Transcripts For CSPAN2 Empowering Women Symposium 20180116

Which is a nice change of pace for me. I will take those tough questions later today. I am very happy to tag and some of the brightest and best that the administrator should have. As the president has said we are all focused on making our economy a place where women can work, succeed in a private like never before. The president has the power to so many women throughout his career in the private sector and now he is doing that here at the white house. Im excited to join here on stage by several of those women now. They need no introduction but because i am here and you arent i will give one anyway because of my chance to brag on some of these administration finest. I will start with about the trump who is an advisor to the president. In her role she focuses on the education and Economic Empowerment of women and families as well as job creation and Economic Growth for workforce element, still straining and on viewership. Given her success in business is something she knows a lot about. In addition to being one of the most successful women in the administration she also happens to be the president s daughter. Because of that it is led to her getting all of the most glamorous assignments around here. For instance, instead of traveling all over asia with the president late last year on air force one she was writing amtrak up and down the eastern seaboard to sell tech support. Obviously, it works. Every member of congress [applause] because every member of congress that she engaged with ended up voting for the biggest tax cut in American History and ensured that the Child Tax Credit would help all families. In addition to being successful in business ivanka trump and her husband jared have three incredible young children. I can personally vouch for because my kids are of similar ages and hers are far better behaved so i think i may see if i could work out a deal and send my kids to jared and haemonchus house. In all seriousness shes one of the most successful women, not just in the administration, but in the country and its a true honor for us to have her here at the white house to help lead on a number of issues and will turn it over to ivanka trump. I will say that your children are much much better behaved. [laughter] it is incredible to be here today with this great group of Women Business owners, entrepreneurs, thought leaders from across the country and sit alongside this Formidable Group of women who represent this great administration. I am excited to engage with each of you in this discussion about how this administration is empowering women to succeed in the American Economy and around the globe. Domestically we have been prioritizing our administrations working family agenda with the goal of ensuring that all americans succeed in the modern economy. This agenda includes Workforce Development and job training as well as family, friendly legislation and policies. All of which are critical to this mission. To ensure that americans from students to those who are mid or late career have the skills necessary to secure wellpaying jobs this administration has been investing deeply in our countrys most valuable aspects. The American People. We recognize that there many paths to him family sustaining jobs outside of Fouryear College and therefore we have been focused on expanding access to to ships, Technical Education and workforce training programs. We will continue to push in the months to come for both legislative and executive action. Last fall the president issued a president ial memorandum directing the department of education to prioritize in Stem Education and get grades k12. Thereby aligning the skills being taught in the classroom with the jobs in the modern economy. We were joined in this mission by the private sector which announced the contribution more than 350 million for you Stem Education. While workforce initiatives are important to all americans as we embark on the Fourth Industrial Revolution it is critical to ensure that women are not left behind. For example, while women represent 47 of the overall us workforce they make up only 13 of engineers and 21 of tech sector employees. It is essential that we reverse this trend and that women cease to be under representative in these wellpaying, staff thrilling sectors of the economy. We are committed to doing just that. One month ago as sarah referenced Congress Passed the tax cuts and jobs act and President Trump signed the bill into law. This was a historic milestone for america, American Families, American Workers and american industry and the economy as a whole. We are starting to see more of the impact on the tax plan already, even prior, to its believing impermanent. More than 100 companies have pledged to give bonuses, increase wages and invest in their employees as a result of the tremendous savings that they will have under the new tax law. These tax cuts are for American Workers and hardworking parents. Now they will be able to keep more of their hard earned paychecks and in addition to doubling the standard deduction essential component of the tax plan is an expanded title tax credit doubling to 2000 a child and a new dependent care tax credit also very critical to maintain as part of this new tax plan important credits for American Families such as the child and dependent care credit and the adoption credit. Many elements of our working family agenda are realized through tax form as we are empowering American Families to thrive. Further, we are working with members of congress on both sides of the aisle and thought leaders across the country many are in the room today to build strong coalitions of support for a National Paid family leave program. This is essential in longoverdue. We must recognize the change in composition of our American Workforce in which all parents work in the vast majority of American Homes. We must support those work and family. Finally, we are committed to pulling American Leadership and innovation. Women, especially minority women, are the Fastest Growing category of Small Business owners. Through tech support Small Businesses will now pay the lowest tax rate in over 80 years. Through incredible programs such as those that administrator mcmahon has at the Small Business administration and across government we are eliminating barriers to women and accessing capital, networks and mentorship. For example, spa land women on businesses 120 million more last year compared to the year prior. Our commitment to the Economic Empowerment of women stems from the globe. Through incredible initiative for state department usaid and other agencies as well as domestic and International Partners such as the world bank which is we launched the weather Women Entrepreneur Initiative Last july to support women in the developing world. Honor to be here today to talk about her deep commitment to empowering women in their families and i thank you for joining me and engaging in this conversation. Thank you. [applause] thank you, ivanka trump. Linda mcmahon serves as the administer of the us Small Business administration and like ivanka trump she had and still has one of the more glamorous drops which i know she loves and we are so proud and thankful to have her. She played an Important Role in the process of getting the tax legislation passed and will continue to push that. As a member of President Trump cabinet she advocates on the half of the 30 million Small Businesses in america it makes sure businesses have the support and tools to start, grow and proceed in business. Prior to joining the Trump Administration she had the perfect job to prepare her to wrestle with the media and fight on behalf of of american Small Businesses. She was the founder and ceo of World Wrestling entertainment. A few of you got that joke and some of you will get it later. [laughter] administrator mcmahon knows about how to help grow and empower Small Business since she helped grow first from a 13 person regional operation to a publicly traded Global Enterprise with more than 800 employees and offices worldwide. She and her husband, vince, have two Adult Children and six grandchildren which im sure she spoils a lot. With that, i will turn it over to the administrator. Thank you very much. It really is a great honor to be here to share the dais with the secretary and ivanka trump, who i have close relationship with and we enjoyed getting out into doing our glamorous jobs. She gets her hardhats more than we do. [laughter] it really is an honor. Its a great opportunity for us to talk a little bit today about what this white house has done to ensure Economic Opportunity for all and especially for women. Women are the primary breadwinners in more than 40 of households and the tax form and signed into law by President Trump last month will help put more money into those projects and probably no one in this room did more to get the tax reform passed then ivanka trump but especially focusing on the child care and Child Tax Credit that has really been, no pun intended, her baby and she really intimated that an part four. As head of the us Small Business and ministration ive had the privilege of meeting with Small Business owners all over the country, including many Women Entrepreneurs. They find that owning their own business is a traffic way for them to secure their own financial future for themselves, to provide for their families to exercise their commitment to their communities. It is rewarding but there are also a lot of responsibilities. As an entrepreneur myself i can tell you it is tough teasingly that managing cash flow and worried about things like payroll often sacrificing your own project so your employers can get paid. I bet a lot of women in this room are entrepreneurs and i see a lot of head shaking and nodding. Tax form is especially good news for Women Entrepreneurs. We will still have more money to reinvest in their businesses. The latest Research Shows that women not only own 11. 6 million businesses in the United States and think about that, 11. 6 out of 29. 6 million Small Businesses in total. The employee nearly 9 million workers. Women owned businesses provided more than 293. 1 billion in wages and salaries and contribute to and this is an impressive number, 1. 7 trillion in sales to our national economy. Congratulations, ladies, that is incredible. [applause] nearly 40 of women owned firms cited taxes as a factor that impacted their profitability so the new tax form policy we are definitely going to help that end. It was spearheaded by President Trump and will make this more profitable and successful. This administration is also working very hard to help Women Entrepreneurs have an easier time managing their businesses by cutting so many of the wasteful and expensive regulations that hamper job growth. Now when the president first came into office his directive was for every new regulation you had to get rid of two but he went over that so it was 22 one, 22 one regulations. [applause] we are on a positive trajectory for significant Economic Prosperity. We are saving Small Businesses over 8. 1 billion in regulatory cost. Think about that. Take that 8. 1 billion and put it back into your business to grow your business, hire more people, open more offices and all of those things. Tax form, getting rid of the regulations this is a lot of money that is going back to our entrepreneurs. Last year the fda provided training and coaching to nearly 150,000 individuals through our Womens Business Center located in cities across the nation. I am excited to see the future for Women Business owners as america becomes the best place to start and operate a business in the entire world. Thank you. [applause] thank you, administrator. Now, last but certainly not least, secretary elaine chao, us secretary of transportation. Secondary child is the second time serving our nation as part of the present cabinet only one of two women ever do so in our countrys history. She previously served as the secretary of labor for 2001 to january 2009 and is the first asianamerican woman to be appointed to the president s cabinet in American History. Her exemplary career which is also includes an extensible is the highway of america and director of the peace corps is rivaled only by her inspiring personal story. She arrived in america at the age of eight speaking no english and became a us citizen at the age of 19 under economic degree from Mount Holyoke and an mba from harvard. She has since received 36 honorary doctorate degrees and has been a distinguished fellow at the Heritage Foundation and the hudson institute. If all of that was not enough she also married to someone most of you may have heard of, majority leader of the United States senate, mitch mcconnell. With that, secretary chao. [applause] we love, sarah. My sisters are incredible fans of hers and she was gone from and the thought occurred to me these people will think i cant hold a job. [laughter] thank you all for being here. I love being here with ivanka trump, linda mcmahon, before i start i want to introduce you for women, for women leaders, at the department of transportation who are currently leading four of the major modes. One is not here because shes in detroit but let me introduce dean williams, head of the federal transit administration, jane, please stand up. Let everyone see you. [applause] heidi king is acting a minister for national Highway Transportation Safety Administration and she is in detroit at the detroit auto show. We have kathy, the acting chair for federal motor carrier safety administration. From louisiana, and then we have brandy hendrickson, acting a minister for federal Highway Administration from indiana. [applause] i am so proud of them and they are providing great leadership. Since President Trump was elected america stock market, economy, separation and Capital Investment have all taken off. From the very beginning this president has made americas economy and workers his top priority. Transportation infrastructure plays a vital role in all of this. It is the backbone of the economy and connects people with essential services such as jobs, education, healthcare and it also our countrys Global Competitiveness by increasing Productivity Across Industries and increasing our quality of life. Today our nations infrastructure is aging. We are seeing increased congestion in our roads and in our airspace and buy some estimate delays and loss of fuel cost our country about 160 billion annually. Our ports, inland waterways and Public Transit systems are also in need of refurbishing. If our country is to remain competitive and produce good jobs the infrastructure must be addressed. While we have a president who is a builder. He understands our countries infrastructure needs. That is why the white house has proposed a plan to revitalize and rebuild our critical infrastructure. If the proposal calls for 1 million in Infrastructure Investment over the next ten years and it calls upon 17 different federal agencies to all work together. Transportation is only one part of the infrastructure proposal and there is also water, energy, broadband, veterans hospital, Rural America and transformative technology. These are all the parts of the infrastructure proposal. As you have heard Regulatory Reform is another very key part of infrastructure. Our departments and departments throughout the federal government are making a great deal of headway in reducing the Regulatory Burden on families in job creators. Just in the department of transportation, for example, early in 2017 we launched reforms to reduce unnecessary duplicative and overly burdensome rules and regulatio regulations. We all care about the environment and protecting the public but when regulations are duplicative and they are overly burdensome and they dont perform the job. They dont help what they are supposed to be doing. In addition the department is simplifying and streamlining the property and approval processes for info structure and here are some real world examples. These demonstrate why permitting reform is needed. In 1936, its only five years to build the massive for the by comparison, an additional runway in new mexico just recently took 19 years to complete because of permitting and approval process. That is not the worst of it. I went to visit alaska in august of transportation was finally able to announce that another federal agency cleared the way for a new road called sterling highway to be built. Among other things this road will provide yearround access to medical care for small, remote alaska communities. It took 35 years to get that approval. America cannot afford these delays and costs. They not only impact the economy but also the quality of life. The department has already made significant process progress in incrementing the president directive to cut red tape and regulatory cost, to unders this president and this a ministration cost associated with the new department of transportation regulation are now negative. It is a minus 317 million in 2017 and will be minus 500 million in 18. We are actually saving taxpayers nearly 800 million in unnecessary burden some regulations just in 2017 and 2018 alone. [applause] but what that means is that the government is off our backs and that people, real americans, are able to carry on their lives, take care other families and have the freedom that they need to do so. Let me close by emphasizing that safety is always the departments top priority. In 2016 over 37000 people died in Motor Vehicle crashes and that is why this administration is also encouraging the development of new safety technology. We want to spare families this tragedy and improve the quality of life of communities all across america. With that i am so glad to see all of you. Thank you so much for writing this cold weather to be with us. It will be a wonderful afternoon. Thank you again. [applause] thank you, secretary chao. As i said when we first started we were going to let our very great panel here take a few questions which i am excited about letting them take that role for the next little bit. I will move over to some of the extended panels there on the end and will take a few questions from them. I will test this out. Maybe, there we go. Since you are on the end and closest how about i start with you and let you take questions. My name is sharon and i am from atlanta, georgia. I had a question about the new tax form bill. How will it spark the economy . Hello, sharon. Welcome. Thank you for being here with us and contributing to this dialogue. We appreciate it. I think first and foremost when we think about the framework for what we want to accomplish through longoverdue tax form we wanted to provide true tax relief to middle income families and we wanted to enable American Businesses to be competitive in a global landscape. Additionally we wanted to semper fi a cumbersome and outdated and overweight with specialinterest text code and im sure all of you know exactly what im talking about given the nod but in thinking through how we were going to fuel Economic Group and you specifically asked about the business side do you think about the rest of the developed world and with their tax rates are relative to ours in america where the previous text code our rate was at 35 making us the highest taxed corporate we had the highest Corporate Tax in the whole of the developed world so intuitively when you think about encouraging Economic Investment when businesses are cost money where to locate and certainly you know as people are coming into the economy leaving schools the world is a lot smaller than it used to be and there is a lot of mobility people have a lot of thought goes into where People Choose to locate and we want them to locate here in this country. We are going to be creating the environment through this legislation coupled with what administrator mcmahon said about aggressive deregulation to take the brakes off the American Economy and american viewers and invasion and we think those two things will encourage businesses to invest here and ultimately create what were looking for which is increased productivity, increased profitability for those businesses so they invest back into their workforce help us grow wages and create jobs and opportunities for all americans. We are starting to see that your fruit just through administrative actions but with tax reform kicking in we will see a lot more of it and i think companies for the optimism, we are seeing from them with just the announcement of tax form having the past that has led to over 100 businesses already stepping up to the plate and investing back in their workforces and in the form of bonuses in his cases as last week, the largest employer offering their workers expanded paid maternity and fraternal leaf so we are very excited for a lot more of that. Do we have any other questions from this group . Sharon broke the ice with the crowd and for the crowds benefit i want to give a little background. Most of these ladies are Small Business owners, members of the legislative body but if you guys do not mind please introduce yourself on the front end and tell us about yourself. Hello, state senator lisa baker from the 20th district in northeastern slovenia and i represent five counties in the northern part of the state. I machine agreement, i am from North Carolina and im an administrative assistant. [inaudible], managing partner for the Outback Steakhouse in maryland. [inaudible conversations] state senator, i represent southwestern pennsylvania. Three different counties and ive been a Business Owner for three years and i you are seeing my song that the relation because of the way that we have some of the topics. We will talk later because i got a history with some professional wrestlers so we will go there. Im loving this panel but my question is as a Business Owner of 30 years what is this that this new tax form is going to do to help Small Business owner specifically . Ive heard from Small Businesses there you district Small Businesses because ive been out touring the country and ive been to about 31 states now and ive been to half of the district offices and what ive heard and i have conducted business roundtables in what i have heard from every Small Business owner was that if i get a tax cut i will text that money and reinvest it in my business either i will hire more employees, ill be able to raise wages, i could write more benefits, i can open a new location, whatever that is, that money in the pocket for those Business Owners. Therefore this tech support package not only we euppercaseletter 5 rate but each tax bracket just like all taxpayers will result in reduction in taxes paid and it is an incredible boost to our Small Business owners. I am pleased to see that we have entrepreneurs who are stepping up to the plate and as ivanka trump mentioned the enthusiasm for this tech support package and the optimism in the country. From the fpa perspective the First Quarter of fiscal 2018 versus the prior quarter we were up 80 and guaranteed loans to Small Business startups which is an incredible indicator of where our businesses will continue to grow. For Small Businesses this is a great lift for them and we are looking forward to seeing more of them start. I may just add that Small Businesses will be able to deduct the of their taxable income so that is amazing in and of itself because 20 of their income they can deduct from taxable revenues so very exciting and obviously i mentioned these will be the lowest tax rates Small Businesses will have enjoyed in little over 80 years. By leveling the Playing Field for Small Business owners it will be essential for their continued growth and prosperity. Another element of the tax plan that i think will be beneficial for all Business Owners, especially Small Business owners, is that one 100 expensing major Capital Investment so nonstructured Capital Investments. That is really huge. When you think about what were trying to accomplish and were trying to encourage people to invest back into their businesses and into their workforce and to do that they need to upgrade so just like we have deteriorating structure in this country we also have deteriorating capabilities in our plans and manufacturing facilities and Farm Equipment and so Small Business owners know they can get immediate deducting of one 100 of that expenditure for five years and then i think that will create an enormous amount of investment into American Business and be beneficial for Small Business owners. To you. Have a question for secretary child . I will mix it up plus its fun to get to be in charge of the panel because im using to have questions shouted at me. Im getting into this so we may go along just because this is one. Again, im sharon and i am a Jewelry Store owner of over 20 years in the atlanta area so i am ecstatic about the tax reform bill. And all for your wedding rings [leftsquarebracket her Contact Information should be happy to help them out later. [laughter] sarah, gave me a level plug, its called done what he [inaudible] [laughter] im margaret, senator from the state of utah, educated and worked as a registered nurse and by the choice a stayathome mom for a number of years before being elected to the utah legislator. I will state my question until everyone the chance to but can i say how delighted i am to be here with you ladies and want to thank you for your contribution to making the greatness of america and for women and those that you love. We appreciate that. [applause] hello, im jan jones from jackson, georgia. Im a fulltime mommy of two amazing children and also the founder of a non profit animal rescue. Rina casey from georgia, atlanta, georgia. Im a 40 year entrepreneur, Small Business owner, now mostly retired but im so happy and so grateful for all of you ladies and for our plastic president. From utah, newer for Healthcare Technology company and i sold it and became an annual investor and educator performs. I also run a foundation it runs a foundation for people to go after a ownership. Shannon, from marietta, georgia. I work in the Insurance Firm for nine years and my husband and i have six children. God bless you. [laughter] [applause] i would like to mention i was just in detroit and chrysler via made an announcement that because of the president s tax cuts they are going to move 2000 jobs from mexico to the United States and they were giving 2000dollar bonuses to their employees because they now administrator mcmahon mentions they now have more money and they can give it increased salaries and benefits and bring jobs back so this is just one, not a small comedy, Large Company who has now made this very big step because of the president and they will bring back 2000 jobs from mexico to america. Thats pretty amazing. [applause] sarah would like us to ask questions of secretary child and would you like to speak more to how this new tax reform will generate more tax income and would you speak more . Our economy in 2009 it went into the recession and it took a long time to come back. Part of that was the confidence factor as well. With this president who is wellestablished in the private sector who knows about business, the stock market, the economy, the job creators have faced that he will lead the economy in a very robust, positive way and that is why we are seeing on the women rate down to its lowest level from 1 and we are also seeing productivity increases we are on track to being hitting 3. 0, 3 gdp growth and all of this means that americans have become more prosperous and get more money in our pockets and we can take better care of our families. When we have this kind of tax reform where we were the thirdlargest overall taxation rate, personal plus corporate and personal and Corporate Tax rates and to bring it down to the present is an amazing accompaniment. Also, the fact that it was done in basically six months. In 1986 when tax form was done it took two years. This is a president that wants to see results and demand that wants it for america and for all of us. [applause] thank you, secretary choppered as much fun as i am having doing this part of the process we have got time for one more question so weve got one last question here. Thank you. I like to follow up on your questions and comments about inspiring in encouraging young women to pursue careers, nontraditional careers, in stem and related technologies. You mentioned some of what the administration has been doing but could you share a little more about the vision and goal. I think we all know that to be competitive the young people, especially young women to pursue that. If you could share that, we would appreciate it. Could you remind me of your name . The suspect hello, lisa. We are as the ministration deeply committed to ensuring that all americans have skills to succeed and the starts in our classrooms and continues with Lifelong Learning to ensure that workers who are displaced or with the rise of automation ceased to have a job that there is an opportunity for them to be retrained and to be able to create, to be able to reenter the workforce in a meaningful capacity. On every front we are committed to this and as we look at the horizon. There is opportunity and where there is increasing opportunity must on the fields are becoming critical, and ever more important. When you think about this through the lens of gender, women have fought very hard to get to where they are today and theyre still much work to be done but i am concerned that we start to make negative progress in terms of closing the gender wage gap if we continue to be so underrepresented in the field that are so promising and offer the most highgrowth and highest wages. We are making a big push both for the younger students and for those following a Technical Education of partnership track for inclusion and to ensure that women are equally represented and minorities are represented in this field. Part of it is early exposure so in the president ial memorandum directed the department of education to prioritize diamond Computer Science education there is also guidance issue that insured that these programs and grants were designed with racial and gender diversity in mind. We think it is important to think of this at an early age to get young girls engaged in the stem fields and we are committed to doing that and we think it is critical to filling those jobs that are currently vacant. While we have very low Unemployment Rates we also have the highest number of vacant jobs on record in several decades so there are close to 6 million jobs today that are going unfilled and in large part due to the skill gap where people dont have the skills or arent geographically located and im not talking a four year college so high school or basic or some secondary education so we are looking to realize those students and those Young Americans and midcareer with the vacant jobs. Thank you so much. Was it a bill or an executive order i think it was a bill performed by senator ernst that the president was encouraging women to graduate with their degree in engineering but they practice in that field and so many women graduate those degrees and yet they will take a job doing Something Else so we want to encourage women, not only early exposure majoring in those fields but when you get out and you got them in hand, push for for yourself and go after those jobs and practice for those jobs because we need that. Weve been finding that Much Research back the fact that more than of those graduating with some degrees in women graduating with some degree dont going to start related field. When there is an important ship experience and when people get learned while you earn training and experience through their education they are much much more likely to enter those fields so creating the election between real work opportunity and education is again very essential. We are working very closely with the department of labor with the department of education to ensure they have a seamless connection that the people learning the skills would have a path towards a meaningful care career. We need lots of engineers. I might also add this is not just a government issue. I think all of us who are thought leaders and leaders in our community if we see some young women we should be encouraging them to explore the potential and explore all types of occupations including those in the stem fields. Thank you so much. Even though we are having a great time i promised that i would get us and i know a lot of you have very busy schedules. Thank you so much for our panel and all of the members that helped ask questions and certainly to all of you who attended and we look forward to continuing to work with you on behalf of the Trump Administration to empower women and to drive that message more and more every single day and again, thank you for being here and thank you to our great panel. [applause] i just want to let everyone in the room know we are going to break and were going to reconvene another panel at 2 10 and we will need everyone seated by 2 05 and we will start that panel right at 2 10. Thank you. [inaudible conversations] blood. Is white house women symposium is set to resume at 2 10 easter. We will have live coverage when it does resume. [inaudible conversations] while we wait for the event to start up again we will show you comments from treasury secretary steve nguyen on tax policy, the debt ceiling and working with President Trump. Mr. Secretary, thank you for coming. Absolutely. We give a brief instruction and will go into some questions. Secretary is the 77 secretary of treasury, a native of new york, graduated from yale in 1985 for he was the publisher of the yale daily news and also a member of skull and bones which he cannot acknowledge because its a secret society. He joined in 1985. That is true that i cannot acknowledge it if i was. He joined Goldman Sachs in 1985 and became a partner in 1994 and rose up to be a member of the management committee. He was chief investment, chief Information Officer of Goldman Sachs also head of the mordred security at one point and left in 2002 after 17 years and informed do capital listed a number of Financial Investments which is in the banks which he bought from the fdic. He was also involved in entertainment business and through entertainment he financed a number of movies including and coproduced them, avatar, mad max, superman, batman and other movies like that and ultimately [inaudible] he told me when i saw him at a dinner once that he was going to become the Campaign Finance chairman for donald trump and i said youll never be heard from again because that probably wont lead to anything. That is correct. [laughter] but my predictions are usually wrong and so it worked out reasonably well for you. You became and for the president. [laughter] and became secretary treasury appointed by the president and was confirmed on the very 13, 2017. So, have you talked to your accountant about your own taxes are they going up or down . Well, im definitely making a lot less money in this job so i cant categorically say but my rate is going up so living in california and new york, my rate has gone up. Are your friends of friends of yours because their tax rates are going up or are your friend saying they are happy . Absolutely. I think people understand the Economic Impact that this will have and continue to have. Even for people if there is a slight increase its not a big increase on the high end but obviously we saw yesterday walmart announcement which was very impressive, over 1 Million People getting additional bonuses and 2 million workers done special bonuses. The process of getting them are you convinced that you can get it done through the first year . I really was. Originally i was on record saying me to get it done by august there was a schedule to get it done by august and honestly the healthcare late things but this was a well thought out plan. Now, it didnt go through what is called regular order and regular order meaning Committee Hearings and so forth and do you think the regular order is more or less a good thing to avoid tax legislation or are you happy with the way it went . Technically, itd go through regular order. I think the issue is it went to reconciliation which was a 51 votes but technically it did go through the Committee Process and regular order. Is there anything in the bill that you wish was not in there or is there anything that you are not happy with the bill . No, overall i could not be more pleased with it. If you look at the process and i think what worked very well is first of all the house committees had worked on taxes and thinking about this for a long time so way before the president and i showed up they had been working and gone through a blueprints. During the campaign and developing the president s Economic Program we spent a lot of time with him thinking about taxes and taxes were a major part in this platform and what he would do and i think we couldnt be more pleased. That is not to say that every single page and every single line item but i think we could not be more pleased to the overall. Sometimes, if you pass these major bills there is a technical purchased the butt to get a technical corrections bill passed you need 60 votes presumably so will you try to get a technical corrections bill or you dont need one . I think that is something we will see. I dont know if we will or we wont but it is something weve talked about. I would say as opposed to everyone else has now gone to other legislative things are number one issue is implementing the tax plan. Its a massive amount of work at treasury and the irs for yesterday we Just Announced the new withholding tables so people will get tax breaks in february. The good news is there is nothing that we have identified so far that we think is particularly problematic in that we think we need a technical correction. There are like 80 sections of the bill that are left to the secretary to put out regulations so we have a lot of work at treasury and the irs very often when they pass legislation in the irs does more work there doesnt seem to be new evidence of hiring more irs agents and you dont need to do that . No, i would say this touches every single aspect of the irs from technology to processes to forms and we are speaking with congress about getting additional funding for the implementation so we would expect that we would hire a significant number of people to help with the implication. But not a lot of people well, you know,. [laughter] i would say in all seriousness one of my projects for the irs is to look at how we can use Technology Much more for audits. I think we want to make sure that we automate and there is something called the tax gap which is the theoretical difference between what we do collect and we should collect and we will look at using technology to narrow that. One of the most important changes in the tax code as a result of the bill is the illumination of the deduction for state and local taxes. Some limitation of 10000. That was controversial and politically commercial, i suspect. Do you thank you could avoided doing that if you had faced in the Corporate Tax cut or in other words the Corporate Tax comes in right away but if you had phased in over five years could you keep the deduction is to mark. David, as you know within reconciliation we had a certain amount of money that we had to work with. There were tradeoffs and that is one of the tradeoffs we could have made. I would say the elimination of what people refer to as salt, state and local taxes that was something was part of that have house blueprints from day one. It was something that we thought through and 10000 i realize for people in this room that may not seem like a lot for state and local taxes but thats a meaningful impact for big chunks of the country and i think we have the right balance. I think the issue and we said this but they one is why should the high tax states the subsidize. Let me just say because then it normally follow along question is the high tax states are donor states and they get more money and my response to that is thats because theyre more wealthy people that live in the states. Some people say it was an effort by the red states to tax the that was i dont think that was the case at all. That was not one meeting that i was ever in for this became anybody said this was a political issue. It was an economic issue. What you think about governors might be saying to their constituents you can make your payments for your state and local taxes and they get a charitable deduction and. I think that is one of the funniest things i have possibly heard. I will say wait to see the language but i think most people understand the concept of a charitable deduction that is voluntary and that goes to help people and things like that. It is very different than the high cost of real estate taxes and my favorite two locations, new york and california. So there would be no auditing of governors who propose that, in other words you would an audit their taxes . We wouldnt audit their taxes but we will assure you we will all estate real estate taxes. People who work in the tax bill this game of six, what were those meetings like and how did you avoid the press knowing when you are meeting and what was the interchange like . One of the things that worked really well is this was a team effort. We started the process i think the house and the senate were pretty far apart, and we worked every week on narrowing those differences. And today and then just to answer your second question of how did we avoid, you know, one of the good things about having the secret Service Follow me around is that they can take you through kitchens and garages and okay. Things like that conveniently. So the tax bill, it is said by some, that it will increase the u. S. Debt by roughly 1. 1 1. 5 trillion over ten years. Do you agree with that . I dont. Do you think it will be revenue neutral or so, i mean, here are the numbers, okay . The joint lets start with joint tax which scored it at, i think, a 1. 45, excuse me, 1. 5 trillion, okay . That was what we had to reconcile to on what we call a static basis with no change. Joint tax there was about 500 billion of what we call dynamic scoring and revenue that wed get back. There was also about another 450 or 500 billion in what we call the difference between policy and the baseline. So they were measuring it to what they call the baseline, they were tax extenders that were rolled over every year, again, our view is that you should measure it to what the actual policy is. And, you know, we think there will be over a trillion dollars of growth. So i do think this will pay more itself. Now, youre projecting growth out of the government at roughly 3 a year for the next ten years or so . Yeah. Its actually about 2. 9 2. 9. We do believe, we predict for modeling purposes, we used 2. 9, but we do think we can get to 3 or higher. But if you actually fail be, youve got just 2. 2 or 2. 3, the deficit or the debt would be much higher. By deaf anything, but its never going by definition, but its never going to be higher. Again, the worst case scenario, its the trillion and a half less the half a billion and what were policy extenders. There are no democratic votes for the tax bill, so did you try to get democratic votes . There was just no willingness on the democrats parts to participate . We had a series of meetings. The president hosted several bipartisan meetings. We had several democrats fly with us on air force one with president to their home states when he gave speeches. But from the beginning, you know, kind of the democrats sent a letter to the president and copied me and made very clear kind of what their conditions were. And i think there was a big philosophical difference. We were focused on creating growth and creating things that were good for the American Economy, and they kind of drew a line in the sand. Okay. So if the democrats were to regain control of the government at some point, lets say the congress and even the white house at some point, do you worry that the tax bill would be undone because there were no democratic votes for it in. Not at all. I mean, first of all, i think its a unlikely hypothetical. But even if it were, i think at that period youre going to, i think it would be clear that youthe Economic Growth. And if there is the Economic Growth, its not going to be unwound. Okay. So money has got to be theres a tax on money thats offshore, so youre going to bring money back or put an excise tax on it. Presumably, companies will bring it back. Why was their no requirement that they use it in a certain way . You know, thats a good question, and that was something we talked about a lot, and various people came up with ideas; should we put conditions, should we attach it to this. I think our view was if we create the right incentives that companies, one, will bring it back because we charged them the tax either way so, obviously, theres a big incentive to bring it back. But i think as you know, david, Certain Industries people should make Capital Investments. Certain industries people should return money to workers, as weve seen with walmart. So i think philosophically our view was let the companies allocate that capital, and we believe 70 of it will ultimately flow back to the workers. Now, the president was involved, did you call him every other day . How did that process work . The president was unbelievably involved. So, i mean, again, if i go back to the campaign, you know, kind of on his two Major Economic speeches, one was detroit and one was new york, i ebb mean, literally up i mean, literally up until he went on stage he was fine tuning, you know, the tax rates, what we were doing, we debated them and, you know, i would say theres no question that for the last year he called either gary or i or both of us every single day with either he had views or we were reporting back to him what we were doing. So when you get a call from the president , somebody says the president s on the line, does that make you nervous or you dont know what hes going to say . Youre happy to get those calls . No, doesnt make me nervous at all. One of the good things for me in this job is ive known him for a long time, and i traveled with him for a year on the campaign. So, you know, kind of i wouldnt be here if i didnt feel like we could have good twoway conversations. But at the end of the day, i understand hes the president and its his decision. So on the tax bill today, as you see it, youre very happy with it, and you dont see any need to make any modifications, youre going to live with this bill, theres no effort to modify it in any way . No, i mean, there may be a need for certain technical corrections. Okay. But i think, again, theres nothing weve identified right now thats a problem. But well see if we need to fine tune anything. Okay. So the debt of the United States is roughly 20 trillion yes, more or less. And you are responsible for making certain we pay the debt. And as an owner of treasury bills, i want to make sure that you do pay that debt. Laugh are you worried about the debt limit . Youre going to run out of capacity. Youre actually over the period of time now we are. So you have a couple more months before you cant pay my treasury bills, is that right . So, you know, again, this was one of the things that, you know, multiple treasury secretaries advised me on before i got into the job. Ive been through now one extension, you know, kind of certain people were critical of me in the extension. At the end of the day, this is all about, you know, kind of we absolutely have to raise the debt ceiling every time we get close to the debt ceiling. I think one of the things the president and i are thinking about is how should this process changed. I mean, we have a debt ceiling, we have a budget, and we have appropriations. And i think you know, david, in any business you kind of plan what youre going to spend, and then you plan how you finance it. Its somewhat of a ridiculous process the way we do this. You think we should have a debt limit at all . I wont go so far as saying we shouldnt have a debt limit, but i do believe that when money is authorized to be spent, there should be some mechanism that the debt limit is also raised to pay for it. So however we refine that process. And the other thing, you know, were now in im using these treasury superpowers because we have hit the debt limit. And, again, the problem with that is all that does is the more time you extend it, you know, this town doesnt really work til you hit a deadline that you need to do it. Well, speaking of another deadline, the government will run out of money relatively soon. I think january 19th, is that right . Well, thats, again, thats authorization to spend. We wont run out of money. The debt limit is running i will have the cash, we just wont have the authorization to spend it. I mean the operation of the government, the funding of the government yes, the appropriation. Do you think that will get resolved in time . I, i dont think there will be a shutdown. I think itll either with resolved or therell be another cr to extend this this discussion with the treasury secretary or available anytime online at cspan. Org. We take you back live to the white house for the womens empowerment conference. [applause] its already after noon, i cant even believe it. The hours here go by very quickly at the white house. [laughter] good afternoon, everyone, thank you so much for being here. Not only as a mother, but as a as a woman, but as a mother of five, for me health care is one of the top issues that we deal with and also a top issue for American Families. What we have seen is obamacare basically collapsing. And we have an opportunity here to talk about how health care in america, its going to be better under President Trump. And we have the perfect person to be talking about that today. And with that, i want to introduce both the panelists here. Another issue were going to be discussing as well is on the issue of opioids. Its an issue thats been impacting families across the country, communities also being impacted with so Many Americans dying every year because of overdose. And its incredibly a sad story here in america. And were going to be talking about how President Trump and his team have committed to combating the opioids crisis. And im very much honored to introduce the two panelists here. Ive gotten to know them both so well, and theyre just is incredibly talented in being able to talk about these issues of health care and, obviously, the opioids crisis. Kellyanne conway, she really does need no introduction, is currently serving as counselor to the president. She was the first Woman Campaign manager to win a president ial campaign. [cheers and applause] were all very proud of the work that shes doing day in and day out for President Trump. And next to her is administrator sue that verma. For over two decades, has guided Public Policy helping create and implement the nations first consumerdirected Medicaid Program. On march 14th of 2017, she was sworn in as the 15th administrator of the centers for medicare and Medicaid Services with a commitment to empower patients to take ownership of their health care. Thank you for joining us. [applause] so to start off, ill let kellyanne come over, talk about the opioids crisis and what the president and his team is working on to combat this issue that is, as we know, devastating to so many families here in the United States. Thank you very much, mercedes. Its a true pleasure to work with you here too. Very much appreciate that kind introduction. I want to get right to the topic. The topic can be very harrowing and very sad, but we also feel that since it is a nonpartisan issue in search of bipartisan solutions, we feel very emboldened that under this president s leadership we will be able to tackle the three major challenges when it comes to the Opioid Crisis which we call the crisis next door. And those include prevention and education, Law Enforcement and interdiction and treatment and recovery. And those are not meant to be done she again with,ly sequentially, theyre meant to be tackled all at the same time. Right now as i stand here, roughly 116 americans are dying every day from an opioidrelated death. Think about that, 116 a day. Two 2015 where 52,000 people died from Drug Overdose to 2016, the numbers went up to 64,000. And sadly, those numbers may get worse before they get better. We didnt get here overnight, and we wont, we wont be able the change this overnight either. But at the same time, with the president s commitment in that october 26th address by the president and the first lady when they both tackled the policy part of the opioid and drug demand crisis in our nation, since then the president has directed his entire administration to take action. Indeed, it was a call to action for the whole country. So what is being done and how can we help. As we travel around the country, we meet different types of people who are affected in various ways. Some, of course, have lost loved ones to opioids. Others are successful, give us their successful stories of treatment and recovery. And those are very heartening, and weve met with them firsthand, and they take their successes, and they try to help others who are in need. We also meet with Law Enforcement, we meet with dea agents, weve met with health care professionals, faithbased leaders, folks all across the spectrum of responsible individuals. The reason we call in the crisis next door is because when you look at the statistics alone, you recognize that opioids is affecting everyone across geographic, demographic, socioeconomic lines. Truly, no state has been spared and no Demographic Group untouched. What is really sering about the Opioid Crisis is the rapidness with which the use and the overdose and the deaths has occurred. This cdc last month announced, released its statistics showing that theres a spike up in these deaths, but many of them are being induced by something called fentanyl thats a synthetic opioid. And that is responsible when it is laced into the pills somebodys taking or whether theyre taking the drugs through a different means. Fentanyllaced deaths are at, theyre really whats spiking up. And i think that we suffer from information underload in this country when it comes to fentanyl and synthetic opioids such as that and even illicit use of illegal drugs. Fentanyl, of course, is 50 times more lethal than heroin, 100 times more lethal than morphine. And it is, with the information underload means that just this past november this administration put out a onepager on safe handling or proper handling of fentanyl for our Law Enforcement officers and for others who may come in contact with it. But in addition to that, what we see is as particularly challenging about the Opioid Crisis and we, of course, have had drug demand in this country for many years, but with opioids its very tricky because often it starts in the Family Medicine cabinet and on that label of that tiny bottle bears the Family Doctor and a local pharmacy. And so that was meant to help someone somehow in some way. And that either becomes very tricky for folks who are otherwise persuaded it cant hurt me because it was meant to help mom, dad, grandmom or my friends mom, or theyre using that as a cover, as a mask for nonadherent use of somebody elses prescription. But the good news is whether its through increased funding, increased awareness and coordination here at the white house we have whats called an opioids cabinet where we literally meet on an ongoing basis just to coordinate the dozens of programs that already exist across the dozen or so agencies and departments. And thats everything from the interdiction piece like doj and dhs to the treatment and recovery, hhs, v. A. , for example, and then certainly prevention, education, department of education. We also see a role for department of labor, for housing and urban development because with we recognize that, first, we need to destigmatize so people feel free to come forward and say they do need help. Increasing awareness and education are incredibly important to the success of this effort overall. In addition to that, we recognize that some people who are lucky enough to get treatment, go through recovery are then looking for housing opportunities, skills, training, jobs and such. So were trying to tackle the individuals who are affected and, indeed, the entire crisis next door all at once as such. How does it affect women particularly. Well, women tend to disproportionately be the Health Care Consumers and providers. And if you look at opioid use overall, women are more likely to take a prescription opioid than men overall. You see a doubling in the number of americans who sought out emergency room treatment for opioids, and that includes women. But also since women are disproportionately the Health Care Providers and the Health Care Consumers, theyre seeing it from both ends. And it is affecting them, but that also gives them a heightinged senseover heightened sense of skill and opportunity to bend the curve in the right direction. So were very, very hopeful about that. Just last week the president signed into law the interdict act, and i thought it was a great example in to to value office of a bicameral, bipartisan way to show america that there can be agreement on this issue. Not to put petty partisan politics in the way of progress. And so we had a democratic and Republican House members and senators standing with the president as he signed into law the interdict act that had to do mainly with fentanyl handling. Recently, the department of justice announced its first new dea Office Opening in louisville, kentucky. We havent had one in 20 years in this country, so it will be there. And also to designate each u. S. Attorneys office a special opioiddesignated individual who will help with this. Also were trying to work with those who are charged with curriculum and educating our youth that theyre worth more than a pill, that they can be somebody, not a statistic. And in that regard, our first lady has taken on this issue in a very bold way. You heard her remarks on october 26th, and prior to that i had the privilege of traveling with her to West Virginia when she was on the ground at a center called lilleys place lilys place which helps with neonatal abstinence syndrome. That has quadrupled, pretty much, in the last several years, the number of newborns being born dependent. And so there are many different ways that were going about this. I also just wanted to point out that recently health and Human Services gave clarification on the hipaa laws, and i think this is already going a long way to saving lives and mitigating unfortunate circumstances. Essentially, we have encountered so many families across this country who tell their story of their son, their daughter had been resuscitated five or six times, but that last time he or she were too far gone. But the parents literally say i didnt even know he had a problem, i didnt know she was using. And i know some of those bold stories are here right with us today. Thank you for your courage and for sharing and for being on the front lines in helping other people to avoid the same circumstances. As we come together. Yes, thank you very much. Ms. [applause] basically, what hhs has said is there are circumstances, crisis circumstances that give Health Care Providers broad ability to share information with Family Members in those crisis situations that would not violate hipaa. The imd waivers that administrator vermas office are reviewing and issuing have been incredibly helpful. Most recently, i believe, utah and new jersey, i think were up to eight states now that have an imd waiver, and the administrator can explain more about that. Essentially, we dont want the number of people to be treated in a facility where beds are available to be enumerated by the number of beds meaning you cant get medicaid reimbursement if you have more than 17 beds. So were really trying to get it in that way also. Nih is doing some groundbreaking work as are some of the private companies with respect to developing nonaddictive opioids. We recognize that Pain Management need not mean Pain Medicine for all americans, but Many Americans do rely on Pain Medicine. And thats not what were talking about here essentially, were talking about the sports injury, the surgery, the dental procedure where the individuals offered a 30day supply of prescription opioids and doesnt, doesnt necessarily need them, and it becomes a gateway to other behaviors. And certainly for some fullon addiction. We also recognize as the president made clear many people are already in treatment, and that needs to continue as well. But we need that education and prevention piece as well so that were telling our youth, but really everyone. And the last thing i would like to say that weve been incredibly heartened by the response literally from all over the country for people who didnt vote for the president , dont bother to vote at all, dont care much about the political process. They see this as an issue where we can really bend the curve on behalf of our brothers and sisters across this country. Weve talked to the major sports leagues, weve talked to the tech companies, weve talked to philanthropic groups, corporate america, Small Business america. Nobody has said no. Everybody has come forward and has wanted to help. So part of what were doing now is just trying to organize all of that, find out what the best practices are to carry forward, where are we duplicating and not replicating. And really to continue to hear from the brave men and women on the front lines. Often brave men and women on the front lines who are willing to help as well. As we do that, we would like to call upon you to help. Theres really a place for everyone. And finally id like to say that we are developing a dedicated web site here at the white house where people will be able to share their stories. And we think that the president went first. He shared his story about his brother fred who passed away at the age of 42. And he shared that story spontaneously in his own words on october 26th. Wed like the rest of the country to feel comfortable to share their story too whether its triumph in treatment and recovery, sadness and loss and grief. Whether its a health care professional, Law Enforcement officer, anyone at all. This is the crisis next door, and i think that when people look at folks in their neighborhoods and they say that you i like you and you are like me, it gives them the courage really and the encouragement, courage and encouragement to come forward and be part of the solution. Thank you very much. Administrator verma . [applause] thank you. Thank you, kellyanne. Youve been an inspiration to many women, and we appreciate all of your hard work. I am so proud to be here today and honored to serve the American People and an administration that is truly committed to womens health, families and children. That leadership is advancing the best ways to help those in need by making a lasting difference in their lives every day. So a little bit about the centers for medicare and Medicaid Services, commonly known as cms. At cms we have a number of programs, and we serve over 140 million americans through the Medicaid Program, Medicare Program and products that we have available through the exchanges. In our medicaid can program, we are serving pregnant women and children, disabled and the elderly, some of our most vulnerable populations. And with the Medicare Program, were also serving the disabled and our senior population. Its not about the 140 Million People as a whole, but i like to think about it in terms of the individual. From my perspective, i just had a recent Family Health scare with my husband having a heart attack, and it really gave me some perspective about what patients go through and the things that they face when they are having to deal with the Health Care Delivery system. Its not easy to navigate the health care system; what doctors do you pick, what Treatment Options work best and how much is it all going to cost. These are issues that all americans face, and at cms what we want to do is empower patients. We want to make sure that patients and families and women who are often making the Health Care Decisions for themselves, their partners, their children and their parents, that they have the information and the tools that they need to make the decisions that work best for them. We want to get washington out of the way and return the Decision Making about health care to individuals, people and have that interaction occur between patients and their doctors. So a couple of things. One of the other things that were doing at cms is making sure that our programs are modernized to deal with the changing evolution of technology and innovation in the health care industry. And as kellyanne said, were also trying to do everything that we can to respond to the opioid epidemic. For all of this, for all of us this can be very personal, and for me i remember just a few years ago when my daughter was only 13 years old and we attended a funeral for it was a kid in her class, and it was her older brother. And like so many, so many kids he had gone in for just a routine surgery and become aticketed to pain medications addicted to pain medications. And i remember the funeral and the words of audrey, his sister who was only 13 at the time, and she talked about the anger that she felt at her brother for getting mixed up in all of this. And the tragedy and the heartbreak in her voice as she talked about never being able to see her brother again. So this is a personal issue more all of us. For all of us. And were trying to do everything that we can at cms to address this issue. Were very appreciative of the president s leadership. Because of his leadership, hhs declared the opioid issue a Public Health emergency, and its allowed our agency to take immediate action. As kellyanne referenced, one of the things that were doing is making it easier for state states to provide treatment to individuals facing opioid addiction. One of the things that we found is that when people are ready for treatment, we want to make sure that that treatment is available. They dont want to hear that theres a waiting list or they dont have theres not a bed available for treatment. So weve gotten rid of allowing state toss waive certain law that is prevented individuals from getting treatment. And it was really heartwarming for me to go to utah, the state of utah, where we had approved one of these first waivers to allow for individuals on medicaid to seek treatment in certain types of facilities. And they were actually, they had construction going on because they were expanding the Treatment Center because they now know that they can serve individuals. They dont have to worry about a 16bed limit. And i also was able to travel to new jersey where i got to meet a woman named vanessa. And she had been facing addiction. She wasnt able to get treatment because of the imd exclusion and not being able to receive services at a certain facility. And she ended up in jail and, ultimately, she got out of jail, she got clean, she was able to get treatment, and now shes spending her time helping other individuals get the services they need and providing a resource and support. So victory is on the horizon. We know that we can address this issue, and theres stories like people like vanessa that we hear about that are inspiring to all of us. So again, appreciate the opportunity to be here and look forward to your questions. Thank you. [applause] well, these are the untold stories. This is the type of progress and work and commitment by this administration and by President Trump. Now well turn to the women on the stage. Want to introduce just a couple of women on the stage. Pam bondi is with us whos the current attorney general of florida. [applause] thank you, pam. Rebecca clayfish is the current Lieutenant Governor of wisconsin. [applause] and katherine bergam is the first lady of north dakota who has been work on these initiatives for fighting addiction in the north dakota communities. [applause] before we turn to the questions from the, here from the stage, id like to take a moment to introduce a special guest whos been working hard every day to lead the charge to empower women and all americans. Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States, donald j. Trump. [cheers and applause]. Sitdown, please. Please. I wasnt very far away. So i said id love to do this. This is fun. I want to thank you all and really for the job youve done. I know ivanka just left. We really appreciate it. Its been incredible. You know what weve done and park expo not successful its been, and we had women front and center. Thank you all know that. But im honored to standard with the women across the administration from all across the administration. They have been incredible. I just look, kellyanne has been something. Everyone, everybody doing such a great job in florida. Proud of you, pam everybody appears been a friend and very, very special. I want to thank first lady of north dakota for being with us today. Catherine, thank you very much. Thank you. [applause] Lieutenant Governor of wisconsin rebecca, thank you. Great job, rebecca. Good. [applause] were doing okay in wisconsin, thats for sure. Its a great place. And also, pam bondi, we want to thank you. Thank you very much. Arkansas, great state here how did i win arkansas by so much when she came from arkansas . I dont know. Something going, but Leslie Rutledge, thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, leslie. Thank you, leslie. Appreciate it. Chairwoman of the Republican National committee and judge of our campaign in michigan. When we won michigan i said ive got to keep her going because michigan had not been one in decades, and so rhonda mcdaniel. Thank you. Great job. Great job. Thank you and your representing everybody very well on television. I love your appearances. But women represent half of the population but they care about 100 of the issues that face the nation. Thats for sure. We are making incredible progress. The womens Unemployment Rate hit the lowest level that its been in 17 years. [applause] well, thats something. And women in the workforce reached a record high. More women in the workforce today than ever before perpetually terrific. Especially since its been on the watch. I feel very proud of that. I have to tell you a statistic that just came out recently as you saw that black Unemployment Rate, the africanamerican Unemployment Rate is the lowest its ever been in the history of the report, so we are very honored by that. [applause] great, great thing. Weve enacted massive tax cuts. Using whats happened. I have to tell you that far beyond our expectations. We thought on february people would start to see their paycheck and have low more money and at, and you know, you pick up that extra two or 300 all of a sudden on a monthly basis and sometimes on a weekly basis, that has a big impact so we thought it would be february. Little did we know when the Company Started, at t started it but these Company Started giving out 1000 to everybody. All of a sudden it was one after another. Now that the few that have there all sink the employees are saying what about us . So you know thats going to happen. It kicked a lot faster than we thought that the stock market is way up again today, and were setting a record literally all the time to until you have a long way to go. And had the other side gotten it, market wouldve gone down 50 from where it was. 50 from where it was. Remember that. It was stagnant and it was going down. And all you have to do is look at the gnp from the beginning. Just take a look at that gmp and you look at it. If you want to look at any statistic, you could look at gdp, look at any statistic and take a look at where they were. But gdp particular it was stuck and heading down. And we took off restrictions that we took off regulations and we saw plenty of regulations, although we are cutting a lot of them, too. But you dont need [applause] you dont need nine different regulations. We are looking out doddfrank because went to free up so the banks can loan money to great people. The banks have been able to do that. They were restricted. A person came up to me at a recent stop and said you know, all my life i did business with a certain bank and now all of a sudden they cant do business with me. Ive always paid my debts pick up always paid my bones. The bank leslie but there prohibited another can do business without person again. Where doing a really job on it. But the regulations had a lot to do with the success, to let kid you. Without taking off those regulations, look what weve done just in time for the pipelines come 48,000 jobs from almost, they one come 40,000 jobs. We have plants all over the country that are getting filtered toyota is now moving back. Mexico, very interesting, price list is moving and moving back to michigan. You havent heard that one. You have heard that one in a while. [applause] and one of the important things were doing as you know doubling the Child Tax Credit. That something so important to all of us. So women owned Small Business, america will not be able to deduct 20 of their business income, which is something that people didnt expect that they would be seeing. My president ial budget was the first in history to include a nationwide program for paid family leave. [applause] and were parting with communities to end the scourge of drug addiction that is plagued our country. I mean, you talk about a problem. Thats a problem that we are working very hard on. Pam has worked very hard. Everybody here, everybody here even if theyre not totally involved with that they are all working hard on it. Some people within family themselves unfortunately they are really working because they have people within the family that are in trouble. So thats number one on our list. List. If you look at whats going on thats never been a time like this. And its a worldwide problem. Some areas take care of it through very, very tough measures. We dont. We are not prepared to do that. I i guess they see as a country. But we have tremendous, massive drug problem and drug population, and we have deales all over the country, and were hitting them hard, the dealers. The dealers are being hit hard at what theyve done to family and what youre doing to the country, its something we are very focused on. Whether its the opioids, whether its drugs as you hear the traditional sense, much comes through the southern border. You know that. People dont like to talk about it. They say why do you mentioned that . Because it happens to be true. But the commits are different places and means, the committee different ways that we are on the drug problem as much as you can possibly be on it. And were going to get it taken care one way or the other. And, frankly, the tough weekend, the better its going to be, the faster it going to go away. We have got to really tough on that problem. Because its eating away at the heart of our country. So with that being said i just really appreciate you all being here. Its an honor. Again what i heard, i ran across a street, now i will run back, down going to run back to the oval office. [applause] but, but we really have come weve made achievements of progress in the snow 11 and half months that weve made a tremendous amount of progress in a very, very short period of time. When you look at whats going on with your limit, when you look at whats going on with the stock market. We have greater now almost 8 trillion worth of value just in the stock market. Thats not mentioning all of the other things that there are. So we have a country thats on the right track. Were working on immigration and immigration reform, dont let some point will be able to solve the problem, if the democrats wouldve wanted to they really could but sometimes you really dont want to. We are working on and well get it done one way or the other hell. So thank you all for being here. Its an honor and i will see all soon, so many friends. Thank you. Thank you very much. They give very much. [applause] okay. You all can go home now. No, im kidding. Im kidding. Kelly will kill me if i i say that. Will move over to combat was quite a treat treat, wasnt it . [applause] it really is such an honor to work for the president and be part of this team and his commitment every day for American Families. And with that, want to turn to our women on stage who will be asking questions to kellyanne and sema on this issue of opioids and helped her. If you know introduce yourselves and tell us where you are from and then go ahead and that start with the questions. Thank you. Im debbie taylor. Im with phoenix house. We are a drug treatment provider nationally. Unfortunately ive been in this field for over 40 years. I was telling my colleagues that this is the sixth administration that ive worked with in an attempt to solve this problem. In this political world that we are in this is not a political issue. This is as kellyanne was saying, i mean, and absolutely nonpartisan issue. My question is, is due to the intensity and the toxicity of the chemicals that are now on the streets that you alluded to, what can we do realistically about providing instant access . Because as much as we would like to think it exists, it doesnt. I have people who die waiting to get in, waiting to get a bed. And then on the backside of it when they leave, the resources are not there to maintain the medication they need. So the all the good work that was put in in workable sciencebased treatment programs goes for nail because is nothing there to support. Thank you. Thats a great question. And i think that this is about Building Systems of care. We had have to look at this as comprehensive treatment. So looking at this from many different angles. When people are ready for treatment, making sure they have access to guy think thats why the president s leadership around declaring or having a Public Health emergency has allowed us to make sure we can expand services. Kellyanne mentioned the states with approved waivers in. Just last week it was kentucky and weve got a few other states also in the pipeline. Thats going to be a major piece of that. What weve asked states to do is putting his proposals together, its not just about expanded treatment but we are also saying we need to develop a continuum of services, comprehensive services so that theres detox but thats only one piece of the puzzle, its when people are leaving the facility that the make sure they have outpatient services. This is this is a critical issu. When i look at the problem, from the medicaid and medicare perspective, we are dealing with not only the addiction but also other comorbidities. We know without an increase in hepatitis and hiv. I look at this in terms of from the medicaid perspective, Medicaid Program delivers 50 of the nations babies and we know theres a lot of babies being born with withdrawal systems. What does that mean for the Healthcare Delivery system over the longterm . What are those children going to need as they grew up we are also look at the foster system because mortgage going into foster care and assistance are overwhelmed. We have to think about what healthcare needs for these children. But again its about building that comprehensive system, and so as we are working with states about expanding services, we also worked with them to figure out how can we develop that comprehensive system. As kellyanne mentioned its prevention but its also treatment, and enforcement over the longterm. Weve also heard a lot about the medication assisted therapy and how important that is, and so were trying to encourage states to avail those services. We actually had a joint meeting last week with the leadership of cms and nih, and did all kinds of Exciting Research around medications. They are also stressing some of the new evidence of an medicationassisted therapy and how important that is. We are working with them to make sure that people are aware of that. [inaudible] that even though this has president ial pulpit behind it and administration wide attention and effort, we dont believe that the best ideas and Solutions Come from washington. We still believe that the people closest people in need know best how to serve, service them in the needs and i have really struck meetings white house chiefs who double function l healthcare. If you have a good smack knowledgeably 41 states are so due and your driving your overdosing friend you not be prosecuted. You get there and they do a warm hand up to healthcare professionals. It is about accessing naloxone and of the overdose reversing trucks. We recognize that no come sometimes you need multiple doses. Some of these places are running out of their doses early in the month. So weve heard all types of things, this is important, its listening, learning and coordinating that from here but not displacing or overwriting really creative with the states are doing, different areas have different needs. We are very respectful of that but i do clearly. I honestly believe this president is going, and his efforts, will bend the crib in the other direction. Im really happy what we heard from people in the private sector in the Public Sector about great ideas they had and we just need and administration took to with them all into practice and give it a try. We also talk to the faithbased commit all the time, the local employers, administrative, to be very helpful and it is because they see it. They see it in their employees. Face it in a place again past drug test, the wouldbe workforce. A seat in the community as well. We will continue to believe that the solutions will come from the ground up and we here to help direct, implement and fund them. Next question. My name is emily rate. Im carly about it years sober next month and [applause] i have tried many different methods. Faithbased program exit that helped save my life. It was a yearlong program. I am currently six months pregnant. I am also now a wife, a homeowner and employed. [applause] i had the village of working at the program after i completed for three nephews and i now work for an shattered which is it company that employs women that were previously addicted so to help on the other side of that exit plan. My question to you is with the current statistic of what the cdc put out they said that three out of four new heroin use start out with prescription opioids, what is the current plan to significantly reduce that . And then hasnt been looked at, that about reducing the chemical compounds that are actually put into it by the come up regulate by fbi . Has been looked at significantly reducing the amount that is being able to put out some were similar to the 1980s when they put that out for the methamphetamine problem . I will say very quickly that the major chain drugstores along with pharma and others have come at a said that they favor a first prescription of \70{l1}s{l0}\70{l1}s{l0}, not 30. So that you do go home with a somalia amount. Some states like massachusetts and new jersey are really great examples where you had republican governors working with democratic legislators to come together and reduce the first time prescription to three or five or 70 depending on the state. So it is possible and it is happening. I will let the administrator talk to the chemical compounds of what the fda a calling, are doing. Dr. Gottlieb is in another superstar in franklin the front lines of this as is i mention an agent dr. Collins and the surgeon general, talking about a full on, you talk about a full on offense really on this issue. I think thats a positive because thats face it. With supply and oversupply comes more demand. I want to go back to something i said 40 minutes ago which is because its an mom and dad medicine cabinet in your house, liquor is locked up, and nobodys doing come nobody is in a back alley with a needle coming out of the thing pickets and mom and dad medicine cabinet and that tiny bottle has a label that theres of these Family Doctor local pharmacy. That is what makes this so different and so i think unsuspecting in cities and many commuters. So that we have to make sure people know just because its a very, its a safer you are in the house, doesnt mean its for you and does it mean you should try it. Now for the medical perspective. Just a couple things. I think one of the things were grateful for is cdc has put out some guidelines around prescribing which i think a very critical and were very much needed. What we are doing at cms is taking those guidelines and working with them about getting that out to healthcare facilities. I think this year youll hear a lot more about us, a lot more from us on this issue and really trying to enforce some of the cdc guidelines. The other thing were doing is monitoring provider behavior about this. One of the things we have at cms is a website where you can track where prescribing is going on in the Medicare Program. And its a great tool for local communities, as kellyanne said this this is a local issue. From the federal government perspective we want to support their efforts and getting the data. Its very important in that regard. The nih i think in particular is also doing a lot of work around research and evaluation about what are the best strategies for dealing with pain. They are helping us because weve got to figure out in terms of medicare what are we paying for, are the other thinks we could potentially pay for that are alternatives to the types of opioids available. I think theres a lot of work going on in that particular area. We are trying to figure out how we make sure naloxone is more widely available and thats when the changes we done in the Medicare Program is making that a required medication that is available for individuals in the Medicare Program. We have time for one more question. Linda davis from michigan. And im i may judge david alson an Organization Called families against narcotics which just last month became a national organization. And i also have a child that is in recovery so i have dealt with his firsthand. My question to you is that it seems in our communities that there is a disproportionate amount of methadone being used for young offenders. I know that ive Read Everything that comes out on this and i know the guidelines set methadone should be used for a small percentage, and yet in our community is being funded for about 90 of people that are going into publicly assisted treatment. Is there monitoring that is going to be taking place to make sure that all forms of medically assisted treatment are being used and that it is being used appropriately for each individual . We appreciate the struggles that have been going on in michigan. One of the things thats very important, we talked about this earlier is that doctors and patients need to be making decisions of what whats goingo work best for them. When it comes to treatment Different Things are going to work well for one person might not work well for the other. We are doing everything we can in terms of monitoring was effective and to think what providers need are evidencebased treatment guidelines that they can understand whats available and whats going to work best. Were going to ask one more question. [inaudible] first of all, thank you kelly and for your leadership. Really awesome to have in that role. One of the things that were doing in north dakota is were asking our citizens to unite in a Grassroots Movement to Start Talking about the disease of addiction so we can eliminate the shame and stigma picus who has been in recovery for 15 years now, longterm recovery [applause] i know firsthand the devastation the disease of addiction can cause and my disease prevented me the shame and stigma prevented me from finding, reaching out for help in finding recovery. So i just would like to say that i concur with you on eliminating the shame and stigma around the disease of addiction, is so important for this whole process. Wondering if you in specifics at you might be planning as part of the administration around that specifically . We are, and thank you so much. We really appreciate you being here and always being willing to share your story and to help others similarly situated. First of all the already existing materials, federal, statebased ones, team communis have been a pretty good job place to place in the telltale signs. If you think your coworker or your Family Member or behavioral changes, and sometimes they will say they are tired or theyre just having a bad day or the over eight or theyre having him there breaking up her a relatiop to all these different excuses for why somebody seems like theyre in a different mood for different mindset are not fully present and because you dont think of your coworker, neighbor, Family Member, your child a somebody agent in the back alley with anita coming out of the veins, that is not who is getting hooked. It is, nor you could do in the privacy of your home and thats where its happening. People are ingesting pills on college campuses, buying them for five dollars. You have some people who vote, they read every single level above with the put in the body and have to have one ingredient, then they buy a silver five dollars and its laced with fentanyl and thats it. It is awareness because people dont believe it can happen to them. They dont believe they do any risk behaviors, there are no comorbidities for some folks, no other risky behaviors. Tobacco in some states, marijuana, drinking, all legal whats not, im a reasonable person only doing it in moderation. But it is the pills that start out as a gateway to heroin use, the gateway to then accidental fentanyl overdoses. Its willing to have a conversation either we think the conversation is not relevant because chances are it is relevant somewhere where you are not putting it all together. I think where to start young. The first lady had made this very clear in her remarks. We have to educate our youth, and theres a school of thought that shock the conscious type ads we have seen in other industries. There are the warm heart stories of treatment and recovery, and you dont need to do that to be cool or to feel awake or to feel better about something. That really getting people in touch with treating the whole patient i think its also the whole person is what the administrator with sacred i think we share the stories because the best way to tell people that you dont need to feel shame or stigma is to give them a forum to which other people go first. And in that regard i think its very powerful the president with first and told us his family story. Everyone has got one. When i met linda, i met her as a drug Court Judgments give ford and told the story of her daughter but everything going for her, and i dont mind saying that because you said you were a mom and you start this whole network that is national. That allows other people to come forward and say that but it you think it starts peertopeer. We found that more than anything, it has to start peertopeer that two you peope want to hear from. I want to hear from people who share a common experience but you also see the tell the rates 35 to 54yearolds. They have increase over the years. I do when he went to think only talked with teenagers in high school. Everyone, the senior population is increasing. It is everyone and everywhere and i think to that extent it should make people feel that theyre not alone but theyre also not unusual in their circumstances. You said it well, thank you. We have time for one more. Rebecca clay fished with wisconsin. We have made Good Progress with a Prescription Drug monitoring program. We have seen prescriptions go down 12 year over year but we know that in many cases it involves more than just our department of health services. Sometimes addition our department of justice, department of corrections, even our department of children and families and our department of Workforce Development. I suppose my question is to the counselor and to the administrator where we have medicaid waiver, and we would like to drug screen so that we can pay for treatment for medicaid recipients. Talk to us about wraparound care, the services that people need in order to get to treatment come to get to recovery. Thats a great question, and i think youre right, it is copper has a treatment and a point that kellyanne made early today is that we dont always know whats best in washington. Before i came to cms i was working with states that i have my own Consulting Company what i can tell you is that we had great ideas and sometimes those ideas when i listen to in washington and we had to fight an order of the types of reforms. What i think is very important in the Medicaid Program and in cms as a whole is where listening to local communities and understanding what are the issues in trying to work with them, and test new ideas and innovation around how would you do with the ultimate epidemic or even largely dealing with poverty around the Medicaid Program at large. I can tell you from our perspective we willing to try, we are willing to be a a partnr with states and local communities and try out innovation and it is so that we can address those issues. Thats my plate within the Medicaid Program is to really have a new era of flexibility. States are best positioned. They are on the front lines and they know the populations better than we are going to know in washington. And so again we just want to work with them and part i try to come up with better ideas and to think we can learn from each other if we are trying out new things. Well, thank you all so much. Thank you for the women here on the stage. [applause] hanky for kellyanne and seema all the work youre doing and, of course, thank you all for listening in to the work that the administration is working on, what President Trump is committed to in terms of dealing with this hope your crisis. I know its something in back so many communities and i could tell you that is wonderful women are working day in and day out to ensure that we find the right solution for it, the sensitive with adequate to turn over to kelly. Were going to go to break and when we convene for nationals could a Public Safety panel at 3 10. Two. Thank you. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] live coverage from the white house of this conference on empowering women for President Trump making a surprise visit a short time talking about improvement in the stock market. You can find his appearance online in our Video Library cspan. Org. Whether take a break between panels will take a look back at the earlier session and rejoin the next panel when they begin a National Security discussion in about ten minutes. Give everybody a second to get seated. Good afternoon to thank you all so much for being here. I am most excited because im not answering any of the questions during the session, and i helped moderate which is nice change of pace for me. I will take those tough questions later today so im very happy to tag in some of the brightest and best that the administration has it as the president has said we are all focused on making our economy a place where women can work, succeed and thrive like never before. The president has empowered so many women throughout his career in the private sector and now hes doing that here at the white house. Im excited to be joined on stage by several of those women now. They did no introduction but because im here and you guys are not im going to get one anyway because its my chance to brag on some of the administrations finest. I will start with ivanka trump whos an advisor to the president in a role she focuses on the education and Economic Empowerment of women and families as well as job creation and Economic Growth through Workforce Development, skills training and entrepreneurship which given her success in business is something she obviously knows a lot about. In addition to being what are the most successful women in the administration she also happens to be the president s daughter. Because of that it has led to getting all of the most glamorous assignments around here. For instance, instead of traveling all over asia with the president late last year on air force one she was riding amtrak, down the eastern, along the eastern seaboard to sell tax reform and it obviously worked because every member of congress [applause] because every member of congress that she engaged with ended up voting for the biggest tax cut in American History and ensure the Child Tax Credit would help all families. In addition to being successful in business, ivanka and her husband have three incredible young children, and i can personally vouch for because my kids are of similar ages and hers are far better behaved so i think, i think i may see if i can work out a and send my kids to their house. In all seriousness choose one of the most successful women not just in the administration but in the country and its a true honor for us to have her here at the white house to help lead on a number of issues and with that ill turn over to ivanka. [inaudible] children are much, much better behaved. It is incredible to be your today with this great group of Women Business owners, entrepreneurs, thought leaders from across the country and said alongside this our medical group of women who represent this great administration. I am excited to engage with each of you in substantive discussion about how this administration is empowering women to succeed in the American Economy and around the globe. Domestically we have been prioritizing our administrations working family agenda with the goal of ensuring that all americans succeed in the modern economy. This agenda includes Workforce Development and job training as well as familyfriendly legislation and policies, all of which are critical to this mission. To ensure that americans from students to those that are in midor late career have the skills necessary to secure wellpaying jobs, this administration has been investing deeply in our countrys most valuable assets, the American People. We recognize there are many paths to families consisting job outside of for your college, and, therefore, weve been focused focus on expanding access to apprenticeship, Technical Education and workforce training program. We will continue this push in the months to come to both legislative and executive actions. Last fall the president issued a president ial memorandum directing the department of education to prioritize Computer Science and s. T. E. M. Education in our schools grades k12, thereby aligning the skills being taught in the classroom with the jobs in demand in the modern economy. We were joined in this mission by the private sector which announced a contribution of more than 350 million for youth s. T. E. M. Education. While workforce initiatives are important to all americans, as we embark on this Industrial Revolution it is critical to ensure that women are not left behind. For example, while women represent 47 of the overall u. S. Workforce, they make up only 13 of engineers and 21 of tech sector employees. It is essential that we reverse this trend and that women ceased to be underrepresented in these wellpaying and fastgrowing sectors of the economy. We are committed to doing just that. One month ago as sarah reference Congress Passed the tax cuts and jobs act, and President Trump signed the bill into law. This was a historic milestone for america, American Families, American Workers, and american industry and the economy as a whole. Were starting to see more of the impact of the tax plan already even prior to it fully being uncommitted. More than 100 companies have pledged to give bonuses, increase wages and invest in their employees as a result of the tremendous savings that they will have under the new tax law. These tax cuts are for American Workers and hardworking parents, and now they will be able to keep more of their hard earned paycheck. In addition to doubling the standard deduction, a a central component of the tax plan is an expanded Child Tax Credit, doubling the 2000 per child and a new dependent care tax credit, also very critically as we maintain as part of this new tax plan important credits for American Families such as the child and dependent care credit and the adoption credit. Many elements are working family agenda are relaxed to taxable as where empowering American Families to thrive. Further, we are working with members of congress on both sides of the aisle and thought leaders across the country, many of which are in this room today, to build strong coalitions of support for a National Paid family leave program. This is essential and long overdue. We must recognize the changing composition of our American Workforce in which all parrots work in a vast majority of American Homes support both work and family. Finally, we are committed to fueling american entrepreneurship and innovation. Women, especially minority women, are the fastestgrowing category of Small Business owners. Through tax reform, Small Businesses will now pay the lowest tax rate in over 80 years. Through incredible programs such as those that administrator mcmahon has at the Small Business administration and across government we are eliminating barriers to women and accessing capital, networks and mentorship. For example, sba lent womenowned businesses 120 million more last year compared to the year prior. Our commitment to the Economic Empowerment of women dams throughout the globe through incredible initiative with state department, usaid, and other agencies as well as domestic and International Partners such as the World Bank Group with which we launched the Women Entrepreneur finance Initiative Last july to support Women Entrepreneurs in the developing world. Its an honor to be your today to talk about our deep commitment to empowering women and defense and i thank you for joining me in engaging in this conversation. Thank you. [applause] thank you, ivanka. Linda mcmahon serves as the administrator of the u. S. Small Business Administration and like ivanka she has one of the best of one of the more glamorous job which i know she loves and were so proud and thankful to have her. She played an Important Role in the process of getting the tax legislation passed and will continue pushing for that. As a member of President Trumps cabinet she advocates on behalf of of the 30 million small in america and make sure entrepreneurs have the support and tools you need to start, grow and succeed in business. Prior to doing the Top Administration she had the perfect job to prepare her to wrestle with the media and fight on behalf of americas Small Businesses as she was the founder and ceo of World Wrestling entertainment. A few of you got the joke, some of you will get a little later. Administrator mcmahon knows a lot about how to help grow and empower Small Business since you help grow hers from a 13 person regional operation to a publicly traded Global Enterprise with more than 800 employees and offices worldwide. She and her husband have two Adult Children and six grandchildren, which im sure she spoils a lot. So with that i will turn it over to administrator mcmahon. Thank you. Thank you very much. It really is a great honor to be here to share the dais with secretary chao and with ivanka who might Close Relationships with and we really enjoy getting out into doing our glamorous jobs. It really is an honor and this is a great opportunity for us to talk a little bit today about what this white house has done to ensure Economic Opportunity for all and especially for women. Women are the primary breadwinners in more than National Security and Public Safety, as you might have been aware secretary nielsen has been on the hill this morning testifying, and as a few hours ago she was still there so she is going to be unable to join us today but we do have stu bourdon in her stead. Shes a Principal Deputy director of dni, director of national intelligence. She will be able to come up here and talk about some of the step that she is doing. So with that im going to introduce a Deputy Communications director and he will be moderating this panel along with Heather Wilson who is secretary of the air force. Rachel brand, associate attorney general and stu gordon, Principal Deputy director of dni. Thank you. [applause] good afternoon. Thank you for being here and thank you to everyone who is tuning in a cspan and youtube and those of you in the audience. Its not everyday that you get to follow the president on stage, so thats a lot of pressure for me. But lets first start by giving a round of applause to our first panel. These women covered incredible ground and really appreciate those of you who took the time to view today and lets give ad of applause to the first panel that we had. [applause] we have Diverse Group of women from a wide variety of communities across the country on stage to discuss an issue of top concern for women and, frankly, all americans. National security and Public Safety. Its our pleasure of Arkansas Attorney general Leslie Rutledge with us as part of this group to engage in this important discussion today. Welcome. [applause] now it is my honor to introduce three more leaders of the Trump Administration to talk about the many ways we are addressing the National Security and Public Safety concerns of our nation. Heather wilson secretary of the air force, rachel brand, associate attorney general at the department of justice, and sue gordon Deputy Director of dni. Thank you, sue, for being here with us. [applause] secretary Heather Wilson of the air force lead 660,000 active duty guard, reserve, sibling forces as well as their families. She oversees the air force annual budget of more than 132 billion. Prior to dollars. Prior to joining the tribe Administration Secretary wilson was the first female military veteran elected to a full term in congress and most recently was president of south Dakota School of mines and technology here so thank you for being here. We welcome your remarks. [applause] well, thank you so much, jessica. I just wanted to perhaps started by mentioning a few things. It was actually 27 years ago today that the United States air force kicked off desert storm after Saddam Hussein invaded kuwait. So 727 years ago today. I was at the time a young staff member in the building right next to us here. In the ensuing 27 years, the United States air force has been continuously involved in combat operations. For 27 straight years. And on this day 27 years ago we had 134 fighter squadrons in the United States air force. Today we have 55. Last year, with last years budget submission, the president s budget submission started to turn the corner to start to restore the readiness of the force and our ability to deter future threats. We have a long way to go to restore that capability to defend the country but we are committed to do so and i look forward to your questions and the discussion we have today. Thank you. [applause] and now id like to introduce rachel brand scum associate attorney general of the department of justice. She serves as the third ranking officer in the department of justice and oversees more than 15 offices and divisions including the office on violence against women and the Service Members and veterans initiative. Welcome. Thanks for the introduction to thank to all of you for being here. Its a real honor for me to be on the stage with secretary wilson Deputy Director gordon, two of our strong leaders in our efforts to defend the homeland and the National Security. Im going to talk with something a little bit different, which is protecting americans from violence and crime. The Public Safety like National Security is a cinch for us to enjoy all of the other rights and freedoms we have as americans ever Economic Prosperity to flourish and the government to carry out every other nation that it has. We at the department of justice are committed to really bring it down Violent Crime and combating of right of of the forms of crimes. Im going to touch on three quickly and then im happy to take questions about the other nations of doj. The first is Violent Crime. In 2015 2015 and 2060 we saw a dramatic increase in homicide rates and in general Violent Crime rates in cities around the country. So when general sessions command office at the beginning of last year he expressed his commitment to bring those numbers down. The numbers for 2017 are two per limited to know with any certainty yet but the initial indications are that those Violent Crime rates have plateaued and may even be beginning to go down and were doing everything that we can to ensure thats the case. One of the ways we do that is to express publicly that we stand with our state and local enforcement officers. We believe in a minute women in Law Enforcement and we will do everything we can to stand with them both in terms of bringing cases against individual criminals and gangs, and also in terms of making sure they have the resources they need where thats within our power. Another they were doing is focusing on the worst of the worst violent offenders. A few criminals commit at this point percentage of all Violent Crimes and so if you can take them off the street you can really have a medical impact on communities and get them out from under our reign of terror of street cred. The attorney general ordered all of our 94 use attorneys offices around the country to do just that come to work with state and local police and focus on the worst of the worst. Part of that focus is a gang of ms13 which many of you im sure have heard of in the press. This is a transnational gang that prides itself in using the most brutal violent tactics possible to commit its crimes. Also recruits members by threats of violence and forster oftentimes teenagers dont want to be in the game but they are forced to to join the gang. Under ag sessions leadership we prosecuted 1200 gained members last year and brought in general vastly more charge of Violent Crime that we had in decades before at the department of justice. So i will leave that issue there and have to the questions. The second issue id like to talk about actual ties into ms13. This is the issue of Human Trafficking. Ms13 is a Drug Trafficking organization but also start to branch out into other criminal enterprises including sex trafficking of girls. I had been spending a lot of my time on Human Trafficking sex trafficking particular. A lot of people are surprised to learn this as a present problem around the u. S. We hear about it from our u. S. Attorneys and from state and local police all over the country. Victims are at truck stops, in cities, in the present rural areas, at high in suburbs, out low in motels and midwest and at the seams on the strip, everywhere. Its big business because the traffickers view their victims as a commodity that can be sold over and over and over, unlike drugs which can be sold once. You can sell a victim over and over and over. I view this as a civil rights crisis. Other people have called it modernday slavery because trafficking something that happens to some against their will. This is another area where we are throwing all of the resources at and bring our Law Enforcement resources to bear, prosecuting the traffickers. Part of this is Public Education. Because if everybody er doctors to Child Protective Services workers to flight attendants the casino workers know about trafficking and know how to spot the problem, then we can rescue more victims. We have been training industry, training local Law Enforcement which has a tangible results in terms of rescuing individual victims. For example, there was a state Police Officer in georgia who at a traffic stop notice a girl and a backseat and with a few wellplaced questions realize she was a victim of trafficking and was able to rescue her. Thats what that kind of training can do funding Victims Services providers. This is not just the right thing to do. It is right thing to do. Trafficking victim has a very long and hard road of recovery ahead of her if she is rescued. Victims need a lot of help. So finding Services Provider is right thing to do from the perspective but it also helps us carry out our Law Enforcement mission because if a victim can be stabilized enough to participate in the prosecution of the trafficker then we can bring our traffickers to justice. And then thirdly i want to make a new initiative that doj has to combat Sexual Harassment and housing, another type of sexual exploitation. The word Sexual Harassment doesnt capture what were talking about you. This ranges from a landlord letting itself into a womans apartment and assaulting her to give her a choice between eviction and perform sexual favors. Like human traffic a lot of people are surprised how prevalent of an issue this is what what we are seeing it all around the country and all types of housing. An october launch an initiative at doj, its her Sexual Harassment housing have 1800 hotline, a website. We want people to know nobody should have to make a choice it would sexual abuse and a roof over their head. So were getting the word out there with only brought cases on behalf of of over 40 40 victims recover over 1 million for those victims and we would love to have your help in getting the word out about that problem and helping bring justice to more victims. I will leave it at that and send it back over to sue. [applause] allow me to introduce our third speaker. We have the honorable sue gordon who is the fifth Principal Deputy director of the national intelligence. Just spit her esteemed career serving our country and assist the dni in leading the Intelligence Committee and managing the odni. In particular focus on advancing intelligence immigration across the ic expanding outreach and partnerships and driving innovation across the community. With nearly three decades of experience in the icy sue has served in a bright of leadership roles spanning numerous intelligence organizations and disciplines. She served for 27 years at the Central Intelligence agency before that. Rising to senior senior execute position in each of the agencies. When we are discussing National Security and protecting our homeland, there are few who know more about this issue and sue so were grateful to have you as part of our panelists. Thank you. [applause] thanks, jessica. I am sorry that secretary nielsen isnt here, because i enjoy listening to her perspective and you would have as well. But im delighted to be here. I love the craft of intelligence. It is to be one of the most fundamental of all american disciplines. I think of it as knowing the truth and seeing beyond the horizon and allowing our leaders to act before events dictate. When you think of it, you most often hear of it in terms of counterterrorism or counter proliferation or regional stability. Maybe cyber threats. But one of the things that you probably dont hear as much about is i will in transnational organized crime or humanitarian and disaster relief. And if i think of the art of my career and where the changes have most been interned without intelligence has participated directly with the American People, one of them is our partnership with state and local tribal, bringing our history of awareness of whats going on in the world and making it useful for some of the domestic issues that we all face. Because lets face it, this is a massively interconnected world and now our ability to take a body of knowledge that we have acquired since 1947 and make it available to the other departments of the administration to Law Enforcement and to other activities is i think one of the great advances weve made it but its not just through Government Entities but National Security increasingly is the purview of the private sector. So how do we partner with the private sector to be able to give them the insights they need in order to do their job and again partnering with dhs, the fbi in order to share our intelligence. Let me leave you with a couple of things. I think there is nothing more important than we can do is to have a conversation with the American People about what we do and why we do it. Transparency is so important. Its important to recognize that in our craft it isnt a National Security or privacy, its a National Security and privacy. One of the conversations that we recently had with you all is over thing called 702 which is protecting our ability to be able to look at whats going on overseas and make it available so we can keep america safe. So when you think about our craft and as we talk about this, i would just encourage you to think of the art of what intelligence provides and the manner which it affects the daytoday lives of americans. As a woman when i started in 1980, i was in office at 780 scientists and engineers, and there were two of us who were professionals in that 780. If you were to walk in that same office that you would find the leadership is about 5050. The people who are making the great advances, the interns we have coming in, so when you think about how to split it is, predispose for diversity of thought, independent thought, they purpose, i think it is a discipline we have seen that has grown with those women in the discipline. So im especially delighted to be here with you. Thank you so much. [applause] now we get to turn to our panelists on stage with us, and take some questions. With that im going to follow our press secretary mike and have each of you pass around the microphone and introduce yourself to our guests. Thank you. Testing. Can you all hear me . We will start with introduce yourself. Good afternoon. Im Leslie Robert Leslie Rutledge. Good to be with you the altern. Im suzanne, utah, republican womens president and a strong trumper. My name is caroline, on the ship Chester County pennsylvania and just to let you know there are 73 municipalities in Chester County one of them is named nottingham so if you read robin hood i am a share of nottingham. [laughing] [applause] good afternoon. Im kathy swan comes to represent from missouri representing Cape Girardeau in southeast missouri. Good afternoon thank you for having us all here. Its a pleasure to discuss womens values and womens issues. My name is libby and time from colorado. I i served in the state legislature for four years and now i am a county commissioner in jefferson county. Its the thirdlargest county in the state of colorado. Good afternoon. My name is teresa. I from greensboro North Carolina and find a consultant for an Education Company there. Good afternoon. My name is im from iowa and director of the Iowa Department of human rights. Good afternoon. I am Melinda Cavender from just outside park city utah and retired federal Law Enforcement. Good afternoon. Im michelle, representing five euros las vegas, nevada, as a councilwoman and its so great and its such an honor to be here serving under a president who is making America Great again. With that will go ahead and turn to our panelists for some questions. Would you like to go first . One is where are we today with the readiness if something were to happen and where are we with funding in case of a global threat . Ill start to take that one. I think all of us are concerned about the longterm readiness of the force but ive got to tell you that if the nation calls, the air force tonight, we would be there. Thats the way airmen are. [applause] we have to fight tonight, we will be there. The question on readiness for all of us is not whether we will go. Its how many will come back. Thats what low levels of regret listening. So our responsibility and secretary mattis has been clear, our responsibility is to restore the readiness of the force, to win any fight anytime and allow our airmen and soldiersto come home again. Thats what we are trying to achieve. The president s budget that he put forth for fiscal year 18 that we are already four months into or so starts to restore the readiness of the force and turn the corner but for the night year of 10, we started this year with a continuing resolution and the air force, the department is not going to sequester ourselves. We still live under a law called the budget control act where if there isnt agreement in the congress to get beyond the budget control act or to lift the defense caps, we would go through sequester. If we have a continuing resolution at last years levels and has effectively sequestered. When the air force had to go through sequester once before. That was devastating to the force. Right now we are short pilots, particularly Fighter Pilots because the airlines are hiring. They go where they get the best pilots. If we go throughsequester, we dont figure out a way to get beyond this continuing resolution. We will have to, we will have no new starts for programs. We wont be able to find contracts for things like additional munitions and the pilot situation could get worse because under sequester, about 30 air force would sit on the ramp and not fly the last quarter of this year sounless you are going to combat , you are not flying. Thats devastating. And you cant recover from that, you cant say we will not fly for four months and then recover in the next four months. It takes years to recover from a readiness setback like that so the most important thing that we can do for the readiness of the force is to take this thing off of Cruise Control and get congress to budgeting in a normal way, give us some predictability with respect to budget. The president s budget that i think will be rolled out on 4 february or so will continue to restore the readiness of the force, and costeffectively modernize the forced to face the threats of the future and i think the new National Defense strategy will recognize that there are emerging threats that are not just violent extremist threats but threats from nationstates that we have to prepare for and confront those had on. [applause] ill briefly add that intelligence is always at war. So anything secretary wilson said applies to the Intelligence Community that doeseverything it can to make sure we have the most information , and are best prepared our women and men of the armed forces but also the Weapons Systems that we need so we reduce the uncertainty. What i find the impact of the 10 years that the secretary mentioned when we were under budget uncertainty, is that we must attend to the present and what we tend to feel is our future and the investment in those things will make a difference going forward. Im so excited about a National Security strategy that lays out an objective against which i can show what we need to do in order to get there, but it is a challenge. I think the budgets that the president has submitted will help us in that direction but it is a challenge when you dont have budget certainty to be able to prepare for the inevitabilities that unfortunately happen. Thank you and its a timely question given the debate thats raging on the hill this week and thank you secretary for laying that out for us. Who is next . How does the policy of America First different in this administration to that ofprevious administrations . You have a National Securitystrategy now. In about a month or so we will have a new National Defense strategy and a Nuclear Posture review which will guide our budget submissions. I would say that one of the key elements of that National Defense strategy is working closely with allies and partners. That America First doesnt mean america alone and we are actually stronger when we have to allies and partners with whom we can operate. And where weve got interoperability. We have a Coalition Today that has been fighting ices in the middle east, destroyed ices. And it was a combination of exquisite intelligence combined with indigenous forces sometimes supported by Ground Forces and some fantastic airpower that destroyed ices and id much rather we play away games rather play all the games against ices. [applause] are you concerned about the sanctuary cities and that we know that our president defends those sanctuary cities and we are happy about that but we also know there is mayors across the nation because the sanctuary cities created a lack of safety for the states. And especially not in california, who wants to oppose the president and become their own sanctuary state and we are concerned how is he going to handle that and not let that happen . Do you have any ideas . Let me take that one. We share your concern about sanctuary cities. As you say, its not just cities, is now state potentially, one state has already enacted legislation. Its baffling because what we are talking about, the main concern is the illegal aliens who committed crimes. And many of these sanctuary jurisdictions prohibit their Law Enforcement from cooperating with federal Law Enforcement in general so if the department of Homeland Security wants to access a jail remove someone from the United States is committed a crime, these jurisdictions say we rather let that person go, that person whos committed homicide, wed rather letthem go and cooperate. So we are working on all our options, considering a number of things. One thing i will mention which is already public is the attorney general has limited doj Law Enforcement grants by saying if youre going to receive a grant, the commission will be that you dont do that anymore. Its more technical than that but thats effectively what it does. Of those jurisdictions saying we cant do that so now theres litigation over that but it is really important that federal immigration authorities have the ability to access state and local Law Enforcement and correctional facilities to deal with that problem. Thank you. First i want to say within one month after our president came into office he invited 10 of the nations share us in to speak with him and he brought us in not to talk to us but to hear from us and he wanted to know what were our concerns in our various jurisdictions and counties and parishes and states. In that room therewere nine men , and annapolis indiana and i was the only female sheriff. Out of 3020 shirts in the army, 38 women elected sheriffs. I do what i can and the numbers were wonderful but theres been a tremendous increase in various levels, maybe more on the federal level, perhaps a mistake but i will tell you on the local level its very difficult to encourage women to enter the field of Law Enforcement. And while those of us in the field encourage and try to mentor women, i wonder if theres anything on a national or federal level we can do to encourage more women . We could probably all contribute but that me start. 20 percent of the air force today is women. 20 percent. 63,000 women serve the United States air force which 63,000 is more than the entire raf and loose while the combine, by the way. And there are all careers open to them and i remember 27 years ago for the first time, i graduated from the air force academy in 1982, sir as an officer during the cold war and for the first time in the first gulf war i remember our Senior Leaders powell at the time and general sports car on national television, cnn was new. Saying, talking about our men and women in harms way. Our men and women in uniform. I had never been included in that way before. It was always before that our men in harms way and i remember it as being absolutely struck by that that i was on the team. I was part of something. Think about the most protective person you know in your life, the person who no matter what keeps you safe. Its a lot of people in this room today thinking about their moms. Nobody, we dont know anyone more protective than a mother whose offspring is threatened. You want to talk about the protectors, they are not all guys. And those who seek to serve and protect others are called to serve our welcome in the United States air force. [applause] i dont think we talked as much as we might about these things. About the consistency of those values. I think there are a lot of things between intelligence, the military, national service, local service that are fundamentally about a higher purpose. Doing things for a reason. A feeling of wanting to feel the weight of responsibility and to make a difference. I think we all need to talk more about it. We need to go to more schools where you are at that point where you are trying to decide, we need to do more at the junior high, high school where people aretrying to decide what they are going to be,. Its inspiring to us and i think we need to do more of not letting hollywood be the purveyors of who we really are because if we talk about who we really are, and why we do it and what weve been able to do, i think there is something fundamentally consistent with the values of those protectors, those achievers and those aspires and i think we can do it. Thanks jessica. First of all, before i direct my question to secretary wilson i want to say how fantastic it is to be on stage with all these other womenand particularly a female sheriff. And when i was running for attorney general in arkansas, you may have face similar questions. They would say are you tough enough to do the job . And i would simply respond, let me tell you something. If a girl can get through junior high, he can do anything. They really dont give us enough credit for those years. So my question madame secretary is as you probably well know, arkansas and the little rock airbase, any man or woman going through air force and working on, piloting a c130 comes through little rock. I have here with me the spouse of one of our c130 pilots, amanda is here with me and her husband transferred to little rock airbase shes working with me double bonus. We love having all those brave men and women in little rock. They are wonderful citizens we want to have more than our 7000 activeduty. What can we do more and what does the air force do more in all of the armed forces to retain more folks at bases just like the little rock airbase. The air force doesnt have a problem recruiting people and no one has ever been drafted in the United States air force. We are all volunteers. No one has ever been drafted ever into the american military. Over 2 million women of service, every single one has been a volunteer. We have challenged today in retention, particularly of pirates but also maintainers although thats getting a little better and some of our cyber professionals as well and the challenge is that the airlines are hiring. There is a mandatory retirement for Airline Pilots and in order to buy the airlines you have to have 1500 hours of flying time and its hard to get back. Having been in the service so there is a tremendous demand out there and i think one of the things we worry about not only for our c130 pilots but for everyone is a high pace, the high operational tempo that we have been asking our airmen to support over the last 27 years. Surge has become the new normal. And so in a 20, and a fouryear assignmentat little rock airbase , it may be deployed twice for six months at a time. Your temporary duty when you are home, you are not home and you get to the point where its that balance. Youve been called to serve, you feel as though you are doing something thats important but you also have missed every birthday this year. And its that balance thats really important to be able to retain. That means we got to grow, we are too small for what the nation is asking of us and asking about airmen and their families. Thats why weve proposed a steady increase in the size of service and a reduction of some of the dispiriting additional duties that airmen have to do when they are deployed forward but i guess theres one other rule and that is that you recruit and airmen and you retain a family. And a little more focus on our families and what support for them by the communities in which they live would really matter a lot. As i would say for those of you who are part of state legislatures or are active in your communities, there are two things that would help our families a lot. One is universal reciprocity and thelicense sure for the spouses of those who are on active service. If you can cut hair in new mexico, my guess is you could do it well in colorado. If you are a lawyer or an engineer or a cpa or a teacher or a nurse or an lpn and your husband or wife gets moved to the neighboring states, you should be able to continue to get a job so universal recognition of licensure and the second is the quality of the schools on airbases. Theres nothing that makes a base more than having exceptional schools on airbases. An american airmen is four times more likely to have a College Degree than the population as a whole. They care a lot about the education of their children. And that would make a difference. Good afternoon. I have a question about Human Trafficking. We live in iowa which is in the middle of the capital. I grew up in there. But a few years ago we were, iowans were definitely like a lot of people didnt think Human Trafficking happened but once again, folks there think an intersection of 80 and 35, cutting across the country, the whole idea of that but a lot of times at the local level its hard because they come from all over and they dont stay any place too long and i just wanted to see if you had ideas out if at the state and local level we can work with you as a priority at the federal level we love to talk with you directly about the issues you are seeing in iowa. Weve been working with Law Enforcement and other state agencies around the country. When im out in a field office somewhere i tend to meet with the prosecutors there and often times with state and local Law Enforcement. I was in cincinnati allowed and met with their Police Department and other agencies and in some places they have a great collaborative model where all these units are working together to find jurisdictions and prosecute the defender, figure out whether its the Salvation Army or some agency who can help the victim. Other places dont have as much of a focus on. One thing ive heard from Law Enforcement is that trafficking crimes are often not charged as trafficking crimes. They might be charged as a drug or done case. Its easier to prove because you dont have to prove coercion. Sometimes at the numbers dont show up on the sheet, the resources dont follow so increasing public awareness, Public Education about the prevalence of trafficking and that might be happening in your jurisdiction even if your da didnt charge a case that year, that might help. So we be happy to talk to you about the issues you are seeing. We have time for one more question. We have a problem in America Today and my community and a lot of the other communities and im sure the sheriff can attest to this. Its a lack of trust in our Law Enforcement. What can we do to encourage these communities to have more diverse city so that their community of Law Enforcement looks like their actual community. It seems like people in general are more comfortable with people like them. So what can we do to encourage that . I think youre right that public trust in Law Enforcement generally is extremely important to the effectiveness of Law Enforcement and many Law Enforcement are focused on Diversity Efforts for the reasons you are talking about and we are focused on that at the federal level as well. Its really hard to recruit to Law Enforcement agencies when they feel like they are under attack or that the public appreciate the work they are doing. It may seem like a small thing but i dont think it is. The attorney general has sent a message that we stand with Law Enforcement and we believe the overwhelming majority of officers are keeping us safe every day and doing their jobs in good faith. At the same time where theres a bad actor we will go after that because their bad actions undermine the integrity of everybody else but that does not mean we paint with a broad brush and say all Law Enforcement are bad. Sending the message to Law Enforcement is an honorable profession, that will recruit all people in the Law Enforcement. With that we are down to our final seconds and kelly stress that we keep this on time soi want to thank all of our panelists , you are guess that are on stage and lets give them a round of applause. Thank you everyone for coming. My name is kelly sandler. You all have my email address. If youd like to get information about what we are doing, emails about what our priorities are, let me know and i will include you on that list. We encourage you all to tweet and share your stories about today. Its an ongoing series and we will be having more of these moving forward through the year so thank you for your time this afternoon. [inaudible conversation]. [inaudible conversation]. [inaudible conversation] on cspan2, the senate will gavel in at half an hour to continue work on reauthorizing the house approving on the fisa surveillance program, able to advance that legislation planned for 5 30 eastern. The votes needed to limit debate. The house and Senate Working on funding the federal government past thedeadline monday. Another shortterm resolution, follow the senate live on cspan2 when they gamble back at 4 30 eastern time. The cspan bus continues its 50 capitals tour this month with stops in raleigh, columbia, atlanta and montgomery. We will speak with state officials during our live washington journal program. Follow the tour and join us wednesday 9 30 a. M. For our stop in raleigh North Carolina. Our washington journal guest is attorney general time. This weekend, sees bands cities tour takes you to Newport Rhode island with the help of our Cox Communications Cable Partners we will explore newports rich literary scene. Watch cspans tour of Newport Rhode island this weekend beginning saturday on book tv on cspan2 and sunday afternoon at two on American History tv on cspan3. Working with our cable affiliates as we explore america. We just heard from senator sanders during the womens empowerment conference at the white house which ended a