Booktv on cspan2. Vice president pence speaks about the u. S. And mexico economic agreement called the usmca and speaks with the Growth Opportunity that they hope it will spur. From yesterday this is about 25 minutes. Well, hello, Iowa Governor reynolds, senator grassley and senator ernst, former congressman david young, the ep as assistant administrator to speaker of the house pat grassley [ applause ] all the local leaders and guests and neighbors and friends and to rob manning and Manning Farms, it is great to be back in the Hawkeye State. Thank you for that wonderful warm welcome. [ applause ] im really honored to see you all turned out today. Thanks for taking time away from your work and obligations to talk about an issue of great importance to iowa and great importance to the nation, but let me say thanks to a few friends who are with us today, not just not just do i want to thank her for that overly again rou generous introduction, but i have to tell you theres no more dynamic or hard working governor in the United States of america than governor kim reynolds. Would you join me in thanking her. Take a bow, kim. Shes doing a phenomenal job for iowa. [ applause ] let me thank another friend of mine who ive come to know well in my duties as Vice President. I find my way to the United States senate on a regular basis. I get a chance to interact with both of your senators, but ill tell you this one this one is amazing. She likes to say shes a mother, a soldier, a leader. She was born and raised here, combat veteran, served our country for almost a quarter of a century in the armed forces of the United States, and ill tell you today she is a champion for iowa and a champion for the conservative agenda. Join me in thanking senator joanie ernst for her strong and principled leadership. [ applause ] thank you, senator, and finally its a real privilege to be here with frankly had a hero of mine. I first discovered him on cspan back in the 1990s. [ laughter ] when he was serving in the United States house of representatives, and i said i like that guy. He would go on to the United States senate. In fact, he served in the congress now for more than 40 years, and i can tell you, he has been a champion for his fellow iowa farmers like no one else. Hes been a champion for our constitutional liberties. As chairman of the judiciary committee, and hes obviously a terrific grandfather. Join me in thanking senator Chuck Grassley for his great, great leadership for iowa. [ applause ] it really is great to be here with so many friends, and let me mention one more friend of mine who when i told him last night i was headed to iowa i think he was a little bit jealous. Hes man who loves the state of iowa and a man the people of iowa put their confidence in three years ago. I bring greetings from the 45th president of the United States of america, President Donald Trump [ cheers and applause ] but it is great to be back on the farm, especially great to be here at a great family farm here in iowa. You know, i grew up south of highway 40 myself in southern indiana. I didnt grow up on a farm, but were we had some cows and i hung out all the time with friends who were on family farms. This one were standing on today is so emblematic of everything thats great about family farming. You know, im told that rob manning is just the latest in a long line of farmers in his family. Hes tilled this land and raised animals for five generations, and today the hard working men and women of Manning Farms have helped the Hawkeye State earn its place as the nations largest corn producer, second largest soybean producer and the number one producer of pork in the country. I meaning the truth is what you grow here, what you raise here, you export around the world, so would you join me in thanking the manning family and rob and the whole team here at manning nuclear arms for all their leadership and all their contributions to the life of this state and nation. [ applause ] you know, the truth is what you grow here, what you raise here in iowa you you export not just across the country but all over the wider world so were going to talk about trade today which iowa knows a whole lot about. Were going to talk about a great opportunity for iowa workers and iowa businesses, but before that let me just take a minute to reflect on the progress weve made because of the confidence that the people of iowa placed in this president and our administration back in 2016. You know, when i think of the last three years, theres really only one way can i describe it. Its been three years of action. Its been three years of results. Its been three years of promises made and promises kept, but were just getting started, iowa [ applause ] i mean, think about it. After eight years of the weakest postrecession economy since the great depression, President Trump said if were could get this economy again, if we put common sense conservative principles and Free Enterprise into practice, and President Donald Trump delivered. This president s actually signed more bills rolling back federal red tape than any president in American History, and this president actually signed a measure that would ensure that farmers and ranchers can control and own their land in fee simple as we like to say. Private property was resort when the president repealed the disastrous waters of the usa rule. And President Trump also kept a promise when he signed the largest tax cuts and tax reform in American History. We cut taxes across the board for working families, for businesses large and small, and when he did that, we ended the death tax for nearly every american farmer. Death is no longer a taxable event. And we also passed reforms that made it possible for farmers to immediately deduct 100 of the cost of new equipment. Anybody around farming knows those input costs play a Critical Role in the vitality of farming and being able to literally write off those costs in a single year. It made a tremendous difference, so its been about rolling back red tape. Its been about cutting taxes, but weve also unleashed american energy. Do you know that the United States will be a net exporter of oil for the first time in 75 years. [ applause ] and last week i want to tell you with the strong leadership of Governor Reynolds and with the unrelenting leadership of senator grassley and senator ernst, President Trump announced an agreement on the renewable fuel standard that will ensure net production reaches 15 billion every year. I want to thank your senators and your governor for being such champions. Such champions of renewable fuels. Iowa is not just going to be feeding the country. Were going to continue to fuel the country as well. So as we cut taxes, roll back regulation, unleash american energy, the results have been amazing. Since election day 2016 businesses large and small in the city and on the farm have created 6. 5 million new jobs including 22,000 jobs right here in the Hawkeye State. But im here today, my friends, because for all the progress weve made. Weve still got work to do, because as you heard from this stage earlier, we have an Incredible Opportunity before us. Over one year ago President Trump negotiated the largest trade deal in American History, the United Statesmexicocanada agreement. [ applause ] i was interest. I was there all along the way for a lot of negotiations, and ill tell you what the president drove a hard bargain. He put american jobs, American Farms and American Workers first and negotiated a great deal, but as i stand before you today Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the democrats in congress have refused to bring it to the floor of the house of representatives, and thats why im here. I came to iowa today to turn up the heat. I came to iowa today to say its time for the democrats in congress to do their job. Put politics aside and pass the usmca this year the truth is, and we all know it. Democrats have been spending all their time on endless investigations and a partisan impeachment, but enough is enough. The American People deserve better. I mean, the time has come. The time has come for congresswoman cindy axney and all the democrats in congress that represent iowa to put iowa first, put America First and pass the usmca this year [ applause ] ill make you a promise. Whatever the democrats in congress does that spend their time on, President Trump and i are never going to stop fighting for you and the agenda that iowa voted for in 2016. Count on it. Were not going to allow democrats in congress to distract us from working on behalf of all of you and the people of this country. Were never going stop delivering on a Strong National defense, secure borders, more conservative judges to our courts and jobs, jobs, jobs [ applause ] were never going to stop fighting for that agenda because that agenda has made America Great again. So i stand before you today, our nation and our liberties are more secure. Unemployment is at a 50year low, and more americans are working today than ever before. The truth is the American Economy has come roaring back because of the leadership of this president , because of the strong support of our allies and the congress and in statehouses around the country. But i want to assure you the president and i also know this economy has mostly come back because of all of you. Its given the opportunity of more freedom, more opportunity. The American People have stepped up, and with fair hard work and dedication and commitment youve brought the American Economy back. Its one story at a time, one family at a time. I mean, this the truth is its its stories like a farmer that i heard about on the way here nearby in dallas city whose family has been a pillar of the community for generations. In fact, i was told today that when they first started out his family used draft horses to plow their fields and had to practically field their livestock by hand, but today that same farm has drawn National Attention by using state of the art technology. They are producing more crops at a lower cost. They are making this community, this state and this nation proud, so would you join me in recognizing tom barrett and the whole Barrett Family farm. Where are yall . Thank you, tom. Im told we have with us a first generation owner of a farm just a few miles down the road. They started it three decades ago with just a few dollars to their name, and since then they have grown that natural to more than 150 employees, 100 heads of cattle and hogs, and as ive said most importantly its where they raised their four daughters and two sons. They are proof of the american droernlgs this first generation family farm so would you join me and give a warm round of applause to two hard working farmers here in iowa that represent everything thats great about agriculture, brett and theresa vos. Where are you. Take a bow. Here we are. S. Where are you. Take a bow. Here we are. Thanks, brett, thanks, theresa. I mention these two families because they are really emblematic of each and every one of you. They are proof that if you give American Farmers and workers a level playing field, that our farmers and our ranchers and our workers can compete and win with anyone in the world. Its the truth. [ applause ] thats why since the first day of this administration weve been working to open up markets all over the world. Im proud to report to you that President Trump renegotiated our trade agreement with south korea. Earlier this week the president actually signed agreements with japan that not only will expand digit al trade but will expand agricultural trade by billions of dollars a year to japan. This president has also put china on notice that the era of economic surrender is over. Weve taken a strong stand to demand that china open their markets to what we make and what we grow and treat american businesses fairly. The president has been taking a strong stand, but in just the last few weeks china announced the purchase of more than 2 Million Metric Tons of soybeans, and as i learned on the way here from our u. S. Trade representative, were going to welcome a chinese delegation to our Nations Capital a little bit later this week. The negotiations are Going Forward with china, but i promise you President Trump is going to continue to stand strong for American Workers and American Farmers. [ applause ] so weve made great progress, but make no mistake about it. As youve heard from this stage today, when we get the usmca done, its going to be a big win for america and a big win for American Farmers. I mean, the truth is were gathered here today on this beautiful farm, on this breezy day, because its time for congress to act. Its time for congress to pass the usmca. And you know why. According to the International Trade commission the usmca is going to add about 68 billion to our economy right out of the gate, and we predict conservatively that it will create more than 175,000 new jobs. They also propose that the usmca will increase american agricultural exports by more than 2 billion. Now here in iowa this great state already exports more than 6. 6 billion in goods and services to canada and mexico every year. The in fact, nearly half of all of iowas exports if to mexico and canada, and nearly 100,000 goodpaying iowa jobs depend on exports. Thats why your governor, thats why your senators, thats why your president are demanding that Congress Pass the usmca and pass it this year iowa is depending on it. And the truth is iowas farmers and ranchers really have the most to gain. Since this great state is the nations second largest agricultural exporting state, you produce more than a 10. 3 billion in goods every single year, and under the usmca we know these numbers are only going to grow. Supporting jobs and opportunities and families across iowa. Its going to create more prosperity all across this state. And thats why i wanted to come here to talk about. The truth is we can get it done, but its going to take all of us to do it. I came here to turn up the heat, but now its time for iowans to turn up the heat on your democrats in chong and tell them iowa needs the usmca this year. Will you do it . [ applause ] [ applause ] i want you to reach out to your elected officials in washington, d. C. And tell them i ran into mike on a farm the other day and he was saying half of our exports from iowa, as the governor said, go to canada and mexico, and weve got this great new trade agreement thats a win for agriculture. Its a win for iowa, a win for america, and you need to get it done. Tell them what the usmca is going to mean to iowa warmers, but let me save you a nickel. You dont need to call senator joanie ernst or senator Chuck Grassley because they are leading the charge in the United States senate for the usmca. The president and i couldnt be more grateful for their leadership but right here in waukee there are some people that you could call. Why dont you call congresswoman cindy axney. Call congresswoman Abby Finkenauer and while youre at it cole congressman dave lovesack and tell him that iowa needs the usmca and by the way, after you make that call to the people iowa, you know, seems like every four years about this time you see a lot of people coming through iowa, right . Seems like theres a lot of politicians making their way through this state and getting ready for next years election. This first in the nation state of iowa. And ive got to tell you, ive got to tell you, you need to know every single democrat running for president is opposed to the usmca, so if you run into them at a diner or on a street corner, which i know its pretty common here in iowa, you need to tell the democrats running for the highest office in the land that iowa needs the usmca i mean, ill tell you, one of the things that i love about iowa its so much like indiana. People with big hearts and strong opinions so let them hear your opinion. It will make a difference. Listen, i want to thank you for coming out today. I really do. Coming out in the middle of a busy week and taking some time to focus on an issue thats so important to this state, so important to this nation, and let me let me say again how grateful i am to senator grassly, senator ernst and your great governor kim reynolds. Would you give them one more round of applause. They are just incredible champions. [ applause ] thank you so much. And also on behalf of my wife karen and our family, let me just take this opportunity also to say thank you for the privilege of being your