to give me a big list. We are going to do some good things. Thank you, alice, great job. The more people i spoke with, the more clear it became that the system could be deeply unfair, contributing to a tragic cycle of poverty and crime and incarceration. The First Step Act made transformative changes. We rolled back the unjust provisions of the 1994 clinton crime law. [applause] which disproportionately harmed to the africanamerican community. Here with us today is one of the americans who changed her life recently released under the First Step Act. Please come up and tell us your story. [applause] [applause] as the president of the United States said, my name is tanisha bannister. After after 16 1 2 years under the First Step Act, and it was ecause of that act that i was able to reunite with my family. Im joined by my son, he somewhere in the crowd he is somewhere in the crowd. I want to thank all the political leaders and organizations who helped push this act. That zations like cut 50 led this about to free not only just me but thousands of others. I want to thank all of the political leaders that crossed party lines and stepped out of their comfort zone to make this happen. So many like myself have been displaced by the criminal Justice System for so long. Im stand here today because of the First Step Act we are able to move towards the second step. I want to think the president for giving me another lease on life. [applause] if it wasnt for you i would still be serving five years in prison. [applause] and ill be forever grateful for that. I just want society to know this is one bright spot we can stand on, there is not an issue that has to be forgotten about. Its one that has been focused on by not just the political leaders but the organizations aat fight when we didnt have voice to be heard. I just wanted to say thank you. I want to say that in order to take the first step you have to be willing to do things you are not comfortable with. You have to be willing to have conversations you are not willing to have. For decades the criminal justice conversation has been a hard conversation to have, almost nonexistent. It was all about the political leaders, thinking who can be tough on crime, who can be up the most and throw away the key. Can dehumanize. Today standing here saying this is what a Second Chance looks like. [applause] im determined not to let my past define my future. But to continue to move forward day by day, step by step, and not forget about the ones that were left behind. There is still work to do. What i can say is on this day, a change has been made and we are looking forward to things to come. Thank you, mr. President , thank you for having me, thank you all the political leaders and organizations. It helped to rehabilitate us, helped us integrate back into society and live a comfortable life. I just want to say thank you, again. [applause] when is she mp running for office, please . I want to back her. We have to back her, right . That was not a written speech, folks. That was delivered from the heart. That was incredible. Do you mind if i take a couple of lines you just gave and use them in my future speeches . I want you to give me some recommendations of people you lived with for many years, you know of good people that are in there for a long period of time, i want you to give me a list of names. Give me the right ones. A couple of bad ones in there too, but give me the right ones, the two of you. You know some great people that are going to be there for many years and you are going to give me some names. Incredible, thank you both. [applause] to ease former inmates return to ociety the single most important action we can take is to help them find a good job. As a result of our tax cuts, our regulatory cuts and proamerican america re putting first and i think everyone likes that very much. The energy reforms, the economy is booming. Nothing better for former prisoners that are coming home to look for a job when there is very low employment. Thats what we have right now. This, the tight labor market, employers are now who have americans far on the sidelines for too long, including those with criminal records. They come out and they are being hired. I have had many people tell me that people doing the hiring say these people are unbelievable. They are being helped by the trump economy, a great economy. And perhaps our economy is the best criminal Justice Reform of all. When people can get a job, earn a paycheck, and find purpose in their work, especially when they are coming out of prison, its an incredible thing. And we are setting records. When they come out they arent in many cases. Statistically, much, much better. Thats because they get a job it. They like they love it. Before they were never getting that job and bad things were happening. For years applicants with were dismissed out of hand. Just automatically, nope, were not interested. Even if they were qualified, and even if you thought they were reformed, they couldnt get work. Administration is working to remove barriers to reentry and encourage Second Chance hiring. When we say high an american, we say all americans, every single american. Instead of hiring lowwage labor overseas, we are asking companies to hire american citizens, including american prisoners who have been reformed. Our society is stronger when everyone can contribute and participate in our National Revival. We have a National Revival going on like you havent seen in a long time. Our two great senators have been so helpful, cant even tell you how helpful. Here with us today is jerome brown, who served 11 years in master nd now is a barber. Hairood, now i can have my properly cut. Do you have any scissors on you by any chance . Get a good hair cut. Criticized for a long time. Now he has more than 500 clients. I would love for you to come up and say a few words, but more out my hair heck and see what you can do for me. [laughter] [applause] first, i would like to say thank you to the president for giving everybody a chance. A lot of times people are in prison and you dont really know their goals or what they want in life unless they have a chance. I was fortunate when i walked through the doors, i had a goal in mind. My goal was to educate myself to read and to help my entire years. During that time i made curriculums, i started a program called criminal and addictive thinking. I had barber classes. I was mentoring guys who could not read or write. Helping them helped me. It couldnt have been done support from my wife. The staff. Now that im looking at the First Step Act the president is giving a lot of men and women support again, because without support they dont have the incentive to do positive things in their life and make a change. Thank you very much. President trump thank you very much. Mra[applause] my goal now is to mentor people as much as i can. I try to show them the right way not to give up, because a lot of people give up easily and they think that is the easy way out. One quick example, when i was in prison i had to renew my barbers license. For five years straight new york state denied me because of moral turpitude. Because of my conviction. Every year i said i dont care, im good to spend 40 every year. If they deny me ill do it every year until i get out. Eventually they approved it and i had letters from staff and everybody and they gave me support. You can never give up. The support from the First Step Act is going to help a lot of men. A lot of good men left and women. My motto is to help one person in any way. To help secure the future everywhere. Thank you chlt [applause] President Trump thank you. Incredible job. On criminal Justice Reform, trade and the economy, our first expandingfocussing on for every race, color and creed. Politicians of both parties put their interests ahead of your interest and the interest of foreign nations ahead of the interests of our nation. Our leaders spend eight trillion dollars on wars in the middle east, but they allowed our great cities to fall into tragic decay and disrepair. For the cost of one year of war in the middle east, we could have given scholarships to every child and every Innercity School in america and have tremendous numbers of dollars left over. Politicians drain americas wealth, while leaving generations of africanamerican children trapped in failing schools and failing inner cities. The same washington establishment enacted trade policies that shut off factories and shipped our jobs far away to other countries. Half a million americans lost good paying manufacturing jobs after the twin disasters of nafta and chinas entrance into the world trade organization. That was a bad day. At the same time lawmakers and corporations join forces to push immigration policies that hurt workingclass americans of all backgrounds. Many politicians fight harder in congress for Illegal Immigrants than they do for United States citizens. [applause] my administration will always put American Communities first on issue after issue, while rake in cash from special interests, while selling and ournations workers nations great families. Under this administration, the great betrayal of the American Worker is over. [applause] of ident trump after years rebuilding Foreign Countries we are finally rebuilding our country, renewing our cities and securing our neighborhoods and protecting our own forgotten communities. Life, thats right make america great. Ouldnt have said it better than you did. Thank you. Life i have been committed to advancing fair opportunity for the africanamerican community. Im here before you with empty political rhetoric. We are doing the opposite, we are acting, not talking. Talked. Have [applause] President Trump they have talked. Lot and got ked a nothing done. We are talking about for a century, for over a 100 years it has been talk it has been all talk by certain politicians. Jim scott and Lindsey Graham have done more in the past few years than some of our i hate to call them opponents, but thats what they are. They have done more than they have in 100 years. Im here to report on real actions we have taken, real promises we have kept and real results we have delivered. Since the election, the unemployment rates for africanamerican, hispanic americans, asian americans, have achieved alltime historic, in the history of our country, lows. Today we have people working at a level and a number in the history of our country we have never had so many people working before. Almost 160 million people. Africanamerican youth unemployment, so important. A number that three years ago when i was running, it was through the roof. It reached the lowest rate ever recorded. Youth unemployment. Africanamerican poverty rate has reached its lowest level ever recorded in the history of our country. So when im up on the debate stage with one of these characters, whoever it may be, and i rattle off a couple of those stats, i dont know how they are going to beat me, they are going to have to be awfully good. They are going to have to be awfully good. More than 2 million americans have been raised out of poverty. The first time on record, most new hires of prime working age are minorities and women. Thats the first time in the history of our country. Minorities and women. Wages are rising fast and they are rising twice as fast for the lowest income workers than they are for the high wage earners, proportionately they are doing the best of all. The best year for women unemployment in 71 years. Soon it will be historic. Thats a good number. A recent analysis found middleclass income has risen by five thousand dollars, but add to that, its median household income, add to that 2000 from the tax cuts and 2000 from energy. When you look at other countries, we have become the number one producer anywhere in the world by far. That would be 9,000 per household median income. Think of the household median income. Nobody has ever come close. If you look at the bush eight years, it is 400. You look at the obama, eight it is less than 1,000. With us it is 9,000. Think of that. And thats for 2. 5 years. Its even better now. We are almost up to three. I dont know if you folks know that. Of that statistic. 400 for eight years. 975 for eight years. 9,000 for 2. 5 years. [applause] [chanting four more years] President Trump thank you. That just came out no poll. They say a windy election, practically there are three different forms of wind. They have been right every year. You know except one. The last year. They were wrong about 2016. Thats ok with me. If they were going to get one wrong, thats the one we wanted them to get wrong. If i would have said that on the campaign trail people would have said you have to be kidding. Hes not telling the truth, ladies and gentlemen. Well it turns out that was far more than we even have anticipated. More than 360 companies have committed to providing over 14 million training jobs and Career Opportunities for the American Worker. My daughter ivanka work so hard on that. She came to me at the beginning of the administration and said i want to help people get jobs, but they have to be trained. She is a great person, but they have to be trained. She just did 14 million. 14 million jobs. Incredible, its one of the reasons i think our employment numbers are so good. I hope you will judge my administration based on the tremendous amount that we have achieved, not talking but achieving. Its really something. And the support you have given is incredible. We have made our nation stronger than ever before. Im here to tell you we are just Getting Started. We are just Getting Started for the africanamerican community, please remember that. I say this with great confidence, the best is yet to come. [applause] thank you. Four more years. Four more years. Four more years. President trump thank you very much. Dont say 16 more years, because that will drive them crazy. One of these characters said, hes going to win. Going to fight. Hes going to win and then hes never getting out and hell be four and then r another four. When we say four more years, say 16 more years, it drives them crazy, and we like doing that. As we make tremendous strides to deliver great economic promise to our citizens, we will never let up on our efforts to ensure that our Justice System is fair for every single american. I have my own experience, you see whats going on with the witch hunt, a terrible thing going on in our country. Its an investigation in search of a crime. It has been going on for longer than i have been in office. Happened before i got here. The insurance policy, the great lovers. The two great lovers. They talked about the insurance policy. Shes going to win, just in case she doesnt we have an insurance policy, that was long before deal. R and that whole we had 18 democrats that hated trump looking up at me. I think i could do that with almost everyone in the room. Thats why they are senators, they are so clean. In america you are innocent until proven guilty, and we dont have investigations in search of that crime, its a terrible thing. It hurts people very badly. It divides the country. Surrounding innocent people, and e being destroyed humiliated. We have so many people that have been hurt, destroyed and humiliated in ways we have never seen before in the history of our country. We are working to put an end to horrible injustice and horrible practices. Its in some pretty high places. Justice, fairness, and due process are tenants of our democracy. These are timeless principles that i will faithfully uphold, these principles. Principles democrats have historically stood for in the past. They would never allow this to happen. Ill tell you, tim scott made the finest statement yesterday, he said the president is innocent, forget about due process, he is innocent. I wont forget that statement. [applause] we have to remember it, big it more and say more in my speeches, honest abe was something pretty special. Abraham lincoln was a republican. A president revered for what he did to preserve our nation and to abolish slavery. I think we have to start bringing that up a little bit. People forget that. We are committed to upholding his legacy and the sacred principle that all people are entitled to live in freedom and dignity. Im talking about lincoln more and more because the democratic policies have left africanamericans down and taken them for granted. They have taken africanAmerican Communities for granted and i promise you republicans will never do that, we will keep fighting for you. We are really having an impact, and you are having an impact on elections now. They have taken advantage. I will always fight against abuses of power from any source and always champion the right to due process, the right to a fair trial, to good legal representation for every american, regardless of race, background, position, its a big thing, legal representation. A lot of people get into a lot of trouble because they have the wrong representation. This is my promise to each and every one of you. Im hearing more and more africanamericans are supporting our policy agenda because they are seeing the results we are delivering. [applause] during the campaign i read a long list of things. Regular speech, long list, highest crime rate. Worst housing situation, lived in the worst areas, everything was bad, worst education. 10 things over and over and over highest rate of incarceration. I said to myself, vote for me, what the hell do you have to lose . I said it. Hell do you have to lose . I said it. I hate to say this to you, my poll numbers went rocketship, okay . My people said, i dont know if that was good to say. Said looks its the truth. What the hell do you have to lose . Sometimes i would take the word hell out. The fake news would say he used a horrible word. Look what we have done in less than three years. Looked at the progress. Everything is historic, meaning its never happened in the of our country, what we have done. Were very proud of it. Incredible, talented, smart, wonderful, warm group of people. I have so many friends, they are great, and i am so honored. Erome, im putting you in the same category as these two incredible women. People youve e been with me for a period of time, youre going to give me some names, jerome. It is a tremendous thing we can do. Its called the power of the white house. We can do incredible things and we want to only do the right things. These are three unbelievable representatives. There are so many more out there that we dont know about. We want to find out who they are so we can help them out. Gerrit, i will put you in charge of the project. That something he would like to do very much. So as part of our agenda to lift up forgotten american, we are investing in distressed communities under the crucial provision, a very important provision, about new tax law americas governors have designated nearly 9000 communities as the opportunity zones we just discussed, including this very neighborhood surrounding benedict college. And you see what is happening even around the college to bring back prosperity. We slashed taxes on new investment in people are investing in these areas they never would have been investing here. In some cases, they are rich come in some cases not so rich, but the money is flowing into your community. 9000 different places and i directed every member of my cabinet support opportunity zones in every possible way. Leading these efforts are secretary ben carson, along with executive director of the white house opportunity to Mick Mulvaney is here someplace. A lot of people are here and have done an incredible job for this community and for the country. Within my first weeks in office, i signed an executive order to support historically black colleges and universities by moving federal hbc you initiatives to the white house where it belongs. Years, we hadtwo increased federal funding for hcbus by a record 13 . Check out the last administration. What they do for you . Not much. Check it out. I dont want to get into this but i want you to check it out. My administration will always treasure and protect hcbus. It is very important. Of this institution reminds us all however in american leaders have helped what is just for m a noble, right, and true just, noble, right, and true. Your first classes took place in a former vacation mansion. In the 1930s, students rated and one of the first Civil Rights Campaign in South Carolina from the halls of this campus came american pastors and poets from advocates and athletes of innovators and entrepreneurs. And their courage, their vision, determination and grace, they lifted up the site of our nation and called america to greatness. They have done an incredible job and this is an incredibly incredible an institution. The extraordinary legacy of generations of African American theiots shows us that heart, spirit, and soul of our nation is always found very you are the source of americas people. Found in our you are the source of americas strength and the author of americas future. After decades of bitter disappointment and the trail from washington, you have had the most bitter disappointments. Is making aation decisive break with the failures of the past. Taking on the entrenched interests and corrupt power structures and the rated system of the old status quo. We are putting this nation on a better path to you for our families and the great citizens. We are keeping our promises and solving problems, writing wrong wrongs and combating injustices whenever and wherever we find them. Through them, we honor our allegiance to the hardworking men and women who sweat and sacrifice, make our country run. Together, we will reaffirm the sacred bonds of loyalty and love that unite us as citizens, and american. Freedom,fending justice, and equality for every man, woman, and child all across our nation. Bring fighting to opportunity, dignity, and hope to every block, every , every city and town all throughout this magnificent land. Above all that we are putting our faith in the greatness of our people. The grace of our god and the glorious power of redemption. Thank you, god bless you, and god bless america. Thank you very much cspans washington journal live every day with news and policy issues that impact you. Coming up this morning, thea lee and Joel Griffith will join us to talk about the economy and the impact on the complete 20 election and the founder of will trust, namira salim be on to discuss the role of commercial companies in private and public spaceflight efforts. Join the discussion. Next, the Funeral Services for maryland congressman Elijah Cummings who died last week. The 13 term congressman was celebrated at the Baptist Church in baltimore. We will show you the eulogies which included former president s clinton and obama. [background sounds] i knew this day would come kweise mfume i knew this day would come but i never thought it would be so soon. My dad and i had a special bond one that spanned the 37 years and the 37 years of his life of public service. Our connection was and remains one of heart, and spirit and
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