Well, thank you very much for being here, at. Today's cabinet, meeting I've just, returned, from a very historic, trip to Europe where we've. Made incredible progress toward. Achieving greater, peace security, and prosperity for, America, for our allies, and, in fact for the entire world the meetings with NATO. The, United, Kingdom and with Russia were. A tremendous, success and I think you will see that and it will play out over a, period of years frankly. But there were tremendous success. At. Home our, economy, is thriving and booming like I would. Say never before. People. Are looking and they're trying to find times and there's, never been a time like this we've created more than 3.6. Million, jobs since. The election, we. Are in the longest, positive. Job growth streak. In, history. In the history of our country or at least on, record. Unemployment. Has fallen for, every, demographic. Group. Every, single group. African-american. Unemployment, has reached his lowest levels by far in history. Hispanic. Unemployment. Is at its lowest levels, in history. Asian. Unemployment. Is at its lowest level in history. Women's. Unemployment. Is at the lowest level, in 65. Years. So. Those are tremendous numbers, the consumer, and business optimism. Polls. Have, reached the all-time, highs highest, number ever recorded. In. Today's meeting we will focus on, a, very, important, issue, workforce. Training, as. Part of our commitment to buy American, higher. American. And frankly, to make America, great again. I'm. Going to pretty soon have to take that word again out because we are moving, at a level that few. People would have ever thought possible including, job numbers, and growth, and. Some, big, numbers have come out already. And I guess numbers will be coming out over the coming. Weeks and I would expect they would be very very good I always. Talked about growth, growth. Solves, a lot of difficulties, a lot of problems, and you see that happening we. Will hear from Ivanka, from. Secretary, of constant, Secretary Ross Secretary, DeVos, an. Administrator. McMahon about important, actions we're taking in partnership. With. The private sector and, state and local governments. To expand, vocational. Education. Career. And Technical training, and on-the-job. Training. And the reason we're doing this is that so. Many companies, are moving back to, the United States like nobody ever thought possible and. We. Need people we. Need trained, people we. Need people that know trades, and, we're. Starting, a very. Intensive. Program of training people so that when these companies these great companies, come back into the country many of them left years ago they're coming back now because. Of what we're doing. Whether. It be the regulations, or the massive. Tax cuts they're. Coming back and it means jobs and, that's why the unemployment, numbers are so good and you've seen nothing yet so. We need people to really. Be. Able to take these jobs that. Will have a positive impact even, on immigration, we need people to come in on a merit, basis. Because. We have to be able to provide jobs we have to be able to provide, the people that. Are running these massive, companies with labor. So. Tomorrow I'll be making a big announcement about workforce. Training initiatives. Which. Aims to give every American citizen an opportunity. To achieve their, American dream I want. To have choice. Just, like we have now with the veterans all approved which nobody thought would be possible, the. Vets now instead, of standing on line for two, weeks or. One week or three, months they, can go out and see a doctor and we pay for it and, it turns out to be much less expensive and. They. Are loving it nobody, thought it was possible to get that so.
I Want, also, I want choice for. Workers so that if. They don't like their job they can go get another job and they'll find one that they really, love. And they'll, love getting up in the morning and going to work so. That's what we're working on tremendous. Numbers of companies. Are coming. Back into our country tremendous. Dollars, are coming back we. Have hundreds. Of billions of dollars are pouring back into our country. Because of our tax cuts. And reform. We're. Allowing, these, big companies that have billions, of dollars offshore, to, bring that money back into our country before, we. Had, the bill passed on tax cuts and reform it was virtually impossible to, get money. Brought. Back into our country now, you look at Apple I believe they're bringing in about two hundred and fifty billion dollars, and they're, putting that to work in the United States other companies, are likewise bringing in, billions. And billions of dollars so we've never seen anything like this before I think ultimately the number could be four trillion. Dollars. So. These are not numbers that anybody, has ever even heard of or would. Ever be familiar, with because never happened before but. It's happening under the Trump administration. And. With that I'd like my daughter Ivanka to, start. This. Has been a very important, issue women's. Issue and this issue to issue. Any woman's, issue is, very important, to Ivanka, and the. Issue of, workplace. Employment. And jobs and training. Has. Been really at the top of her list so Ivanka. Could you say a few words please absolutely. Well. That's the present you like to stay or would you like to leave. Well. Thank you president and thanks, to the Trump administration's, pro-growth. Policies. We, see that the economy, is roaring. Unprecedented. Deregulation. And tax cuts, have been a central component to, the success of, this administration's. Economic agenda, GDP. Growth last year surpassed, all expectations. The, unemployment, rate currently, sits at just 4% and. 3.7. Million, jobs, have been added since, the election, in November of 2016. America's. Economic future, is bright last. Month, alone. 600,000. Additional. Americans, entered or re-entered, the workforce and, there are millions of prime aged Americans, poised, to join the workforce now. That there are new and better jobs available. More. People who have been discouraged and sitting on the sidelines, are now throwing their hat back into the ring and deciding. To look for a job, our. Strong, economy, has brought a long-standing. Critical, issue to the forefront, employers. Are having trouble finding enough workers with the right skills. Job. Openings, exceed, the number of unemployed people in our country for the first time in recorded history as. We. Know a robust, labor market, is great, for the American worker wages. Are finally beginning to rise after almost a decade of stagnation, and people, are coming off the sidelines, and back into high demand fields however. Current. Public, investment, in education, and skills is, de minimis after, the age of 25, not, reflecting, an evolving, economy, in which workers must continually, update, their skills in, response to the changing, employer needs and an increasingly, digital, economy. Further. While. Employers themselves typically. Invest substantially. In training, for college-educated, workers, they. Invest only half of that in workers with just a high school degree. This, is beginning to change and this administration, is seeking to catalyze, and accelerate, private. Sector commitment, to all of our workers, already.
The, Administration. Has taken critical, steps to, ensure all Americans have a pathway to good-paying jobs, and tomorrow, President, Trump will take another important, step to, prioritize, and expand, vocational. Education, so, that we can create and fill American. Jobs with, American, workers. President. Trump will sign an executive order, to, establish the, National, Council for the American worker and a separate Advisory, Board the. Council, will work to, develop a, national workforce, strategy and, bring together cabinet. Level leadership to, build upon the accessible, work already being done and to further amplify that. Secretary. De, Vos has. Been working very hard over the last 17, months to ensure that the skills being taught in our classrooms, align. With those in demand in the modern economy, secretary. Acosta, has been working to expand apprenticeship. And to, increase access to vocational education. Secretaries. Madison, active with secretary, Wilkie have, shown tremendous leadership in, working to help transition, our military, service members into. The workforce at, the time their, service draws to a close, director. Mulvaney and his team at OMB have, put forward an, exciting. And ambitious, plan to merge, the department's of Education and labor so, that we can holistically. Think about the role of education, and the workforce an. Administrator. Mcmahon has been traveling, around the country and, listening. To the needs of small business which. Now for the first time in a very long time now. That deregulation, has. Occurred, and tax cuts have occurred are citing, the, lack of skilled labor as their number-one constraint. To growth in. Addition. To this US government, Council and advisory. Board co-chaired, by Secretary, Ross. Thank. You Secretary will. Bring together some, of the most prominent, employers. And the country's largest employers. To, create, public-private. Partnerships, and develop recommendations. For, the implementation of, this national workforce strategy. Recognizing. That the American, workforce is, our country's, greatest national, asset tomorrow. President Trump will call upon the private sector and industry, leaders to, do their part and invest. In the advancement, in our, current and future workforce. We. Are asking them to sign a pledge a pledge. To the American worker and commit. To expanding, apprenticeships, increase. On jobs on-the-job training and providing. Americans. From, high school to, those near retirement with, concrete, opportunities. And to. Obtain the skills that will enable them to contribute to the economy and provide. For themselves and, their families, will. Also continue this campaign and secretary. Ross and I will continue to engage the private sector, to, have more and more people sign this pledge and affirm their support whether. It's opportunities, for high school students, to learn the skills to go straight into a job and avoid incurring student, debt for, a mid. To late career worker who needs to be retrained, because, their job is at risk of being lost to automation, we, have to be thinking about the whole spectrum as we think about lifelong learning and we need to engage the private sector, to be our partner in that these. Are real jobs and, these, are new opportunities for growth and we're confident, that industry, will partner with us to accomplish our goals of, filling, all vacant. Jobs with, qualified, workers. Following. This launch of this initiative we'll continue to press these companies but, also will work with governors and ensure, that as the president, visits states across.
The Country that. They are mobilizing, their largest employers to also sign the pledge and affirm, their commitment, to the American worker I look. Forward to working with each of you in this room and the. Private sector to ensure that Americans, are all provided, with opportunities to thrive in this booming economy, I'd, also like to thank the great team at DPC, Kara. Andrew Bren Burke for, their help, Chris Liddell and of. Course the vice president, who's been such a champion on this issue during his time as, Indiana, and. Has implemented, so many great workforce, training programs, in in. His state so so thank you for your leadership and, thank you president Trump for enabling. Us, to really, develop this holistic, solution, and empower every, American, worker with, the opportunity, to thrive. Wow. So. If that, were Amaka, Smith the. Press would say that, was totally, brilliant. As. Ivanka, Trump they'll say she, was okay that was. Great that. Was really great unbelievable. I just, wanted to, tell. You that. We. Have had very good sessions. With Mexico. And. With. The, new. President, of Mexico who, won overwhelmingly. And. We're. Doing very well on our trade agreement. So. We'll, see what happens we may do or separately with Mexico, and, will. Negotiate with Canada. At a later time, but. We're having very good discussions, with Mexico, on. July. 25th, the. Leaders, of the. European. Union. Will be coming to see us at. The White House and. As. You know I've made. No bones about it they, have massive trade barriers, where our farmers, can't sell. Their for the most part they, have other barriers, on cars and lots of other things even, medical equipment. Where. It's very very difficult to sell, into the European, Union and they're going to be coming on. July. 25th, to negotiate. With us we. Said if we don't negotiate something. Fair then. We have tremendous. Retribution, which. We don't want to use but we have tremendous powers. We have to. Including. Cars ours, is the big one. And, you. Know what we're talking about with respect to cars and tariffs and cars and, they know better than you do they know better than all of us do what that means so they're, going to come and they're gonna try and negotiate a, deal we have very good relationships. With jean-claude. And, Donald. All of them but. They're gonna be coming to the White House on July, 25th, so that'll, be very interesting to see what happens but Mexico. Is coming along very well we've had really. Really good. Discussions, with them and I think we can say that's pretty far advanced it's, it's. Getting closer all the time okay. With. That I'd like to ask Secretary. Of kosta to. Take, over the stage and say a few words mr. secretary, you're doing a fantastic job, by the way. Well. Uh as. You, mentioned we have a tremendous. Tremendous, economy. Record. Low, unemployment the, Federal Reserve is estimating, it's gonna go even lower, and this. Is the first time in. Since. We've kept the data that we have more open. Jobs and job suits and. So we've been implementing the apprenticeships, since your election, there, have been three hundred thousand, new apprenticeships, created, and and. I think this year we will see commitments, for, at least 300,000. Additional apprenticeships. We. Are working on prisoner, re-entry initiatives. When. An individual, leaves prison the. Best that, we could do for the individual, the, best that we can do for society is help. Them find a job and. We're working very diligently on, prisoner, re-entry, initiatives. We're. Addressing the opioid crisis. By incorporating. Job. Training and education within. Populate, centers, so, when someone leaves treatment. They're, ready for a job and we're. Also looking at the licensing. Initiatives. The. States have various occupational, licenses, and that's. Often a barrier to entry you signed the executive order on.
Military. Spouses and that, executive, order took important, steps to, make it easier for military spouses. To. To find jobs as the service person, moves from base to base we're, working at the Department of Defense, more generally, State. Occupational. Licenses, are a barrier, to entry we. Have more, than a million individuals. Who could be working right now who. According to Federal, Reserve studies, are, not in the workforce because of State occupational. Licenses, and that's, a problem and, so we're working very aggressively to, bring more individuals, into the workforce this, month saw. The first, uptick, in the unemployment rate, and. It's important to highlight the reason why more. People found jobs but. For the first time we've had a record number of people coming off the sidelines, and saying we, want jobs too, and so. 601. Thousand. Americans, said. We are now ready, to look for a job and that, is great, news because. People, are starting to rien, and, look, for, jobs and that's what this economy, needs and, so I think this initiative is gonna, build on the work we've all been doing but, bring us all together in a very unified, way so. For. Just a moment, people. Coming out of prison over. The years have just been absolutely, they've, had such. A problem getting jobs, and now. For the first time maybe ever and to a large extent it's because of the job we've done in creating all, of this enthusiasm, in the great economy. People. Are hiring people. Out of prison and they're loving it there I'm hearing. From. In. One case a friend of mine hi. Ten people and, up, to ten people he didn't give me the exact number but I will tell you he said these are incredible. People and. It's. All because of the economy, that he did it because he was having a hard time getting. Somebody, so. Would. You explain a little bit about what's going on there because it's such a big topic and it, affects so many people and. They. Have that aura that people did not like and all. Of a sudden for the first chance people first. Time really people coming out of prison are.
Able To get jobs and really have a very. Productive time, for them in their family so you might want to explain that that's right mr. president I was uh I, was. Out in Las Vegas about about, three weeks ago, I was visiting with John ponder, who spoke, in the Rose Garden here. Who, runs prisoners, for hope every Entry Program and. He. And. His program goes into the prisons and works. With individuals in cooperation, with the prison system and the District Attorney to, provide skills and education, before someone, leaves the prison and, so when they leave prison they. Have a number of businesses, that are working with this program, that are ready to hire them and. I, spoke to the businesses, that were there and the, businesses, said we. Hire these individuals, because. They are great employees. Because. They've, been in the prison system they, don't want to go back and during, credible, dedicate and as. Impressive, they had some of the individuals, who. Had been through the program who been in prison and now had jobs and, they. Said, when. We take a job. We're. Taking not just for us but we're taking it for those that are coming behind us, because. If we mess up if, we don't do a good job. We. Are costing, not just our own job but, the jobs of all those others because the employer may not hire other former, prisoners, and I. Thought that acceptance. Of responsibility. By. Those former. Inmates. That. It was not just for them but for future, inmates, needing jobs, spoke. To the quality of that one program and spoke, to the reason, that so many employers in. This program, were successfully. Hiring, I looked. At the metrics, of this program, and the. Metrics, the employment, rate for that program was. Higher than a lot of colleges, and that. Really says a lot about how successful many, of these programs. Like, this for people coming out of prison getting. Jobs has never been anything close and so. The economy is turning out to be our best, friend so. Now. Did you ever have so many cameras, shooting, you from the back and, I'm watching you and I'm saying thank goodness she's got a beautiful head of hair. Doing. A great job and, we appreciate it. Secretary. Was. Presidents. Tax cuts and regulatory, reforms. Creating. The new wave with growth in, our advanced manufacturing, and. Technology. Industries, along. With demand, for, thousands, of skilled workers our. Strengthening economy is, a godsend. For many, millions, of Americans, who, want to be part of the workforce and, who now have the opportunity, to, participate productively. In. Our economy, the, lack of adequately, trained, workers is a major, issue for American. Employers, and, it is being addressed by this new, Council of, which I'm most honored to be a co-chair with, the bunka Trump Secretary, of Costa, and Andrew, bernburg since. November. 2016. 876. Thousand. New, jobs have. Been created in, industries. That produce, goods. Including. Four hundred eleven thousand, construction. Jobs, three. Hundred seventy four thousand, manufacturing. In ninety, one thousand. Mining this, past June alone. 53,000. New jobs were. Created in, those industries. Including. 36, thousand and manufacturing. These. Sectors, produce, the wealth the. Technological. Innovation, and high-paying. Jobs, needed. For a modern, industrial economy. It's, imperative. That we keep this momentum, going, for. Example, Foxconn. Broke, ground last. On, the ten billion dollar factory now. Pleasant, Wisconsin. They'll employ thirteen, thousand. Workers making. State-of-the-art. LCD. Screens. Foxconn. And the hundreds, of other companies, that are expanding. Will, need thousands. Of skilled workers, adept. At teach digital, technologies. Not, only on, the factory, floor but. Throughout the entire business. Enterprise, they. Will also need staff, that, the highest end of the skill spectrum. And we, don't have enough of them in. 2016. There, were 4,000. Fewer, full-time. American. Stem, graduate. Students, than, there were in 2009. But. Over the same period, the number of foreign, full-time. Stem, graduate. Students, is, increased, by almost, 70,000. And, they mostly, return to their home country, after. They finish their education. The. Shortage, of the most highly trained, technologists. And engineers. Is. Both an economic and a, national, security issue, one. Of the biggest risks, our employers. And our, military, contractors. Face is, having foreign nationals. Steal. Their important, intellectual. Property, and provided. To overseas, governments. Just. Last week Apple filed, criminal. Charges. Against. One of its former, Chinese, employees, for. Stealing, IP, about. The company's, autonomous. Vehicle, development, program, that. Engineer, is accused, of providing trade, secrets, to Apple's, principal, competitor. In China X, Motors, training. Thousands, more Americans, for these sophisticated. Engineering. Jobs would, substantially. Reduce, such risks, but. The burden of falling, skills. Gap is, falling, directly, unemployed. Organizations. With more than a hundred employees, spent.
91. Billion, dollars. On worker. Training, last year almost, 30%, more. Than in. 2016. And about. 1/2 percent of, our total economy. These. Numbers, echo, what we experienced. On the task force on, apprenticeship. Expansion. That, task force accomplished. A great deal as you heard from secretary, a constant. Outlining, key. Reforms. That, Department, of Labor is making, to, the apprenticeship. System. President. Trump's new executive. Order now. Creates, the National, Council, for American, workers to. Look at systemic. Issues that. Span, our entire, education. And training, system. That, also establishes. A new, American. Workforce policy. Advisory, board to be housed at the Department, of Commerce, we. Will raise awareness, of, the job opportunities. That are, available for, skilled American. Workers, we, will recognize, the, companies, and organizations. That. Are successfully. Closing. The skills gap, look. Forward to chairing this new council with. Secretary, Acosta, and Ruben Berg and Ivanka. Trump and working, with all the members of the council, and with, the American, workforce policy. Advisory. Board I connect. You. I thought I'd ask Secretary. Of State Pompeo to give us a little, talk. On some. Of our most recent activities, and maybe you could also touch on here, just for a, couple, of minutes. Mr.. President maybe maybe I'll start there uh North Korea time so. I traveled, to Pyongyang for the third time we. Made progress. Of some issues there's there's a lot of work to do it may take some time to, get where we need to go but all of this will be taking place against the backdrop of continued, enforcement, of the existing sanctions. The. North Koreans reaffirm. Their commitment to, denuclearize. We're. Making progress along, the border to get the return of remains very important issues for those families, we think in the next couple of weeks we'll have the first remains, return that's the commitment so. A progress, certainly being made there still. A fair amount of work to do but. A, very. Hopeful place that we find ourselves with, making. This strategic, change for North Korea and giving them an opportunity for a brighter future for their people, mr., president I've turned to the trip to NATO when I was with you in Brussels. I've. Done this NATO issue since I was a young soldier it's been a while and, this. Is the first time we I have seen the leaders of NATO understand, fully their responsibly, they have to make sure that they spend the money they need or to protect themselves from the threat from Russia the.
President Is everyone has made clear this obligation, he. Made clear our continued, commitment to support them but, also the need for appropriate, burden-sharing and we saw real progress I had my counterparts, foreign ministers and heads of state I say, to me they take this obligation seriously and they understand president Trump's, view. Of this and the, fact that their continued, increase in their defence spending will, make their country safer and make NATO stronger, so I think a fantastic, outcome, from the. Day-and-a-half that we all spent there led. By the president, in Brussels I then departed, your trip and went to Mexico City led. A delegation along, with secretary minuchin secretary, Nielsen and, and Jared, we. Met with president. Pena Nieto a Pena Nieto and the. Incoming, president. Lopez. Obrador and. Again there, are many issues on our plate we made clear to them that the migration issue must be resolved, that we need to have strong borders we. Talked to them about trade, and, there'll. Be more I think in the coming days to talk about the progress we're making on trying to resolve the issues. On NAFTA I'm very hopeful there, we. Talked about all the other issues between our two countries that really set the tone that followed the president's, conversation, with the president-elect, just shortly after, the. Ballots. Were counted in in Mexico, I was, really remarkable to see the Mexican government transition, in, a way that demonstrated, democracy, no, protests, in the streets it was a compliment. Both present president Pena Nieto and president. Overdorf for conducting, a an election. In, the way that they did with respect and then travelled to join, the president Helsinki, had. The chance to meet with my counterpart. Foreign. Minister Lavrov, and. The. President's discussion, with President Putin set the conditions, where, we can find overlapping, space. Counterterrorism. The. Russians, on the treaties that they're in violation a place where we can now begin to have important, dialogues, to. Put. That relationship in a place where we reduce the risk to the United States from. Threats from Russia and so I think, overall. A very positive set, of meetings, we've had over the last 10 days mr. president yes great job thank you very much, Betsy. Go. Ahead Thank. You mr. president back. To the. Issue of Workforce. Development and thank you for your commitment to leading. Opportunity. For all. American, workers as, we know when we look at our k12, system and, those, young people coming up our country has fallen behind our international, competitors, today. In there are piece of scores we are 23rd, at reading 25th, in science, and 40th and math we. Have a significant. Opportunity to. Improve things for young people and there's a there's, essentially, a fundamental, disconnect between. Education. Today and the preparation, of our young people and today's, economy and the opportunities, there what. We're doing and what we put what we're working. Toward it, from a higher ed perspective, is working. With Congress to authorize. Short-term. Pell grants. That can be used for, some. Of the programs that secretary, Acosta has alluded to today. There are fewer and fewer traditional. Students. Pursuing. Higher education we, need to acknowledge that we also need to acknowledge that there are many more innovative. Ways to provide. Education. Opportunities, to students, and so, we are working on reforming, accreditation. And. Regulations. That, stifle. Innovation. And. Creativity, when it comes to higher education we. Are deploying. The 200 million dollars that you have, it suggested.
The Invested, in STEM education and. The. Competitive, program will be up. And running this fall we, are working closely with Congress and. With. Secretary Acosta, to reauthorize, the Perkins Act which, will again, provide, more opportunities, to access. These. Opportunities, both in high school as early, as high school and then into higher, ed, we. Also are working to support the, proposed merger, between the department's, of Labor and education knowing. That our future, really, depends, on. A. Nation. That is prepared, people, that are prepared for the opportunities that are not only here today but, that will be with, us tomorrow and so, I look, forward to working with my, fellow cast members, to pursue. These opportunities. Thank. You very much. Could. You maybe just, spend. A little time talking about what we're doing about drug, pricing, absolutely. Thank You mr. president, so, we. Of, course last, year approved, a record number of generic, drugs saving, consumers. Over, 8 billion, dollars to, the system so far we, also changed, how we pay for drugs reducing, out-of-pocket, expenditures. For seniors by 320, million, dollars a year for our senior citizens we. Have a whole suite of legislative. Proposals, that we are waiting, on Congress to enact that would reform our seniors drug discount program, to, reduce out-of-pocket spending, and, put, more burden on the middlemen who run. Those programs, we, have our blueprint, for prescription, drug pricing, that we rolled out a couple of months ago we, just closed the comment period on that a couple of days ago so we've received over 3,000, comments, we want to go into this is a complex, area we're talking about the complete restructuring. And reform of 400, billion dollars, of the American economy, president, Trump's doing it the right way which is seeking input from experts we got that input we. Are right now over the next several weeks going to be rolling out several major initiatives. As part of the drug pricing, plan last. Week we already, announced, that we will be reducing what, we pay for new drugs in the senior drug program, when.
New Drugs come on the market reducing, the, amount that we pay for those already, we. Yesterday, announced a major reform of our over-the-counter. Drug, program, so seem so that every citizen can get drugs cheaper and without a prescription. This. Morning, we rolled out our biosimilars. Strategy, so, that's to create a generic, like market, for these high-cost, biologic. Products, so that Commissioner. Gottlieb rolled out just this morning, and then, over the next several, days we've got a whole suite of actions, coming and. So which I will not give the media the benefit of until. It comes out. Vizor. As you know had a, major. Drug. Price increase, and we. Spoke to them and I have great respect for the company and for its leader and they. Rolled. It back to zero and. We. Very much appreciate what, far as you did we. Didn't like the increase but we liked what they did they responded, properly. So we appreciate that very much Linda, McMahon please. Clearly. To, reiterate. What's. Been said this morning the, tax. Cuts regulatory. Rollback, have. Clearly created, a boom in our economy, small. Businesses, are growing. But. When, I traveled, around the country and listened to these small businesses. I hear, also about. The lack of skilled workers for them and. If you can expect you, know respect. The position of small businesses, as, big businesses, grow as they're, raising wages is, they're making better benefits, not. Only to attract, perhaps. Workers from other big businesses, to come and work for them the. Small business, guy gets. Crushed a little bit because he can't compete, with. That increase in wages and the increase in benefits so, how, are we going to help our small businesses, and if you've said many times, small. Businesses, are big business 30, million Optum of our country they're the backbone of the economy so what SBA, is. Helping to focus on is the training of a skilled workforce and, we're going to put together a nationwide. Plan. For. Helping, support. Incubators. Around. The country and accelerators, because. They really, and makerspaces. They. Are doing incredible. Jobs, of. Training. Workforce, you, know coming out and. So as we, go into these incubators. Small. Businesses, are already growing there how, do we take. Them from from, that position. Putting. Them into the workforce, they. Are actually providing, then more and more of the skilled workers so, I think it's going to be a great plan to coordinate, that on a nationwide, basis. You, know throwing incubators, I've seen, it working and I've, also seen, a. Lot, of what's been discussed today about the apprenticeships, and the programs, that Betsy's been working on within with, education. I was, actually in. Charleston, West Virginia yesterday. And, I was touring the small business, alpha technologies, but they are located on the campus of a.
Bridgeway, Community. And Technical College. On. That. Campus. One. Whole, area. Of technical. Innovation, is. Being sponsored by one of the local manufacturers. And when you go in all. Of the equipment that's in that training program, at, the Community College is being provided, by. The business, the, workers come and work spend. Two days on campus three. Days at, the company, they're, earning about forty, thousand, dollars through the whole period of being in, school so they're, graduating, with the skill that company. Needs and they can move right. From the Community, College right into the business that and I think that's, the kind of program that we're, going to see fostering, because it's it's it, is that calibration. That we're looking for so that, businesses, get, the kind of skilled worker they need by, the public-private, partnership, so, I it's, all in all it's such a good story everywhere. And I. Keep hearing you know many thanks, for. The tax cuts regulatory, rollback because, it is absolutely. Energizing. What's going on. An. Incredible, job and I have to say because I've known her, and her husband Vince for. A long time they built a great business and, Linda, was a very, big. Part of it for those of you that don't know I know she was a very very big part of it so thank, you for what you're doing doing, a fantastic job, at. Ben Carson, say, a few words about her well. One of the. Initiatives that's been going on recently, we. Put together section. Three task force, sections. There's. An obligation to. Hire trained, or. Give. Contracts, to the low-income, people in that area people. Have all, kinds of reasons to get around it but we're. All. Bleep almost finished, reformulating. It so, that we removed, a lot, of the barriers that. Disincentivize. People from utilizing it and I, think that's going to make a huge difference, and also with. The envision, centers we're going to be gathering, the, information about. All, apprenticeship. Programs, and training programs, so that when somebody comes in you know they're not, confused, we'll have people who will help share with them because. We have a tremendous, work force out there, just. Waiting. To be trained and if. We make it available to them I think that a lot of them will take advantage of it. It's. Very much in the news sonny. Perdue, secretary. Of agriculture. I, love. The farmers and who are breaking down barriers, one, of the things I'm doing is you know with these trade. Deals that have been so unfair to our farmers, and to our workers and to our companies, from. Other countries, to, be. Talking, about it all the time and, we're. Breaking down barriers, so that our farmers can sell, their, goods, to other countries, like they sell their goods to us and. One, of the examples is Canada the judges, on, dairy products, two hundred and seventy five percent. Tariff. A two, hundred and seventy five percent it's, just not, appropriate. It's not fair and there's. A big imbalance of you know, well don't think but, there is a big imbalance between Canada, and the United States in terms of surplus, and deficit, but. Perhaps. You could talk a little bit about the farmer, and I think they understand exactly what, we're doing and, we're. Doing it as rapidly as possible and, we're taking some strong measures, but, it's not fair when I, won't. Mention specific. Countries but you know the ones I'm talking about when, certain countries, have barriers, that, make it impossible for, our farmers, to sell into. Those countries and yet they sell all sorts of products into ours unrestricted. Very. Unfair, sunny your. Farmers, in America mr. president understand, that you're. Taking this fight on their, behalf I use, the metaphor yesterday, it's a little bit like weight loss it's, all the painful in the meantime but, they're looking forward to being a winning, later on so I think, I, think they understand, that obviously, you, may not name those countries, but you've talked about in the past the, EU and China playing. Very unfairly, with the non-tariff, barriers. They've had in place for many years in. Many ways and our Patriot. Farmers, understand, that you're, the first one to attack this they're, very anxiously, awaiting, the winds and we hope that the. Deal with Mexico, and then, Canada, can come along very, quickly behind, that but they are there. With you they're hurting actually, economically, they. Are strong. American, values and they believe that you're an American first president, and they.
Want, To be with you we, just need to help their pocketbooks, well I am and I will say that if you look at soybeans I looked, at a chart, the other day that came out recently, just, prior to the election, five years before that soybeans. Have been cut in half price-wise now. I've only been here for a little more than a year and a half with Mike but. I will tell you soybean, is way, down over a five-year period prior to the election, so. Something, has to be done and you know that over a 15 year period, pricing. And farms, and everything else has been very much trending, down so. We're gonna straighten that out and, have. To bear with us but they are the great American patriots, and they really they. Really are something that very special people, Michael. Do you like to say something Mike Pence. Thank. You mr. president and. As. I told you yesterday good to have you back and, after a a successful. Week of international engagement it should come as no surprise, to. The American people that you were right back here at the White House focusing, on American jobs and. The. I. Truly. Believe that that, we're here. In. A large measure because of the connection, that you made, to. Working Americans and I, truly, do believe that this government-wide, initiative. That. You will set into motion tomorrow, with, the Council for. American workers bringing, together a broad range of cabinet, agencies, is a reflection. Of. The of the promises, that we, made to working. Americans it, is remarkable. To think that we're at a time where there are more job openings in. America, than there are people looking for jobs but. The efforts that, that, are reflected, here, I think, demonstrate, that. You're President, this is an administration, that. That believes, that all honest. Work is honorable I've, seen the way you interact with, working. Americans, across this country you, love people that know how to make things and grow things and this. Commitment of skills education of, vocational, education I, think it's a reflection of that and, I'm very excited, to, be working with you on it, having. Had the experience of working in this area but when I was governor of Indiana I see how enthusiastic, the. American people are for this I especially want to I want, to thank Ivanka, Trump. For her work in this area bringing, together all these various agencies and, all the cabinet. Members who are working so much I truly, do believe that, this will be a centerpiece. And. A legacy. Long. After. After. We finish our work here that. Will pay dividends, for Prosperity for the American people I think so much I do think so thank, you all very much appreciated. Thank. You very much. We're. Doing very well. Probably. As well as anybody. Has ever done with Russia and, there's. Been no president, ever as tough as I have been on Russia all, you have to do is look at the numbers look at what we've done look, at sanctions, look at ambassadors. Not, there look unfortunately, at what happened in Syria recently. I. Think. President, Putin knows that better than anybody certainly, a lot better than the media he. Understands, it and he's not happy about it and he shouldn't be happy about it because there's never been a president, as tough on Russia. As I have been okay, thank you very much.
2018-07-23