Transcripts For CSPAN3 Wyoming State Of The State 20240713 :

Address from wyoming governor mark gordon. Hes a first term governor who was elected in 2018 after serving six years as the state tressurer. From the state capital in cheyenne, this is just under an hour. [ applause ] thank you. Its amazing to be here. Thank you so much. [ applause ] oh, my gosh. Thank you. Thank you for that prayer. Thank you for being here. Thanks so much. Take a good seat. This is only three and a half hours. [ laughter ] oh, thank you. President perkins, speaker parchmen and members. Legislature, thank you for your welcome. To the people of wyoming here and those watching at home, good morning. And i also want to welcome secretary of state ed buchanan, auditor christie resines, treasureur kurt meyer and superintendent daily. [ applause ] together we have addressed many tough issues this year, all with workable solutions, even the most challenging of some of the votes facing our faith, communities large and small, and i thank you for your work. We are honored this morning with the presence of Supreme Court chief justice davis. And justices couch, spock, bloom garden and gray. Thank you for your wise consideration of perplexing issues, your appropriate application of the law. [ applause ] and im really pleased to have lee spoon hunter, chairman of the Northern Arapaho Business Council with us today. Unfortunately travel conditions prevented karen snider from being here. I would like you to join me in welcoming them to this chamber. [ applause ] we are friends, and i have enjoyed building our relationship this year. And i look forward to the progress that we will make in the year ahead. Our people and our government is very vast network. I know that we will jointly work with them. I want to thank secretary bu cannon and his team for his partnership with the tribes to advance a good proposal that that trifle ids can be used for voter registration. I really this is one of the great corners that you have, address like this, and i couldnt be more pleased to welcome captain scott caning to the chamber. He is a wyoming native who along with 29 other soldiers recently returned from afghanistan. He and other members of the third platoon of Charlie Company left on a Challenging Mission to provide 24hour coverage in heldman province. Captain caning, welcome home to wyoming, and know that we are so proud of you and the talented and brave members of your team, and i want to congratulate you for receiving an air medal and combat action badge that is captain canig is up in the gallery. [ applause ] [ cheers and applause ] we are glad you are home. General porter couldnt be here today, taking his place is command Sergeant Major harold calffer and i think him for his leadership and soibs to the state. [ cheers and applause ] as the general is fond of saying, our guard is the sword and the shield, our nations leading fighting force when necessary, and the folks who keep us safe from fire, flood and other natural catastrophes. A little story here. General porter command sergeant calf fert and i accompanied the first lady to enjoy thanksgiving with men and women overseas, Denny Grubman and military family, and knows well that any deployment is not easy. Not easy because our army and air guard are away from the folks that they love and away from those that love them. So i want you again to rise and please join me in saluting our men and women and their families for being the sword and the shield. [ cheers and applause ] and lets keep in our thoughts [ applause ] and lets keep in our thoughts all members of the military serving overseas and at home. We thank you and we thank the many veterans who have defended our nation. You know, im especially proud of them. Clearly i married above my as first lady, she established the nationallyrecognized wyoming hunger initiative, one that is so critly important to the so many that the many kids in our state, and truth, shes done it by lifting up the extraordinary efforts of many working around the state to address food insecurity. Shes making it happen while keeping our ranch running, supporting our family, and loving every moment of being a grandmother. My equal in every way, she is the epitome of the wyoming woman, accomplished, strong, versatile, independent, caring, talented, funny, warm, and a lover of the great outdoors. Jenny, my respect for you is absolute, and my love for you is boundless. [ cheers and applause ] let us respect all women, all wyoming women, by working to live up to our motto, we are the equality state. I want to thank sara and spencer up there for being here, son, grandson, represents the future generations of this state. Another isnt here today but the other grandparents are. Everett is apparently studying for an ag econ degree with liz toy tractor, his horses and cows and a sheep. Finally on behalf of the citizens of wyoming, i want to sincerely thank the members of the 65th legislature for your willingness to serve and your commitment to this great state. These are not easy times, and there will be hard choices to make. But i enjoy our Work Together, and i respect and value your thoughts, and i look forward to facing our Common Future together. I ask all guests here to join me in the our state legislature. [ applause ] before moving on to the progress weve made and the issues we face, i want to offer a few thoughts on this magnificent building. To quote you, mr. Speaker, from statehood day last summer, look around you. Take in this place. Take a moment to appreciate it. And the history that has happened here. And a lot has happened in this building this past year. Culminating on december 10th when we honored the wyoming womens heritage as the first government to recognize the womens vote. And before i recognize the good men and women who worked to bring this to fewition, jenny and i want to presented you mr. President and you mr. Speaker the first flag that was flown over your chamber. [ applause ] just to let you know how this came about, we couldnt fly either flag on statehood day last summer because the hardware was broken. Consultants projected it might cost thousands of dollars to repair, the scoff olding had been removed and lost to a point of in fact it really didnt look like we would be able to fly the flag today. But tommy owe jetta and his nominal crew landed on a way to fix that whole thing for around 300 bucks. That is the dedication and ingenuity of our people. [ applause ] now, let me recognize the members of the original capital Oversight Committee, some of whom are here. Senator elie deboug, chris rasa, phil nicklaus, donald ross, representative kermit brown, rosy berger, kim substance, mary prone could who could not be here, pete elway and especially governor pete, would you please rise . Thank you so much. [ cheers and applause ] thank you all for your dedication to this effort for persevering through a long project. And i also want to recognize mr. David hart of locus systems who must be thanked for his work in getting this project on track. And thankfully also for keeping that Oversight Committee in line. Mr. David hart, would you please stand . [ applause ] and lastly, i hope you will thank me in joining the craftsmen and women who everywhere you work in this state. [ applause ] so now to the business at hand. Today i am proud to report that the state of wyoming is strong. We are strong because more people are finding a Better Future for our state, our population has grown, unemployment is down at its lowest rate since 2008, Gross National product is increasing, so domestic product is increasing, personal income is up, and despite some obvious challenges this year, our economy remains strong. Were strong thanks to our people. Were strong because we have planned well for challenging times, and were strong because of our industries, energy, tourism, agriculture, and the emerging sector of space, and manufacturing. I am confident that we will remain strong by aggressively engaging our future and seizing our opportunities. Thanks to the wisdom of our forebears, some in this very room, and the leadership of the governors and treasurers including treasurer meyer, wyoming is in an enviable place amongst our peers. We have faith. This means we have time, not a lot of time, but time to make thoughtful decisions about our future and our budget. The budget i present to you is the joint Appropriations Committee path, was intended to trigger a serious conversation about our future. Ways to diversify our economy, and ways to strengthen our state. Wyoming will always depend on our traditional industries, but it must also take advantage of new opportunities. My budget charts the fiscally stable path. It keeps on going spending flat, giving our state time to think about the services we need to provide and those we can do without. This budget took the advice of this ledgelature and funded education in an undiminished capacity. In doing so, you all know that we will have to spend from our savings. The Education Funding is stuck open and it will be up to this body to think carefully about how long that plumbing will hold out. This is the year when we recalibrate wyomings funding meddel. I recommend this year we carefully consider superintendentes recommendation to review the basket of goods. Its what mandates be taut in school, it was crafted when amazon was only a bookstore. We othwe it to our kids and our state to offer 21st century worldclass education. [ applause ] my budget proposes curbs on capital construction. I did so noting that we already are engaged in several expansive and expensive projects. The state hospital, resource centers, science facility, Skilled Nursing facility, the wyoming state penitentiary, and the State Office Building to name a few. Given that its hard for us to afford the pay the people we need, the staff for these buildings, it makes little sense to continue to build as aggressively as we have when times were more flush. In keeping with this administrations desire for transparency, i wanted to demand racina for bringing transparency here. My office has also set up a website in wyoming. It illustrates the budget and process, and it will track the progress and work. Now anyone in wyoming can easily see whats being budgetsed and how its being spent. [ applause ] it may come as something of a surprise, but State Government has actually shrunk now from a decade ago. There are fewer state employees who are being asked to do more with less. They have capably responded by leveraging technology to implement better ways to provide the services. To further these efforts, ive endorsed Strategic Investments in new technology and advanced cybersecurity. We cannot afford to fall behind in this critical area. We must also recognize the value of our workforce. Were losing some of our most skilled and productive and knowledgeable employees because we dont pay competitively. On top of that, we should remember that both Employee Health insurance and retirement contribution haves increased, which effectively reduced takehome pay. We continually need to train new employees who then become better candidates for positions in other states with better pay skailz. This is unacceptably expensive, and it is very coustly. We should be thinking about keeping the people who know what to do and how to do it. While i understand wyomings reluketance to offer permanent salary increases in this climate, i propose a onetime bonus aimed at recognizing talent and retaining talent. If we want to reduce government, my view we can only do it with motivated people who know how to do their jobs. As the importance of good employees been more evident than on july 1st of last year when black jewel unexpectedly closed down operations at two of wyomings largest coal mines. While other states with black jewel operations vibrated ineffectively, wyoming sprang into action. The dedicated talent and knowledge that came, came in to support employees and immediately set about stabilizing the mine. And other agencies started working with our miners to find them jobs, provide them benefits, and renegeoshiate mortgage schedules. Things could have been much worse and they were elsewhere in coal country. Before moving on, i want to highlight another important and dedicated public employee, a group of employees. The ones who keep us safe. Our First Responders. This past year several Highway Patrol patrol troopers have been injured. Trooper jamie win guard is here with us today. In october, she was investigating a crash on i25 when she was struck from behind by a semitruck tearing her seat loos and totalaling her car. Thankfully she was wearing her seatbelt and wasnt significantly harmed. But it is a stark reminder that our First Responders put their lives on the line every day. Trooper win guard, for you and on behalf of all Law Enforcement First Responders, please accept our appreciation, and by the way, be careful out there. [ cheers and applause ] by now, wyoming citizens know too well how my Office National political attitude to vilify fossil few has affected our industry. 28 states have enacted either renewable standards or low carbon policies. These are targeted at the very industries that have helped raise our standard of living, built our schools, funded Public Infrastructure and made the u. S. The premier economy in the u. S. [ applause ] we produce better energy, more safely, and with more intention to the environment than anywhere else on the planet. And yet our industries are still discriminated against, maligned, and decide as dead. Well, not on my watch. [ cheers and applause ] know this. Know this, wyoming will always advocate for our industries, whether it be to protect against unconstitutional restraints of trade or in their endeavor to deliver cleaner, more affordable and cleaner energy. In the gallery is rod petewell, who represents the dedicated men and women who go to work every day to see that people mostly outside of wyoming can cool and heat their homes and that the lights come on when they hit the switch. Rob, i remember the day you showed me the mines contribute to women miners and a statement to stand up to breast cancer. Your community, your mines, the people who work there, are the heart and soul of wyoming. Rob, know that we respect the work and your fellow miners do every day and this this governor will always have your back. [ cheers and applause ] you see the problem we face is not burning coal. The problem is that we havent recognized or seized the opportunities to burn it cleaner to use its biproducts ben fishlgly or use it for over 100 years. We in wyoming are leading the way, our university, the integrated test center and the carbon valley in northeast wyoming are just part of this singular effort. But we must do more. That is why my administration has taken this fight to the Supreme Court. Oregon, california, and washington, have each sought to extents the reach of environmental regulation beyond their borders to blockade states like wyoming, the rightful access to coastal ports. These actions are a blatant unconstitutional retraircht of strayed. A few weeks ago, montana joined us in bringing an original complaint before the Supreme Court. To challenge washington states arb trailial action against the millennial coal bulk terminal. The vehicle was the millennium port, but the issue is an aishtry and ka prishus deterrent against a useful product. It represents a direct threat to our products, wyomings way of life, and i will defend our state. [ cheers and applause ] thank you, attorney general hill and your staff for your meticulous work in crafting a strong, original brief before our nations highest court. On the national stage, i continue to work with our exceptional federal delegation. Congresswoman cheney, senator barrasso and i want to thank retiring senator mike enzy for his Yeoman Service to the state. [ cheers and applause ] hey, hey. Together were advocating for legislative and Regulatory Reform of section 401 of the clean water act. In november i traveled to washington, d. C. To support senator john barrassos bill that does that. It should be about water equality within one states own boundaries and not used as a weapon by one state to impose its will on another. I have provided resources to the Public Service commission to closely examine the assumptions made by various utilities resource plans. Changes in those plans can impact hundreds of our jobs. It is our duty to verify that the proposed early closure of coal burning units are truly warranted and economical, not just philosophical and political. [ applause ] wyoming genuinely welcomes Renewable Resources like wind and solar. They have a place here. But we will not recklessly abandon our most abundant and Reliable Energy source just because its unpopular with some people. Today i challenge all of us to Work Together to make sure that the next Carbon Capture and sequestration facility is built here in wyoming. I ask for your support of legislation requiring all new electric generation capacity produced in wyoming to be reliable and consistent. And that a reasonable portion of it be net carb ban negative. In doing so wyoming will demonstrate what no other state has had the courage to do. We will require true co2 sequestration, not just some artificial notion that wind and solar can cure Climate Change all by themselves. I have asked you to add 1 million for coal market augmentation and preservation. This appropriation will be used to defend our energy industry, to sustain the Revenues Energy provides for the state, and to support local communities future planning. And i urge you urge you to supp 25 Supreme Court<\/a> chief justice davis. And justices couch, spock, bloom garden and gray. Thank you for your wise consideration of perplexing issues, your appropriate application of the law. [ applause ] and im really pleased to have lee spoon hunter, chairman of the Northern Arapaho<\/a> Business Council<\/a> with us today. Unfortunately travel conditions prevented karen snider from being here. I would like you to join me in welcoming them to this chamber. [ applause ] we are friends, and i have enjoyed building our relationship this year. And i look forward to the progress that we will make in the year ahead. Our people and our government is very vast network. I know that we will jointly work with them. I want to thank secretary bu cannon and his team for his partnership with the tribes to advance a good proposal that that trifle ids can be used for voter registration. I really this is one of the great corners that you have, address like this, and i couldnt be more pleased to welcome captain scott caning to the chamber. He is a wyoming native who along with 29 other soldiers recently returned from afghanistan. He and other members of the third platoon of Charlie Company<\/a> left on a Challenging Mission<\/a> to provide 24hour coverage in heldman province. Captain caning, welcome home to wyoming, and know that we are so proud of you and the talented and brave members of your team, and i want to congratulate you for receiving an air medal and combat action badge that is captain canig is up in the gallery. [ applause ] [ cheers and applause ] we are glad you are home. General porter couldnt be here today, taking his place is command Sergeant Major<\/a> harold calffer and i think him for his leadership and soibs to the state. [ cheers and applause ] as the general is fond of saying, our guard is the sword and the shield, our nations leading fighting force when necessary, and the folks who keep us safe from fire, flood and other natural catastrophes. A little story here. General porter command sergeant calf fert and i accompanied the first lady to enjoy thanksgiving with men and women overseas, Denny Grubman<\/a> and military family, and knows well that any deployment is not easy. Not easy because our army and air guard are away from the folks that they love and away from those that love them. So i want you again to rise and please join me in saluting our men and women and their families for being the sword and the shield. [ cheers and applause ] and lets keep in our thoughts [ applause ] and lets keep in our thoughts all members of the military serving overseas and at home. We thank you and we thank the many veterans who have defended our nation. You know, im especially proud of them. Clearly i married above my as first lady, she established the nationallyrecognized wyoming hunger initiative, one that is so critly important to the so many that the many kids in our state, and truth, shes done it by lifting up the extraordinary efforts of many working around the state to address food insecurity. Shes making it happen while keeping our ranch running, supporting our family, and loving every moment of being a grandmother. My equal in every way, she is the epitome of the wyoming woman, accomplished, strong, versatile, independent, caring, talented, funny, warm, and a lover of the great outdoors. Jenny, my respect for you is absolute, and my love for you is boundless. [ cheers and applause ] let us respect all women, all wyoming women, by working to live up to our motto, we are the equality state. I want to thank sara and spencer up there for being here, son, grandson, represents the future generations of this state. Another isnt here today but the other grandparents are. Everett is apparently studying for an ag econ degree with liz toy tractor, his horses and cows and a sheep. Finally on behalf of the citizens of wyoming, i want to sincerely thank the members of the 65th legislature for your willingness to serve and your commitment to this great state. These are not easy times, and there will be hard choices to make. But i enjoy our Work Together<\/a>, and i respect and value your thoughts, and i look forward to facing our Common Future<\/a> together. I ask all guests here to join me in the our state legislature. [ applause ] before moving on to the progress weve made and the issues we face, i want to offer a few thoughts on this magnificent building. To quote you, mr. Speaker, from statehood day last summer, look around you. Take in this place. Take a moment to appreciate it. And the history that has happened here. And a lot has happened in this building this past year. Culminating on december 10th when we honored the wyoming womens heritage as the first government to recognize the womens vote. And before i recognize the good men and women who worked to bring this to fewition, jenny and i want to presented you mr. President and you mr. Speaker the first flag that was flown over your chamber. [ applause ] just to let you know how this came about, we couldnt fly either flag on statehood day last summer because the hardware was broken. Consultants projected it might cost thousands of dollars to repair, the scoff olding had been removed and lost to a point of in fact it really didnt look like we would be able to fly the flag today. But tommy owe jetta and his nominal crew landed on a way to fix that whole thing for around 300 bucks. That is the dedication and ingenuity of our people. [ applause ] now, let me recognize the members of the original capital Oversight Committee<\/a>, some of whom are here. Senator elie deboug, chris rasa, phil nicklaus, donald ross, representative kermit brown, rosy berger, kim substance, mary prone could who could not be here, pete elway and especially governor pete, would you please rise . Thank you so much. [ cheers and applause ] thank you all for your dedication to this effort for persevering through a long project. And i also want to recognize mr. David hart of locus systems who must be thanked for his work in getting this project on track. And thankfully also for keeping that Oversight Committee<\/a> in line. Mr. David hart, would you please stand . [ applause ] and lastly, i hope you will thank me in joining the craftsmen and women who everywhere you work in this state. [ applause ] so now to the business at hand. Today i am proud to report that the state of wyoming is strong. We are strong because more people are finding a Better Future<\/a> for our state, our population has grown, unemployment is down at its lowest rate since 2008, Gross National<\/a> product is increasing, so domestic product is increasing, personal income is up, and despite some obvious challenges this year, our economy remains strong. Were strong thanks to our people. Were strong because we have planned well for challenging times, and were strong because of our industries, energy, tourism, agriculture, and the emerging sector of space, and manufacturing. I am confident that we will remain strong by aggressively engaging our future and seizing our opportunities. Thanks to the wisdom of our forebears, some in this very room, and the leadership of the governors and treasurers including treasurer meyer, wyoming is in an enviable place amongst our peers. We have faith. This means we have time, not a lot of time, but time to make thoughtful decisions about our future and our budget. The budget i present to you is the joint Appropriations Committee<\/a> path, was intended to trigger a serious conversation about our future. Ways to diversify our economy, and ways to strengthen our state. Wyoming will always depend on our traditional industries, but it must also take advantage of new opportunities. My budget charts the fiscally stable path. It keeps on going spending flat, giving our state time to think about the services we need to provide and those we can do without. This budget took the advice of this ledgelature and funded education in an undiminished capacity. In doing so, you all know that we will have to spend from our savings. The Education Funding<\/a> is stuck open and it will be up to this body to think carefully about how long that plumbing will hold out. This is the year when we recalibrate wyomings funding meddel. I recommend this year we carefully consider superintendentes recommendation to review the basket of goods. Its what mandates be taut in school, it was crafted when amazon was only a bookstore. We othwe it to our kids and our state to offer 21st century worldclass education. [ applause ] my budget proposes curbs on capital construction. I did so noting that we already are engaged in several expansive and expensive projects. The state hospital, resource centers, science facility, Skilled Nursing<\/a> facility, the wyoming state penitentiary, and the State Office Building<\/a> to name a few. Given that its hard for us to afford the pay the people we need, the staff for these buildings, it makes little sense to continue to build as aggressively as we have when times were more flush. In keeping with this administrations desire for transparency, i wanted to demand racina for bringing transparency here. My office has also set up a website in wyoming. It illustrates the budget and process, and it will track the progress and work. Now anyone in wyoming can easily see whats being budgetsed and how its being spent. [ applause ] it may come as something of a surprise, but State Government<\/a> has actually shrunk now from a decade ago. There are fewer state employees who are being asked to do more with less. They have capably responded by leveraging technology to implement better ways to provide the services. To further these efforts, ive endorsed Strategic Investments<\/a> in new technology and advanced cybersecurity. We cannot afford to fall behind in this critical area. We must also recognize the value of our workforce. Were losing some of our most skilled and productive and knowledgeable employees because we dont pay competitively. On top of that, we should remember that both Employee Health<\/a> insurance and retirement contribution haves increased, which effectively reduced takehome pay. We continually need to train new employees who then become better candidates for positions in other states with better pay skailz. This is unacceptably expensive, and it is very coustly. We should be thinking about keeping the people who know what to do and how to do it. While i understand wyomings reluketance to offer permanent salary increases in this climate, i propose a onetime bonus aimed at recognizing talent and retaining talent. If we want to reduce government, my view we can only do it with motivated people who know how to do their jobs. As the importance of good employees been more evident than on july 1st of last year when black jewel unexpectedly closed down operations at two of wyomings largest coal mines. While other states with black jewel operations vibrated ineffectively, wyoming sprang into action. The dedicated talent and knowledge that came, came in to support employees and immediately set about stabilizing the mine. And other agencies started working with our miners to find them jobs, provide them benefits, and renegeoshiate mortgage schedules. Things could have been much worse and they were elsewhere in coal country. Before moving on, i want to highlight another important and dedicated public employee, a group of employees. The ones who keep us safe. Our First Responders<\/a>. This past year several Highway Patrol<\/a> patrol troopers have been injured. Trooper jamie win guard is here with us today. In october, she was investigating a crash on i25 when she was struck from behind by a semitruck tearing her seat loos and totalaling her car. Thankfully she was wearing her seatbelt and wasnt significantly harmed. But it is a stark reminder that our First Responders<\/a> put their lives on the line every day. Trooper win guard, for you and on behalf of all Law Enforcement<\/a> First Responders<\/a>, please accept our appreciation, and by the way, be careful out there. [ cheers and applause ] by now, wyoming citizens know too well how my Office National<\/a> political attitude to vilify fossil few has affected our industry. 28 states have enacted either renewable standards or low carbon policies. These are targeted at the very industries that have helped raise our standard of living, built our schools, funded Public Infrastructure<\/a> and made the u. S. The premier economy in the u. S. [ applause ] we produce better energy, more safely, and with more intention to the environment than anywhere else on the planet. And yet our industries are still discriminated against, maligned, and decide as dead. Well, not on my watch. [ cheers and applause ] know this. Know this, wyoming will always advocate for our industries, whether it be to protect against unconstitutional restraints of trade or in their endeavor to deliver cleaner, more affordable and cleaner energy. In the gallery is rod petewell, who represents the dedicated men and women who go to work every day to see that people mostly outside of wyoming can cool and heat their homes and that the lights come on when they hit the switch. Rob, i remember the day you showed me the mines contribute to women miners and a statement to stand up to breast cancer. Your community, your mines, the people who work there, are the heart and soul of wyoming. Rob, know that we respect the work and your fellow miners do every day and this this governor will always have your back. [ cheers and applause ] you see the problem we face is not burning coal. The problem is that we havent recognized or seized the opportunities to burn it cleaner to use its biproducts ben fishlgly or use it for over 100 years. We in wyoming are leading the way, our university, the integrated test center and the carbon valley in northeast wyoming are just part of this singular effort. But we must do more. That is why my administration has taken this fight to the Supreme Court<\/a>. Oregon, california, and washington, have each sought to extents the reach of environmental regulation beyond their borders to blockade states like wyoming, the rightful access to coastal ports. These actions are a blatant unconstitutional retraircht of strayed. A few weeks ago, montana joined us in bringing an original complaint before the Supreme Court<\/a>. To challenge washington states arb trailial action against the millennial coal bulk terminal. The vehicle was the millennium port, but the issue is an aishtry and ka prishus deterrent against a useful product. It represents a direct threat to our products, wyomings way of life, and i will defend our state. [ cheers and applause ] thank you, attorney general hill and your staff for your meticulous work in crafting a strong, original brief before our nations highest court. On the national stage, i continue to work with our exceptional federal delegation. Congresswoman cheney, senator barrasso and i want to thank retiring senator mike enzy for his Yeoman Service<\/a> to the state. [ cheers and applause ] hey, hey. Together were advocating for legislative and Regulatory Reform<\/a> of section 401 of the clean water act. In november i traveled to washington, d. C. To support senator john barrassos bill that does that. It should be about water equality within one states own boundaries and not used as a weapon by one state to impose its will on another. I have provided resources to the Public Service<\/a> commission to closely examine the assumptions made by various utilities resource plans. Changes in those plans can impact hundreds of our jobs. It is our duty to verify that the proposed early closure of coal burning units are truly warranted and economical, not just philosophical and political. [ applause ] wyoming genuinely welcomes Renewable Resources<\/a> like wind and solar. They have a place here. But we will not recklessly abandon our most abundant and Reliable Energy<\/a> source just because its unpopular with some people. Today i challenge all of us to Work Together<\/a> to make sure that the next Carbon Capture<\/a> and sequestration facility is built here in wyoming. I ask for your support of legislation requiring all new electric generation capacity produced in wyoming to be reliable and consistent. And that a reasonable portion of it be net carb ban negative. In doing so wyoming will demonstrate what no other state has had the courage to do. We will require true co2 sequestration, not just some artificial notion that wind and solar can cure Climate Change<\/a> all by themselves. I have asked you to add 1 million for coal market augmentation and preservation. This appropriation will be used to defend our energy industry, to sustain the Revenues Energy<\/a> provides for the state, and to support local communities future planning. And i urge you urge you to supp 25 Million Investment<\/a> to establish Energy Commercialization<\/a> program. This will provide a coordinator approach to support research to speed along technology that advance zero or net negative carbon uses with coal or other fossil fuels. I cant be emphatic of this point. Time are of the essence. We must act now. Last Year Congress<\/a> county were rocked by multiple bankruptcies. Thankfully there are people in wyoming who live by the coast of the west. His employer abruptly shut down coal like the coal mine without pay or notice dan and others responded. They worked tirelessly to make sure the mines were safe and secure and free from hazard so employees would have a workplace to return to it at the end of all the legal wrangling and bankruptcy court. Today i am happy to say that mine is up and running again. Dan, would you stand so that we may recognize you. [ applause ] as the bankruptcy shows, counties are at risk and should not hold an empty bag. I am supporting proposed legislation to change to a monthly bases. [ applause ] now i realize this presents a shift for already financially stressed industry. So the transition must allow longterm dependable industry, sufficient time to adjust. Wyoming is a patience place. We appreciate your industry. We all pay your debt and expects others to as well. Coal is not the only wyoming industry thats under stress. With particular urgency, the state of our national gas industry. Today there are only two drilling for natural gas and wyoming. Thats the lowest number in the last 20 years. We have seen bankruptcies in the industry too with equally devastating consequences for local communities. Natural gas revenue continues to spiral down. I seek the legislatures support and practicing a temporary price state reduction for those who most in need. Wyoming is exceptional when it comes to energy and mineral. We remain the nations leader in coal and uranium. We are eighth in oil and natural Gas Production<\/a> and even with todays challenges, wyoming supplies 11 of the nations electricity. In falct, wyoming is third. Broadening portfolio of energy, we provide to the nation. Wyoming is known for our Natural Resources<\/a> and our public land. It can really be interesting. Our States Relationship<\/a> with the fed is slowed over the years but thanks to President Trump<\/a> right now that relationship is strong and cooperative. With initiative to keep it that way. Well work with our federal partners to make sure that the 48 of land within wyoming continues to be assessable for all uses. [ applause ] wi wyoming cares about our Natural Resources<\/a>, we love our parks and desserts a desert and our water. We make challenges and obstacles facing wildlife and waters. We launched the initiative where if establishing better ways to combat across those states. Our universal channels and not just one affecting our farms and ranches. It impacts our wildlife and fire dynamics and even more. It is imperative that we meet those challenges head on. Wyoming is the first state in the nation to tackle the important matter of preserving unique wildlife. National geographic recently recognized for migration route. Their work shows how crucial these corridors are to preserve our iconic opulations. As we have seen, regulations are important but they can also impede development. There is a balance to be struck. One that respects landowners private rights and maintaining wyomings wildlife and Natural Resources<\/a>. Melissa taylor, shes here with us today. As a member of the group, she devoted many days listening to and working with other citizens from counties industry wildlife and recreation interests, searching for a sustainable approach to migration corridor. Melissa is so good that you are here to do. I would like to recognize you. [ applause ] the recommendation that provides a practical way to identify designate or protect a few migration route without offending private property rights. Based on their work and my own travel throughout the state talking to effective state holders on all sides to implement recommendations. My executive order provides the opportunity for areal working groups and others informed by science to provide on the ground, tailored recommendation to preserve for two species. It is absolutely not a land rep or ways to create hundreds of route. The order simply establishes a way to designate a handful, Single Digits<\/a> of corridor to protect the greatest treasures, our wildlife and hunting and our opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. Let me tell you why i am so glad and so proud to have grown up in agriculture. I believe that agriculture is the backbone of our state. Well continue to work to expand markets and support this industry across a range of talks. There is one issue that came into focus this year. Early morning of july 2017, right when the summer was beginning to heat up, an alarm went off indicating that canal had collapsed. Shutting off all the flows to critical farmlands in wyoming and nebraska. The water then backed up and blew the canal back out. It left a hole, the kind that you can see from out of space. The district manager is here today to represent the irrigation district. Rob is a wyoming guy. He did not want to be recognized. He wants to make sure other staffs all faced this daunting challenge together will be recognized as well. I want to ask rob to rise so we may recognize him and the irrigation district for their determination and their perseverance. Way to go rob. [ applause ] with the help of many others including state agencies and our friends in nebraska, those folks got it flowing again before the summer and we have some pictures and the progress of town. It is amazing, rob. Thank you for your perseverance. The gid tunnel failed to highlight a systematic of our irrigation ininfrastructure. Under the leadership of chairman hixon larson, the committee passed a good bill. It is the first step that lets you keep a target on irrigation. I want to make sure we do everything we can to grow the second most significant source of income to our state. Tourism and Outdoor Recreation<\/a> and in wyoming represents an enormous opportunity to grow our economy. It is a sector that employs more people and returns substantial revenues and that revenues come mostly from out of state. Whether it is key majority, skiing in the ski town, snow mobile in the big corn or Mountain Biking<\/a> or enjoying the daddy of them all, our rodeo, almost anywhere in wyoming. The water or on our water skiing on the gorge, wyoming truly has a bit of something for everyone. Think about what we can do with hot springs, National Parks<\/a> and state parks. Now, there is a new location opening in may. I could go on. Wyoming is an amazing place where you can get on the river and enjoy a nice evening. I applaud our Tourism Industry<\/a> that would help wyoming compete with it. Over the last year we spoken extensively about education. I had the pleasure to engage with Educational Community<\/a> all over the state for the variety of issues. I want to recognize the passionate teacher of seventh through 12th grade social studies. He lives in the town over the hill where is i grew up. Dane, please saaccept our congratulations on being wyoming teacher of the year. [ applause ] i would like to ask the acting president to stand so we can recognize and the university. It is a tremendous and enduring institutions for wyoming. [ applause ] just two weeks ago, i sat down with kneel aneil and the presid our community colleges, he knows those colleges are so important to our state. Over lunch we began a discussion about how to better organize wyomings secondary Educational Opportunities<\/a> to be more economic and better to deliver education where it is needed. I left that meeting and very excited of our future and our opportunity. My administration helps to secure Financial Resources<\/a> for the year ahead to strategize. We are hearing good things around the state about the strive we are making a work force development. In particular, the wyoming Works Program<\/a> and the efforts of the educational, executive council which has aggressive goals to increase the number of people in wyoming. A group of collaborative efforts of the k12 education sector, community colleges, uw and industry, we can equip our student ws ts with the skills t ensure their success and improve wyomings economic health. This is really good news. We have a window of opportunity and recalibration year to think in good faith and discuss what we need to teach and how to sustainabley fund our education system. Our wyoming people know it and we should not miss it. My administration is dedicated by improving access and lower cost of healthcare including prescription drugs. We need to improve Mental Healthcare<\/a> and innovate approaches and coordinating policies and seamless delivery of focus. One area of focus is on the prevention of suicide. This issue struck close to home when i heard my own kids who have been struggling with these dark thoughts. Many are suffering and far too many are out there. I support a funding to launch a suicide hotline. It is just a start. We need to leverage our providers to do a better job of attending to those in need. My administration is working on ways to support families and individuals who have been exposed to adversities and traumas. Citizens have Quality Services<\/a> for generations to come. Our state is strong. Wyoming was truly gorged out of the web by entrepreneurs cht it is our history and it must be our future. I am anxious to see our state once again become the model where anyone can create wealth from their own enterprise and work ethics. We are supporting our existing industry. It now has a new mission and a new ceo, josh gerrell, hell be coming to your community soon. His entrepreneur and private sector experience and deep understanding of wyoming will be invaluable in growing new businesses and attract a whole new enterprises to the state. Finally, to end where i began with this building. The significant percentage of the 56 legislature has never served in this capitol. I want to take a moment to remember what it was to be here before the construction began. When i arrive, there were full of people with energy. Visitors would wander the hall and marmarveling not so much wi the architecture but that you are greeted by the people here. This simply does not happen anywhere else. Over and over again thats what i heard was the real charm of this place. It was a working capitol. The peoples house, it is the way the government should be assessable. When the session started, legislatures would stop by our office to discuss legislation or what they hope to accomplish during the session. The coffee pot was always on. Good work came from the comradery that was the hallmark of this capitol. This provides the opportunity to continue the culture. There is a great his ri but it is not a museum. There is promise and progress and moments ahead of finding the passage of the constitution and the recognition of universal suffrage. Like past generation in this building, we have a rendezvous with destiny. It can only be done if we Work Together<\/a>. I encourage you to take some time to welcome and engage with visitors. This is the peoples house and home of our government. Lets visit one another regularly. My office already always have a coffee pot on and sometimes well have some sweet rolls. Lets fill these holes with energy and optimism that have been defining moments for wyoming. God bless you, god bless wyoming and god bless the United States<\/a> of america. [ applause ] today is discussion of africanamerican history from 1776 to the present day. At an event hosted by the Woodson Center<\/a> in washington, d. C. Watch it live on 12 30 p. M. Eastern on cspan 3. Listen to it live on our cspan radio app. Follow campaign 2020 to nevada this weekend. Saturday night, live at 11 00 p. M. Eastern. Democratic candidate joe biden, pete buttigieg, senator Amy Klobachar<\/a> and tom steyer and senator Bernie Sanders<\/a> and Elizabeth Warren<\/a> speak before the clark county democrats. On sunday, live at 5 00 p. M. Eastern, justine soe biden and buttigieg and tom steyer speak on a forum on infrastructure. Live coverage on cspan and listen on the go on the cspan radio app. Sunday night, a look at the american president. Kennedys father was the one thats pulling the strings. Jack kennedy wanted that portrait. There were multiple times he brought it up. Everyo he got himself a prize. In new york city, in washington, d. C. , people have beens gossipg did kennedy really write that book . The portrait changed the equation. It made it a moral question and ethical question. Readers realized it, too. I looked at the letter, and library and schoolteachers were sending him the letter. Did you write the book . You would not accept the prize if you didnt write the book, did you . Watch sunday night at 8 00 p. M. We are joined by tom reed of new york, they are coach chair of Problem Solver<\/a> s","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"archive.org","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":"800","height":"600","url":"\/\/ia802807.us.archive.org\/14\/items\/CSPAN3_20200214_161900_Wyoming_State_of_the_State\/CSPAN3_20200214_161900_Wyoming_State_of_the_State.thumbs\/CSPAN3_20200214_161900_Wyoming_State_of_the_State_000001.jpg"}},"autauthor":{"@type":"Organization"},"author":{"sameAs":"archive.org","name":"archive.org"}}],"coverageEndTime":"20240716T12:35:10+00:00"}