Morning. Join the discussion. The National Governors association is holding its annual summer meeting this week in rhode island. Today, governors heard from Vice President mike pence who spoke about ongoing efforts to replace the Affordable Care act. His remarks were followed by canadian Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau who talked about the importance of the north American Free trade agreement an broader economic relations between thest and canada. This portion of the n. G. A. Meeting is just over an hour. Im now honored to introduce the Vice President of the United States of america, who as you know, a year ago, sat right with us, voted on our n. G. A. Resolutions, but most importantly, as governor, he understands the challenges that we all face, how to gre our economies, how to build an infrastructure, transportation, how to make sure that our children are getting the best quality education. He understands that we want to Work Together in a bipartisan way, we want to Work Together on infrastructure, we want to Work Together on tax reform. And we want to Work Together on health care. So that we can provide the best Quality Health care for our citizens. I thank Vice President pence, he showed true backbone himself in indiana when he expanded medicaid for his citizens. So he understands the challenges that we as governors face to make sure that were providing that quality care. So its my honor today as chairman of the National Governors association to bring to the podium, work with the governors in a bipartisan way, the Vice President of the United States of america, michael pence. [applause] [applause] Vice President pence thank you all. It is wonderful to be here. To Prime Minister trudeau, governor mccaw live, thank you for that wonderful introduction and warm welcome. To governor sandoval and all the governors of these United States, especially our host, to geena raimondo, and all the distinguished guests here today, it is an honor to be back in rhode island at the 109th annual summer meeting of the National Governors association. [applause] i bring greetings today from my friend a champion of federalism who is fighting every single day to restore power to the states and the people, the 45th president of the United States of america, President Donald Trump. The president is returning as we speak from france where he celebrated our first and oldest alliance with great pageantry. I spoke to him this morning and he asked me to convey his thanks for your service to your states and to give you his best regards. And the president sent me and several other cabinet members to partner with each and every one of you to advance the security and prosperity of all of the American People and all of the states across this country. [applause] now for me, its great to be back at the n. G. A. Im frankly very humbled. Very humbled to be with so many of the leaders i had the privilege to serb with when i was governor of the state of indiana. Its amazing for me to think, my wife and i reflected on it this morning, it was one year ago this weekend that the phone call came, and my life changed. I reflected this morning on that ancient verse that i often thought about in those days, who am i, o lord, and who is my family that you brought me this far . So let me take this personal opportunity to say, thank you to all of you. Thank you for your friendship, your encouragement, and the prayers that have enabled us to serve in this new capacity. It is great to be back with americas governors. Now im here as your Vice President but i want you to know that i bring the perspective of a former governor to your discussions this weekend. When i was governor, i often would come to washington, d. C. Representing my states interests and my greatest hope was that id have an administration that would listen to me and work with me to improve the lives of the hardworking people in indiana. Let me give you this promise. Every governor in america has all that and more in President Donald Trump you heard it from the president himself when he addressed the n. G. A. At the white house in your winter meeting earlier this year. As the president said, and i quote, under my administration were going to have a True Partnership of collaboration and cooperation with the states. He meant every word of it. Since day one of our administration, President Trump has been delivering on this promise. In the past six months, President Trump met with governors from no fewer than 47 states individually and five ter yours territories, including all of you gathered here today. In june alone, he welcomed with 19 govern yoss in the white house and met with three more on the road. He involved you in our policy discussions and let me assure you, this president values your continued input on issues from infrastructure to energy to tax cuts to health care and so much more. If you havent noticed, this president likes to hire governors. Not just present company but im talking about our United Nations ambassador, niki haley, secretary of energy rick perry, our secretary of agriculture, sonny perdue and the new United States ambassador to china, the longest serving governor in american history, ambassador terry grandstaff. Lets give all these former governors a round of applause. It really has been a privilege for me to continue to work so closely with all of you on the president s behalf. In february, karen and i enjoyed welcoming many of you to the Vice President s residence in washington, d. C. The first time all of americas fwoverpors have, i was told, have ever been invited to the naval observatory and we were honored that so many came. My wife couldnt with be us couldnt be with us today, shes picking our daughter up from the airport after some foreign travel, but let me extend the president s and our familys heart felt appreciation to the most important people in the room today, the spouses and family members to those who serve as governors across this nation. Could you give a round of applause to our spouses and family members who support the leadership of these great leaders . [applause] the truth is, americas governors have a friend in President Donald Trump and it doesnt matter whether youre a republican or a democrat. This president s agenda will continue to strengthen every state across this country. You know, i like to say our president has a threepart agenda. Jobs, job, and jobs. And to be around him for any period of time you know hes focused on prosperity in this country as more than anything else other than security. The president has taken Decisive Action from the outset to put america back to work and get our economy moving again. This president has signed more laws slashing jobkilling red tape out of washington, d. C. Than any president in american history. Its already saved businesses and individuals up to 18 billion a year in regulatory costs. And our president s been busy unleashing american energy. Hes opening the way for more offshore drill, rolling back the Clean Power Plan and the president s approved the keystone and dakota pipelines to strengthen the Energy Infrastructure of this nation. Speaking of infrastructure, President Trump has already begun the process of rebuilding american infrastructure and in partnership with governors like you, i promise you before this session of congress is out, were going to pass an infrastructure bill that will rebuild america. And were going to work with each and every one of you. To bring that about. This president has also taken Decisive Action to ensure that americas trade deals are both free and fair. Thanks to the president s leadership, last month, American Companies were able to ship american beef to china for the first time in over 13 years. The president s also opened up a new economic dialogue , he asked me to lead with the nation of japan, to strengthen our trade relationship with our valued ally. In the coming weeks, President Trump and our nation will renegotiate the north American Free trade agreement with canada and mexico. And under this president s leadership, we will modernize nafta for the 21st century so it is a winwinwin for all of our trading partners in north america. [applause] now, i know youll be hearing from prime might bester trudeau in just a few minutes. Let me assure you, the United States and canada have already built a remarkably strong relationship under these two leaders and the investment relationship that we enjoy today is worth more than 620 billion a year. And were grateful, were grateful for the Prime Ministers leadership and his early outreach to this administration. President trump recognized that every trade relationship can improve and as the Prime Minister knows, were looking forward to bringing nafta into the future in a way that will equally benefit both our countries. The truth is President Trumps leadership is already making a difference. I know you see it in your states every single day. Under this president s watch, businesses large and small have already created more than 800,000 new private sector jobs since the first of this year. Company after company are making record investments in state after state, billions of dollars, tens of thousands of jobs, and the stock market is soaring, closing at record highs again this week. With the continued input of americas governors, President Trump is going to work with this congress to drive forward an agenda for a more prosperous america of lower taxes, less regulation, more american energy, better infrastructure, better trade deals and yes, President Donald Trump is going to lead this congress to rescue the American People from the collapsing policies of obamacare. [applause] you know, as a former governor myself, i know just how Important Health care is to each and every one of you as you lead your states. The simple truth, though, is, is obamacare is imploding all across america. Working families and Small Businesses are paying the price every day. Our administration has found that the average premium on the individual market is more than doubled since obamacare went into effect less than four years ago and in many states, including some represented here, its more than tripled. When obamacare passed, we were promised families would save up to 2,500 a year in premiums. But the average obamacare plan today costs more than 3,000 more than than the average plan did in 2013. While costs are skyrocketing, choices are plummeting. On monday, our administration announced that 38 fewer Health Insurers plan on participating in Obamacare Exchanges next year and the number could rise. Leaving millions of americans with even fewer choices. And come next year, 40 of american counties, including nine whole states, will have only one choice in a Health Insurance provider, mening they essentially have no choice at all. Worse, dozens of counties will have no oviders whatsoever on the ba macare exchange in 2018. I know you know these facts because as governors youre hiing that reality. Not far afield in washington, d. C. Looking at statistics, but youre seing the impact of these failed policies each and every day in communities and Enterprises Across your state. I dont have to tell any of the governors gathered around here, whatever your politics, whatever your party you know were talking about real people. And you the wore talking about a real crisis. Because behind every number is a name. Behind every name is a story. You know, since early this year, the president has had me traveling across the country to many of your states. Ive always made a point to sit down with your local citizens and local businesses to hear the story about how hardship that obamacare has placed on your communities. Ive heard stories from Small Business owners, working families and parents with disabled children who suffered terribly under the collapsing weight of this policy. People like Julie Roberts who i met with earlier this week in lexington, kentucky. At her Small Business premiums have spiked 25 every year under obamacare and deductibles have tripled. Then theres connie mays who has lived in the same small town in ohio her entire life. She has a disability she told me about, its made her life tough. But she found her way forward. When obamacare became law she lost her Health Insurance plan, lost her doctor and today no Health Care Provider in her county will take her obamacare coverage. So she essentially has no coverage at all. She literally had tears in her eyes sitting next to me at the white house when she told me the story, that that card in her pocketbook was essentially meaningless because no one in her home county would take it. Then theres julie pine from wisconsin who i met when i was visiting Governor Walker whose Health Insurance costs increased so much that last year she told me, with genuine emotion in her voice, that she had to choose between paying for her obamacare coverage and buying christmas presenters in grandkids. She took that preemptive three months where she could skip making her payments and skip coverage just so she could afford to buy some christmas presents for her kids and grandkids. I dont have to tell all of you, these stories are not rare. But theyre all heartbreaking. Theyre not the exception, theyre the rule. As i told each and every one of those i mentioned and people all across this country, help is on the way. Were going to give the American People access to the kind of World Class Health care every american deserves. [applause] im pleased to report as you already know just yesterday Senate Leadership unveiled a new version of the Senate Health care bill and President Trump and i urge every member of the senate to support it. President trump and i believe the Senate Health care bill is the right bill at the right time to begin the end of obamacare and rescue the American People from this failed policy. And we look forward to the Senate Taking up this bill as early as next week. President trump laid out his vision for American Health care months ago. The president said he wanted a Health Care System that in his words is, quote, far less expensive and far better, we believe the Senate Health care bill begins to make the president s vision a reality. The bill introduced in the senate put america back on the path to better, more Affordable Health care for every american. The Senate Health care bill repeals obamacares individual business mandates and cuts taxes on American Families and american businesses, restoring freedom and itll create jobs. The Senate Health care bill doubles the contribution limits for Health Savings accounts and for the First Time Ever allows alth savings accounts to cover insurance premiums. The bill also offers tax credits to help americans buy the coverage they want at a price they can afford. And the legislation ensures that every american with preexisting conditions has access to the coverage and care they need, no exceptions. Applause] vicepresident pence know that the Senate Health care bill givers states the freedom to redesign your Health Insurance markets and most significantly under this legislation, states across the country will have an unprecedented level of flexibility to reform medicaid and bring better coverage, better care and Better Outcomes to