Guest he was. He was probably the leading lights, by the way. Not just in the family, but generally. Educated the president , some hollywood stars, as you know, very well published law. E First Step Act into this landmark piece of legislation not only short and prison sentences for some offenders and provided muchneeded drop chaining to prisoners, it changed the viewpoint of criminal Justice Reform in the republican party. Theled the bill to raise felony theft threshold in florida to 1500, which had not been raised since 1986. At that time, i felt alone in wanting to have such changes to our criminal Justice System that were definitely needed in the state of florida. That bill died in 2017, but when i saw what the president accomplished, when i saw what many said never would or could be done, it renewed my beliefs that true criminal Justice Reform, which keeps our safe but allows x offenders to come home and be successful, can be achieved in the United States. Gaveresidents leadership me courage to file floridas version of the First Step Act earlier this year. Even though we felt short in florida, the groundwork has been laid for real reforms in our state. What is now possible in florida [applause] what is now possible in florida is only possible due to the vision, the courage, and the leadership of President Trump. Bill was one of the most coney pieces of legislation ever pass. For more than 40 years, that crime bill, which was passed by democrat and republican, saw incarceration rates soar, especially in the black community. While Many Organizations on the left and the right started calling on washington to reverse the 1994 crime bill, in typical washington fashion, the politicians talked but they did very little. Was, of course, until President Trump. It took courage to get republicans to follow the president s lead and change the gops view on criminal Justice Reform. It is interesting to see there was a vision and pathway possible or a bipartisan these of legislation that could be supported by both parties. It took leadership to stand against 20 years of Public Policy that did a fantastic job of incarceration, but a terrible job of rehabilitation. They said working on a second step could never happen, but it can happen today, and that is because of the courage and leadership of President Donald Trump. Courage,eadership and it is my closer to stand here today with matthew charles, who will come to the podium and introduce the president. Today, we are going to award him with a 2019 bipartisan justice award. Ladies and gentlemen [applause] ladies and gentlemen, my good friend matthew charles, whose life was changed by the First Step Act. Please give him a round of applause. Thank you. [applause] thank you. My name is matthew charles. Three years ago i walked out of prison. I was serving 21 years for dealing crack cocaine. I have accepted jesus christ as my savior in prison and was ready to do the lords work in my community. I have devoted my life to rehabilitation and serving others. I found a job and have reconnected with friends and family. Then, out of nowhere, the powers that be claimed i was not eligible for release, and after two years of freedom, i was sent back to serve another decade behind bars. , becausewas not to be i handful of courageous leaders, you all, where reaching across the aisle and finding a path to the First Step Act. Surprise that fortences dealing crack were stronger than cocaine. A generation of lack men were erased in a series of decadelong prison terms that destroyed their families and place a strain on this great country. This increased disparities between crack and powder cocaine, but it did not apply to me, because i was already serving time. The First Step Act to included a provision that would make a new sentencing laws apply equally to everyone, and that meant i was to be free again. I stand before you today a military veteran, a convicted drug dealer, a bornagain christian and a free man. [applause] matthew thank you. And now i am grateful to past thewho First Step Act, but i will say this without hesitation, i would not be a free man today if President Donald Trump had not supported and signed the First Step Act. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege and honor to introduce president of the United States ofamerica, a champion criminal Justice Reform, john old j trump donald j. Trump. President trump two great gentlemen thank you very much. Please sit down. [cheers and applause] thank you very much. Thank the to representative is somebody with a future. Know if i would trade him the future for 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 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. Of being proud 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 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. Thank everyone from one of our nations incredible hbcus. I have been working with them that it college. We know benedict college. College. Ct we know benedict college. [cheers and applause] and a veryrump dynamic president , dr. Rosslyn park 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 cause of criminal Justice 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 trulyer to achieve a 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 any political party. Since we passed this landmark legislation, 10 states have all of our lead and passed legislation that takes critical steps to advance criminal Justice Reform at the state level. We gave it a beautiful someingstone and states have comments 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 all of the mayors, city council members, and state legislators who are fighting for reform in their own communities. Thepecially want to thank 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 moore, but that is ok. We will do this first. State senator they have helped so much and particular. And harvey peeler. Where are you, harvey . [applause] President Trump gerald malloy, thank you very much. Thank you. [applause] guest President Trump state senator katrina healy, thank you so much President TrumpPresident Trump state senator katrina healy, thank you so much. Thank you. House members, speaker j lucas. Jay . [applause] President Trump thank you, jay. Simril. Ader gary murphy,davis, chris robbie croaks bobby croo ks, alex clemens i am glad you are able to be here and i left some outcome and they will probably never speak to me again, but that is ok. I have some names written down and they work 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 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] pleasent trump and also , 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. Governor pamela of it pamela and it pamela evit t, 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. Tim were right in there, and lindsay. You never let the people down. Great job. [applause] andident trump 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 he wasad one election 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 right . Point behind, he is a fantastic man and he has been really 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. Thanksteve, you, steve, great job. And my friends pastor darrell lineer. Nd kareem where is Darrell Scott . Talk about a warrior, this guy was defending the 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 he never let it bother him. What he has done in defending forget it. Never 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] aesident trump and he is 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. By several joined outstanding members of my administration, people who have really made a difference. U. D. Ben of h 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] aboutent trump i talk 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 to get it done together. Tim, i do not think we could have acted 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. Who is withifield, 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 nights to someone who worked tirelessly to get this law passed a very special thanks to someone who worked tirelessly to get this law passed. He worked, and i told 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. It has 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. Production 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] everyent trump africanamerican leader here today we have a lot of great leaders from all parts of our country is very proud of a noble heritage. History,t our 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 ideal enshrined in the declaration of independence that we are all created equal, and that our rights come from god. [cheers and applause] its true. Rump 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. 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] from the trump 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 capital. Nations capitol. My goal has been to give a voice to the voiceless and in washington, to see those who have been made to feel silent and invisible. 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 ministers, they all me, to fighte, ask 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] thank you. Rump westyear, Kim Kardashian 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 looks like at least another 28 years. Thats her whole life. During her time in prison, ce became a minister and mentored fellow inmates. Woman. Edible 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. Beautiful, incredible women. It was a scene that played all over our country and it was a scene that i dont think anybody whathe idea the impact of that had on a lot of people that dont may be think like we do. An incredible impact. It was a beautiful thing to see. There was so much love. I was true love. That was a truly happy family. I knew in that moment i made the right decision, and we are all delighted alice is with us. She has been an incredible representative. Sometime im going to sit her down and ask, what is it that you do . Please explain it to me, because i would like a little bit of what you have here echo have. She really is a very special person. Alice, please come up and say a few words. Alice, thank you. [applause] i never, in my wildest dreams would have thought that i would be standing before such a group as this. What an honor. Separatedrcerated, for my family for 22 years, almost 22 years, was one of the hardest challenges of my life. Prison, person goes to it impact 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. Faces of the ones you would 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. Godas only by the grace of 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. That i story my story touched so many that heard about it. Came home, i didnt come ane as an annex felon as ex felon, i came home as a returning citizen. I thank all of our legislators. Movementy has become a , and it is one that we as returning citizens would not allow you to beget. 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. Said, youalice and were in a prison for 22 years, you got to know a lot of people in that prison. You,any were people like people that were there for so many years for some think 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 them a big list. We are going to do some good things. Job. You, alice, great the more people i spoke with, the more clear it became the system could be deeply unfair, contributing to a tragic cycle of poverty and crime and incarceration. Step act made transformative changes. We rolled back the unjust provisions of the 1994 clinton crime law. Which disproportionately harm to the africanamerican community. Here with us today is one of the americans who changed her life and was recently released. Please come up and tell us your story. [applause] [applause] as the president of the United States said, my name is tanisha bannister. It was because of the first step reunite withe to my family. Im joined by my son, he he is in the crowd somewhere in the crowd. I want to thank all the political leaders and organizations who helped push this act. Butree not only just me 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. Beenny like myself had displaced by the criminal Justice System for so long. Im here to say because of the First Step Act we are able to move towards the second step. President think the for giving me another lease on life. 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 , 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 when we didnt have a voice to be heard. I just wanted to say thank you. 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. About the political leaders, thinking who can be gh on crime, who can be im standing here today saying this is what a Second Chance looks like. [applause] im determined not my past define my future. Forwardontinue to move they by day, step i step, and not forget about the ones that were left behind. There is still work to do. Day, acan say is on this change has been made and we are looking forward to things to come. Thankyou, mr. President you benedict for having me, thank you all the political. Eaders and organizations it helped to rehabilitate us, help us integrate back into society and live a comfortable life. I just want to say thank you, again. Who ask when is she running for office . We have to back her. That was not a written speech. That was delivered from the heart. 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 onesbut give me the right the two of you. Thatnow some great people are going to be there for many years and you are going to give me some names. Incredible, thank you both. Inmates, theer single best action we can take is of is to help them find a good job. American ng putting america first. 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. , lawyers labor market recruiting americans 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. Are being helped by the trump economy, a great economy. 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. They are not going back in many cases. They like it, they love it. Before they were never getting that job and bad things were happening. For years criminal records with come in all records were dismissed. Lance my administration is working to remove barriers to reentry and encourage Second Chance hiring. When we say higher american, we say all americans, every single american. Instead of hiring low wage rate lowwage labor overseas, we are asking companies to hire american citizens, including american prisoners who have been reformed. 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 and is now a master barber. Now i can have my hair properly cut. Finally i can get a good haircut. And criticized for a long time. Now it is more than 500 clients. I would love you to come up and say a few words, but more portly check out my hair, see what you can do for me. [laughter] [applause] 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. Myself tos to educate help my entire living years. I made curriculums, i started a program called criminal and addictive thinking. Couldmentoring guys who not read or write. Helping them helped me. It couldnt have beens have been done without support. 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 arent able to do positive things in their life and make a change. Thank you very much. [applause] to mentor people as much as i can. Wayy to show them the right not to give up, because a lot of people give up easily and they think that is the easy way out. I was in example, when prison i had to renew my barbers license. For nine years straight new york state denied me because of my conviction. Every year i said i dont care, im good to spend 40 every year. 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. My motto is to help one person in any way. Thank you. [applause] you. Dent trump thank incredible job. On criminal Justice Reform, firstand the economy, our agenda is expanding opportunity for every race, color and creed. Putticians of both parties their interests ahead of your interest and the interest of foreign nations ahead of the interests of our nation. Our leader spent eight trillion dollars on wars in the middle east, but they allowed our great cities to fall into tragic decay and disrepair. Year in the of one middle east, we could have given scholarships to every child and every Innercity School in america and have tremendous numbers of dollars left over. Paula jewish politicians ,rained americas wealth overseas well leaving generations of africanamerican children trapped in failing schools and failing inner cities. The same washington establishment enacted trade policies that shuttered off jobsries and shipped our far away to other countries. Million americans lost good paying manufacturing jobs after the twin disasters of and chinas entrance into the world trade organization. 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 the distance United States citizens. My administration will always put American Communities first , whilee after issue selling out our nations workers and our nations great families. , the this great nation great betrayal of the American Worker is over. After years of rebuilding Foreign Countries we are finally rebuilding our country, renewing our cities and securing our neighborhoods and protecting our own forgotten communities. Make america great. Have an commitment to advancing air and assent opportunity for the africanamerican community. You with empty political rhetoric. Opposite, wethe are acting, not talking. They have talked a lot and got nothing done. Forre talking about centuries, for over 100 years it it hasertain talk 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, s. W working atve people a level and a number in the history of our country we have never had so many people working before. 160 million people. Africanamerican youth unemployment, so important. A number that three years ago 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. On the debate state 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. More than 2 million americans have been raised at raised out of poverty. The first time on record, most new hires of prime working age are of minorities and women. Thats the first time in the history of our country. Fast and rising twice as fast for the lowest income workers than they are for the high wages, proportionately they are doing the best of all. Unemployment for in 71 years. Soon it will be historic. Thats a good number. A recent analysis found middleclass income has risen by , but addsand dollars to that its median household income, add to that 2000 from 2000 froms and 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. Nobody has ever come close. The bush eight years, it is 400. Obama, eight years, it is less than 1000. With us it is 9,000. And thats for 2. 5 years. We are almost up to three. 400 for eight years. 975 for eight years. 9,000 for 2. 5 years. Four more years. President trump thank you. They say a windy election, practically there are three diff in forms of when. They have been right every year. 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 they want fitted 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. At the beginning of the administration and said i want to help people get jobs, but they have to be trained. , says butreat person 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 were member that. I say this with great confidence, the best is yet to come. [applause] thank you. Four more years. A more years. Four more years. You very trump thank much. Dont say 16 more years, because that will drive them crazy. One of these characters said, hes going to win. And then hes never getting out. He will be here for another four and then another four. Years, say four more 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 witchhunt, a terrible thing going on in our country. 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. They talked about the insurance policy. Shes going to win, just in case she doesnt we have an insurance policy, that was long before moeller andtrump looking up at. 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 divides the country. Surrounding innocent people, being destroyed and humiliated. We have some any people that have been hurt, destroyed and humiliated in ways we have never seen before in the history of our country. And toworking to put in horrible injustice and horrible practices. Its in some pretty high places. Justice, fairness and due are tenants of our democracy. I will uphold these principles. Democrats have historically stood for in the past. They would never allow this to happen. Tim scott made the finest statement yesterday, he said the president is innocent, forget about you process, he is innocent. I wont forget that statement. We have to remember, honest abe was something pretty special. Abraham lincoln was a republican. A president revered for what he did to observe our nation and to abolish slavery. I think we have to start bringing that up a little bit. People forget that. Are committed to upholding his legacy and the sacred principle that all people are entitled to live in freedom and dignity. Lincolning about mourned more because the have left policies 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. Impact,eally having an 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 trial, sos, to a fair 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. List, highest crime rate, worst housing situation, lived in the worst areas, everything was bad, worse education. Overings over and over and , highest rate of incarceration. Myself, vote for me, what the hell do you have to lose . I said it. My poll numbers went like a rocketship. My people said, i dont know if that was good to say. I said it was the truth, what the hell do you have to lose . Take the worduld hell out. The fake news would say he used a horrible and there horrible word. Look what we have done in less than three years. Its never happen in the history of our country, what we have done. Talented smart, wonderful, warm group of people. I have so many friends, they are great, and i am so honored. Im putting you in the same category as these two incredible women. I only want the right names, jerome. I think its a tremendous thing we can do. We can do a lot of great things. We can do some incredible things. These are three unbelievable representatives and there are so many more that we dont know about. I will put you in charge of that little project. That is something he would like to do very much. It is part of our agenda to lift up as part of our agenda to lift up forgotten americans, we are investing distressed investing in distressed communities. Governors have designated nearly nine thousand communities as the opportunity zones we just discussed, including this very neighborhood surrounding benedict college. You saw what is happening just around your college and in your college. People are investing in these areas that would have never ever been investing here. The money is flowing into your community. And i directed every member of my cabinet to support opportunity zones. Leading these efforts is along withen carson the that along with the revitalization council. Along with the revitalization council. And a lot of people that have done an incredible job this community and country. Within my first weeks in office i signed an executive order to support historically black colleges and universities by moving federal hp cu initiatives to the white house. Past two years we have increased federal funding by a record 13 . Check out the last administration, see what they did for you, not too much. Not much. Check out out. I want you to check it out yourself. Will alwaysation treasure and protect hp cu like benedict college. Of this institution reminds us all how africanamerican leaders have helped america stand for what is just, noble, right and true. Students and one great baptist minister. Their first classes took place in a former plantation mansion. In the 1930s benedict students participated in one of the first civil rights campaigns in South Carolina. From the halls of this campus came american pastors, poets, advocates, athletes, innovators and entrepreneurs. And their courage, their vision, their determination, their wisdom and grace, they lifted up the sites of our nation and called america to greatness. This has been an incredible institution. The extraordinary legacy of generations of africanamerican patriots shows us that the heart and spirit and soul of our nation is always found in our people. Americase source of strength, the captains of americas destiny, and the authors of americas future. After decades of disappointment and bitter betrayals from washington, and you have had the most bitter disappointments, more than anyone, my administration is making a decisive rake with the failures of the past. Entrenchedng on the interests, the corrupt power structures and the rigged ,ystems of the old status quo with confidence in our vision we are putting this nation on a better and brighter path for you for your families and for all our great citizens. Keeping promises, solving problems, writing wrongs and boldly confronting injustices wherever and whenever we find them. We are honoring our allegiance to the hardworking men and women who sweats and sacrifice whos sweat and sacrifice make our country run. We are affirming the sacred bonds of loyalty and love that unite us as citizens and patriots. We are defending freedom and justice for every man woman and child across our nation. We are fighting to bring toortunity, dignity and hope every block, every neighborhood and every city and town all throughout this magnificent land. 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. [applause] always get what you want playing] live, tonight, two candidates challenging President Trump for the republican nomination. Cspan hosts a conversation with former massachusetts, and are Massachusetts Governor mark weld. Mark there will be taking your tweets and facebook comments. Live tonight at eight eastern on cspan. Watch any time on cspan. Org and listen wherever you are using the free cspan radio app. Politico on, the Unconventional Political Convention is live from Music City Center in nashville saturday at 2 p. M. Eastern on cspan. Former fbi director james comey and chief political analyst for msnbc and nbc news nicole wallace. Hannity,go and sean and former minnesota senator al franken. Cspan. Org, and listen wherever you are using the free cspan radio app. Book tv has live weekend coverage of the texas book festival from austin, starting saturday at 11 eastern, with discussions on the Trump Administration immigration policies. The life and career of former u. N. Ambassador samantha bauer, and the impact of disinformation from former under secretary of state. Our live coverage from the texas book festival continues sunday martyn eastern with dr. Macario offering his thoughts on health care. And recounting her time as a cia operative. And an American University professor on race in america. Starting at 11 a. M. Eastern on saturday and at noon on sunday. Be sure to catch the Miami Book Fair next month on book tv on cspan two. This morning, funeral marylandwere held for congressman elijah cummings, who died last week. The 13 term congers and was