Friday, October 4, 2019

President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts

Office of the Press Secretary
President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts
 
Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key positions in his Administration:

Sean O’Donnell of Maryland, to be the Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Sean O’Donnell has served as a Federal civil servant for nearly 20 years, most recently as a trial attorney in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. Mr. O’Donnell has handled a wide range of criminal and civil matters, such as commercial and governmental fraud, corruption, and national security matters, working with more than a half dozen inspector general offices. He has received awards and honors at the Department of Justice, including the Attorney General’s Award and the Executive Office for United States Attorneys Director’s Award. Previously, Mr. O’Donnell clerked for United States Circuit Judge Raymond Gruender and United States District Judge Harry Lee Hudspeth. He has also worked for two law firms in private practice. Mr. O’Donnell earned a B.S. from Texas A&M University, B.A. from the University of Washington, and M.S. Econ. and J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.

John “Jack” Bobbitt of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

John “Jack” Bobbitt serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing Operations at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, overseeing the procurement, human resources, facilities, communications, and information technology systems. Mr. Bobbitt has previously served in diverse executive roles in the private and public sectors responsible for operations, finance, sales, and marketing for many businesses, including large corporations and start-up ventures. Mr. Bobbitt has earned a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin. He currently lives in Washington, D.C.
 
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Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key positions in his Administration:

Laurie Todd-Smith of Mississippi, to be the Director of the Women’s Bureau, Department of Labor. 

Laurie Todd-Smith is the former Executive Director of the State Workforce Investment Board and Senior Education Policy Advisor to Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant. Dr. Smith led numerous legislative efforts to help improve public education in Mississippi. She formerly served as the Executive Director of the State Early Childhood Advisory Council (SECAC) and has led the council in developing the Family Based Unified and Integrated State Plan. Dr. Smith helped to implement the Mississippi Works award winning technology, connecting job seekers with real-time employment opportunities. She is a former elementary classroom teacher, and was also an adjunct faculty member and a researcher at Mississippi State University. Dr. Smith has a Ph.D. from Mississippi State University, M.Ed. from Western New Mexico University, and B.A. from the University of Arizona. 

The following individuals to be Members of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council:
  • Reynold Nelson Hoover of Connecticut
  • Rick Ledgett of Maryland
  • Kevin M. Morley of Virginia
  • Ola Sage of Maryland
The following individuals to be Members of the National Cancer Advisory Board:
  • Anna D. Barker of Arizona
  • Howard Fingert of Massachusetts
  • Andrea Hayes-Jordan of North Carolina 
  • Susan Vadaparampil of Florida

 

President Donald J. Trump Approves Texas Disaster Declaration

Office of the Press Secretary

President Donald J. Trump Approves Texas Disaster Declaration


Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Texas and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Imelda from September 17 to September 23, 2019.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, and Orange.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Pete Gaynor, Acting Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Jerry S. Thomas as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated
counties can begin applying for assistance by registering online at >http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov< or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.  The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV


PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS PROTECTING HEALTHCARE BENEFITS FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS

Office of the Press Secretary

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS PROTECTING HEALTHCARE BENEFITS FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS 

“To protect benefits for American citizens, immigrants must be financially self-sufficient.” – President Donald J. Trump

 

ENSURING A STRONG HEALTHCARE SYSTEM: President Donald J. Trump wants to ensure immigrants do not financially burden our healthcare system.

  • President Trump is issuing a proclamation to suspend the entry of immigrants who will financially burden the United States healthcare system.
  • President Trump is taking this action to ensure we protect the availability of healthcare benefits for American citizens.
  • Immigrant visa applicants will have to demonstrate that they will be covered by health insurance within thirty days of entering the country or have the financial resources to pay for medical costs. 
    • Applicants will be required to meet these requirements before being issued an immigrant visa.
    • A number of exceptions will be made, such as for children of American citizens.
PROTECTING AMERICAN TAXPAYERS: Admitting large numbers of immigrants who cannot pay for their own healthcare puts a burden on our taxpayers and healthcare system.  
  • Total uncompensated healthcare costs, or the cost of services that hospitals provide that go unreimbursed, have exceeded $35 billion in each of the last ten years.
  • Immigrants admitted into the country are nearly three times more likely to lack health insurance than United States citizens, and contribute to the problem of uncompensated healthcare costs.  
  • Large numbers of non-citizens have taken advantage of our country’s generous public health programs. 
    • Half of all non-citizen headed households include at least one person who receives Medicaid. 
PROMOTING SELF-SUFFICIENCY: President Trump is working to promote immigrant self-sufficiency and protect American taxpayers.
  • President Trump has taken action to promote immigrant self-sufficiency, which has long been a fundamental aspect of our immigration system. 
    • In 1996, President Bill Clinton and Congress enacted bipartisan legislation making clear that aliens should “not depend on public resources to meet their needs.”
  • The President has released an immigration plan that would modernize our outdated immigration laws and move to a merit-based system.
  • The Trump Administration has worked to ensure aliens who want to enter or remain in the United States are able to support themselves and not rely on public programs.  
    • Aliens who receive public benefits above a certain threshold are known as a “public charge,” which has been a ground of inadmissibility for more than 100 years. 
  • Earlier this year, the President directed his Administration to finally enforce existing rules to recover income-based welfare payments from the sponsors of non-citizens.
  • The Department of Housing and Urban Development has proposed a rule that will require verification of immigration status for anyone seeking to access public housing benefits.

Presidential Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry of Immigrants Who Will Financially Burden the United States Healthcare System

Office of the Press Secretary
SUSPENSION OF ENTRY OF IMMIGRANTS WHO WILL FINANCIALLY BURDEN THE UNITED STATES HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE AVAILABILITY OF HEALTHCARE BENEFITS FOR AMERICANS

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION


 
    Healthcare providers and taxpayers bear substantial costs in paying for medical expenses incurred by people who lack health insurance or the ability to pay for their healthcare.  Hospitals and other providers often administer care to the uninsured without any hope of receiving reimbursement from them.  The costs associated with this care are passed on to the American people in the form of higher taxes, higher premiums, and higher fees for medical services.  In total, uncompensated care costs -- the overall measure of unreimbursed services that hospitals give their patients -- have exceeded $35 billion in each of the last 10 years.  These costs amount to approximately $7 million on average for each hospital in the United States, and can drive hospitals into insolvency.  Beyond uncompensated care costs, the uninsured strain Federal and State government budgets through their reliance on publicly funded programs, which ultimately are financed by taxpayers.  
    Beyond imposing higher costs on hospitals and other healthcare infrastructure, uninsured individuals often use emergency rooms to seek remedies for a variety of non-emergency conditions, causing overcrowding and delays for those who truly need emergency services.  This non-emergency usage places a large burden on taxpayers, who reimburse hospitals for a portion of their uncompensated emergency care costs.

    While our healthcare system grapples with the challenges caused by uncompensated care, the United States Government is making the problem worse by admitting thousands of aliens who have not demonstrated any ability to pay for their healthcare costs.  Notably, data show that lawful immigrants are about three times more likely than United States citizens to lack health insurance.  Immigrants who enter this country should not further saddle our healthcare system, and subsequently American taxpayers, with higher costs.

    The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants who come lawfully in search of brighter futures.  We must continue that tradition while also addressing the challenges facing our healthcare system, including protecting both it and the American taxpayer from the burdens of uncompensated care.  Continuing to allow entry into the United States of certain immigrants who lack health insurance or the demonstrated ability to pay for their healthcare would be detrimental to these interests.  

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a)) and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, hereby find that the unrestricted immigrant entry into the United States of persons described in section 1 of this proclamation would, except as provided for in section 2 of this proclamation, be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and that their entry should be subject to certain restrictions, limitations, and exceptions.  I therefore hereby proclaim the following:

    Section 1.  Suspension and Limitation on Entry.  (a)  The entry into the United States as immigrants of aliens who will financially burden the United States healthcare system is hereby suspended and limited subject to section 2 of this proclamation.  An alien will financially burden the United States healthcare system unless the alien will be covered by approved health insurance, as defined in subsection (b) of this section, within 30 days of the alien's entry into the United States, or unless the alien possesses the financial resources to pay for reasonably foreseeable medical costs.

   (b)  Approved health insurance means coverage under any of the following plans or programs:

(i)     an employer-sponsored plan, including a retiree plan, association health plan, and coverage provided by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985;

(ii)    an unsubsidized health plan offered in the individual market within a State;

(iii)   a short-term limited duration health policy effective for a minimum of 364 days -- or until the beginning of planned, extended travel outside the United States;

(iv)    a catastrophic plan;

(v)     a family member's plan;

(vi)    a medical plan under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, including coverage under the TRICARE program;

(vii)   a visitor health insurance plan that provides adequate coverage for medical care for a minimum of 364 days -- or until the beginning of planned, extended travel outside the United States;

(viii)  a medical plan under the Medicare program; or

(ix)    any other health plan that provides adequate coverage for medical care as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services or his designee.

(c)  For persons over the age of 18, approved health insurance does not include coverage under the Medicaid program.

    Sec. 2.  Scope of Suspension and Limitation on Entry.  (a)  Section 1 of this proclamation shall apply only to aliens seeking to enter the United States pursuant to an immigrant visa.

(b)  Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply to:

(i)     any alien holding a valid immigrant visa issued before the effective date of this proclamation;

(ii)    any alien seeking to enter the United States pursuant to a Special Immigrant Visa, in either the SI or SQ classification, who is also a national of Afghanistan or Iraq, or his or her spouse and children, if any;

(iii)   any alien who is the child of a United States citizen or who is seeking to enter the United States pursuant to an IR-2, IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, or IH-4 visa;

(iv)    any alien seeking to enter the United States pursuant to an IR-5 visa, provided that the alien or the alien's sponsor demonstrates to the satisfaction of the consular officer that the alien's healthcare will not impose a substantial burden on the United States healthcare system;

(v)     any alien seeking to enter the United States pursuant to a SB-1 visa;

(vi)    any alien under the age of 18, except for any alien accompanying a parent who is also immigrating to the United States and subject to this proclamation;

(vii)   any alien whose entry would further important United States law enforcement objectives, as determined by the Secretary of State or his designee based on a recommendation of the Attorney General or his designee; or

(viii)  any alien whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State or his designee on a case-by-case basis.

    (c)  Consistent with subsection (a) of this section, this proclamation does not affect the entry of aliens entering the United States through means other than immigrant visas, including lawful permanent residents.  Further, nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to affect any individual's eligibility for asylum, refugee status, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, consistent with the laws and regulations of the United States.

    Sec. 3.  Implementation and Enforcement.  (a)  An alien subject to this proclamation must establish that he or she meets its requirements, to the satisfaction of a consular officer, before the adjudication and issuance of an immigrant visa.  The Secretary of State may establish standards and procedures governing such determinations.

    (b)  The review required by subsection (a) of this section is separate and independent from the review and determination required by other statutes, regulations, or proclamations in determining the admissibility of an alien.

    (c)  An alien who circumvents the application of this proclamation through fraud, willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or illegal entry shall be a priority for removal by the Department of Homeland Security.

    Sec. 4.  Reports on the Financial Burdens Imposed by Immigrants on the Healthcare System.  (a)  The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the heads of other appropriate agencies, shall submit to the President a report regarding:

(i)   the continued necessity of and any adjustments that may be warranted to the suspension and limitation on entry in section 1 of this proclamation; and

(ii)  other measures that may be warranted to protect the integrity of the United States healthcare system.

    (b)  The report required by subsection (a) of this section shall be submitted within 180 days of the effective date of this proclamation, with subsequent reports submitted annually thereafter throughout the effective duration of the suspension and limitation on entry set forth in section 1 of this proclamation.  If the Secretary of State, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate executive departments and agencies, determines that circumstances no longer warrant the continued effectiveness of the suspension or limitation on entry set forth in section 1 of this proclamation or that circumstances warrant additional measures, the Secretary shall immediately so advise the President.

    (c)  The Secretary of State and Secretary of Health and Human Services shall coordinate any policy recommendations associated with the reports described in subsection (a) of this section.

    Sec. 5.  Severability.  It is the policy of the United States to enforce this proclamation to the maximum extent possible to advance the interests of the United States.  Accordingly:

    (a)  if any provision of this proclamation, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of the proclamation and the application of its other provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby; and

    (b)  if any provision of this proclamation, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid because of the failure to follow certain procedures, the relevant executive branch officials shall implement those procedural requirements to conform with existing law and with any applicable court orders.

    Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)    United States Government obligations under applicable international agreements;

(ii)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(iii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b)  This proclamation shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c)  This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    Sec. 7.  Effective Date.  This proclamation is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on November 3, 2019.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fourth.


                        DONALD J. TRUMP
 

 

Readout from First Lady Melania Trump’s Visit to Wyoming

Office of the First Lady
Readout from First Lady Melania Trump’s Visit to Wyoming 
 
JACKSON, WYOMING – First Lady Melania Trump traveled to Wyoming on Thursday, October 3rd for a two day visit in Wyoming highlighting some of our nation’s most treasured National Parks, sharing BE BEST’s message of wellbeing.

After arriving in Jackson, Wyoming, Mrs. Trump joined a group of the Jackson District Boy Scouts at Jackson Hole Town Square, under the iconic elk antler arches.  The First Lady was met by Mindy Kim-Miller, the first woman Scoutmaster in Jackson.  The scouts talked with the First Lady about the important part they play in the long-standing relationship between the Boy Scouts and the National Elk Refuge – which dates back to the 1950s.   The antlers are collected on the refuge and sold at auction.  The majority of the proceeds return to the refuge in support of elk management and habitat enhancement.  The remaining funds stay with the local Boy Scout troop.  Prior to departing, Mrs. Trump visited the Veterans Memorial in the town square.  Director of the Teton County/Jackson Parks and Recreation, Steve Ashworth, provided an overview of the historical Veterans Memorial and Veterans Art Project.

In the afternoon, Mrs. Trump and fourth graders from the Teton County School district traveled by river raft down a scenic stretch of Jackson Hole’s Snake River.  They observed a protected sanctuary of wildlife, pristine local vegetation, sagebrush plateaus, cottonwood and spruce forests, and wildflowers.  The entire Teton Range was also visible in the distance.  Accompanying the group was owner and guide, John Turner and his great nephew.

Friday morning, Mrs. Trump traveled to Teton National Park where she was met by Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt and Acting Superintendent of Grand Teton National Park Gopaul Noojiabail.  The First Lady met with dozens of second and fourth graders inside the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center.  Inside, the young students were at various stations set up around the room.  Each station had an activity to help children learn more about the outdoors.   Mrs. Trump distributed “Every Kid Outdoors” passes – a continuation from last month when she distributed passes at the reopening of the Washington Monument.  The passes are part of a National Park Service’s program, which provides fourth graders with free access to beautiful parks and waters across the country.

The First Lady’s initiative, BE BEST, continues to highlight resources for children that build an important relationship between America’s natural heritage and the next generation.  The Every Kid Outdoors program offers fourth grade students the chance to connect with nature and observe some of the country’s greatest natural phenomena and treasures.

Mrs. Trump and Secretary Bernhardt also observed an arrowhead presentation by the visiting students.

Prior to departing, the First Lady visited the Snake River Overlook. There, she read about the area's geography and took in the views of the Teton Range.  After a scenic drive along the periphery of the National Elk Refuge, the motorcade made one final stop outdoors where Mrs. Trump posed for a few photos in front of the Grand Teton National Park sign to commemorate her visit.

“This trip highlighted some of the beautiful national parks, lands, and waters that make up our country,” said First Lady Melania Trump.  “Spending time outdoors with children and learning more about our incredible and complex surroundings was a very meaningful experience for me.  I want to thank the people of Wyoming for making me feel so welcomed.  I also want to thank the many dedicated organizations including Jackson District Boy Scouts and the National Park Service for all they do in protecting and taking care of our national parks.

 
 

President Donald J. Trump Announces Presidential Delegation to Japan to Attend the Ceremony of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor

Office of the Press Secretary
President Donald J. Trump Announces Presidential Delegation to Japan to Attend the Ceremony of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor
 
Today, President Donald J. Trump announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Japan to attend the Ceremony of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor on October 22, 2019.

The Honorable Elaine L. Chao, Secretary of Transportation, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

Mr. Joseph M. Young, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, U.S. Embassy Tokyo

President Donald J. Trump Approves North Carolina Disaster Declaration

Office of the Press Secretary
President Donald J. Trump Approves North Carolina Disaster Declaration
 
Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of North Carolina and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Dorian from September 1 to September 9, 2019.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Dorian in the counties of Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Hyde, Jones, New Hanover, Pamlico, Pender, Sampson, Tyrrell, and Washington.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Pete Gaynor, Acting Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Elizabeth Turner as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

Presidential Proclamation on Fire Prevention Week, 2019

Office of the Press Secretary
Fire Prevention Week, 2019

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By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

 
     Since 1922, our Nation has observed Fire Prevention Week to promote emergency preparedness and reaffirm our enduring commitment to fire safety.  This week, we honor and remember the heroic firefighters and first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice to save and protect our citizens, homes, and communities.  We express our gratitude for their service to our country, and we encourage all Americans to do their part to prevent dangerous fires.

     In 2017, more than 1.3 million fires killed 3,400 people and injured 14,000 more, while causing an estimated $23 billion in direct property loss.  Sadly, the number of fire-related deaths continues to rise, even though the number of fires is falling.  All Americans should take the dangers of fires seriously and conduct routine inspections of smoke alarms and plan and practice home fire escapes.  Such concerted efforts are crucial to stopping fires and their devastating consequences.

     While preventing fires in our homes, we also must take measures to prevent wildfires, such as the catastrophic Woolsey, Camp, and Mendocino Complex wildfires, all of which ravaged communities last year.  The Camp fire killed at least 85 people, and the Mendocino Complex wildfire was the largest fire of its kind in California history.  Improving the health of America's forests and rangelands is critical to reducing the frequency and severity of the kind of wildfires that have devastated communities and ecosystems across the Nation.  This is why I signed legislation that improves support for the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior's wildfire suppression operations, as well as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which includes robust fire risk reduction measures and important forest management provisions.  These bills will empower Federal agencies to actively manage our forests and rangelands and aggressively fight wildfires.  Further, I issued an Executive Order to promote active management of America's forests and Federal lands to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in better partnership with State, local, and tribal officials.

     This week, I urge all Americans to take special precautions to ensure fire safety in their homes and communities to help prevent fire-related tragedies.  By staying vigilant, we can all do our part to protect our loved ones, homes, and communities.  We recognize those who take such actions, and we pledge to continue our support for the Nation's firefighters, first responders, and EMS providers who answer the call to serve and risk their lives to safeguard their fellow Americans and our precious land.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 6 through October 12, 2019, as Fire Prevention Week.  On Sunday, October 6, 2019, in accordance with Public Law 107-51, the flag of the United States will be flown at half-staff at all Federal office buildings in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.  I call on all Americans to participate in this observance with appropriate programs and activities and by renewing their efforts to prevent fires and their tragic consequences.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fourth.
 

 
                              DONALD J. TRUMP
 

Presidential Proclamation on German-American Day, 2019

Office of the Press Secretary
GERMAN-AMERICAN DAY, 2019

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

 
     On German-American Day, we proudly celebrate the contributions German Americans have made to our Nation through their dedication and hard work.  The seeds of German-American heritage sown over three centuries ago, when the 13 German families landed in Philadelphia in 1683, continue to flourish and prosper in our country.

     From our earliest days, German Americans have helped to secure the rights we hold dear and to sustain the American experience.  General Friedrich von Steuben joined the noble American cause for independence, lending critical expertise in military drills, tactics, and discipline to train the soldiers of the Continental Army.  As we expanded westward, the German-born businessman Levi Strauss and his iconic namesake clothing brand became emblematic of the resilient and pioneering American spirit.  Charles M. Schwab, a descendant of German immigrants, strengthened America's steel industry, and his legacy as a business tycoon continues to be synonymous with innovation and success.  Today, when we enjoy music played on a Steinway piano, read a Steinbeck novel, or admire the artwork collected by painter and philanthropist Hilla Rebay and displayed in New York's stunning Guggenheim Museum, we are reminded of the countless ways German Americans have influenced our society, commerce, and culture.

     This year marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a triumph of freedom that embodies the dedication of the United States and Germany to the rule of law and human rights.  The United States and our allies will continue to safeguard the torch of liberty and promote global stability by defending personal and economic freedom for generations to come.

     This month, as we commemorate the contributions German Americans have made to our Nation, we also recognize the more than 43 million Americans who claim German heritage.  Our shared values and historic and cultural ties strengthen the enduring bond between the United States and Germany.  This partnership is the foundation of a bright and hopeful future for the world.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 6, 2019, as German-American Day.  I call upon all Americans to celebrate the achievements and contributions of German Americans to our Nation with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fourth.
 

 
                              DONALD J. TRUMP
 

Bill Announcement

Office of the Press Secretary
On Friday, October 4, 2019, the President signed into law:


S. 163, the "Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act," which revises the Standards for Performance for Stationary Compression Ignition Internal Combustion Engines to prevent catastrophic failure or shutdown of remote diesel power engines in Alaska due to malfunction of emission control technologies; and

S. 1689, which authorizes states to transfer funds from the Clean Water Revolving Fund to the Drinking Water Revolving Fund for lead pipe abatement.

 

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP BEFORE MARINE ONE DEPARTURE South Lawn

Office of the Press Secretary

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP
BEFORE MARINE ONE DEPARTURE

South Lawn
 

10:43 A.M. EDT

     THE PRESIDENT:  So, the unemployment numbers just came out, and they’re the best numbers we’ve had in over 50 years.  The unemployment number is down to 3.5 percent.  So that goes way, way back.  We haven’t had numbers like this in a long time.  Wages are up by almost 3 percent.  That’s a fantastic increase for everybody out there working.  We’re very happy about those numbers.  The stock market is substantially up, as it was yesterday.  And our country does well.  Europe is not doing well.  Asia is doing poorly, to put it mildly.  And we continue to do very well; we’re the miracle.

     But the unemployment numbers just came out: 3.5 percent unemployment.  And that is a tremendous number; the lowest in over 50 years.  So, very happy.

And, I think, really, very important -- again, I’ll say: Wages are up.  When I was running, wages were nowhere.  They were going down.  And people were having two and three jobs, and they were making less money than they made 20 years before.  Now wages are up.  So we’re very happy about that.

One other thing, having to do with Poland.  So, Poland is a country; great people.  We have a lot of Polish Americans living in the United States.  I've just signed -- I will soon be signing -- and sign certain preliminary applications.  We will be giving a full visa waiver to Poland.  That means that people from Poland can easily travel there, and people from here can easily go back and forth.  They can each -- people from the U.S., people from Poland, can very easily go back and forth between the United States and Poland.

So, they’ve been trying to get this for many, many decades.  And I got it for the Polish people, in honor of the Polish people in the United States and in Poland.  So, we’re very happy with that.

Yeah.

Q    Did you see Adam Schiff got four Pinocchios by the Post, this morning, for lying?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I heard Adam Schiff got four Pinocchios.  That’s good.  He should have gotten them two and a half years ago.

That’s a very nice question.  Let me shake your hand.  Come here.  That’s a very nice question.  That's almost a surprise.  I figured that was a trick question, right?

Q    Also, what does your letter to Pelosi say?  And when will you send it?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, we’ll be issuing a letter.  As everybody knows, we’ve been treated very unfairly, very different from anybody else.  If you go over not only history -- I mean, if you go over any aspect of life, you’ll see how unfairly we’ve been treated.  We’ve done a fantastic job.

Everything, to me, is about corruption.  We want to find out what happened with 2016.  And, as you know, there’s a lot of work going on, on that.  I don’t care about Biden’s campaign, but I do care about corruption.  His campaign -- that’s up to him.  Politics -- that’s up to them.  I don’t care about politics.  Politics, as I think I've made clear -- and yesterday, somebody asked me a question, and I gave an answer -- but always in the form of corruption.

What I want to do -- and I think I have an obligation to do it, probably a duty to do it: corruption -- we are looking for corruption.  When you look at what Biden and his son did, and when you look at other people -- what they’ve done.  And I believe there was tremendous corruption with Biden, but I think there was beyond -- I mean, beyond corruption -- having to do with the 2016 campaign, and what these lowlifes did to so many people, to hurt so many people in the Trump campaign -- which was successful, despite all of the fighting us.  I mean, despite all of the unfairness.

So, we are looking at corruption.  We’re not looking at politics.  We're looking at corruption.

Q    Sir, what did you say to the Chinese about the Bidens, sir?

THE PRESIDENT:  I don’t know.  Somebody said that a long time ago.  Was that in 2017?  I don’t know.  You’d have to tell me when.  All I can tell you is this: When I speak to foreign leaders, I speak in an appropriate way.  If you notice, they don’t mention the call that I had with the President of Ukraine.  They don’t mention that because it was so good.

The only time they mentioned it was when Adam Schiff made it up.  You talk about Pinocchios -- that should get 10 Pinocchios.  He made up -- he made up a story.  It was a phony story.  Adam Schiff.  So, they don’t talk about that anymore.

You know, when this came out, it was “quid pro quo.”  Well, there was none.  Also, yesterday, the Ambassador -- who I heard was tremendous and a tremendous person -- he was 100 percent for what we’re saying.  A hundred percent.  And, if you look, he also said there was no quid pro quo.  That’s the whole ballgame.

But now the Democrats don’t bring that up anymore because they lost.  Look, they never thought I was going to release the phone call between the Ukrainian President and myself.  When I released that call, they were -- they were jumping around like you wouldn’t believe.  They didn’t know how to respond.  And then they found out -- and then they found out that the call itself was so bad for them.  It was a perfect call.  There was nothing -- we hand that call out.  We’ve handed the call out to people, and they'd say, “Wow, this is incredible.”  We’re very proud of that call.  When I speak to a foreign leader, I speak in an appropriate manner.

Now, we’re also doing trade deals with China and we’re doing deals with a lot of people for the country, so I’m not looking to insult people.  I can tell you that.  But we can probably find that out.

Q    Would you be more willing to do a trade deal with the Chinese if they investigate Biden?

THE PRESIDENT:  No, it has nothing to do with it.  No.  No. I want to do a trade deal with China, but only if it’s good for our country.  And it could happen.  Because you know they're very much -- they're very much coming over next week, as I understand it.  So I'd like to do a great deal with China, but only if it's a great trade deal for this country.  One thing has nothing to do with the other.

     Q    Do you want the House to proceed with an impeachment inquiry at this point?  An official impeachment inquiry.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I wouldn’t mind because we have no rights.  They way they're doing it, they've taken away our rights.  So, if they proceed -- and, you know, they'll just get their people.  They're all in line.  Because even though many of them don’t want to vote, they have no choice.  They have to follow their leadership.  And then we'll get it to the Senate, and we're going to win.

The Republicans have been very unified.  This is the greatest witch hunt in the history of our country.  So we beat the one that started immediately.  We went through two years of Mueller, and that came out like a 10.  It came out perfect.  And a few days go by and they start this nonsense.  And this is just as ridiculous.

     So the Democrats, unfortunately, they have the votes.  They can vote very easily, even though most of them, many of them, don’t believe they should do it.  And I do believe -- I do believe that because of what they're doing with Pelosi and their real leaders, AOC plus 3 -- that's their real leaders -- I really believe that they're going to pay a tremendous price at the polls.

And we saw the first glimpse of it two weeks ago, in a great state, North Carolina.  We saw a great, great glimpse of what's going to happen.  Because, in North Carolina, we had two races.  One gentleman, Dan Bishop, was down by 17 points with three weeks to go, and he won easily.  And the other man, as you know, Greg Murphy, was up by a very little bit and he won by a massive amount -- I don't know, someplace in the twenties.  Twenty percent or something.  Maybe higher.

     So I think you got your first glimpse of what's going to happen.  And the big key is that I have to campaign there.  But if you look at what happened in North Carolina -- two races -- we won both of them, and we won them easily.  And one was almost tied and the other one was a big, big lead, and that one turned and the tie became a landslide.

     Q    Mr. President, did Mitch McConnell make you any promises about a vote on impeachment in the Senate?

     THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I don't know about Mitch.  I have a lot of respect for Mitch McConnell.  I know that; I saw his statements.  And he thinks that this is ridiculous.  He thinks it's unfair.  I saw his statement yesterday that he put out where he read my phone conversation and he thought it was a wonderful conversation.  And it was.

But, see, the Democrats don't talk about that anymore.  They try and go to other things.  These people are looking for anything they can get because they know they're going to lose the election.  And we're in election season now.  For them to be doing this now, it's never been done.

     Q    The U.S. is speaking to North Korea in Sweden.  What do you expect?

     THE PRESIDENT:  What?

     Q    The U.S. is speaking to North Korea in Sweden right now.  What do you expect?

     THE PRESIDENT:  So we're dealing with North Korea.  They want to meet, and we'll be meeting with them.  It's probably being set up as we speak, but we'll let you know.  But North Korea would like to do something.  Iran would like to do something.  We have a lot of countries in a very good position right now, despite the witch hunt, which hurts our country and it hurts America.  But Iran wants to do something.  North Korea wants to do something.  And China would like to do something.

     Q    Is the Justice Department investigating Joe Biden?

     THE PRESIDENT:  I don’t know that.  That, you'd have to ask.  Is the Justice Department investigating Joe Biden?

     Q    Yes, sir.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Well, that, you'd have you to ask Attorney General Barr.  But I can tell you, just as an observer, what I saw Biden do with his son -- he is pillaging these countries, and he's hurting us.  How would you like to have, as an example, Joe Biden negotiating the China deal if he took it over from me after the election?  He would give them --

Q    Mr. President --

THE PRESIDENT:  Wait.  He would give them everything.  He would give them everything.  How would you like to have that?  Joe Biden would just roll out the red carpet.  He would give them everything.

     So, again, this doesn’t pertain to anything but corruption.  And that has to do with me.  I don’t care about politics.  I don’t care about anything.  But I do care about corruption.  And to have somebody take out a billion and a half dollars out of China, who's totally unfit.  He's unfit.  To have him get a billion and a half dollars, to have him -- and now I'm hearing the number of $50,000 a month.  Now I'm hearing the number of $50,000 a month is very low.  It's a much higher number that Biden's son was getting per month.  The fact is it's much higher.  And for him to -- and for him, as a total -- for him, as a totally unqualified person, to be getting hundreds of thousands a month is very, very (inaudible).

     So, again, is the Justice Department investigating that?  I just don’t know.

     Q    Mr. President, do you think the Democrats have the votes?  Do you think the Democrats have the votes to impeach you?  Do you think you will be impeached?

     THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I think they follow the leader.  One thing with the Democrats -- I give them credit for it -- a lot of them don’t want it; you know that, you interview them.  A lot of them are in there -- they call them "Trump districts" -- where I won and then they won after when I wasn’t running.  But I'm going to win them big.

     If you look at what's happened with my polls, they're through the roof.  You know why?  Because of this phony witch hunt.  If you look at what happened with the fundraising, we've set a record -- the Republicans -- because people are sick and tired of it.

I got a call the other night from pastors -- the biggest pastors, evangelical Christians.  They said, "We have never seen our religious or any religious so electrified."  They are -- they say they’ve never seen anything like it.  Churches are joining.  Hundreds of thousands of people.  And, you know, that’s to a large extent because of you and your partner, the Democrats.

     Q    But do you think it will pass the House, sir?  Do you think it will pass the House and die in the Senate?

     THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I think this.  I think this: We have great -- we have a great relationship in the Senate.  I have a 95 percent approval rating in the Republican Party.  I believe the Senate -- and I haven’t spoken to that many senators -- but I believe the senators look at this as a hoax.  It’s a witch hunt.  It’s a disgrace.  Should have never happened.  Just like Russia collusion delusion should have never happened.  That was a witch hunt.  And just like that, should have never happened.

     So I think in the Senate, I think they feel that the Republican Party has been treated very, very badly.  Now, in the House, they have the majority.  They all vote with AOC and plus three.  Nancy Pelosi is petrified of them.  I mean, she’s afraid she’s going to lose her position.  Nancy Pelosi will lose her speakership right after the election when the Republicans take over the House.

     Q    Sir, can we talk about the text messages that included holding off a visit to the White House?

     THE PRESIDENT:  The one text message that I saw was just about the last text message.  Because I don’t know -- I don’t even know most of these ambassadors.  I didn’t even know their names.  But the text message --

     Q    But what it included, sir, was a visit to the White House.

     THE PRESIDENT:  -- the text message that I saw from Ambassador Sondland -- who’s highly respected -- was: There’s “no quid pro quo.”  He said that.  He said, by the way -- it almost sounded like in general -- he said, by the way, there’s “no quid pro quo.”  And there isn’t.

     Now, for Biden there would be.  But listen to this: There is no pro quo.  And that was the text message that I saw.  And that nullified everything.

     Q    Have you asked foreign leaders for any corruption investigations that don’t involve your political opponents?  That is, are there other cases where you’ve asked for corruption investigations?

THE PRESIDENT:  You know, we would have to look.  But I tell you, what I asked for and what I always will ask for is anything having to do with corruption with respect to our country.  If a foreign country can help us with respect to corruption and corruption probes, and that -- I don’t care if it’s Biden or anybody else.  But if they can help us -- if Biden is corrupt, if his son is corrupt.  When his son takes out billions of dollars -- billions -- and he has no experience; he just got fired from the Navy -- when they do that, that’s no good.

So the only -- just to finish your question -- anything having to do with corruption, I actually feel I have an obligation to do that.

Q    Including with Mr. Putin, sir?

Q    Is someone advising you that it is okay to solicit the help of other governments to investigate a potential political opponent?

THE PRESIDENT:  No, I don’t say anything is okay.  I’ll tell you what’s okay.

Q    Is someone advising you that?

THE PRESIDENT:  Here's what’s okay: If we feel there’s corruption, like I feel there was in the 2016 campaign -- there was tremendous corruption against me -- if we feel there’s corruption, we have a right to go to a foreign country.

And just so you know -- just so you know, I was investigated.  I was investigated.  Okay?  Me.  Me.  In my campaign -- I ran, I won.  I was invest- -- you won’t say that, will you?  I was investigated.  I was investigated.  And they think it could have been by UK.  They think it could have been by Australia.  They think it could have been by Italy.  So when you get down to it, I was investigated by the Obama administration.  By the Obama administration I was investigated.  So when these people talk --

But as far as I’m concerned, what I want to look at and what we want to investigate: anything having to do with corruption.

Q    In your view, Mr. President, do you view China as an ally, a partner, or an adversary?

THE PRESIDENT:  I view China as somebody we’re trying to make a deal with; we have a very good chance of making a deal with.  We’ve had good moments with China.  We’ve had bad moments with China.  Right now, we’re in a very important stage in terms of possibly making a deal.  If we make it, it will be the biggest trade deal ever made -- if we make it.

But I view China as somebody that we deal with on the world stage.  I would like to get along with China if we can.  And if we can, that’s great.  If we can’t, that’s okay, too.

But what we’re doing is we’re negotiating a very tough deal.  If the deal is not going to be 100 percent for us, then we’re not going to make it.

And I will -- and I will say this.  I will say this.  I will say this: China very much wants to make this deal.  China is getting killed.  The tariffs are killing China.  What’s happened is they have now 3 million loss of jobs, their chains are broken up.  If you look at their supply chain, which is a disaster -- companies are going to other countries, including us.  China, right now, is a total disaster.

Q    Mr. President, does a trade with China have anything to do with an investigation into Joe Biden?  And will you ask Xi to investigate?

THE PRESIDENT:  No, no, no.  Let me tell you: I’m only interested in corruption.  I don’t care about politics.  I don’t care about Biden's politics.  I never thought Biden was going to win, to be honest.  I picked somebody else a long time ago.  And we'll see what happens.

But I never thought Biden was going to win.  But I don’t care.  I mean, frankly, if he won, I'd be very happy.  I think he'd be an easy opponent.  But I never thought Biden was going to win.  I don’t care about politics, but I do care about corruption.  And this whole thing is about corruption.  This whole thing -- this whole thing is about corruption.

This is about corruption, and this is not about politics.  This is about corruption.  And if you look and you read our Constitution and many other things, we -- I have an obligation to look at corruption.  I have an actual obligation and a duty.

Q    Are you going to comply with the House subpoenas?

THE PRESIDENT:  What?

Q    Are you going to cooperate with the House in this investigation?

THE PRESIDENT:  I don’t know.  That’s up to the lawyers.  I know the lawyers think they've never seen anything so unfair.  They've never seen anything so unjust.  I've been President now for almost three years, and I've been going through this for almost three years.  It's almost become, like, a part of my day.

But in the meantime, we have the best economy we've ever had.  We have the best job numbers we've had in 51 years.  The best unemployment numbers that we've had in a half a century.  The best numbers that we've ever had -- African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, women -- everything.  We have the best numbers that we've had in many, many, many decades.

And you know what?  People understand that.  People are working.  They're making money.  The -- if you look at one very important number that was just announced: wages up 3 percent.  That’s unheard of.  That’s unheard of.  So, it's a great thing.

Q    What about other Democrats?  What about other Democrats?

THE PRESIDENT:  I didn’t hear you.  Go.

Q    Mr. President, when did you first get the idea to investigate the Bidens' activity in Ukraine?  Who advised you to look into that?

THE PRESIDENT:  We're investigating corruption.  We're not investigating campaigns.  I don’t care about his campaign.  As I said, I didn’t think -- I didn’t think and I don’t think Biden is going to win.  All right?  I don’t think.

And maybe to answer your question, when you say, "Who is going to win?" -- I'd rather not make a prediction, but I do have a feeling about it.

I didn’t think -- because I've watched Biden over the years, and Biden is not the brightest person.  I never thought he was going to win.  I never felt he was going to win.  If you look at his other two campaigns, he was a one-percenter.  He got very few votes.  He got taken off of the garbage heap by Obama.  Obama took him off the garbage heap.  So it's one of those things.

But I never thought that Biden -- I didn’t think Biden was going to win.  I guess that everybody has a shot.  But I don’t think he would be, frankly, my toughest opponent.

And just to finish off -- just to finish off, I don’t think that he will win.  I didn’t think he was going to win, and I don’t think he's going to win.

Q    Joe Biden's poll numbers are dropping pretty badly.  Elizabeth Warren's are rising.  Bernie is sick.  What do you think about facing Elizabeth Warren?

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s fine.  I mean, it's fine.  She's a socialist and maybe worse than that.  But we'll see.

I heard -- I haven’t seen his poll numbers.  I haven’t seen Biden's poll numbers.  Look, Joe Biden was never going to make it.  All right?  He was never going to make it.  He tried it twice.  He's at 1 percent.  There's a reason.

When I announced, I went to number one, day one, and I stayed there the entire primary season.  I never was off center-stage.  I was never given credit for that, but that’s okay.  Except by Steve.  The only one that gave me credit was Steve.

Q    Did you try to talk to Rouhani at the UN?

THE PRESIDENT:  Who?

Q    Did you try to talk to Iran's President?

THE PRESIDENT:  No, they were trying to set up a meeting but he wanted sanctions lifted.  And I said, "You must be kidding."  We had no interest.  Rouhani wanted a meeting at the UN.  We did talk.  I didn’t speak to him personally, but our sides talked.  He wanted sanctions lifted or partially lifted, and I said no.

Q    (Inaudible) socialism in Venezuela for political campaign.

THE PRESIDENT:  We're watching Venezuela very, very closely.  The people are suffering, and we are watching it very closely.  We're also giving big aid to Venezuela.

Now, one thing.  I'm now going to Walter Reed Hospital.  We're going to be giving out five Purple Hearts to unbelievably brave young people.

And I'm going to meet you -- some of you are going over.  I don’t know.  I think some of you are going over.  So we could talk further over there.  Although, when we're there, I would like you to respect the process.  We're giving out Purple Hearts to very brave people, wounded warriors, people that have been -- I mean, they're just incredible people.  And I'm going to be back here in probably two hours.

Thank you.  Good job.

                                   END                11:06 A.M. EDT

 

West Wing Reads US Unemployment Rate Falls to Five-Decade Low of 3.5%


West Wing Reads

US Unemployment Rate Falls to Five-Decade Low of 3.5%


America’s unemployment rate fell to a 50-year low last month, dropping to 3.5 percent and matching a level last seen in December 1969, Alexandra Steigrad reports in the New York Post.

“A more encompassing measure that includes discouraged workers and the underemployed also fell, declining 0.3 percent points to 6.9 percent, meeting its lowest level in nearly 19 years and just off the all-time low of 6.8 percent.”

Furthermore, “the jobless rate for Hispanics also hit a new record low, while the level for African Americans maintained its lowest level ever.”

Click here to read more.
“If the latest impeachment push continues to backfire, Democrats can thank their duplicitous House Intelligence chairman, Adam Schiff,” Kimberly Strassel writes in The Wall Street Journal. This week, a bombshell report revealed that Schiff’s team had advance knowledge of the complaint from the “whistleblower”—and withheld that fact from both his colleagues and the American public. “The timeline of this orchestrated campaign is another knock to the legitimacy of the so-called impeachment inquiry.”
“With first daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump by his side, Google CEO Sundar Pichai signed a pledge Thursday in Dallas that the company will boost its investment in tech skills training for American workers,” Melissa Repko reports in The Dallas Morning News. Google, one of more than 350 companies to join the White House’s Pledge to America's Workers, “will create 250,000 training opportunities over the next five years.”
“The same biased reporters who pushed two-and-a-half years of Russian conspiracy theories aren’t done with their vendetta against President Trump. They will stop at nothing until he is removed from office. These aren’t journalists, they’re political operatives. Now, they’re even trying to criminalize the president’s attempt to get to the bottom of the Russian collusion hoax,” Jenna Ellis Rives writes in the Washington Examiner.
“First lady Melania Trump kicked off a two-day visit to Wyoming on Thursday, meeting with local fourth graders and touring a sliver of Wyoming backcountry as part of promotional efforts for her ‘Be Best’ initiative,” Nick Reynolds writes in the Casper Star-Tribune. “In Jackson Hole Mercantile, which faces the town square, many customers were caught by surprise, according to a shopkeeper, with some saying that the first lady’s visit ‘made their day.’”