And efforts to fight Climate Change amid all the other issues and well break away from this portion of this mornings washington journal. Get you live now to minneapolis for the state of the state address with governor eric holcomb. And we are trying to get the audio, which you may notice is missing right now from this indiana state of the state address. Governor eric holcomb who you can see but not hear coming to us live from the State Capitol in indiana. And these are good jobs with wages 1 4 higher than the average hoosier wage. Ive challenged the secretary and president elaine beetle and other folks at the Indiana Economic Development federation to do it again this year. Ive upped the ante. How about 35,000 new job commitments in 2018 . [ applause ] even as we focus on making life better for hoosiers took, were also preparing for the future. We have a fullyfunded Infrastructure Program that provides long term certainty. Our next level roads Program Provides nearly 6 billion in this bienium alone. It includes significantly more resources all across the state and will increase year after year after year thanks to your effort to convert plans to projects. Indianas infrastructure is the envy of the nation. Thank you. [ applause ] and after adding flights to the east and west coasts, for the first time in our history we have a nonstop direct flight to europe, connecting hoosiers and hoosiermade products to european markets like never before. But for all of our progress, we still have a long way to go. And im excited about the journey ahead. Our greatest challenge is that too many hoosiers look the education and skills for the jobs that are here today. And being created tomorrow. Nearly all of which require a postsecondary education. Right now we have 85,000 jobs in indiana unfilled. Because employers simply cant find the people equipped with the skills they need, and add in the iedcs, 30,000 new jobs with even more on the way this year, not to mention the more than 1 million jobs to be filled over the next ten years as baby boomers retire. This is the defining issue of the decade and we dont have a day to waste. Thats why of my five pillars, developing a skilled and ready workforce will demand the greatest focus and collaboration. One way weve already begun to tackle this problem and this challenge is with our next level jobs program. In the five months since we rolled it out, over 270,000 people have visited nextleveljobs. Org. Over 13,000 of them have filled out the grant application. And over 300 businesses have expressed their interest. Now we must convert interest to enrollment and then to completion. And the good news is, we have the resources to begin to crack this code and were going to put them to work for every student and worker in our state who wants to get ahead. Thats why were setting big goals. For example, more than 700,000 hoosiers started college but didnt finish and many of them would like to go back and get a degree. Our goal this year is to enroll 25,000 more of them in programs that help them do just that. [ applause ] another 47 a,000 hoosiers dont have a high school diploma. Our goal this year is to help 30,000 of those adults obtain the education and the skills they need to get a better job. Well also establish a state workbased learning and Apprenticeship Office that will increase the number of these opportunities from 12,500 to 25,000 by the end of 2019. Moving indiana into the top five in the country. And on the employer side, by the end of this year, well engage 250 companies to train and hire employees through our employer Training Grant program. And we wont forget. We wont forget the 27,000 hoosiers in our prison system. By 2020, well graduate at least 1,000 inmates annually in Certificate Programs that will lead to good jobs when they get out. [ applause ] add all this up, add all this up and were talking about more than a million of our fellow hoosiers that need and can be skilled up. Lets give them the tools they need to reach their true full potential. Think about the value to them, to your communities and to our state. [ applause ] we also need to set our lens wide enough to include future generations. To do that we must ensure that every hoosier student receives an education infused with s. T. E. M. Subjects. Critical thinking skills and the intellectual curiosity that prepares them for lifelong learning. So when they graduate from high school, they have a ticket to their future success, be it going on to college or entering the workforce to realize a fulfilling career. To get these results, well commit to forming partnerships like never before. Over the next year, well use the newly created education to Career Pathways cabinet led by secretary blair my low, superintendant jennifer mccormick, commissioner teresa luckers, fred pane and omb director Micah Vincent to said the framework to guide regions and communities. By next year we must be armed with the framework to drive the legislative action that is required, including funding changes. But now, lawmakers, we need your support to position this cabinet for success, to ensure schoolaged hoosiers are gaining the experiences and skills they need to thrive in our everchanging global economy. This new approach will take the process away from compliance and regulation and instead focus on local capacity building, empowering hoosiers at the local level. Late last year, indianas state board of education took a crucial step by approving new graduation pathways for High School Students beginning in 2019. And this year, we must advance a more Relevant High School diploma so that every student graduates wealth a diploma that is their opportunity to advance to the next step along their path. Also this year with your leadership, well enact legislation to require every indiana k12 school to offer Computer Science courses and well pay for the teacher or professional development they need to inspire their students. Well also take better advantage of programs with proven results, such as the jobs for americas graduates program. Or j. A. G. Last month, i agreed to be the chairman of this terrific national program. That helps atrisk students complete their high school diplomas. Im committed to expanding j. A. G. It works. So as we evaluate programs over the next year, well maximize existing resources and work with the private sector to add 250 more programs all across indiana within the next five years. [ applause ] strengthening our workforce will be one of the most important things weve ever undertaken. Its going to take a longterm commitment and an allin approach among many stakeholders in every community, including multiple key state agencies and departments, but the results when we succeed will position indiana for even greater economic gains, for your children and grandchildren and generations beyond. And for all those hoosiers that we all care so much about to be successful, we must continue to cultivate our strong and diverse economy. Modernizing traditional sectors like manufacturing and agriculture. Where weve built a competitive advantage Like Aerospace and Life Sciences and nourishing emerging ones like tech. Thats exactly why we established the new 250 million next level Indiana Trust fund, and in the First Quarter this year, well begin to make Strategic Investments to build and support more innovation and entrepreneurship in our state. Tech has taken root in hoosier soil. Its grown by nearly 28 in Central Indiana since 2015. Take emphasis, which was the first Indiana Company on the New York Stock Exchange and is now in 50 countries. Emphasis could have put its Business Tech hub anywhere and they chose indiana. That will mean 2,000 new jobs by the end of 2021, in areas such as artificial intelligence, emerging digital technologies, the cloud and big data. Ladies and gentlemen, we have two executives from emphasis with us tonight. Were delighted youre here and growing in indiana. [ applause ] emphasis is just one of the many examples, salesforce, and so many Smaller Companies have created a critical massand making indiana one of the best places for business in america. Something 29 other states have already done and critical to our ability to continue to recruit these dynamic companies. And well expand our efforts to attract more veterans to relocate to indiana when they leave their military service. Well go tometothem and not wait for them to find us. Not only have our vets earned our gratitude and support, but their discipline, focus and motivation make them ideal workers for any hoosier employer. [ applause ] keeping our economy humming requires that we continue to maintain and build up and out our infrastructure. Thanks to your leadership and the hard work of the great folks an endot who will be smelling a lot of asphalt and concrete over this year, were starting to see the benefits of our longterm roads and bridges plan. Well open section 5 of i65 in august. The 10,000 miles of lanes will resurface. And the roads and bridges well repair or replace are all paid for. Of course infrastructure is more than roads and bridges. Were completing Due Diligence to add a fourth water port in southeastern indiana and were working to add more direct flights in growing cities like south bend and ft. Wayne and evansville to strengthen indianas markets throughout the country and the world. Its also high time for indiana to address our aging water infrastructure. State oversight is spread across several agencies. So were going to form the executive branch governance structure needed to manage our operations and longterm strategy. Were eager to work with lawmakers to get the ball rolling. In the meantime, ill direct the Indiana Finance Authority to designate half a Million Dollars each of the next two years for development of Asset Management plans for highneed water and waste water utilities. [ applause ] we must also strengthen a certain segment of our ailing human infrastructure. A big part of our focus on people is to continue to attack the Opioid Epidemic headon. Under jim mcclennans leadership, were taking a balanced approach. Treatment, prevention and enforcement. Our efforts to integrate the technology needed to help physicians access the states Prescription DrugMonitoring System known as inspec are going even faster than we anticipated. In september, just one hospital was using the new system. Now more than half are on board and will be using the technology this year. So with your help, were moving forward to require indiana physicians to use inspect before ever issuing an opioid prescription. [ applause ] well seek to increase the number of opioid treatment locations from 18 to 27, so nearly everyone in the state will be less than an hours drive to treatment. Well engage and improve our reporting of Drug Overdose deaths so we know precisely the scale of the problem and can attract more funding to treat our citizens and well strengthen our enforcement efforts and send a clear sflign to anyone who would profit from this scourge, if you deal or manufacture Illegal Drugs that result in someones death, you will be charged with our highest level felony and you will go to prison for a long, long time. [ applause ] we all know a healthy indiana depends first and foremost on the health of our people. We are eagerly awaiting federal approval of our healthy indiana plan extension. More than 400,000 hoosiers are covered by this plan, which is improving behaviors and health outcomes. Three successive administrations have built h. I. P. Into a National Model and were ready to take it to the next level with expanded services to help those affected by this drug epidemic and help eligible members transition to meaningful employment. Weve worked closely with our federal partners for nearly a year, and i assure you that well continue to take care of hoosiers and those who may seek coverage through this model plan. [ applause ] of course our people include our most vulnerable. Despite focused efforts, indianas infant mortality rate is unacceptable. Indiana regularly ranks among the worst states in the nation for infant mortality. Lagging behind the National Average and that of our midwestern neighbors. 623 babies didnt live past the age of 1 in indiana in 2016. 623. We can and we will save more of them. [ applause ] our infant mortality rate is a direct lens into the Overall Health of hoosiers. So leading the charge will be our health commissioner, dr. Kris balks who has devoted her career to families and babies. In addition to her day job. Applause well take an important step this year by working with you to implement a levels of care program to assure the highest risk babies are delivered at hospitals with the facilities to meet both the needs of the mother and the baby. But we must do more. So tonight im sitting a goal to become the best state in the midwest for infant mortality rate mi rates by 2024. [ applause ] in recent weeks, the department of Child Services has been the subject of headlines. Ill state right now, there is no noe im delighted that terry stignan is coming on board as our new direct and believe that dcs, h. E. A. T. H. S. And ssfa will partner now more than every to deal with child and family issues. Weve engaged outside experts to conduct a complete assessment of the safety and welfare of our children. Well be transparent and well provide you directly with progress reports. And lets not forget the thousands of case workers on the front lines who are engaged 24 hours a day, seven days a week, many in the toughest of circumstances, doing all they can to protect the most vulnerable among us. We thank you all. [ applause ] were so thankful for all youre doing for our kids and for indiana. When you think about the ongoing efforts to deliver great government service, this is what its all about, providing opportunities and tools for every hoosier, from the very oldest to the very youngest, to live lives to their fullest. I was reminded of that when i met with students from Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette who have spearheaded the push for several years to adopt the fire fly as our official state insect. In fact, some of them are in my office right now watching this speech, at least thats what theyre supposed to be doing in my office. For those who may not know, thomas say named the states fire fly in 1826 while living in new harmony. This was a great way for Young Students to be involved in the civic process. It will promote good citizens. And it will bring attention to science and the outdoors. Ive got their bug, and to encourage these great kids and their perseverance, im taking up their cause this year and i ask you to join us. [ applause ] its impossible to think about civics and people without honoring and remembering those who gave their lives so that we could continue to enjoy ours. Up in the balcony, the chair next to janet symbolizing those hoosier heros we lost this year. Please join me in a moment of silence as we remember them. As we absolute osalute our hero easy to see that americans are divided on many issues and governing often requires bridging those divides. We have been blessed with a character that more often than not leads us to solve problems rather than assign blame and to work in common cause rather than tear each other down. We have two exemplars with us tonight. Eva, whose life has inspired me and countless others around the world and jim adderhole a true leader and mentor who is retiring after 30 years of Public Service. [ applause ] both have made tremendous contributions to our state and both have lived lives full of respect and civility. So Going Forward im going to view civility as the very foundation that all five pillars i just described rise up from. Im convinced that our ultimate goals, this ambitious todo list will remain elusive unless we stay open to different views, but we treat each other with respect and focus not on what divides us but what we have in common. Emeasure b e pluribus unum. Colleagues, fellow hoosiers, what a moment. Its a moment weve built toward. A moment full of potential. Its indianas time. We have an unprecedented opportunity to take indiana to the next level, and along the way help transform the lives of more hoosier children, more hoosier students and citizens than ever before. I dont know about you, but there is no place id rather be and there is no one id rather share this journey with. God bless you all and may god continue to bless our great state. Thank you very much. [ applause ] cspan, where history unfolds daily. In 197 1979, cspan was createes a Public Service by americas Public Television companies and is brought to you today by your cable or satellite provider. Cspans washington journal, live every day, with news and policy issues that impact you. Coming up wednesday morning, a discussion on president trumps decision to end protected status for some 200,000 salvadorans living in the u. S. With Migration Policy Institute president antd rue sealy and democratic california congresswoman nanette baragon talks about the future of d. R. E. A. M. Ers. Then Arizona Republican congressman will be on to talk about immigration policy and how it could impact a possible government shutdown. Be sure to watch cspans washington journal, live at 7 00 eastern wednesday morning. Join the discussion. Earlier today in