 Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States, and my fellow Americans: We meet tonight at a moment of unlimited potential. As we begin a new Congress, I stand here ready to work with you to achieve historic breakthroughs for all Americans. Millions of our fellow citizens are watching us now, gathered in this great Chamber, hoping that we will govern not as two parties, but as one Nation. The agenda I will lay out this evening is not a Republican agenda or a Democrat agenda. It's the agenda of the American people. Many of us have campaigned on the same core promises: to defend American jobs and demand fair trade for American workers; to rebuild and revitalize our Nation's infrastructure; to reduce the price of health care and prescription drugs; to create an immigration system that is safe, lawful, modern, and secure; and to pursue a foreign policy that puts America's interests first. There is a new opportunity in American politics, if only we have the courage, together, to seize it. Victory is not winning for our party, victory is winning for our country. This year, America will recognize two important anniversaries that show us the majesty of America's mission and the power of American pride. In June, we mark 75 years since the start of what General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the Great Crusade, the Allied liberation of Europe in World War II. On D-day, June 6, 1944, 15,000 young American men jumped from the sky, and 60,000 more stormed in from the sea, to save our civilization from tyranny. Here with us tonight are three of those incredible heroes: Private First Class Joseph Reilly, Staff Sergeant Irving Locker, and Sergeant Herman Zeitchik. Please. Gentlemen, we salute you. In 2019, we also celebrate 50 years since brave young pilots flew a quarter of a million miles through space to plant the American flag on the face of the Moon. Half a century later, we are joined by one of the   astronauts who planted that flag: Buzz Aldrin. Thank you, Buzz. This year, American astronauts will go back to space on American rockets. In the 20th century, America saved freedom, transformed science, redefined the middle class, and when you get down to it, there's nothing anywhere in the world that can compete with America. Now we must step boldly and bravely into the next chapter of this great American adventure, and we must create a new standard of living for the 21st century. An amazing quality of life for all of our citizens is within reach. We can make our communities safer, our families stronger, our culture richer, our faith deeper, and our middle class bigger and more prosperous than ever before. But we must reject the politics of revenge, resistance, and retribution, and embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise, and the common good. Together, we can break decades of political stalemate. We can bridge old divisions, heal old wounds, build new coalitions, forge new solutions, and unlock the extraordinary promise of America's future. The decision is ours to make. We must choose between greatness or gridlock, results or resistance, vision or vengeance, incredible progress or pointless destruction. Tonight I ask you to choose greatness. Over the last 2 years, my administration has moved with urgency and historic speed to confront problems neglected by leaders of both parties over many decades. In just over 2 years since the election, we have launched an unprecedented economic boom, a boom that has rarely been seen before. There's been nothing like it. We have created 5.3 million new jobs and, importantly, added 600,000 new manufacturing jobs, something which almost everyone said was impossible to do. But the fact is, we are just getting started. Wages are rising at the fastest pace in decades and growing for blue-collar workers, who I promised to fight for. They're growing faster than anyone else thought possible. Nearly 5 million Americans have been lifted off food stamps. The U.S. economy is growing almost twice as fast today as when I took office. And we are considered, far and away, the hottest economy anywhere in the world. Not even close. Unemployment has reached the lowest rate in over half a century. African American, Hispanic American, and Asian American unemployment have all reached their lowest levels ever recorded. Unemployment for Americans with disabilities has also reached an alltime low. More people are working now than at any time in the history of our country: 157 million people at work. We passed a massive tax cut for working families and doubled the child tax credit. We virtually ended the estate tax—or death tax, as it is often called—on small businesses, for ranchers, and also for family farms. We eliminated the very unpopular Obamacare individual mandate penalty. And to give critically ill patients access to lifesaving cures, we passed, very importantly, "right to try." My administration has cut more regulations in a short period of time than any other administration during its entire tenure. Companies are coming back to our country in large numbers thanks to our historic reductions in taxes and regulations. And we have unleashed a revolution in American energy. The United States is now the number-one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world. And now, for the first time in 65 years, we are a net exporter of energy. After 24 months of rapid progress, our economy is the envy of the world, our military is the most powerful on Earth, by far, and America is again winning each and every day. Members of Congress: The state of our union is strong.  U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!  That sounds so good. [ ] Our country is vibrant, and our economy is thriving like never before. On Friday, it was announced that we added another 304,000 jobs last month alone, almost double the number expected. An economic miracle is taking place in the United States, and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics, or ridiculous, partisan investigations. If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. [ ] It just doesn't work that way. We must be united at home to defeat our adversaries abroad. This new era of cooperation can start with finally confirming the more than 300 highly qualified nominees who are still stuck in the Senate, in some cases, years and years waiting. Not right. The Senate has failed to act on these nominations, which is unfair to the nominees and very unfair to our country. Now is the time for bipartisan action. Believe it or not, we have already proven that that's possible. In the last Congress, both parties came together to pass unprecedented legislation to confront the opioid crisis, a sweeping new farm bill, historic VA reforms. And after four decades of rejection, we passed VA Accountability so that we can finally terminate those who mistreat our wonderful veterans. And just weeks ago, both parties united for groundbreaking criminal justice reform. They said it couldn't be done. Last year, I heard, through friends, the story of Alice Johnson. I was deeply moved. In 1997, Alice was sentenced to life in prison as a first-time nonviolent drug offender. Over the next 22 years, she became a prison minister, inspiring others to choose a better path. She had a big impact on that prison population and far beyond. Alice's story underscores the disparities and unfairness that can exist in criminal sentencing and the need to remedy this total injustice. She served almost that 22 years and had expected to be in prison for the remainder of her life. In June, I commuted Alice's sentence. When I saw Alice's beautiful family greet her at the prison gates, hugging and kissing and crying and laughing, I knew I did something right. Alice is with us tonight, and she is a terrific woman. Terrific. Alice, please. Alice, thank you for reminding us that we always have the power to shape our own destiny. Thank you very much, Alice. Thank you very much. Inspired by stories like Alice's, my administration worked closely with members of both parties to sign the First Step Act into law. Big deal. It's a big deal. This legislation reformed sentencing laws that have wrongly and disproportionately harmed the African American community. The First Step Act gives nonviolent offenders the chance to reenter society as productive, law-abiding citizens. Now States across the country are following our lead. America is a nation that believes in redemption. We are also joined tonight by Matthew Charles from Tennessee. In 1996, at the age of 30, Matthew was sentenced to 35 years for selling drugs and related offenses. Over the next two decades, he completed more than 30 Bible studies, became a law clerk, and mentored many of his fellow inmates. Now Matthew is the very first person to be released from prison under the First Step Act. Matthew, please. Thank you, Matthew. Welcome home. Now Republicans and Democrats must join forces again to confront an urgent national crisis. Congress has 10 days left to pass a bill that will fund our Government, protect our homeland, and secure our very dangerous southern border. Now is the time for Congress to show the world that America is committed to ending illegal immigration and putting the ruthless coyotes, cartels, drug dealers, and human traffickers out of business. As we speak, large, organized caravans are on the march to the United States. We have just heard that Mexican cities, in order to remove the illegal immigrants from their communities, are getting trucks and buses to bring them up to our country in areas where there is little border protection. I have ordered another 3,750 troops to our southern border to prepare for this tremendous onslaught. This is a moral issue. The lawless state of our southern border is a threat to the safety, security, and financial well-being of all America. We have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens. This includes our obligation to the millions of immigrants living here today who followed the rules and respected our laws. Legal immigrants enrich our Nation and strengthen our society in countless ways. I want people to come into our country in the largest numbers ever, but they have to come in legally. Tonight I am asking you to defend our very dangerous southern border out of love and devotion to our fellow citizens and to our country. No issue better illustrates the divide between America's working class and America's political class than illegal immigration. Wealthy politicians and donors push for open borders while living their lives behind walls and gates and guards. Meanwhile, working-class Americans are left to pay the price for mass illegal immigration: reduced jobs, lower wages, overburdened schools, hospitals that are so crowded you can't get in, increased crime, and a depleted social safety net. Tolerance for illegal immigration is not compassionate; it is actually very cruel. One in three women is sexually assaulted on the long journey north. Smugglers use migrant children as human pawns to exploit our laws and gain access to our country. Human traffickers and sex traffickers take advantage of the wide-open areas between our ports of entry to smuggle thousands of young girls and women into the United States and to sell them into prostitution and modern-day slavery. Tens of thousands of innocent Americans are killed by lethal drugs that cross our border and flood into our cities, including meth, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. The savage gang, MS-13, now operates in at least 20 different American States, and they almost all come through our southern border. Just yesterday an MS-13 gang member was taken into custody for a fatal shooting on a subway platform in New York City. We are removing these gang members by the thousands. But until we secure our border, they're going to keep streaming right back in. Year after year, countless Americans are murdered by criminal illegal aliens. I've gotten to know many wonderful Angel moms and dads and families. No one should ever have to suffer the horrible heartache that they have had to endure. Here tonight is Debra Bissell. Just 3 weeks ago, Debra's parents Gerald and Sharon were burglarized and shot to death in their Reno, Nevada, home by an illegal alien. They were in their eighties and are survived by 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. Also here tonight are Gerald and Sharon's granddaughter Heather and great-granddaughter Madison. To Debra, Heather, Madison, please stand. Few can understand your pain. Thank you. And thank you for being here. Thank you very much. I will never forget, and I will fight for the memory of Gerald and Sharon that it should never happen again. Not one more American life should be lost because our Nation failed to control its very dangerous border. In the last 2 years, our brave ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of criminal aliens, including those charged or convicted of nearly 100,000 assaults, 30,000 sex crimes, and 4,000 killings or murders. We are joined tonight by one of those law enforcement heroes: ICE Special Agent Elvin Hernandez. When Elvin—[ ]—thank you. When Elvin was a boy, he and his family legally immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic. At the age of 8, Elvin told his dad he wanted to become a Special Agent. Today, he leads investigations into the scourge of international sex trafficking. Elvin says that "If I can make sure these young girls get their justice, I've really done my job." Thanks to his work, and that of his incredible colleagues, more than 300 women and girls have been rescued from the horror of this terrible situation, and more than 1,500 sadistic traffickers have been put behind bars. Thank you, Elvin. We will always support the brave men and women of law enforcement, and I pledge to you tonight that I will never abolish our heroes from ICE. Thank you. My administration has sent to Congress a commonsense proposal to end the crisis on the southern border. It includes humanitarian assistance, more law enforcement, drug detection at our ports, closing loopholes that enable child smuggling, and plans for a new physical barrier, or wall, to secure the vast areas between our ports of entry. In the past, most of the people in this room voted for a wall, but the proper wall never got built. I will get it built. This is a smart, strategic, see-through steel barrier, not just a simple concrete wall. It will be deployed in the areas identified by the border agents as having the greatest need. And these agents will tell you: Where walls go up, illegal crossings go way, way down. San Diego used to have the most illegal border crossings in our country. In response, a strong security wall was put in place. This powerful barrier almost completely ended illegal crossings. The border city of El Paso, Texas, used to have extremely high rates of violent crime, one of the highest in the entire country, and considered one of our Nation's most dangerous cities. Now, immediately upon its building, with a powerful barrier in place, El Paso is one of the safest cities in our country. Simply put: Walls work, and walls save lives. So let's work together, compromise, and reach a deal that will truly make America safe. As we work to defend our people's safety, we must also ensure our economic resurgence continues at a rapid pace. No one has benefited more from our thriving economy than women, who have filled 58 percent of the newly created jobs last year. [ ] You weren't supposed to do that. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. [ ] All Americans can be proud that we have more women in the workforce than ever before. [ ] Don't sit yet. You're going to like this. [ ] And exactly one century after Congress passed the constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote, we also have more women serving in Congress than at any time before.  U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!  That's great. Really great. And congratulations. That's great. As part of our commitment to improving opportunity for women everywhere, this Thursday we are launching the first-ever Governmentwide initiative focused on economic empowerment for women in developing countries. To build on—[ ]—thank you. To build on our incredible economic success, one priority is paramount: reversing decades of calamitous trade policies. So bad. We are now making it clear to China that, after years of targeting our industries and stealing our intellectual property, the theft of American jobs and wealth has come to an end. Therefore, we recently imposed tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods, and now our Treasury is receiving billions and billions of dollars. But I don't blame China for taking advantage of us; I blame our leaders and representatives for allowing this travesty to happen. I have great respect for President Xi, and we are now working on a new trade deal with China. But it must include real, structural change to end unfair trade practices, reduce our chronic trade deficit, and protect American jobs. [ ] Thank you. Another historic trade blunder was the catastrophe known as NAFTA. I have met the men and women of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Hampshire, and many other States whose dreams were shattered by the signing of NAFTA. For years, politicians promised them they would renegotiate for a better deal, but no one ever tried, until now. Our new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the USMCA, will replace NAFTA and deliver for American workers like they haven't had delivered to for a long time. I hope you can pass the USMCA into law so that we can bring back our manufacturing jobs in even greater numbers, expand American agriculture, protect intellectual property, and ensure that more cars are proudly stamped with our four beautiful words: Made in the U.S.A. Tonight I am also asking you to pass the United States Reciprocal Trade Act so that if another country places an unfair tariff on an American product, we can charge them the exact same tariff on the exact same product that they sell to us. Both parties should be able to unite for a great rebuilding of America's crumbling infrastructure. I know that Congress is eager to pass an infrastructure bill, and I am eager to work with you on legislation to deliver new and important infrastructure investment, including investments in the cutting-edge industries of the future. This is not an option, this is a necessity. The next major priority for me, and for all of us, should be to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs and to protect patients with preexisting conditions. Already, as a result of my administration's efforts, in 2018, drug prices experienced their single largest decline in 46 years. But we must do more. It's unacceptable that Americans pay vastly more than people in other countries for the exact same drugs, often made in the exact same place. This is wrong, this is unfair, and together, we will stop it, and we'll stop it fast. I am asking Congress to pass legislation that finally takes on the problem of global freeloading and delivers fairness and price transparency for American patients, finally. We should also require drug companies, insurance companies, and hospitals to disclose real prices to foster competition and bring costs way down. No force in history has done more to advance the human condition than American freedom. In recent years, we have made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Scientific breakthroughs have brought a once-distant dream within reach. My budget will ask Democrats and Republicans to make the needed commitment to eliminate the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years. We have made incredible strides. Incredible. Together, we will defeat AIDS in America and beyond. Tonight I am also asking you to join me in another fight that all Americans can get behind: the fight against childhood cancer. Joining Melania in the gallery this evening is a very brave 10-year-old girl, Grace Eline. Every birthday—[ ]. Hi, Grace. [ ] Every birthday since she was 4, Grace asked her friends to donate to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. She did not know that one day she might be a patient herself. That's what happened. Last year, Grace was diagnosed with brain cancer. Immediately, she began radiation treatment. At the same time, she rallied her community and raised more than $40,000 for the fight against cancer. When Grace completed treatment last fall, her doctors and nurses cheered—they loved her; they still love her—with tears in their eyes as she hung up a poster that read: "Last day of chemo." Thank you very much, Grace. You are a great inspiration to everyone in this room. Thank you very much. Many childhood cancers have not seen new therapies in decades. My budget will ask Congress for $500 million over the next 10 years to fund this critical lifesaving research. To help support working parents, the time has come to pass school choice for Americans' children. I am also proud to be the first President to include in my budget a plan for nationwide paid family leave so that every new parent has the chance to bond with their newborn child.  Yes!  There could be no greater contrast to the beautiful image of a mother holding her infant child than the chilling displays our Nation saw in recent days. Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother's womb moments from birth. These are living, feeling, beautiful babies who will never get the chance to share their love and their dreams with the world. And then, we had the case of the Governor of Virginia where he stated he would execute a baby after birth. To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother's womb. Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life. And let us reaffirm a fundamental truth: All children—born and unborn—are made in the holy image of God. The final part of my agenda is to protect American security. Over the last 2 years, we have begun to fully rebuild the United States military, with $700 billion last year and $716 billion this year. We are also getting other nations to pay their fair share. Finally. [ ] Finally. For years, the United States was being treated very unfairly by friends of ours, members of NATO. But now we have secured, over the last couple of years, more than $100 billion of increase in defense spending from our NATO Allies. They said it couldn't be done. As part of our military buildup, the United States is developing a state-of-the-art missile defense system. Under my administration, we will never apologize for advancing America's interests. For example, decades ago, the United States entered into a treaty with Russia in which we agreed to limit and reduce our missile capability. While we followed the agreement and the rules to the letter, Russia repeatedly violated its terms. It's been going on for many years. That is why I announced that the United States is officially withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or INF Treaty. Perhaps—[ ]—we really have no choice. Perhaps we can negotiate a different agreement, adding China and others, or perhaps we can't, in which case, we will outspend and outinnovate all others by far. As part of a bold new diplomacy, we continue our historic push for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Our hostages have come home, nuclear testing has stopped, and there has not been a missile launch in more than 15 months. If I had not been elected President of the United States, we would right now, in my opinion, be in a major war with North Korea. Much work remains to be done, but my relationship with Kim Jong Un is a good one. Chairman Kim and I will meet again on February 27 and 28 in Vietnam. Two weeks ago, the United States officially recognized the legitimate Government of Venezuela and its new President, Juan Guaidó. We stand with the Venezuelan people in their noble quest for freedom, and we condemn the brutality of the Maduro regime, whose socialist policies have turned that nation from being the wealthiest in South America into a state of abject poverty and despair. Here in the United States, we are alarmed by the new calls to adopt socialism in our country.  Boo!  America was founded on liberty and independence and not Government coercion, domination, and control. We are born free, and we will stay free.  U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!  Tonight we renew our resolve that America will never be a socialist country.  U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!  One of the most complex set of challenges we face, and have for many years, is in the Middle East. Our approach is based on principled realism, not discredited theories that have failed for decades to yield progress. For this reason, my administration recognized the true capital of Israel and proudly opened the American Embassy in Jerusalem. Our brave troops have now been fighting in the Middle East for almost 19 years. In Afghanistan and Iraq, nearly 7,000 American heroes have given their lives. More than 52,000 Americans have been badly wounded. We have spent more than $7 trillion in fighting wars in the Middle East. As a candidate for President, I loudly pledged a new approach. Great nations do not fight endless wars. When I took office, ISIS controlled more than 20,000 square miles in Iraq and Syria, just 2 years ago. Today, we have liberated virtually all of the territory from the grip of these bloodthirsty monsters. Now, as we work with our allies to destroy the remnants of ISIS, it is time to give our brave warriors in Syria a warm welcome home. I have also accelerated our negotiations to reach—if possible—a political settlement in Afghanistan. The opposing side is also very happy to be negotiating. Our troops have fought with unmatched valor. And thanks to their bravery, we are now able to pursue a possible political solution to this long and bloody conflict. In Afghanistan, my administration is holding constructive talks with a number of Afghan groups, including the Taliban. As we make progress in these negotiations, we will be able to reduce our troop's presence and focus on counterterrorism. And we will indeed focus on counterterrorism. We do not know whether we'll achieve an agreement, but we do know that, after two decades of war, the hour has come to at least try for peace. And the other side would like to do the same thing. It's time. Above all, friend and foe alike must never doubt this Nation's power and will to defend our people. Eighteen years ago, violent terrorists attacked the USS  . And last month, American forces killed one of the leaders of that attack. We are honored to be joined tonight by Tom Wibberley, whose son, Navy Seaman Craig Wibberley, was one of the 17 sailors we tragically lost. Tom, we vow to always remember the heroes of the USS  . Thank you, Tom. My administration has acted decisively to confront the world's leading state sponsor of terror: the radical regime in Iran. It is a radical regime. They do bad, bad things. To ensure this corrupt dictatorship never acquires nuclear weapons, I withdrew the United States from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal. And last fall, we put in place the toughest sanctions ever imposed by us on a country. We will not avert our eyes from a regime that chants "Death to America" and threatens genocide against the Jewish people. We must never ignore the vile poison of anti-Semitism or those who spread its venomous creed. With one voice, we must confront this hatred anywhere and everywhere it occurs. Just months ago, 11 Jewish Americans were viciously murdered in an anti-Semitic attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. SWAT Officer Timothy Matson raced into the gunfire and was shot seven times chasing down the killer. And he was very successful. Timothy has just had his 12th surgery, and he is going in for many more. But he made the trip to be here with us tonight. Officer Matson, please. Thank you. We are forever grateful. Thank you very much. Tonight we are also joined by Pittsburgh survivor, Judah Samet. He arrived at the synagogue as the massacre began. But not only did Judah narrowly escape death last fall, more than seven decades ago, he narrowly survived the Nazi concentration camps. Today is Judah's 81st birthday. [ ] [ ] Great.  Thank you! [ ]  They wouldn't do that for me, Judah. [ ] Judah says he can still remember the exact moment, nearly 75 years ago, after 10 months in a concentration camp, when he and his family were put on a train and told they were going to another camp. Suddenly, the train screeched to a very strong halt. A soldier appeared. Judah's family braced for the absolute worst. Then, his father cried out with joy: "It's the Americans! It's the Americans!" [ ] Thank you. A second Holocaust survivor who is here tonight, Joshua Kaufman, was a prisoner at Dachau. He remembers watching through a hole in the wall of a cattle car as American soldiers rolled in with tanks. "To me," Joshua recalls, "the American soldiers were proof that God exists, and they came down from the sky." They came down from Heaven. I began this evening by honoring three soldiers who fought on D-day in the Second World War. One of them was Herman Zeitchik. But there is more to Herman's story. A year after he stormed the beaches of Normandy, Herman was one of the American soldiers who helped liberate Dachau. He was one of the Americans who helped rescue Joshua from that hell on Earth. Almost 75 years later, Herman and Joshua are both together in the gallery tonight, seated side by side, here in the home of American freedom. Herman and Joshua, your presence this evening is very much appreciated. Thank you very much. [ ] Thank you. When American soldiers set out beneath the dark skies over the English Channel in the early hours of D-day, 1944, they were just young men of 18 and 19, hurtling on fragile landing craft toward the most momentous battle in the history of war. They did not know if they would survive the hour. They did not know if they would grow old. But they knew that America had to prevail. Their cause was this Nation and generations yet unborn. Why did they do it? They did it for America. They did it for us. Everything that has come since—our triumph over communism, our giant leaps of science and discovery, our unrivaled progress towards equality and justice—all of it is possible thanks to the blood and tears and courage and vision of the Americans who came before. Think of this Capitol. Think of this very Chamber, where lawmakers before you voted to end slavery, to build the railroads and the highways and defeat fascism, to secure civil rights, and to face down evil empires. Here tonight, we have legislators from across this magnificent republic. You have come from the rocky shores of Maine and the volcanic peaks of Hawaii; from the snowy woods of Wisconsin and the red deserts of Arizona; from the green farms of Kentucky and the golden beaches of California. Together, we represent the most extraordinary nation in all of history. What will we do with this moment? How will we be remembered? I ask the men and women of this Congress: Look at the opportunities before us. Our most thrilling achievements are still ahead. Our most exciting journeys still await. Our biggest victories are still to come. We have not yet begun to dream. We must choose whether we are defined by our differences or whether we dare to transcend them. We must choose whether we squander our great inheritance or whether we proudly declare that we are Americans. We do the incredible. We defy the impossible. We conquer the unknown. This is the time to reignite the American imagination. This is the time to search for the tallest summit and set our sights on the brightest star. This is the time to rekindle the bonds of love and loyalty and memory that link us together as citizens, as neighbors, as patriots. This is our future, our fate, and our choice to make. I am asking you to choose greatness. No matter the trials we face, no matter the challenges to come, we must go forward together. We must keep America first in our hearts, we must keep freedom alive in our souls, and we must always keep faith in America's destiny that one Nation, under God, must be the hope and the promise and the light and the glory among all the nations of the world. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States, and my fellow Americans: We meet tonight at a moment of unlimited potential. As we begin a new Congress, I stand here ready to work with you to achieve historic breakthroughs for all Americans. Millions of our fellow citizens are watching us now, gathered in this great Chamber, hoping that we will govern not as two parties, but as one Nation. The agenda I will lay out this evening is not a Republican agenda or a Democrat agenda. It is the agenda of the American people. Many of us have campaigned on the same core promises: to defend American jobs and demand fair trade for American workers; to rebuild and revitalize our Nation's infrastructure; to reduce the price of health care and prescription drugs; to create an immigration system that is safe, lawful, modern, and secure; and to pursue a foreign policy that puts America's interests first. There is a new opportunity in American politics, if only we have the courage, together, to seize it. Victory is not winning for our party, victory is winning for our country. This year, America will recognize two important anniversaries that show us the majesty of America's mission and the power of American pride. In June, we mark 75 years since the start of what General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the Great Crusade, the Allied liberation of Europe in World War II. On D-day, June 6, 1944, 15,000 young American men jumped from the sky, and 60,000 more stormed in from the sea, to save our civilization from tyranny. Here with us tonight are three of those incredible heroes: Private First Class Joseph Reilly, Staff Sergeant Irving Locker, and Sergeant Herman Zeitchik. Please. Gentlemen, we salute you. In 2019, we also celebrate 50 years since brave young pilots flew a quarter of a million miles through space to plant the American flag on the face of the Moon. Half a century later, we are joined by one of the astronauts who planted that flag: Buzz Aldrin. Thank you, Buzz. This year, American astronauts will go back to space on American rockets. In the 20th century, America saved freedom, transformed science, redefined the middle class, and when you get down to it, there is nothing anywhere in the world that can compete with America. Now we must step boldly and bravely into the next chapter of this great American adventure, and we must create a new standard of living for the 21st century. An amazing quality of life for all of our citizens is within reach. We can make our communities safer, our families stronger, our culture richer, our faith deeper, and our middle class bigger and more prosperous than ever before. But we must reject the politics of revenge, resistance, and retribution, and embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise, and the common good. Together, we can break decades of political stalemate. We can bridge old divisions, heal old wounds, build new coalitions, forge new solutions, and unlock the extraordinary promise of America's future. The decision is ours to make. We must choose between greatness or gridlock, results or resistance, vision or vengeance, incredible progress or pointless destruction. Tonight I ask you to choose greatness. Over the last 2 years, my administration has moved with urgency and historic speed to confront problems neglected by leaders of both parties over many decades. In just over 2 years since the election, we have launched an unprecedented economic boom, a boom that has rarely been seen before. There is been nothing like it. We have created 5.3 million new jobs and, importantly, added 600,000 new manufacturing jobs, something which almost everyone said was impossible to do. But the fact is, we are just getting started. Wages are rising at the fastest pace in decades and growing for blue-collar workers, who I promised to fight for. They are growing faster than anyone else thought possible. Nearly 5 million Americans have been lifted off food stamps. The YOU.S. economy is growing almost twice as fast today as when I took office. And we are considered, far and away, the hottest economy anywhere in the world. Not even close. Unemployment has reached the lowest rate in over half a century. African American, Hispanic American, and Asian American unemployment have all reached their lowest levels ever recorded. Unemployment for Americans with disabilities has also reached an alltime low. More people are working now than at any time in the history of our country: 157 million people at work. We passed a massive tax cut for working families and doubled the child tax credit. We virtually ended the estate tax—or death tax, as it is often called—on small businesses, for ranchers, and also for family farms. We eliminated the very unpopular Obamacare individual mandate penalty. And to give critically ill patients access to lifesaving cures, we passed, very importantly, "right to try." My administration has cut more regulations in a short period of time than any other administration during its entire tenure. Companies are coming back to our country in large numbers thanks to our historic reductions in taxes and regulations. And we have unleashed a revolution in American energy. The United States is now the number-one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world. And now, for the first time in 65 years, we are a net exporter of energy. After 24 months of rapid progress, our economy is the envy of the world, our military is the most powerful on Earth, by far, and America is again winning each and every day. Members of Congress: The state of our union is strong. YOU.S.A.! YOU.S.A.! YOU.S.A.! That sounds so good. [ ] Our country is vibrant, and our economy is thriving like never before. On Friday, it was announced that we added another 304,000 jobs last month alone, almost double the number expected. An economic miracle is taking place in the United States, and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics, or ridiculous, partisan investigations. If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. [ ] It just does not work that way. We must be united at home to defeat our adversaries abroad. This new era of cooperation can start with finally confirming the more than 300 highly qualified nominees who are still stuck in the Senate, in some cases, years and years waiting. Not right. The Senate has failed to act on these nominations, which is unfair to the nominees and very unfair to our country. Now is the time for bipartisan action. Believe it or not, we have already proven that that is possible. In the last Congress, both parties came together to pass unprecedented legislation to confront the opioid crisis, a sweeping new farm bill, historic VA reforms. And after four decades of rejection, we passed VA Accountability so that we can finally terminate those who mistreat our wonderful veterans. And just weeks ago, both parties united for groundbreaking criminal justice reform. They said it could not be done. Last year, I heard, through friends, the story of Alice Johnson. I was deeply moved. In 1997, Alice was sentenced to life in prison as a first-time nonviolent drug offender. Over the next 22 years, she became a prison minister, inspiring others to choose a better path. She had a big impact on that prison population and far beyond. Alice's story underscores the disparities and unfairness that can exist in criminal sentencing and the need to remedy this total injustice. She served almost that 22 years and had expected to be in prison for the remainder of her life. In June, I commuted Alice's sentence. When I saw Alice's beautiful family greet her at the prison gates, hugging and kissing and crying and laughing, I knew I did something right. Alice is with us tonight, and she is a terrific woman. Terrific. Alice, please. Alice, thank you for reminding us that we always have the power to shape our own destiny. Thank you very much, Alice. Thank you very much. Inspired by stories like Alice's, my administration worked closely with members of both parties to sign the First Step Act into law. Big deal. It is a big deal. This legislation reformed sentencing laws that have wrongly and disproportionately harmed the African American community. The First Step Act gives nonviolent offenders the chance to reenter society as productive, law-abiding citizens. Now States across the country are following our lead. America is a nation that believes in redemption. We are also joined tonight by Matthew Charles from Tennessee. In 1996, at the age of 30, Matthew was sentenced to 35 years for selling drugs and related offenses. Over the next two decades, he completed more than 30 Bible studies, became a law clerk, and mentored many of his fellow inmates. Now Matthew is the very first person to be released from prison under the First Step Act. Matthew, please. Thank you, Matthew. Welcome home. Now Republicans and Democrats must join forces again to confront an urgent national crisis. Congress has 10 days left to pass a bill that will fund our Government, protect our homeland, and secure our very dangerous southern border. Now is the time for Congress to show the world that America is committed to ending illegal immigration and putting the ruthless coyotes, cartels, drug dealers, and human traffickers out of business. As we speak, large, organized caravans are on the march to the United States. We have just heard that Mexican cities, in order to remove the illegal immigrants from their communities, are getting trucks and buses to bring them up to our country in areas where there is little border protection. I have ordered another 3,750 troops to our southern border to prepare for this tremendous onslaught. This is a moral issue. The lawless state of our southern border is a threat to the safety, security, and financial well-being of all America. We have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens. This includes our obligation to the millions of immigrants living here today who followed the rules and respected our laws. Legal immigrants enrich our Nation and strengthen our society in countless ways. I want people to come into our country in the largest numbers ever, but they have to come in legally. Tonight I am asking you to defend our very dangerous southern border out of love and devotion to our fellow citizens and to our country. No issue better illustrates the divide between America's working class and America's political class than illegal immigration. Wealthy politicians and donors push for open borders while living their lives behind walls and gates and guards. Meanwhile, working-class Americans are left to pay the price for mass illegal immigration: reduced jobs, lower wages, overburdened schools, hospitals that are so crowded you cannot get in, increased crime, and a depleted social safety net. Tolerance for illegal immigration is not compassionate; it is actually very cruel. One in three women is sexually assaulted on the long journey north. Smugglers use migrant children as human pawns to exploit our laws and gain access to our country. Human traffickers and sex traffickers take advantage of the wide-open areas between our ports of entry to smuggle thousands of young girls and women into the United States and to sell them into prostitution and modern-day slavery. Tens of thousands of innocent Americans are killed by lethal drugs that cross our border and flood into our cities, including meth, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. The savage gang, MS-13, now operates in at least 20 different American States, and they almost all come through our southern border. Just yesterday an MS-13 gang member was taken into custody for a fatal shooting on a subway platform in New York City. We are removing these gang members by the thousands. But until we secure our border, they are going to keep streaming right back in. Year after year, countless Americans are murdered by criminal illegal aliens. I have gotten to know many wonderful Angel moms and dads and families. No one should ever have to suffer the horrible heartache that they have had to endure. Here tonight is Debra Bissell. Just 3 weeks ago, Debra's parents Gerald and Sharon were burglarized and shot to death in their Reno, Nevada, home by an illegal alien. They were in their eighties and are survived by 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. Also here tonight are Gerald and Sharon's granddaughter Heather and great-granddaughter Madison. To Debra, Heather, Madison, please stand. Few can understand your pain. Thank you. And thank you for being here. Thank you very much. I will never forget, and I will fight for the memory of Gerald and Sharon that it should never happen again. Not one more American life should be lost because our Nation failed to control its very dangerous border. In the last 2 years, our brave ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of criminal aliens, including those charged or convicted of nearly 100,000 assaults, 30,000 sex crimes, and 4,000 killings or murders. We are joined tonight by one of those law enforcement heroes: ICE Special Agent Elvin Hernandez. When Elvin—[ ]—thank you. When Elvin was a boy, he and his family legally immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic. At the age of 8, Elvin told his dad he wanted to become a Special Agent. Today, he leads investigations into the scourge of international sex trafficking. Elvin says that "If I can make sure these young girls get their justice, I have really done my job." Thanks to his work, and that of his incredible colleagues, more than 300 women and girls have been rescued from the horror of this terrible situation, and more than 1,500 sadistic traffickers have been put behind bars. Thank you, Elvin. We will always support the brave men and women of law enforcement, and I pledge to you tonight that I will never abolish our heroes from ICE. Thank you. My administration has sent to Congress a commonsense proposal to end the crisis on the southern border. It includes humanitarian assistance, more law enforcement, drug detection at our ports, closing loopholes that enable child smuggling, and plans for a new physical barrier, or wall, to secure the vast areas between our ports of entry. In the past, most of the people in this room voted for a wall, but the proper wall never got built. I will get it built. This is a smart, strategic, see-through steel barrier, not just a simple concrete wall. It will be deployed in the areas identified by the border agents as having the greatest need. And these agents will tell you: Where walls go up, illegal crossings go way, way down. San Diego used to have the most illegal border crossings in our country. In response, a strong security wall was put in place. This powerful barrier almost completely ended illegal crossings. The border city of El Paso, Texas, used to have extremely high rates of violent crime, one of the highest in the entire country, and considered one of our Nation's most dangerous cities. Now, immediately upon its building, with a powerful barrier in place, El Paso is one of the safest cities in our country. Simply put: Walls work, and walls save lives. So let us work together, compromise, and reach a deal that will truly make America safe. As we work to defend our people's safety, we must also ensure our economic resurgence continues at a rapid pace. No one has benefited more from our thriving economy than women, who have filled 58 percent of the newly created jobs last year. [ ] You were not supposed to do that. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. [ ] All Americans can be proud that we have more women in the workforce than ever before. [ ] Do not sit yet. You are going to like this. [ ] And exactly one century after Congress passed the constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote, we also have more women serving in Congress than at any time before. YOU.S.A.! YOU.S.A.! YOU.S.A.! That is great. Really great. And congratulations. That is great. As part of our commitment to improving opportunity for women everywhere, this Thursday we are launching the first-ever Governmentwide initiative focused on economic empowerment for women in developing countries. To build on—[ ]—thank you. To build on our incredible economic success, one priority is paramount: reversing decades of calamitous trade policies. So bad. We are now making it clear to China that, after years of targeting our industries and stealing our intellectual property, the theft of American jobs and wealth has come to an end. Therefore, we recently imposed tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods, and now our Treasury is receiving billions and billions of dollars. But I do not blame China for taking advantage of us; I blame our leaders and representatives for allowing this travesty to happen. I have great respect for President Xi, and we are now working on a new trade deal with China. But it must include real, structural change to end unfair trade practices, reduce our chronic trade deficit, and protect American jobs. [ ] Thank you. Another historic trade blunder was the catastrophe known as NAFTA. I have met the men and women of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Hampshire, and many other States whose dreams were shattered by the signing of NAFTA. For years, politicians promised them they would renegotiate for a better deal, but no one ever tried, until now. Our new YOU.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the USMCA, will replace NAFTA and deliver for American workers like they have not had delivered to for a long time. I hope you can pass the USMCA into law so that we can bring back our manufacturing jobs in even greater numbers, expand American agriculture, protect intellectual property, and ensure that more cars are proudly stamped with our four beautiful words: Made in the YOU.S.A. Tonight I am also asking you to pass the United States Reciprocal Trade Act so that if another country places an unfair tariff on an American product, we can charge them the exact same tariff on the exact same product that they sell to us. Both parties should be able to unite for a great rebuilding of America's crumbling infrastructure. I know that Congress is eager to pass an infrastructure bill, and I am eager to work with you on legislation to deliver new and important infrastructure investment, including investments in the cutting-edge industries of the future. This is not an option, this is a necessity. The next major priority for me, and for all of us, should be to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs and to protect patients with preexisting conditions. Already, as a result of my administration's efforts, in 2018, drug prices experienced their single largest decline in 46 years. But we must do more. It is unacceptable that Americans pay vastly more than people in other countries for the exact same drugs, often made in the exact same place. This is wrong, this is unfair, and together, we will stop it, and we will stop it fast. I am asking Congress to pass legislation that finally takes on the problem of global freeloading and delivers fairness and price transparency for American patients, finally. We should also require drug companies, insurance companies, and hospitals to disclose real prices to foster competition and bring costs way down. No force in history has done more to advance the human condition than American freedom. In recent years, we have made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Scientific breakthroughs have brought a once-distant dream within reach. My budget will ask Democrats and Republicans to make the needed commitment to eliminate the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years. We have made incredible strides. Incredible. Together, we will defeat AIDS in America and beyond. Tonight I am also asking you to join me in another fight that all Americans can get behind: the fight against childhood cancer. Joining Melania in the gallery this evening is a very brave 10-year-old girl, Grace Eline. Every birthday—[ ]. Hi, Grace. [ ] Every birthday since she was 4, Grace asked her friends to donate to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. She did not know that one day she might be a patient herself. That is what happened. Last year, Grace was diagnosed with brain cancer. Immediately, she began radiation treatment. At the same time, she rallied her community and raised more than $40,000 for the fight against cancer. When Grace completed treatment last fall, her doctors and nurses cheered—they loved her; they still love her—with tears in their eyes as she hung up a poster that read: "Last day of chemo." Thank you very much, Grace. You are a great inspiration to everyone in this room. Thank you very much. Many childhood cancers have not seen new therapies in decades. My budget will ask Congress for $500 million over the next 10 years to fund this critical lifesaving research. To help support working parents, the time has come to pass school choice for Americans' children. I am also proud to be the first President to include in my budget a plan for nationwide paid family leave so that every new parent has the chance to bond with their newborn child. Yes! There could be no greater contrast to the beautiful image of a mother holding her infant child than the chilling displays our Nation saw in recent days. Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother's womb moments from birth. These are living, feeling, beautiful babies who will never get the chance to share their love and their dreams with the world. And then, we had the case of the Governor of Virginia where he stated he would execute a baby after birth. To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother's womb. Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life. And let us reaffirm a fundamental truth: All children—born and unborn—are made in the holy image of God. The final part of my agenda is to protect American security. Over the last 2 years, we have begun to fully rebuild the United States military, with $700 billion last year and $716 billion this year. We are also getting other nations to pay their fair share. Finally. [ ] Finally. For years, the United States was being treated very unfairly by friends of ours, members of NATO. But now we have secured, over the last couple of years, more than $100 billion of increase in defense spending from our NATO Allies. They said it could not be done. As part of our military buildup, the United States is developing a state-of-the-art missile defense system. Under my administration, we will never apologize for advancing America's interests. For example, decades ago, the United States entered into a treaty with Russia in which we agreed to limit and reduce our missile capability. While we followed the agreement and the rules to the letter, Russia repeatedly violated its terms. It is been going on for many years. That is why I announced that the United States is officially withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or INF Treaty. Perhaps—[ ]—we really have no choice. Perhaps we can negotiate a different agreement, adding China and others, or perhaps we cannot, in which case, we will outspend and outinnovate all others by far. As part of a bold new diplomacy, we continue our historic push for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Our hostages have come home, nuclear testing has stopped, and there has not been a missile launch in more than 15 months. If I had not been elected President of the United States, we would right now, in my opinion, be in a major war with North Korea. Much work remains to be done, but my relationship with Kim Jong Un is a good one. Chairman Kim and I will meet again on February 27 and 28 in Vietnam. Two weeks ago, the United States officially recognized the legitimate Government of Venezuela and its new President, Juan Guaidó. We stand with the Venezuelan people in their noble quest for freedom, and we condemn the brutality of the Maduro regime, whose socialist policies have turned that nation from being the wealthiest in South America into a state of abject poverty and despair. Here in the United States, we are alarmed by the new calls to adopt socialism in our country. Boo! America was founded on liberty and independence and not Government coercion, domination, and control. We are born free, and we will stay free. YOU.S.A.! YOU.S.A.! YOU.S.A.! Tonight we renew our resolve that America will never be a socialist country. YOU.S.A.! YOU.S.A.! YOU.S.A.! One of the most complex set of challenges we face, and have for many years, is in the Middle East. Our approach is based on principled realism, not discredited theories that have failed for decades to yield progress. For this reason, my administration recognized the true capital of Israel and proudly opened the American Embassy in Jerusalem. Our brave troops have now been fighting in the Middle East for almost 19 years. In Afghanistan and Iraq, nearly 7,000 American heroes have given their lives. More than 52,000 Americans have been badly wounded. We have spent more than $7 trillion in fighting wars in the Middle East. As a candidate for President, I loudly pledged a new approach. Great nations do not fight endless wars. When I took office, ISIS controlled more than 20,000 square miles in Iraq and Syria, just 2 years ago. Today, we have liberated virtually all of the territory from the grip of these bloodthirsty monsters. Now, as we work with our allies to destroy the remnants of ISIS, it is time to give our brave warriors in Syria a warm welcome home. I have also accelerated our negotiations to reach—if possible—a political settlement in Afghanistan. The opposing side is also very happy to be negotiating. Our troops have fought with unmatched valor. And thanks to their bravery, we are now able to pursue a possible political solution to this long and bloody conflict. In Afghanistan, my administration is holding constructive talks with a number of Afghan groups, including the Taliban. As we make progress in these negotiations, we will be able to reduce our troop's presence and focus on counterterrorism. And we will indeed focus on counterterrorism. We do not know whether we will achieve an agreement, but we do know that, after two decades of war, the hour has come to at least try for peace. And the other side would like to do the same thing. It is time. Above all, friend and foe alike must never doubt this Nation's power and will to defend our people. Eighteen years ago, violent terrorists attacked the USS . And last month, American forces killed one of the leaders of that attack. We are honored to be joined tonight by Tom Wibberley, whose son, Navy Seaman Craig Wibberley, was one of the 17 sailors we tragically lost. Tom, we vow to always remember the heroes of the USS . Thank you, Tom. My administration has acted decisively to confront the world's leading state sponsor of terror: the radical regime in Iran. It is a radical regime. They do bad, bad things. To ensure this corrupt dictatorship never acquires nuclear weapons, I withdrew the United States from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal. And last fall, we put in place the toughest sanctions ever imposed by us on a country. We will not avert our eyes from a regime that chants "Death to America" and threatens genocide against the Jewish people. We must never ignore the vile poison of anti-Semitism or those who spread its venomous creed. With one voice, we must confront this hatred anywhere and everywhere it occurs. Just months ago, 11 Jewish Americans were viciously murdered in an anti-Semitic attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. SWAT Officer Timothy Matson raced into the gunfire and was shot seven times chasing down the killer. And he was very successful. Timothy has just had his 12th surgery, and he is going in for many more. But he made the trip to be here with us tonight. Officer Matson, please. Thank you. We are forever grateful. Thank you very much. Tonight we are also joined by Pittsburgh survivor, Judah Samet. He arrived at the synagogue as the massacre began. But not only did Judah narrowly escape death last fall, more than seven decades ago, he narrowly survived the Nazi concentration camps. Today is Judah's 81st birthday. [ ] [ ] Great. Thank you! [ ] They would not do that for me, Judah. [ ] Judah says he can still remember the exact moment, nearly 75 years ago, after 10 months in a concentration camp, when he and his family were put on a train and told they were going to another camp. Suddenly, the train screeched to a very strong halt. A soldier appeared. Judah's family braced for the absolute worst. Then, his father cried out with joy: "It is the Americans! It is the Americans!" [ ] Thank you. A second Holocaust survivor who is here tonight, Joshua Kaufman, was a prisoner at Dachau. He remembers watching through a hole in the wall of a cattle car as American soldiers rolled in with tanks. "To me," Joshua recalls, "the American soldiers were proof that God exists, and they came down from the sky." They came down from Heaven. I began this evening by honoring three soldiers who fought on D-day in the Second World War. One of them was Herman Zeitchik. But there is more to Herman's story. A year after he stormed the beaches of Normandy, Herman was one of the American soldiers who helped liberate Dachau. He was one of the Americans who helped rescue Joshua from that hell on Earth. Almost 75 years later, Herman and Joshua are both together in the gallery tonight, seated side by side, here in the home of American freedom. Herman and Joshua, your presence this evening is very much appreciated. Thank you very much. [ ] Thank you. When American soldiers set out beneath the dark skies over the English Channel in the early hours of D-day, 1944, they were just young men of 18 and 19, hurtling on fragile landing craft toward the most momentous battle in the history of war. They did not know if they would survive the hour. They did not know if they would grow old. But they knew that America had to prevail. Their because was this Nation and generations yet unborn. Why did they do it? They did it for America. They did it for us. Everything that has come since—our triumph over communism, our giant leaps of science and discovery, our unrivaled progress towards equality and justice—all of it is possible thanks to the blood and tears and courage and vision of the Americans who came before. Think of this Capitol. Think of this very Chamber, where lawmakers before you voted to end slavery, to build the railroads and the highways and defeat fascism, to secure civil rights, and to face down evil empires. Here tonight, we have legislators from across this magnificent republic. You have come from the rocky shores of Maine and the volcanic peaks of Hawaii; from the snowy woods of Wisconsin and the red deserts of Arizona; from the green farms of Kentucky and the golden beaches of California. Together, we represent the most extraordinary nation in all of history. What will we do with this moment? How will we be remembered? I ask the men and women of this Congress: Look at the opportunities before us. Our most thrilling achievements are still ahead. Our most exciting journeys still await. Our biggest victories are still to come. We have not yet begun to dream. We must choose whether we are defined by our differences or whether we dare to transcend them. We must choose whether we squander our great inheritance or whether we proudly declare that we are Americans. We do the incredible. We defy the impossible. We conquer the unknown. This is the time to reignite the American imagination. This is the time to search for the tallest summit and set our sights on the brightest star. This is the time to rekindle the bonds of love and loyalty and memory that link us together as citizens, as neighbors, as patriots. This is our future, our fate, and our choice to make. I am asking you to choose greatness. No matter the trials we face, no matter the challenges to come, we must go forward together. We must keep America first in our hearts, we must keep freedom alive in our souls, and we must always keep faith in America's destiny that one Nation, under God, must be the hope and the promise and the light and the glory among all the nations of the world. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you very much. Thank you.
madam speaker vice president members of congress the first lady of the united states and my fellow americans we meet tonight at a moment of unlimited potential as we begin a new congress i stand here ready to work with you to achieve historic breakthroughs for all americans millions of our fellow citizens are watching us now gathered in this great chamber hoping that we will govern not as two parties but as one nation the agenda i will lay out this evening is not a republican agenda or a democrat agenda it is the agenda of the american people many of us have campaigned on the same core promises to defend american jobs and demand fair trade for american workers to rebuild and revitalize our nation infrastructure to reduce the price of health care and prescription drugs to create an immigration system that is safe lawful modern and secure and to pursue a foreign policy that puts america interests first there is a new opportunity in american politics if only we have the courage together to seize it victory is not winning for our party victory is winning for our country this year america will recognize two important anniversaries that show us the majesty of america mission and the power of american pride in june we mark 75 years since the start of what general dwight eisenhower called the great crusade the allied liberation of europe in world war ii on june 6 1944 young american men jumped from the sky and more stormed in from the sea to save our civilization from tyranny here with us tonight are three of those incredible heroes private first class joseph reilly staff sergeant irving locker and sergeant herman zeitchik please gentlemen we salute you in 2019 we also celebrate 50 years since brave young pilots flew a quarter of a million miles through space to plant the american flag on the face of the moon half a century later we are joined by one of the astronauts who planted that flag buzz aldrin thank you buzz this year american astronauts will go back to space on american rockets in the 20th century america saved freedom transformed science redefined the middle class and when you get down to it there is nothing anywhere in the world that can compete with america now we must step boldly and bravely into the next chapter of this great american adventure and we must create a new standard of living for the 21st century an amazing quality of life for all of our citizens is within reach we can make our communities safer our families stronger our culture richer our faith deeper and our middle class bigger and more prosperous than ever before but we must reject the politics of revenge resistance and retribution and embrace the boundless potential of cooperation compromise and the common good together we can break decades of political stalemate we can bridge old divisions heal old wounds build new coalitions forge new solutions and unlock the extraordinary promise of america future the decision is ours to make we must choose between greatness or gridlock results or resistance vision or vengeance incredible progress or pointless destruction tonight i ask you to choose greatness over the last 2 years my administration has moved with urgency and historic speed to confront problems neglected by leaders of both parties over many decades in just over 2 years since the election we have launched an unprecedented economic boom a boom that has rarely been seen before there is been nothing like it we have created million new jobs and importantly added new manufacturing jobs something which almost everyone said was impossible to do but the fact is we are just getting started wages are rising at the fastest pace in decades and growing for workers who i promised to fight for they are growing faster than anyone else thought possible nearly 5 million americans have been lifted off food stamps the economy is growing almost twice as fast today as when i took office and we are considered far and away the hottest economy anywhere in the world not even close unemployment has reached the lowest rate in over half a century african american hispanic american and asian american unemployment have all reached their lowest levels ever recorded unemployment for americans with disabilities has also reached an alltime low more people are working now than at any time in the history of our country 157 million people at work we passed a massive tax cut for working families and doubled the child tax credit we virtually ended the estate death tax as it is often small businesses for ranchers and also for family farms we eliminated the very unpopular obamacare individual mandate penalty and to give critically ill patients access to lifesaving cures we passed very importantly right to try my administration has cut more regulations in a short period of time than any other administration during its entire tenure companies are coming back to our country in large numbers thanks to our historic reductions in taxes and regulations and we have unleashed a revolution in american energy the united states is now the producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world and now for the first time in 65 years we are a net exporter of energy after 24 months of rapid progress our economy is the envy of the world our military is the most powerful on earth by far and america is again winning each and every day members of congress the state of our union is strong that sounds so good our country is vibrant and our economy is thriving like never before on friday it was announced that we added another jobs last month alone almost double the number expected an economic miracle is taking place in the united states and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars politics or ridiculous partisan investigations if there is going to be peace and legislation there can not be war and investigation it just does not work that way we must be united at home to defeat our adversaries abroad this new era of cooperation can start with finally confirming the more than 300 highly qualified nominees who are still stuck in the senate in some cases years and years waiting not right the senate has failed to act on these nominations which is unfair to the nominees and very unfair to our country now is the time for bipartisan action believe it or not we have already proven that that is possible in the last congress both parties came together to pass unprecedented legislation to confront the opioid crisis a sweeping new farm bill historic va reforms and after four decades of rejection we passed va accountability so that we can finally terminate those who mistreat our wonderful veterans and just weeks ago both parties united for groundbreaking criminal justice reform they said it could not be done last year i heard through friends the story of alice johnson i was deeply moved in 1997 alice was sentenced to life in prison as a nonviolent drug offender over the next 22 years she became a prison minister inspiring others to choose a better path she had a big impact on that prison population and far beyond alice story underscores the disparities and unfairness that can exist in criminal sentencing and the need to remedy this total injustice she served almost that 22 years and had expected to be in prison for the remainder of her life in june i commuted alice sentence when i saw alice beautiful family greet her at the prison gates hugging and kissing and crying and laughing i knew i did something right alice is with us tonight and she is a terrific woman terrific alice please alice thank you for reminding us that we always have the power to shape our own destiny thank you very much alice thank you very much inspired by stories like alice my administration worked closely with members of both parties to sign the first step act into law big deal it is a big deal this legislation reformed sentencing laws that have wrongly and disproportionately harmed the african american community the first step act gives nonviolent offenders the chance to reenter society as productive citizens now states across the country are following our lead america is a nation that believes in redemption we are also joined tonight by matthew charles from tennessee in 1996 at the age of 30 matthew was sentenced to 35 years for selling drugs and related offenses over the next two decades he completed more than 30 bible studies became a law clerk and mentored many of his fellow inmates now matthew is the very first person to be released from prison under the first step act matthew please thank you matthew welcome home now republicans and democrats must join forces again to confront an urgent national crisis congress has 10 days left to pass a bill that will fund our government protect our homeland and secure our very dangerous southern border now is the time for congress to show the world that america is committed to ending illegal immigration and putting the ruthless coyotes cartels drug dealers and human traffickers out of business as we speak large organized caravans are on the march to the united states we have just heard that mexican cities in order to remove the illegal immigrants from their communities are getting trucks and buses to bring them up to our country in areas where there is little border protection i have ordered another troops to our southern border to prepare for this tremendous onslaught this is a moral issue the lawless state of our southern border is a threat to the safety security and financial of all america we have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens this includes our obligation to the millions of immigrants living here today who followed the rules and respected our laws legal immigrants enrich our nation and strengthen our society in countless ways i want people to come into our country in the largest numbers ever but they have to come in legally tonight i am asking you to defend our very dangerous southern border out of love and devotion to our fellow citizens and to our country no issue better illustrates the divide between america working class and america political class than illegal immigration wealthy politicians and donors push for open borders while living their lives behind walls and gates and guards meanwhile americans are left to pay the price for mass illegal immigration reduced jobs lower wages overburdened schools hospitals that are so crowded you can not get in increased crime and a depleted social safety net tolerance for illegal immigration is not compassionate it is actually very cruel one in three women is sexually assaulted on the long journey north smugglers use migrant children as human pawns to exploit our laws and gain access to our country human traffickers and sex traffickers take advantage of the areas between our ports of entry to smuggle thousands of young girls and women into the united states and to sell them into prostitution and slavery tens of thousands of innocent americans are killed by lethal drugs that cross our border and flood into our cities including meth heroin cocaine and fentanyl the savage gang now operates in at least 20 different american states and they almost all come through our southern border just yesterday an gang member was taken into custody for a fatal shooting on a subway platform in new york city we are removing these gang members by the thousands but until we secure our border they are going to keep streaming right back in year after year countless americans are murdered by criminal illegal aliens i have gotten to know many wonderful angel moms and dads and families no one should ever have to suffer the horrible heartache that they have had to endure here tonight is debra bissell just 3 weeks ago debra parents gerald and sharon were burglarized and shot to death in their reno nevada home by an illegal alien they were in their eighties and are survived by 4 children 11 grandchildren and 20 also here tonight are gerald and sharon granddaughter heather and madison to debra heather madison please stand few can understand your pain thank you and thank you for being here thank you very much i will never forget and i will fight for the memory of gerald and sharon that it should never happen again not one more american life should be lost because our nation failed to control its very dangerous border in the last 2 years our brave ice officers made arrests of criminal aliens including those charged or convicted of nearly assaults sex crimes and killings or murders we are joined tonight by one of those law enforcement heroes ice special agent elvin hernandez when you when elvin was a boy he and his family legally immigrated to the united states from the dominican republic at the age of 8 elvin told his dad he wanted to become a special agent today he leads investigations into the scourge of international sex trafficking elvin says that if i can make sure these young girls get their justice i have really done my job thanks to his work and that of his incredible colleagues more than 300 women and girls have been rescued from the horror of this terrible situation and more than sadistic traffickers have been put behind bars thank you elvin we will always support the brave men and women of law enforcement and i pledge to you tonight that i will never abolish our heroes from ice thank you my administration has sent to congress a commonsense proposal to end the crisis on the southern border it includes humanitarian assistance more law enforcement drug detection at our ports closing loopholes that enable child smuggling and plans for a new physical barrier or wall to secure the vast areas between our ports of entry in the past most of the people in this room voted for a wall but the proper wall never got built i will get it built this is a smart strategic steel barrier not just a simple concrete wall it will be deployed in the areas identified by the border agents as having the greatest need and these agents will tell you where walls go up illegal crossings go way way down san diego used to have the most illegal border crossings in our country in response a strong security wall was put in place this powerful barrier almost completely ended illegal crossings the border city of el paso texas used to have extremely high rates of violent crime one of the highest in the entire country and considered one of our nation most dangerous cities now immediately upon its building with a powerful barrier in place el paso is one of the safest cities in our country simply put walls work and walls save lives so let us work together compromise and reach a deal that will truly make america safe as we work to defend our people safety we must also ensure our economic resurgence continues at a rapid pace no one has benefited more from our thriving economy than women who have filled 58 percent of the newly created jobs last year you were not supposed to do that thank you very much thank you very much all americans can be proud that we have more women in the workforce than ever before do not sit yet you are going to like this and exactly one century after congress passed the constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote we also have more women serving in congress than at any time before that is great really great and congratulations that is great as part of our commitment to improving opportunity for women everywhere this thursday we are launching the governmentwide initiative focused on economic empowerment for women in developing countries to build you to build on our incredible economic success one priority is paramount reversing decades of calamitous trade policies so bad we are now making it clear to china that after years of targeting our industries and stealing our intellectual property the theft of american jobs and wealth has come to an end therefore we recently imposed tariffs on 250 billion of chinese goods and now our treasury is receiving billions and billions of dollars but i do not blame china for taking advantage of us i blame our leaders and representatives for allowing this travesty to happen i have great respect for president xi and we are now working on a new trade deal with china but it must include real structural change to end unfair trade practices reduce our chronic trade deficit and protect american jobs thank you another historic trade blunder was the catastrophe known as nafta i have met the men and women of michigan ohio pennsylvania indiana new hampshire and many other states whose dreams were shattered by the signing of nafta for years politicians promised them they would renegotiate for a better deal but no one ever tried until now our new agreement the usmca will replace nafta and deliver for american workers like they have not had delivered to for a long time i hope you can pass the usmca into law so that we can bring back our manufacturing jobs in even greater numbers expand american agriculture protect intellectual property and ensure that more cars are proudly stamped with our four beautiful words made in the tonight i am also asking you to pass the united states reciprocal trade act so that if another country places an unfair tariff on an american product we can charge them the exact same tariff on the exact same product that they sell to us both parties should be able to unite for a great rebuilding of america crumbling infrastructure i know that congress is eager to pass an infrastructure bill and i am eager to work with you on legislation to deliver new and important infrastructure investment including investments in the industries of the future this is not an option this is a necessity the next major priority for me and for all of us should be to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs and to protect patients with preexisting conditions already as a result of my administration efforts in 2018 drug prices experienced their single largest decline in 46 years but we must do more it is unacceptable that americans pay vastly more than people in other countries for the exact same drugs often made in the exact same place this is wrong this is unfair and together we will stop it and we will stop it fast i am asking congress to pass legislation that finally takes on the problem of global freeloading and delivers fairness and price transparency for american patients finally we should also require drug companies insurance companies and hospitals to disclose real prices to foster competition and bring costs way down no force in history has done more to advance the human condition than american freedom in recent years we have made remarkable progress in the fight against hiv and aids scientific breakthroughs have brought a dream within reach my budget will ask democrats and republicans to make the needed commitment to eliminate the hiv epidemic in the united states within 10 years we have made incredible strides incredible together we will defeat aids in america and beyond tonight i am also asking you to join me in another fight that all americans can get behind the fight against childhood cancer joining melania in the gallery this evening is a very brave girl grace eline every hi grace every birthday since she was 4 grace asked her friends to donate to jude children hospital she did not know that one day she might be a patient herself that is what happened last year grace was diagnosed with brain cancer immediately she began radiation treatment at the same time she rallied her community and raised more than for the fight against cancer when grace completed treatment last fall her doctors and nurses loved her they still love tears in their eyes as she hung up a poster that read last day of chemo thank you very much grace you are a great inspiration to everyone in this room thank you very much many childhood cancers have not seen new therapies in decades my budget will ask congress for 500 million over the next 10 years to fund this critical lifesaving research to help support working parents the time has come to pass school choice for americans children i am also proud to be the first president to include in my budget a plan for nationwide paid family leave so that every new parent has the chance to bond with their newborn child yes there could be no greater contrast to the beautiful image of a mother holding her infant child than the chilling displays our nation saw in recent days lawmakers in new york cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother womb moments from birth these are living feeling beautiful babies who will never get the chance to share their love and their dreams with the world and then we had the case of the governor of virginia where he stated he would execute a baby after birth to defend the dignity of every person i am asking congress to pass legislation to prohibit the abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother womb let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life and let us reaffirm a fundamental truth all and made in the holy image of god the final part of my agenda is to protect american security over the last 2 years we have begun to fully rebuild the united states military with 700 billion last year and 716 billion this year we are also getting other nations to pay their fair share finally finally for years the united states was being treated very unfairly by friends of ours members of nato but now we have secured over the last couple of years more than 100 billion of increase in defense spending from our nato allies they said it could not be done as part of our military buildup the united states is developing a missile defense system under my administration we will never apologize for advancing america interests for example decades ago the united states entered into a treaty with russia in which we agreed to limit and reduce our missile capability while we followed the agreement and the rules to the letter russia repeatedly violated its terms it is been going on for many years that is why i announced that the united states is officially withdrawing from the nuclear forces treaty or inf treaty really have no choice perhaps we can negotiate a different agreement adding china and others or perhaps we can not in which case we will outspend and outinnovate all others by far as part of a bold new diplomacy we continue our historic push for peace on the korean peninsula our hostages have come home nuclear testing has stopped and there has not been a missile launch in more than 15 months if i had not been elected president of the united states we would right now in my opinion be in a major war with north korea much work remains to be done but my relationship with kim jong un is a good one chairman kim and i will meet again on february 27 and 28 in vietnam two weeks ago the united states officially recognized the legitimate government of venezuela and its new president juan guaidó we stand with the venezuelan people in their noble quest for freedom and we condemn the brutality of the maduro regime whose socialist policies have turned that nation from being the wealthiest in south america into a state of abject poverty and despair here in the united states we are alarmed by the new calls to adopt socialism in our country boo america was founded on liberty and independence and not government coercion domination and control we are born free and we will stay free tonight we renew our resolve that america will never be a socialist country one of the most complex set of challenges we face and have for many years is in the middle east our approach is based on principled realism not discredited theories that have failed for decades to yield progress for this reason my administration recognized the true capital of israel and proudly opened the american embassy in jerusalem our brave troops have now been fighting in the middle east for almost 19 years in afghanistan and iraq nearly american heroes have given their lives more than americans have been badly wounded we have spent more than 7 trillion in fighting wars in the middle east as a candidate for president i loudly pledged a new approach great nations do not fight endless wars when i took office isis controlled more than square miles in iraq and syria just 2 years ago today we have liberated virtually all of the territory from the grip of these bloodthirsty monsters now as we work with our allies to destroy the remnants of isis it is time to give our brave warriors in syria a warm welcome home i have also accelerated our negotiations to political settlement in afghanistan the opposing side is also very happy to be negotiating our troops have fought with unmatched valor and thanks to their bravery we are now able to pursue a possible political solution to this long and bloody conflict in afghanistan my administration is holding constructive talks with a number of afghan groups including the taliban as we make progress in these negotiations we will be able to reduce our troop presence and focus on counterterrorism and we will indeed focus on counterterrorism we do not know whether we will achieve an agreement but we do know that after two decades of war the hour has come to at least try for peace and the other side would like to do the same thing it is time above all friend and foe alike must never doubt this nation power and will to defend our people eighteen years ago violent terrorists attacked the uss and last month american forces killed one of the leaders of that attack we are honored to be joined tonight by tom wibberley whose son navy seaman craig wibberley was one of the 17 sailors we tragically lost tom we vow to always remember the heroes of the uss thank you tom my administration has acted decisively to confront the world leading state sponsor of terror the radical regime in iran it is a radical regime they do bad bad things to ensure this corrupt dictatorship never acquires nuclear weapons i withdrew the united states from the disastrous iran nuclear deal and last fall we put in place the toughest sanctions ever imposed by us on a country we will not avert our eyes from a regime that chants death to america and threatens genocide against the jewish people we must never ignore the vile poison of or those who spread its venomous creed with one voice we must confront this hatred anywhere and everywhere it occurs just months ago 11 jewish americans were viciously murdered in an attack on the tree of life synagogue in pittsburgh swat officer timothy matson raced into the gunfire and was shot seven times chasing down the killer and he was very successful timothy has just had his 12th surgery and he is going in for many more but he made the trip to be here with us tonight officer matson please thank you we are forever grateful thank you very much tonight we are also joined by pittsburgh survivor judah samet he arrived at the synagogue as the massacre began but not only did judah narrowly escape death last fall more than seven decades ago he narrowly survived the nazi concentration camps today is judah 81st birthday great thank you they would not do that for me judah judah says he can still remember the exact moment nearly 75 years ago after 10 months in a concentration camp when he and his family were put on a train and told they were going to another camp suddenly the train screeched to a very strong halt a soldier appeared judah family braced for the absolute worst then his father cried out with joy it is the americans it is the americans thank you a second holocaust survivor who is here tonight joshua kaufman was a prisoner at dachau he remembers watching through a hole in the wall of a cattle car as american soldiers rolled in with tanks to me joshua recalls the american soldiers were proof that god exists and they came down from the sky they came down from heaven i began this evening by honoring three soldiers who fought on in the second world war one of them was herman zeitchik but there is more to herman story a year after he stormed the beaches of normandy herman was one of the american soldiers who helped liberate dachau he was one of the americans who helped rescue joshua from that hell on earth almost 75 years later herman and joshua are both together in the gallery tonight seated side by side here in the home of american freedom herman and joshua your presence this evening is very much appreciated thank you very much thank you when american soldiers set out beneath the dark skies over the english channel in the early hours of 1944 they were just young men of 18 and 19 hurtling on fragile landing craft toward the most momentous battle in the history of war they did not know if they would survive the hour they did not know if they would grow old but they knew that america had to prevail their because was this nation and generations yet unborn why did they do it they did it for america they did it for us everything that has come triumph over communism our giant leaps of science and discovery our unrivaled progress towards equality and of it is possible thanks to the blood and tears and courage and vision of the americans who came before think of this capitol think of this very chamber where lawmakers before you voted to end slavery to build the railroads and the highways and defeat fascism to secure civil rights and to face down evil empires here tonight we have legislators from across this magnificent republic you have come from the rocky shores of maine and the volcanic peaks of hawaii from the snowy woods of wisconsin and the red deserts of arizona from the green farms of kentucky and the golden beaches of california together we represent the most extraordinary nation in all of history what will we do with this moment how will we be remembered i ask the men and women of this congress look at the opportunities before us our most thrilling achievements are still ahead our most exciting journeys still await our biggest victories are still to come we have not yet begun to dream we must choose whether we are defined by our differences or whether we dare to transcend them we must choose whether we squander our great inheritance or whether we proudly declare that we are americans we do the incredible we defy the impossible we conquer the unknown this is the time to reignite the american imagination this is the time to search for the tallest summit and set our sights on the brightest star this is the time to rekindle the bonds of love and loyalty and memory that link us together as citizens as neighbors as patriots this is our future our fate and our choice to make i am asking you to choose greatness no matter the trials we face no matter the challenges to come we must go forward together we must keep america first in our hearts we must keep freedom alive in our souls and we must always keep faith in america destiny that one nation under god must be the hope and the promise and the light and the glory among all the nations of the world thank you god bless you and god bless america thank you very much thank you
madam speaker vice president members congress first lady united states fellow americans meet tonight moment unlimited potential begin new congress stand ready work achieve historic breakthroughs americans millions fellow citizens watching us gathered great chamber hoping govern two parties one nation agenda lay evening republican agenda democrat agenda agenda american people many us campaigned core promises defend american jobs demand fair trade american workers rebuild revitalize nation infrastructure reduce price health care prescription drugs create immigration system safe lawful modern secure pursue foreign policy puts america interests first new opportunity american politics courage together seize victory winning party victory winning country year america recognize two important anniversaries show us majesty america mission power american pride june mark 75 years since start general dwight eisenhower called great crusade allied liberation europe world war ii june 6 1944 young american men jumped sky stormed sea save civilization tyranny us tonight three incredible heroes private first class joseph reilly staff sergeant irving locker sergeant herman zeitchik please gentlemen salute 2019 also celebrate 50 years since brave young pilots flew quarter million miles space plant american flag face moon half century later joined one astronauts planted flag buzz aldrin thank buzz year american astronauts go back space american rockets 20th century america saved freedom transformed science redefined middle class get nothing anywhere world compete america must step boldly bravely next chapter great american adventure must create new standard living 21st century amazing quality life citizens within reach make communities safer families stronger culture richer faith deeper middle class bigger prosperous ever must reject politics revenge resistance retribution embrace boundless potential cooperation compromise common good together break decades political stalemate bridge old divisions heal old wounds build new coalitions forge new solutions unlock extraordinary promise america future decision make must choose greatness gridlock results resistance vision vengeance incredible progress pointless destruction tonight ask choose greatness last 2 years administration moved urgency historic speed confront problems neglected leaders parties many decades 2 years since election launched unprecedented economic boom boom rarely seen nothing like created million new jobs importantly added new manufacturing jobs something almost everyone said impossible fact getting started wages rising fastest pace decades growing workers promised fight growing faster anyone else thought possible nearly 5 million americans lifted food stamps economy growing almost twice fast today took office considered far away hottest economy anywhere world even close unemployment reached lowest rate half century african american hispanic american asian american unemployment reached lowest levels ever recorded unemployment americans disabilities also reached alltime low people working time history country 157 million people work passed massive tax cut working families doubled child tax credit virtually ended estate death tax often small businesses ranchers also family farms eliminated unpopular obamacare individual mandate penalty give critically ill patients access lifesaving cures passed importantly right try administration cut regulations short period time administration entire tenure companies coming back country large numbers thanks historic reductions taxes regulations unleashed revolution american energy united states producer oil natural gas anywhere world first time 65 years net exporter energy 24 months rapid progress economy envy world military powerful earth far america winning every day members congress state union strong sounds good country vibrant economy thriving like never friday announced added another jobs last month alone almost double number expected economic miracle taking place united states thing stop foolish wars politics ridiculous partisan investigations going peace legislation war investigation work way must united home defeat adversaries abroad new era cooperation start finally confirming 300 highly qualified nominees still stuck senate cases years years waiting right senate failed act nominations unfair nominees unfair country time bipartisan action believe already proven possible last congress parties came together pass unprecedented legislation confront opioid crisis sweeping new farm bill historic va reforms four decades rejection passed va accountability finally terminate mistreat wonderful veterans weeks ago parties united groundbreaking criminal justice reform said could done last year heard friends story alice johnson deeply moved 1997 alice sentenced life prison nonviolent drug offender next 22 years became prison minister inspiring others choose better path big impact prison population far beyond alice story underscores disparities unfairness exist criminal sentencing need remedy total injustice served almost 22 years expected prison remainder life june commuted alice sentence saw alice beautiful family greet prison gates hugging kissing crying laughing knew something right alice us tonight terrific woman terrific alice please alice thank reminding us always power shape destiny thank much alice thank much inspired stories like alice administration worked closely members parties sign first step act law big deal big deal legislation reformed sentencing laws wrongly disproportionately harmed african american community first step act gives nonviolent offenders chance reenter society productive citizens states across country following lead america nation believes redemption also joined tonight matthew charles tennessee 1996 age 30 matthew sentenced 35 years selling drugs related offenses next two decades completed 30 bible studies became law clerk mentored many fellow inmates matthew first person released prison first step act matthew please thank matthew welcome home republicans democrats must join forces confront urgent national crisis congress 10 days left pass bill fund government protect homeland secure dangerous southern border time congress show world america committed ending illegal immigration putting ruthless coyotes cartels drug dealers human traffickers business speak large organized caravans march united states heard mexican cities order remove illegal immigrants communities getting trucks buses bring country areas little border protection ordered another troops southern border prepare tremendous onslaught moral issue lawless state southern border threat safety security financial america moral duty create immigration system protects lives jobs citizens includes obligation millions immigrants living today followed rules respected laws legal immigrants enrich nation strengthen society countless ways want people come country largest numbers ever come legally tonight asking defend dangerous southern border love devotion fellow citizens country issue better illustrates divide america working class america political class illegal immigration wealthy politicians donors push open borders living lives behind walls gates guards meanwhile americans left pay price mass illegal immigration reduced jobs lower wages overburdened schools hospitals crowded get increased crime depleted social safety net tolerance illegal immigration compassionate actually cruel one three women sexually assaulted long journey north smugglers use migrant children human pawns exploit laws gain access country human traffickers sex traffickers take advantage areas ports entry smuggle thousands young girls women united states sell prostitution slavery tens thousands innocent americans killed lethal drugs cross border flood cities including meth heroin cocaine fentanyl savage gang operates least 20 different american states almost come southern border yesterday gang member taken custody fatal shooting subway platform new york city removing gang members thousands secure border going keep streaming right back year year countless americans murdered criminal illegal aliens gotten know many wonderful angel moms dads families one ever suffer horrible heartache endure tonight debra bissell 3 weeks ago debra parents gerald sharon burglarized shot death reno nevada home illegal alien eighties survived 4 children 11 grandchildren 20 also tonight gerald sharon granddaughter heather madison debra heather madison please stand understand pain thank thank thank much never forget fight memory gerald sharon never happen one american life lost nation failed control dangerous border last 2 years brave ice officers made arrests criminal aliens including charged convicted nearly assaults sex crimes killings murders joined tonight one law enforcement heroes ice special agent elvin hernandez elvin boy family legally immigrated united states dominican republic age 8 elvin told dad wanted become special agent today leads investigations scourge international sex trafficking elvin says make sure young girls get justice really done job thanks work incredible colleagues 300 women girls rescued horror terrible situation sadistic traffickers put behind bars thank elvin always support brave men women law enforcement pledge tonight never abolish heroes ice thank administration sent congress commonsense proposal end crisis southern border includes humanitarian assistance law enforcement drug detection ports closing loopholes enable child smuggling plans new physical barrier wall secure vast areas ports entry past people room voted wall proper wall never got built get built smart strategic steel barrier simple concrete wall deployed areas identified border agents greatest need agents tell walls go illegal crossings go way way san diego used illegal border crossings country response strong security wall put place powerful barrier almost completely ended illegal crossings border city el paso texas used extremely high rates violent crime one highest entire country considered one nation dangerous cities immediately upon building powerful barrier place el paso one safest cities country simply put walls work walls save lives let us work together compromise reach deal truly make america safe work defend people safety must also ensure economic resurgence continues rapid pace one benefited thriving economy women filled 58 percent newly created jobs last year supposed thank much thank much americans proud women workforce ever sit yet going like exactly one century congress passed constitutional amendment giving women right vote also women serving congress time great really great congratulations great part commitment improving opportunity women everywhere thursday launching governmentwide initiative focused economic empowerment women developing countries build build incredible economic success one priority paramount reversing decades calamitous trade policies bad making clear china years targeting industries stealing intellectual property theft american jobs wealth come end therefore recently imposed tariffs 250 billion chinese goods treasury receiving billions billions dollars blame china taking advantage us blame leaders representatives allowing travesty happen great respect president xi working new trade deal china must include real structural change end unfair trade practices reduce chronic trade deficit protect american jobs thank another historic trade blunder catastrophe known nafta met men women michigan ohio pennsylvania indiana new hampshire many states whose dreams shattered signing nafta years politicians promised would renegotiate better deal one ever tried new agreement usmca replace nafta deliver american workers like delivered long time hope pass usmca law bring back manufacturing jobs even greater numbers expand american agriculture protect intellectual property ensure cars proudly stamped four beautiful words made tonight also asking pass united states reciprocal trade act another country places unfair tariff american product charge exact tariff exact product sell us parties able unite great rebuilding america crumbling infrastructure know congress eager pass infrastructure bill eager work legislation deliver new important infrastructure investment including investments industries future option necessity next major priority us lower cost health care prescription drugs protect patients preexisting conditions already result administration efforts 2018 drug prices experienced single largest decline 46 years must unacceptable americans pay vastly people countries exact drugs often made exact place wrong unfair together stop stop fast asking congress pass legislation finally takes problem global freeloading delivers fairness price transparency american patients finally also require drug companies insurance companies hospitals disclose real prices foster competition bring costs way force history done advance human condition american freedom recent years made remarkable progress fight hiv aids scientific breakthroughs brought dream within reach budget ask democrats republicans make needed commitment eliminate hiv epidemic united states within 10 years made incredible strides incredible together defeat aids america beyond tonight also asking join another fight americans get behind fight childhood cancer joining melania gallery evening brave girl grace eline every hi grace every birthday since 4 grace asked friends donate jude children hospital know one day might patient happened last year grace diagnosed brain cancer immediately began radiation treatment time rallied community raised fight cancer grace completed treatment last fall doctors nurses loved still love tears eyes hung poster read last day chemo thank much grace great inspiration everyone room thank much many childhood cancers seen new therapies decades budget ask congress 500 million next 10 years fund critical lifesaving research help support working parents time come pass school choice americans children also proud first president include budget plan nationwide paid family leave every new parent chance bond newborn child yes could greater contrast beautiful image mother holding infant child chilling displays nation saw recent days lawmakers new york cheered delight upon passage legislation would allow baby ripped mother womb moments birth living feeling beautiful babies never get chance share love dreams world case governor virginia stated would execute baby birth defend dignity every person asking congress pass legislation prohibit abortion children feel pain mother womb let us work together build culture cherishes innocent life let us reaffirm fundamental truth made holy image god final part agenda protect american security last 2 years begun fully rebuild united states military 700 billion last year 716 billion year also getting nations pay fair share finally finally years united states treated unfairly friends members nato secured last couple years 100 billion increase defense spending nato allies said could done part military buildup united states developing missile defense system administration never apologize advancing america interests example decades ago united states entered treaty russia agreed limit reduce missile capability followed agreement rules letter russia repeatedly violated terms going many years announced united states officially withdrawing nuclear forces treaty inf treaty really choice perhaps negotiate different agreement adding china others perhaps case outspend outinnovate others far part bold new diplomacy continue historic push peace korean peninsula hostages come home nuclear testing stopped missile launch 15 months elected president united states would right opinion major war north korea much work remains done relationship kim jong un good one chairman kim meet february 27 28 vietnam two weeks ago united states officially recognized legitimate government venezuela new president juan guaidó stand venezuelan people noble quest freedom condemn brutality maduro regime whose socialist policies turned nation wealthiest south america state abject poverty despair united states alarmed new calls adopt socialism country boo america founded liberty independence government coercion domination control born free stay free tonight renew resolve america never socialist country one complex set challenges face many years middle east approach based principled realism discredited theories failed decades yield progress reason administration recognized true capital israel proudly opened american embassy jerusalem brave troops fighting middle east almost 19 years afghanistan iraq nearly american heroes given lives americans badly wounded spent 7 trillion fighting wars middle east candidate president loudly pledged new approach great nations fight endless wars took office isis controlled square miles iraq syria 2 years ago today liberated virtually territory grip bloodthirsty monsters work allies destroy remnants isis time give brave warriors syria warm welcome home also accelerated negotiations political settlement afghanistan opposing side also happy negotiating troops fought unmatched valor thanks bravery able pursue possible political solution long bloody conflict afghanistan administration holding constructive talks number afghan groups including taliban make progress negotiations able reduce troop presence focus counterterrorism indeed focus counterterrorism know whether achieve agreement know two decades war hour come least try peace side would like thing time friend foe alike must never doubt nation power defend people eighteen years ago violent terrorists attacked uss last month american forces killed one leaders attack honored joined tonight tom wibberley whose son navy seaman craig wibberley one 17 sailors tragically lost tom vow always remember heroes uss thank tom administration acted decisively confront world leading state sponsor terror radical regime iran radical regime bad bad things ensure corrupt dictatorship never acquires nuclear weapons withdrew united states disastrous iran nuclear deal last fall put place toughest sanctions ever imposed us country avert eyes regime chants death america threatens genocide jewish people must never ignore vile poison spread venomous creed one voice must confront hatred anywhere everywhere occurs months ago 11 jewish americans viciously murdered attack tree life synagogue pittsburgh swat officer timothy matson raced gunfire shot seven times chasing killer successful timothy 12th surgery going many made trip us tonight officer matson please thank forever grateful thank much tonight also joined pittsburgh survivor judah samet arrived synagogue massacre began judah narrowly escape death last fall seven decades ago narrowly survived nazi concentration camps today judah 81st birthday great thank would judah judah says still remember exact moment nearly 75 years ago 10 months concentration camp family put train told going another camp suddenly train screeched strong halt soldier appeared judah family braced absolute worst father cried joy americans americans thank second holocaust survivor tonight joshua kaufman prisoner dachau remembers watching hole wall cattle car american soldiers rolled tanks joshua recalls american soldiers proof god exists came sky came heaven began evening honoring three soldiers fought second world war one herman zeitchik herman story year stormed beaches normandy herman one american soldiers helped liberate dachau one americans helped rescue joshua hell earth almost 75 years later herman joshua together gallery tonight seated side side home american freedom herman joshua presence evening much appreciated thank much thank american soldiers set beneath dark skies english channel early hours 1944 young men 18 19 hurtling fragile landing craft toward momentous battle history war know would survive hour know would grow old knew america prevail nation generations yet unborn america us everything come triumph communism giant leaps science discovery unrivaled progress towards equality possible thanks blood tears courage vision americans came think capitol think chamber lawmakers voted end slavery build railroads highways defeat fascism secure civil rights face evil empires tonight legislators across magnificent republic come rocky shores maine volcanic peaks hawaii snowy woods wisconsin red deserts arizona green farms kentucky golden beaches california together represent extraordinary nation history moment remembered ask men women congress look opportunities us thrilling achievements still ahead exciting journeys still await biggest victories still come yet begun dream must choose whether defined differences whether dare transcend must choose whether squander great inheritance whether proudly declare americans incredible defy impossible conquer unknown time reignite american imagination time search tallest summit set sights brightest star time rekindle bonds love loyalty memory link us together citizens neighbors patriots future fate choice make asking choose greatness matter trials face matter challenges come must go forward together must keep america first hearts must keep freedom alive souls must always keep faith america destiny one nation god must hope promise light glory among nations world thank god bless god bless america thank much thank
madam speaker vice president member congress first lady united state fellow american meet tonight moment unlimited potential begin new congress stand ready work achieve historic breakthrough american million fellow citizen watch u gathered great chamber hop govern two party one nation agenda lay evening republican agenda democrat agenda agenda american people many u campaign core promise defend american job demand fair trade american worker rebuild revitalize nation infrastructure reduce price health care prescription drug create immigration system safe lawful modern secure pursue foreign policy put america interest first new opportunity american politics courage together seize victory win party victory win country year america recognize two important anniversary show u majesty america mission power american pride june mark 75 year since start general dwight eisenhower call great crusade ally liberation europe world war ii june 6 1944 young american men jump sky storm sea save civilization tyranny u tonight three incredible hero private first class joseph reilly staff sergeant irving locker sergeant herman zeitchik please gentleman salute 2019 also celebrate 50 year since brave young pilot fly quarter million mile space plant american flag face moon half century later join one astronaut planted flag buzz aldrin thank buzz year american astronaut go back space american rocket 20th century america save freedom transform science redefine middle class get nothing anywhere world compete america must step boldly bravely next chapter great american adventure must create new standard living 21st century amazing quality life citizen within reach make community safer family strong culture rich faith deeply middle class big prosperous ever must reject politics revenge resistance retribution embrace boundless potential cooperation compromise common good together break decade political stalemate bridge old division heal old wound build new coalition forge new solution unlock extraordinary promise america future decision make must choose greatness gridlock result resistance vision vengeance incredible progress pointless destruction tonight ask choose greatness last 2 year administration move urgency historic speed confront problem neglect leader party many decade 2 year since election launch unprecedented economic boom boom rarely see nothing like create million new job importantly add new manufacture job something almost everyone say impossible fact get start wage rise fast pace decade grow worker promise fight grow faster anyone else think possible nearly 5 million american lift food stamp economy grow almost twice fast today take office consider far away hot economy anywhere world even close unemployment reach low rate half century african american hispanic american asian american unemployment reach low level ever record unemployment american disability also reach alltime low people work time history country 157 million people work pass massive tax cut work family double child tax credit virtually end estate death tax often small business rancher also family farm eliminate unpopular obamacare individual mandate penalty give critically ill patient access lifesaving cure pass importantly right try administration cut regulation short period time administration entire tenure company come back country large number thanks historic reduction tax regulation unleashed revolution american energy united state producer oil natural gas anywhere world first time 65 year net exporter energy 24 month rapid progress economy envy world military powerful earth far america win every day member congress state union strong sound good country vibrant economy thrive like never friday announce added another job last month alone almost double number expect economic miracle take place united state thing stop foolish war politics ridiculous partisan investigation go peace legislation war investigation work way must unite home defeat adversary abroad new era cooperation start finally confirm 300 highly qualified nominee still stick senate case year year wait right senate fail act nomination unfair nominee unfair country time bipartisan action believe already prove possible last congress party come together pas unprecedented legislation confront opioid crisis sweep new farm bill historic va reform four decade rejection pass va accountability finally terminate mistreat wonderful veteran week ago party unite groundbreaking criminal justice reform say could do last year hear friend story alice johnson deeply move 1997 alice sentence life prison nonviolent drug offender next 22 year become prison minister inspire others choose good path big impact prison population far beyond alice story underscore disparities unfairness exist criminal sentence need remedy total injustice serve almost 22 year expect prison remainder life june commute alice sentence saw alice beautiful family greet prison gate hug kiss cry laugh know something right alice u tonight terrific woman terrific alice please alice thank remind u always power shape destiny thank much alice thank much inspired story like alice administration work closely member party sign first step act law big deal big deal legislation reform sentence law wrongly disproportionately harmed african american community first step act give nonviolent offender chance reenter society productive citizen state across country follow lead america nation believe redemption also join tonight matthew charles tennessee 1996 age 30 matthew sentence 35 year sell drug relate offense next two decade complete 30 bible study become law clerk mentor many fellow inmate matthew first person release prison first step act matthew please thank matthew welcome home republican democrat must join force confront urgent national crisis congress 10 day leave pass bill fund government protect homeland secure dangerous southern border time congress show world america commit end illegal immigration put ruthless coyote cartel drug dealer human trafficker business speak large organize caravan march united state hear mexican city order remove illegal immigrant community get truck bus bring country area little border protection order another troop southern border prepare tremendous onslaught moral issue lawless state southern border threat safety security financial america moral duty create immigration system protect live job citizen include obligation million immigrant live today follow rule respect law legal immigrant enrich nation strengthen society countless way want people come country large number ever come legally tonight ask defend dangerous southern border love devotion fellow citizen country issue well illustrate divide america work class america political class illegal immigration wealthy politician donor push open border live life behind wall gate guard meanwhile american leave pay price mass illegal immigration reduce job low wage overburden school hospital crowd get increase crime deplete social safety net tolerance illegal immigration compassionate actually cruel one three woman sexually assault long journey north smuggler use migrant child human pawn exploit law gain access country human trafficker sex trafficker take advantage area port entry smuggle thousand young girl woman unite state sell prostitution slavery tens thousand innocent american kill lethal drug cross border flood city include meth heroin cocaine fentanyl savage gang operate least 20 different american state almost come southern border yesterday gang member take custody fatal shoot subway platform new york city remove gang member thousand secure border go keep stream right back year year countless american murder criminal illegal alien get know many wonderful angel mom dads family one ever suffer horrible heartache endure tonight debra bissell 3 week ago debra parent gerald sharon burglarize shot death reno nevada home illegal alien eighty survive 4 child 11 grandchild 20 also tonight gerald sharon granddaughter heather madison debra heather madison please stand understand pain thank thank thank much never forget fight memory gerald sharon never happen one american life lose nation fail control dangerous border last 2 year brave ice officer make arrest criminal alien include charge convict nearly assaults sex crime killings murder join tonight one law enforcement hero ice special agent elvin hernandez elvin boy family legally immigrate united state dominican republic age 8 elvin tell dad want become special agent today lead investigation scourge international sex traffic elvin say make sure young girl get justice really do job thanks work incredible colleague 300 woman girl rescue horror terrible situation sadistic trafficker put behind bar thank elvin always support brave men woman law enforcement pledge tonight never abolish hero ice thank administration send congress commonsense proposal end crisis southern border include humanitarian assistance law enforcement drug detection port closing loophole enable child smuggle plan new physical barrier wall secure vast area port entry past people room vote wall proper wall never get built get build smart strategic steel barrier simple concrete wall deploy area identify border agent greatest need agent tell wall go illegal crossing go way way san diego use illegal border crossing country response strong security wall put place powerful barrier almost completely ended illegal crossing border city el paso texas use extremely high rate violent crime one high entire country consider one nation dangerous city immediately upon build powerful barrier place el paso one safe city country simply put wall work wall save life let u work together compromise reach deal truly make america safe work defend people safety must also ensure economic resurgence continue rapid pace one benefit thrive economy woman fill 58 percent newly create job last year suppose thank much thank much american proud woman workforce ever sit yet go like exactly one century congress pass constitutional amendment give woman right vote also woman serve congress time great really great congratulation great part commitment improve opportunity woman everywhere thursday launch governmentwide initiative focus economic empowerment woman develop country build build incredible economic success one priority paramount reverse decade calamitous trade policy bad make clear china year target industry steal intellectual property theft american job wealth come end therefore recently impose tariff 250 billion chinese good treasury receive billion billion dollar blame china take advantage u blame leader representative allow travesty happen great respect president xi work new trade deal china must include real structural change end unfair trade practice reduce chronic trade deficit protect american job thank another historic trade blunder catastrophe know nafta meet men woman michigan ohio pennsylvania indiana new hampshire many state whose dream shatter sign nafta year politician promise would renegotiate good deal one ever try new agreement usmca replace nafta deliver american worker like deliver long time hope pas usmca law bring back manufacturing job even great number expand american agriculture protect intellectual property ensure car proudly stamp four beautiful word make tonight also ask pas united state reciprocal trade act another country place unfair tariff american product charge exact tariff exact product sell u party able unite great rebuild america crumble infrastructure know congress eager pas infrastructure bill eager work legislation deliver new important infrastructure investment include investment industry future option necessity next major priority u low cost health care prescription drug protect patient preexist condition already result administration effort 2018 drug price experience single large decline 46 year must unacceptable american pay vastly people country exact drug often make exact place wrong unfair together stop stop fast ask congress pas legislation finally take problem global freeloading delivers fairness price transparency american patient finally also require drug company insurance company hospital disclose real price foster competition bring cost way force history do advance human condition american freedom recent year make remarkable progress fight hiv aid scientific breakthrough bring dream within reach budget ask democrat republican make need commitment eliminate hiv epidemic united state within 10 year make incredible stride incredible together defeat aid america beyond tonight also ask join another fight americans get behind fight childhood cancer join melania gallery evening brave girl grace eline every hi grace every birthday since 4 grace ask friend donate jude child hospital know one day might patient happen last year grace diagnose brain cancer immediately begin radiation treatment time rally community raise fight cancer grace complete treatment last fall doctor nurse love still love tear eye hung poster read last day chemo thank much grace great inspiration everyone room thank much many childhood cancer see new therapy decade budget ask congress 500 million next 10 year fund critical lifesaving research help support work parent time come pas school choice american child also proud first president include budget plan nationwide pay family leave every new parent chance bond newborn child yes could great contrast beautiful image mother hold infant child chill display nation saw recent day lawmaker new york cheer delight upon passage legislation would allow baby rip mother womb moment birth live feel beautiful baby never get chance share love dream world case governor virginia state would execute baby birth defend dignity every person ask congress pas legislation prohibit abortion child feel pain mother womb let u work together build culture cherishes innocent life let u reaffirm fundamental truth make holy image god final part agenda protect american security last 2 year begin fully rebuild united state military 700 billion last year 716 billion year also get nation pay fair share finally finally year united state treat unfairly friends member nato secure last couple year 100 billion increase defense spending nato ally say could do part military buildup united state develop missile defense system administration never apologize advance america interest example decade ago united state enter treaty russia agree limit reduce missile capability follow agreement rule letter russia repeatedly violate term go many year announce united state officially withdraw nuclear force treaty inf treaty really choice perhaps negotiate different agreement add china others perhaps case outspend outinnovate others far part bold new diplomacy continue historic push peace korean peninsula hostages come home nuclear testing stop missile launch 15 month elect president united state would right opinion major war north korea much work remain do relationship kim jong un good one chairman kim meet february 27 28 vietnam two week ago united state officially recognize legitimate government venezuela new president juan guaidó stand venezuelan people noble quest freedom condemn brutality maduro regime whose socialist policy turn nation wealthy south america state abject poverty despair united state alarm new call adopt socialism country boo america found liberty independence government coercion domination control bear free stay free tonight renew resolve america never socialist country one complex set challenge face many year middle east approach base principled realism discredit theory fail decade yield progress reason administration recognize true capital israel proudly open american embassy jerusalem brave troop fight middle east almost 19 year afghanistan iraq nearly american hero give life american badly wound spent 7 trillion fight war middle east candidate president loudly pledge new approach great nation fight endless war take office isi control square mile iraq syria 2 year ago today liberate virtually territory grip bloodthirsty monster work ally destroy remnant isis time give brave warrior syria warm welcome home also accelerate negotiation political settlement afghanistan oppose side also happy negotiate troop fought unmatched valor thanks bravery able pursue possible political solution long bloody conflict afghanistan administration hold constructive talk number afghan group include taliban make progress negotiation able reduce troop presence focus counterterrorism indeed focus counterterrorism know whether achieve agreement know two decade war hour come least try peace side would like thing time friend foe alike must never doubt nation power defend people eighteen year ago violent terrorist attack uss last month american force kill one leader attack honor join tonight tom wibberley whose son navy seaman craig wibberley one 17 sailor tragically lose tom vow always remember hero uss thank tom administration act decisively confront world lead state sponsor terror radical regime iran radical regime bad bad thing ensure corrupt dictatorship never acquire nuclear weapon withdraw united state disastrous iran nuclear deal last fall put place toughest sanction ever impose u country avert eye regime chant death america threaten genocide jewish people must never ignore vile poison spread venomous creed one voice must confront hatred anywhere everywhere occur month ago 11 jewish american viciously murder attack tree life synagogue pittsburgh swat officer timothy matson race gunfire shot seven time chase killer successful timothy 12th surgery go many make trip u tonight officer matson please thank forever grateful thank much tonight also join pittsburgh survivor judah samet arrive synagogue massacre begin judah narrowly escape death last fall seven decade ago narrowly survive nazi concentration camp today judah 81st birthday great thank would judah judah say still remember exact moment nearly 75 year ago 10 month concentration camp family put train told go another camp suddenly train screech strong halt soldier appear judah family brace absolute bad father cried joy american americans thank second holocaust survivor tonight joshua kaufman prisoner dachau remembers watch hole wall cattle car american soldier roll tank joshua recall american soldier proof god exists come sky come heaven begin even honor three soldier fought second world war one herman zeitchik herman story year storm beach normandy herman one american soldier help liberate dachau one americans help rescue joshua hell earth almost 75 year later herman joshua together gallery tonight seat side side home american freedom herman joshua presence even much appreciate thank much thank american soldier set beneath dark sky english channel early hour 1944 young men 18 19 hurtle fragile land craft toward momentous battle history war know would survive hour know would grow old knew america prevail nation generation yet unborn america u everything come triumph communism giant leap science discovery unrivaled progress towards equality possible thanks blood tear courage vision american come think capitol think chamber lawmaker vote end slavery build railroad highways defeat fascism secure civil right face evil empire tonight legislator across magnificent republic come rocky shore maine volcanic peak hawaii snowy wood wisconsin red desert arizona green farm kentucky golden beach california together represent extraordinary nation history moment remember ask men woman congress look opportunity u thrill achievement still ahead excite journey still await big victory still come yet begin dream must choose whether defined difference whether dare transcend must choose whether squander great inheritance whether proudly declare american incredible defy impossible conquer unknown time reignite american imagination time search tall summit set sight bright star time rekindle bond love loyalty memory link u together citizens neighbor patriots future fate choice make ask choose greatness matter trial face matter challenge come must go forward together must keep america first heart must keep freedom alive soul must always keep faith america destiny one nation god must hope promise light glory among nation world thank god bless god bless america thank much thank