Violence during his annual state of t sta■0te address of the capital building. Governor first lawmakers to pass spending bills. This is 40 minutes. [applause] [applause] [applause] ■y[applause] welcome, governor carny. If everyone, please be seated. Madam speaker, im not sure whether thats because theyre ■lad to see me sp happy for the service we hadpy together. Madame speaker, president pro tem, Senate Majority leader. 15, other elected officials who are here, members of my distinguished members of the judiciary, invited guests and my fellowareans, thank you for inviting me to the chamber for my state of the state address. Sorry its a little bit late. Let me start by recognizing the historic nature of todays event. For the if first time ever, a female speaker of the house is presiding over the state of thee of the state address here today. [cheers and applause] speaker longhurst and her majority team, majority whip new jfc chair kim williams, kim is where . Kim, stand up and be recognized. [applause] i look forward to working with all of you for the rest of this session. I also a want to take a ment to recognize two new justices on the delaware supreme court, justice abby la grow and justic [inaudible] please stand so we can recogni both of you. [applause] we have a world class judiciary in delaware, and the justices bring a new generation of leadership to our court. Thank you for your commitment to public service. And a moment of p if i may, ido recognize my wife tracy sitting up here in front for all the hard work shes done on behalf ■of delaware children over the past seven years. [cheers and applause] tracy has l [applause] trac has transformed the role of first lady. We like to call her the first spouse and made sure every delaware child has a first chance to succeed. Shes also stood by me throughout my 30 plus years in public service, ands not always. Thank you, tracy, for your support. Prison [a before i go any further, id also like to recognize the army and Air National Guard. S unableo be with us today, but hes represented by Brigadier General james benson. Please stand up all your army and Air National Guard [applause] we have command staff and other guardsmen and women until if bat colony as well. N in the balcony as well. Its been a busy time for the guard, and i think about their service and sacrifice a lot. Over the past years, more than 1300nd women have been deployed to more than 50 locations around the world. Last year we held a deployment if50 National Guardsmen and women from the 160th engineering company. They recently returned from thes military operation in [inaudible] again, members of that unit who were deployed are with us todayn recognizing our citizensoldiers. Theyre the very best, and theyre up, again, in the balcony. Its really hard to believe this, but this is my last state of the state address as your said earlier, that there are mixed feelings about the applause tata i was receiving [laughter] as i, as i came in. Seriously tho a little reflectii may, on what weve accomplished working together and on Unfinished Business. First and foremost, weve helped create [inaudible] order. [inaudible] fight and defend our nation in congress [inaudible] is. You cant point of order, madam speaker. [inaudible] we send you are our children an [inaudible] not to participate in genocide. Thats all i stand for. Senators, spook if up ing. Farewell. Proceed, thank you, madam. First and foremost, weve helped create more than 30,000 new jobs since 2017. Big deal. For the first time in delaware history, weve provided funding dedicated for low income studen■. ■vts and english learn s in our Public Schools learners. Weve given our teachers a big pay raise. For three years running, weve f÷implemented the largest infrastructure plan in state history. Finish that means good jobs building new schools, safer roads and bridges and connecting delawareans to the internet up and down the state. And weve kept our fiscal house in order. We turned a 400 milon budget deficit into a in 2017, into a 400 million in additional reserves today, and that means a lot. [applause] were supporting an economic resurgence in downtown wilmington. Weve provided paid leave for delaware families and raised the minimum wage to 15 an hour, and the labor market has blown right through that already. E] more afe Housing Units so delaware families have a safe place to call home. Weve reduced crime, and our prison population is down nearly 24 . Weve passed sweeping Climate Change legislation committing to net zero emissions by 2050,nd were keeping our communities safe is by banning assault weapons and launching targeted gun safety measures. Or these are matter to delaware families [inaudible] youre please. Over 29,000 palestinians [inaudible] [background sounds] please, please [inaudible] please, we have the governor whos to giving state of the state. [inaudible] governor, please proceed. Thank you, madam speaker. These are issues tata matter to delawaref your districts and that matter to future generations; good jobs, quality schools, safe and affordable communities, a cleaner environment and responsible management of taxpayer dollars. And this last year im focusing op leaving the state in a better place than i found it. We should make sure the next governor is in the best possible succeed, and we should balance the budge and make sure our investments are sustainable in the long run. And i want to thank everyone in this room for your partnership on this. We dont always agree, for sure, but working9 together what with we do best in delaware. Work together, i can confidently say today that the state of our state is strong and getting stronger every day. [applause] as many of you know, i spent a loot of a lot of time on the football field. In fact, one here in the chamber today, dave. I spent a lot of time with him as a player and a coach, and i know it was a lge but one thing i learned is that the best teams leave it all on the field. And its in that spirit that our Unfinished Business and the work i believe we can still accomplish together this last year. Weve made big strides on financial management, and i want to recognize senator padilla and representative carson for their good work last year as well as senator walsh and representativ [inaudible] but despite our efforts, we did not pass legislation to permanenyon spending at sustainable levels. And an earlier General Assembly rejected bypo done just that. Its really pretty simple. Delaware cant compete in the future if we dont have our budg i right now our futuregen assembly or governor could lead us down a path of uncontrolled spending. We havent done that. That would lead to higher taxes and pain cuts. So lets not go backwards. Instead lets build on the progress weve made working together. This yearm asking you to send me legislation that would make our spending benchmark permanent. I wont be here next year, i know some of you are happy about that, but m of you will. Dont set yourselves up for failure. I hope we can find Common Ground on this very important priority. We also have the serious issue with Health Care Cost inflation. If this year between medicai for state employees and retirees plan were spending nearly 2 billion on health care alone. Let me again, 2 billion. Thats billion with a b. And thats roughly 200 million mo than our last year. The state share of medicaid alone costs 1 billion. Those are jawdropping of our se budget, and its only going up. And taxpayers are footing the bill. If we dont care spending will crowd out all the other investments, investments that we all support; funding for our Public Schools, for Affordable Housing and childcare and raises for state employees and state retirees. Right now retires get their pad to cover their health care. This is literally an issue we cannot afford to ignore. We should all Work Together to strengthen our health care bench mark and address Health Care Cost inflation. Senator townsend and speaker longhurst, i know you and many i look forward to working together on those issues. [applause] of course, no issue is more important to our states future than the quality of delawares public time the last seven years focused on strengthening our schools, especially for children who need our help the mos i know many of you have been leaders on this issue for a lot of years. Together, we created opportunity that provides additional funding for low income students and English Learners in our state. Our budget this year increases funding 63 million. I can assure you that its make a difference. Last fall i visited eastspoke wo had been struggling to read, working with a reading special u. S. Funded through opportunityd bounds. And that that reading coach is here somewhere with us today, there she is. So we can [applause] past seven years, weve also built new schools across the state. Weve spent 1. 5 billion on let me tell you something that you already know, a school is much more than books brick withs and mortar. Its the pillar community, and nowhere with is that more true than on the east side of wilmington where with were building the first new school in the city in over a half century. Ms. [applause] the school will be named the acy after the schools [applause] you support that. Longterm principal and Community Icon who i had the privilege to know as a basketball coach, maurice pritchett. School opening later this year. Students, teachers and neighbors on the east side will have a state of the art School Building they can take pride in. Join me in recognizing the pens of the Pritchett Family who are or the members of the Pritchett Family who are also with us today inalcony, i believe. [applause] thank you for being with us. We also launched the wilmington learning collaborative to our largest city. For the first time, districts serving the city are working together to address the needs of wilmington children. To recognize senator lockman for her work in this area and her committee that she chairs and all the people that are involved w [applause] [inaudible] as a well. And finally, we significantly expanded, madam schools. The need became even more pronounced during the covid19 pandemic. And i want to thankr leadershipn this earth. Effort. Working together, i look forward to expanding these services into the hi year. [applause] these are are initiatives that we all can be proud of, but it simply isnt enough. Heres an uncomfortable truth. Statewide less than 40 of children are are reading proficiently at third grade. Met me say that again. Let me say that again. Heads than 40 of children are reading proif efficiently in third grade. And many schools fall short o that average. Imagine if your child went to a school with that kind of result. None of us would tolerate that. But too many children across our state are faced with this reality, and we need to fix it. Thats why my budget [applause] thats why my budget includes l ey will work with educators and district leaders to focus on the science of reading, an effective approach to teaching children how to read. Its one of the most important things that we can do, and i hope youll join me in supporting this high priority. My budgetlso includes a continued focus on Early Childhood education. I know this is a priority for many of you in this cha our priority is simple, create more seats for the children and families who need them the most. The rh is clear, it that children who have access to quality Early Childhood education have better outcomes. That includes higher graduation more Financial Stability into adulthood. Just 15 years ago the state was investing next to nothing in childcare. Year includes more than 135 million for childcare. Thats a big deal, and these are critical investments that grow up. [applause] before i leave the topic of educates, i want to thank secretary Mark Holliday for all his hard work. Mark, please stand. [appla■ause] mark was a teacher, a principal and a superintendent before he took the job as cabinet secretary. And his leadership has been tremendous, study and strong. Over the past 19nb months, secretary holliday chaired the Public Education compensation committee. The group studiedinger pay, and they presented a recommendation for paying our teachers what they deserve. Im determined to win the competition with the states around as. We want the best first state. Thats why my budget fully funds the first year of those recommendations for building on the raise that you passed and i signed into law last year. If we stick the to the plan, we will raise teachers starting salaries to 60,000 over the next four years. Lets get it done together. [applause] i wodike to recognize our lieutt governor long has been a real partner over these past sev years. Shes a nurse, as you all know [laughter] and her efforts on the ground during covid19 were just tremendoow to roll upper her sleeves and get things done. So is, Lieutenant Governor the Lieutenant Governor has also been a champion of scienw and s. T. E. M. Careers for young people in our state, particularly young girls. Last summer i signed senate bill 55 creatingcx disease advisory council. This new council will bring together the best and brightest to help support those living with rare d the effort was led by Lieutenant Governor long along with senator nicole and representative please join me in recognizing the Lieutenant Governor and these leaders on this effort. [applause] id like to take another moment to recognize my wife tracy for all her good work a [laughter] [applause] thats so typical of her to say, to cut it else. But truthfully, since 2017 trace a city has been focused on giving all delaware succeed. Working with the state librarian, shes helped expand Dolly PartonsImagination Library statewide in the middle of saying something. [applause] now, more than half of the eligible children are signed up for free books every month. Again, theres nothing more important than helping our children lesh and hearn how to read, and this is an Important Program to do that. This free program will help us achieve that goal. In addition, last year tracy led a discussion on our traumainformed progress. And she hosted our first Youth Mental Health summit that takes all of us working togethe childn have a first chance to succeed from birth to adulthood. Please join mae weve recognized her too many times. [cheers and applause] oh, or go ahead. Let me tell you, i owe all i deserve i need all that goodwill that youre today. [laughter] of course, one of the best ways to expand opportunity is to keep our economy strong and growing. As the saying goes, of problems. [inaudible] [inaudible] thank you, mam speaker. As the saying goes, a good job solves a lot of problems. Good jobs help families pay the bills, buy home, save for college and retirement and sock away some money for vacation. Good jobs also increase our state s rp us fund our priorities. On my first day in office, i signed an executive order to rethink our approach to development, and together we created the delaware prosperity partnership. And we have leaders of that the effort that are with us today. By every measure its been a success. Just in the last two years weve helped create more than 20,000 jobs. Th■gs a big deal for our state. And new budget continues our investment in job creation in the strategic fund, Readiness Fund and the Graduation Lab Space fund and our infrastructure investment. Fund. We will noton with other states around us for good jobs for good people. We also have our eye on the future of delawares economy. My budge again additional funding for the federal Research Project nimble and sauber at the star campus at the university of delaware. Both projects will delawares Strong Foundation in science and technology. They will track more high quality workers to delaware and sp wiz Development Innovation and wiz adopt. You all know this, but our collegndities are more important than ever to the future of our economy. At delaware state university, dr. Allen and his team have opened a new Early Childhood ce. The center will chain the next weapon is ration of Early Childhood educators. They remain at the forefront of. We still have more Jobs Available than we have people looking for work. Its an issue youve heard a we talk about before. Right now there are Jobs Available but only 21,000 people looking for work. That requires an intense focus on job and on the skills demanded by delaware employers. Delaware tech is leading on that work. Join me inng the doctors and if their teams for their hard work and dedication to the future of our state. [applause] exploring federal funding opportunities, and weve had some success. Last year delaware, pennsylvania and new jersey were selecd by a hydrogen hub. The program was funded by president bidens bipartisan infrastructure law. The u. S. Of energy selected just seven proposals out of 79 applications across the country. And we were one of the■qcv seve. The federal designation will bring 750 million to the region. Make no mistake, this is a generaonal opportunity to build a Clean Energy Industry right here in delaware and in this region. And to compete for Good Union Jobs of the future. Also receivn federal funding to help expand the port of wilmington. For decades jobs at the port have been a gateway to the middle class for thousands of workers and their families. These are the kinds of jobs our state and country were built on. Were also increasing support for towns and cities across the state. Last year we celebrated additional funding to redevelop th Capital Shopping Center in seaford. Were building new Affordable Housing on the east side ofc . e housing will be director, eugene young, and his team are leading that work. [applause] and just a few weeks ago we announced plans to supercharge the redevelopment of downtown dover. [applause] will make senator paa ya and representative bush very happy. [laughter] and it will also help us attract workers to the are■pa Economic Opportunity in our historic capital city. I know that work is important td representative harris, bush, lynn and many others, and i appreciate their leadership and your partnership. If we want to keep g in delawaro make sure families feel safe in their community. I knowigg gun violence has been a shared priority. Over the past seven years, weve banned assault weapons, bump stocks and high capacity red fld prevented straw purchases. This year well take another big step forward and pass the permit to purchase law. [applause] inside the administration we spent a lot of time on what we is, or gvi. We started xvi in wilmington gvi, and have is expanded the program to dover. Heres the truth, its a very small number of people who are committing the vast majority of gun violence in these communities. Theyre part of groups that fight with onother. Through gv is i, were directly engaging with those individuals and the gangs and groups theyre part of. Were demanding that they put downand if they do, well offerb is training and other services. For those who choose the path of violence, they will be prosecuted to the ful the law, and attorney general jennings has been doing just that. Thank you, madam attorney general. [applause] more tne participated in gvi since it started. Just in the last several months, we have started offering gvie recently saw a spike in lethal shootings. Were a committed partner in tos sussex county. The Delaware State Police have been instrumental in our response, and we appreciate the support of representirt and senn in those efforts. [applause] the future of our communities across our state depends on that partnership. As we towards the future, we cant ignore or the threat of Climate Change. Delaware is one of the is the country. Ying state if drive through some of our coastal and back bay communities, and youll see for yourself. Its clear to were already feeling the effects of s thats why were spending more than 30 million to harden our coastal infrastructure, projects like south bowers rad to make sure residents can get in and out of town. Thats pretty important. And i want to thank the secretaries for their leadership in this area. [applause]■n■w last year many of you were instrumental in passing the most significant Climate Change legislation in our states history. House bill 99 set ambitious but achievable targets. Om Greenhouse Gas emissions in half by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. If this for future generations, and i want to recognize senator hansen and representative the phillips for their horde work hard work and leadership on this issue. [applause]■p we have a General Assembly full of lead leaders who understand who have the political will to talk alaska. Thank you for your leadership. The transition to clean energy wont be easy. At times it will be controversial, very controversial. In december we finalized regulation wills to reduce transportaon essiony our state, a big source of carbon and other air pollution. By 2032 the regulations require vehicles delivered to delaware will be zero emission vehicles. That will help us reach our targets under house bill 999. And were following Industry Trends across the country, major automakers are already or committed to moving towards our efforts will also make sure delaware isnt left behind in that transition. The threat of climate cha nnge s also why were taking a fresh look at delawares role in offshore wind industry. In december we began negotiations with offshore wind developer u. S. Wind to bring significant benefits to our city as we active leadership role. Under terms of the agreement, u. S. Wind would bring wind energy into delaware. 100 million of benefits to our state without raising rates. Those benefits include funding for work force development, for dredging projects and for projects to mitigate the effects of Climate Change in our state parks. Over the next several mth hope youll join me in taking another big step forward or pursuing legislation that will make delaware more of an active player in offshore it will allow us to directly purchase windgenerated Renewable Energy and to explore if partnerships■ wit states in our region. And, senator hansen, i know this is a big priority of yours, and we look forward to working with you on this legislation. [applause] end where i started, with some reforest reflection. Its been a great honor for me to serve as your governor. I believe the opportunity to serve as an elected official [indible]■s is the greatest privilege that a people can we stow on one of their own. One of our colleagues who have enjoyed that the privilege if for 21 years is representative former speaker pete schwarzkopf. Join me in recognizing the former e speaker for his Incredible Service to our state. [applause] [laughter] theres a lot of love in that oe schwartz cop years havent always been easy. The three years of the pandemic felt like ten to me. But for me, the privilege to serve as governor has been an incredible gift. I got to travel every corner of our state and meet people whe in schools, at festivals and parades. And during tragic circumstances as well likedisasters and funerl testimonials. Ive been privileged to listen to peoples hopes and aspirations for themselves and for our state and sharing hair good times and their bad. Ive learned that the most important thing for anle toen tf the people grow represent. They give you the benefit of the doubt so long as they trust if you earn that trust, theyt will follow you when times are tough, and times get tough. Finish finally, i want to tha sd jimmy, for their sacrifices during my time in public service. I couldnt have done it them by my side. For the if rest of this year, well continue to do the right thing. Well leave the state better off or for generations to come. I look forward to leaving it on the field with all of you. Thank you for your hard work. God bless you and god bless our great state of delaware. [appe]