Well have a look at that next. [background sounds] ladies and gentlemen please welcome Oklahoma City mayor. [applause] thank you for your patience. It is now my honor to introduce the man who in just three days will become the 48th Vice President of the United States. He has most recently served as the governor of indiana. Prior to that he was a leader in the u. S. House of representatives to their guests understands greatly the level of cooperation that is needed between mayors and states in the federal government to help foster economic opportunity, growth and opportunity for all. A month ago as i mentioned our Leadership Team had the opportunity to discuss some key issues with Vice President elect pence and the moment we mentioned that 300 mayors would be here in our Nations Capital for this meeting he said, i will be there. As far as we can remember this is the first time we have ever had a Vice President elect attend the winter meeting prior to the inauguration. So it is my great honor and privilege to welcome to the United States conference of mayors Vice President elect mike pence. [applause] [applause] thank you so much. Thank you for that wonderful introduction. Mayor cornett, greetings to all of the distinguished mayors. Welcome to washington d. C. It is a city that president john f. Kennedy said combines Southern Efficiency with northern charm. [laughter] i am delighted to have the opportunity to greet you all today. It was also a pleasure meeting with you nick and the group of mayors that came to trump tower. Seems like just a few short weeks ago. President elect enjoyed the time with you and i so much appreciated the invitation. I come and join you today during this busy weekend to bring greetings from president elect and to wish you all a warm welcome to our Nations Capital. I know the president elect appreciates very much the hard work that the men and women in this room to each and every day serving as mayors all across the United States of america. Give yourselves a round of applause for the difference that you and your colleagues all make for the American People. [applause] frankly its humbling for me to be standing before you today. I am still getting used to all of this. I know there are a few mayors upon the dais and a few in the crowd that is known a long a long time and somebody asked me a while ago you know, did you ever imagine you would find yourself in this position 10 years ago . I said i didnt imagine i would find myself in this position 10 months ago. Maybe some of you can relate to that. When the phonecall came that night in the governors residence in that familiar voice came across the phone line, he said mike, i have got an assignment for you and its going to be great. [laughter] and it has been the journey of a lifetime and the opportunity to serve alongside our president elect and its the greatest honor of my life. Its also humbling to be in the a room with so many dedicated Public Servants including as i mentioned your president mayor mick cornett Mitch Landrieu and mayor steven benjamin. Give this great Leadership Team a round of applause for taking your message all the way to trump tower. [applause] i look forward to meeting again and again and working with all of you and hopefully everyone in this room in the coming years. You know i know from experience that the congressman and as the governor of the state state of indiana the sacrifices that each one of you make serving as mayors in your local community. I concede that they are of caramel indiana here with a pretty good seat. My friend jim brainard and going to the drugstore the Grocery Store is an exercise in Public Service oftentimes. Mayors are on the frontline of Public Service and to a large extent so our governors. Constituents you and tell you about a pothole in front of their house or the snow that didnt get plowed. I was back to a house that i rented in the washington d. C. Area area care called and said were out of ice cream. [laughter] did you hear about this one . So me and 12 and 13 other cars pulled over at safeway. [laughter] i dashed in, picked up a couple couple of gallons of ice cream for my family. It became a National News story. I get the feeling im going to miss those days when only ten people stop me at the supermarket to talk about issues. It truly assembly. All kidding aside, this grandson of an irish immigrant finds it difficult to express to you this week the humbling privilege that i my family feel. This week is really a celebration. Its its a celebration of the American People. And of our extraordinary democracy which continues to make is the envy of the world. Once again this week, the American People will hold up to the world the display of the peaceful transition of power. I have been to for inaugurations in my prior capacity, what what is governor of indiana, and three as a congressman. I have a better seat this time. It has always been so inspiring to me no matter who has the right hand in the air to see the gathering of men and women from the present and past, the Public Service coming together in this extraordinary display of strength of democracy. Four of our five living president s gathered on the stage. Every american can be proud and sure should the peaceful transition of power that we will celebrate once again this friday in washington, d. C. [applause] marks the dawn of a new era in our country. An era of growth and opportunity and renewed greatness for america. As i mentioned before, i have attended four different inaugurations. Inaugurations in a very real sense ought to be a time when we as americans are coming together. Coming together as a nation. I want to extend on behalf of the president elect, a personal invitation to every single one of you. I hope as many of you are able will stay in washington, d. C. Through the balance of this week after your conference and join us on friday to celebrate the advent of a new administration. We are all working for the people after all. The president elect and i are determined to forge partnerships between the federal government and the cities of this country. Make no mistake about it, we both believe that you have some of the most important jobs in Public Service in the nation. Whether you are a mayor of a large metropolis or small town like my hometown of columbus, indiana. The fact is, each each one of you in the room who serve as mayors have one of the biggest impacts, your leadership has perhaps one of the greatest impacts on the quality of life for tens of millions of americans. I voice had tremendous respect for mayors and the unique role you play. The importance of the Mayoral Office is a testament to americas exceptional government. Whether we look around the world its easy to see countries that run from their capital city by few bureaucrats and politicians who think they know what is best for people. They often times attempt to lead people they do not know or understand. It is not like that here in the United States. Here, our system of federalism established by the constitution, preserve their, reserves the ultimate power to the American People. After that, to the the governments that are closest to them. The closest form of government to the American People is a local and municipal government. We cherish cherish it in this incoming administration. [applause] it is you, americas mayors who know the unique problems, i would say especially. The problems your cities face it better than anybody else. You see them when youre driving home after work, you see them when you are going out in the morning. You hear about them when you talk to families and friends in the men and women who voted you into office. You live and breathe the reality of local life everyday. Therefore, your your best equipped to assist the National Policymakers in improving the quality of life and the prosperity, and opportunity of the people of your communities. Every day each one of you tries to do everything you can to leave your cities a better place than you found them and leave help your constituents have a better shot at by. I want to promise you as President Donald Trump and i are both dedicated to help you be successful in what you do because we believe that government that governs least governs best. This new administration is going to work in partnership with city halls all across america. [applause] our president elect believes as i do the federal government can play a pivotal role in helping our city strive. It is that new partnership that we have to enliven in the days ahead. Thats probably why spend so much time in the campaign highlighting many issues that are facing american cities. After all, he is enough new yorker through and through. He has seen some of the countrys biggest urban challenges and seen some of the countrys biggest urban renewals, plus and personal. Whether personal. Whether its the children and struggling schools, challenges and public safety, whether the dilapidated state of too many of our roads and bridges, i can assure you our president elect understands that americas mayors are facing serious challenges that you cannot always solve on your own. How do we plan to partner with you to help solve the problems . Well, i learned the answer during my four years as governor of the great state of indiana. I think mayor brainard a way to back me up. I worked hand in glove with republican and democrat mayors from, indiana to fort wayne, and everywhere in between. The truth is, we all understood. We all understood that while we have elections and we all fly under a different banner emma when the elections over we all serve the people. I promise you, this administration is going to be committed to work with republican and democrat mayors across america on an equal footing. No politics. Just results. [applause] president elect is committed to partnering with all of you. If you look at the key policies he outlined in recent months many involve working in the states and cities to the benefit of americas urban areas. I called him this afternoon to tell him i was coming by and in addition to urging me to send along greetings he said, tell them we are going to do an infrastructure bill and it is going to be big. [applause] infrastructure package, it will have the funding to help communities and states all across america meet the needs that face too many communities and often times stifle growth. Then theres education. An education reform. Our administration is committed to helping our communities and our states innovated education. To give students more options, to free our students from failing schools and to also promote career and Vocational Education so young people and adults can get the skills they need to lead fulfilling lives and get back to their communities and local growth. I also want to say to you from the heart, the president elect and i, as, as we traveled around the country understand the challenges that too many in lawenforcement or facing in these difficult days. I know those of you who lead cities, while you have the fancy office you know the people who do the hardest work of the people who wear the uniforms. That run and when others run out. I want to assure you this president elect, this adVice President elect in this administration will be deeply committed to stand with you to provide our First Responders with the resources and the training they need to accomplish their work for families to go home safely. [applause] of course last but not least, we are going to work with each one of you to unleash job creation in every corner of america so we can get this nation on a path of renewed prosperity and opportunity. President elect proposals on revelatory reform and tax reform we believe will be simply a part of an effort to reignite this economy and encourage the kind of investment in america that will create jobs in america. There really is extraordinary to think about it. The number of companies, in fact we heard that gm had another announcement yet today. That because of the leadership of a president elect and donald trump, and because of Companies Seen our commitment to progrowth policies that will simply improve the overall environment for job creation in america, companies that were planning to build elsewhere are building again and america. I promise you you we are just getting started. [applause] i could keep going on and they would probably let me but i dont want to overstay my welcome. I hope youll bite me back when i get that elect to part off the introductions. Let me just say to you, my commitment to you in the president elects commitment to you is that this administration is going to be a friend to americas mayors. [applause] we may not agree on everything, our doors will be open to hear the issues upon which we make different and we will listen respectfully. But we all agree, the success of our country depends on the success of our cities. More importantly, the success of every american wherever they call home, in the city, on the farm, in big cities are smalltowns, or smalltowns, each one of you are working around the clock to take your hometowns to the next level. Three days from now i promise you that will do everything in our power to help you succeed. And to take america itself to the next level too. Ive said before this friday will mark the don of a new era and i truly do believe it. Its a sense of of optimism across the country that people feel. Its an optimism about new beginnings and i want to assure all of you on behalf of the president elect that in the days, months, and years that lie ahead we are going to work with each and everyone of you. Regardless of political party, to make America Great again. Thank you very much and god bless you and your continued service to your communities and to this nation. [applause] [applause] [inaudible conversation] [applause] the president ial inauguration of donald trump is friday. Cspan will have live coverage of the days events and ceremonies. Watch live on cspan and cspan. Org and listen live on the free cspan radio app. President obamas Foreign Policy legacy was the topic with guest Michael Breen of the Truman National security project and james of the Heritage Foundation and the retiredwashin Lieutenant Colonel on washington