IT’S A FULL HOUSE ON CAPITOL HILL; AS OUR NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ADDRESSES CONGRESS - FOR THE FIRST TIME.
HELLO EVERYONE. I’M RICK JACKSON. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.
LAST WEEK, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP LAID OUT PLANS FOR HIS FIRST TERM IN OFFICE, DURING A JOINT ADDRESS TO CONGRESS. A JOINT ADDRESS MEANS THAT BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH – THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – GATHER IN THE CAPITOL BUILDING TO HEAR THE PRESIDENT’S SPEECH.
CONGRESS USUALLY ONLY COMES TOGETHER ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS – SUCH AS DURING A STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, TO COUNT ELECTORAL VOTES AFTER AN ELECTION – OR FOR A NEW PRESIDENT TO OUTLINE POLICY DETAILS – AS IN THIS CASE.
IN HIS ADDRESS, THE PRESIDENT TOUCHED UPON MANY OF HIS PRIORITIES – SUCH AS THE MEXICAN BORDER WALL AND THE TRAVEL BAN. BUT HE ALSO ANNOUNCED AN INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
INFRASTRUCTURE IS WHAT WE CALL THE BASIC FOUNDATION OF A CITY – LIKE THE ROADS AND BRIDGES WE TRAVEL EVERY DAY.
UP NEXT, WE HEAR FROM THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HIMSELF.
PRESIDENT TRUMP... STRIKING A MORE PRESIDENTIAL AND OPTIMISTIC TONE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP:"I AM HERE TONIGHT TO DELIVER A MESSAGE OF UNITY AND STRENGTH"
IN HIS HOUR-LONG SPEECH TO A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT TRUMP:"IT IS A MESSAGE DEEPLY DELIVERED FROM MY HEART."
OFF THE TOP, THE PRESIDENT CONDEMNING THE SURGE IN HATE CRIMES SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: "RECENT THREATS TARGETING JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTERS AND VANDALISM OF JEWISH CEMETERIES AS WELL AS LAST WEEK'S SHOOTING IN KANSAS CITY REMIND US THATWHILE WE MAY BE A NATION DIVIDED ON POLICIES, WE ARE A COUNTRY THAT STANDS UNITED IN CONDEMNING HATE AND EVIL IN ALL OF ITS VERY UGLY FORMS."
SPENDING MUCH OF HIS SPEECH LAYING OUT AN AMBITIOUS AGENDA --
PRESIDENT TRUMP: "EVERYTHING THAT IS BROKEN IN OUR COUNTRY CAN BE FIXED."
HIS SOLUTION: AN ECHO FROM HIS CAMPAIGN *AMERICA FIRST*
PRESIDENT TRUMP:"BUY AMERICAN AND HIRE AMERICAN."
AND ONCE AGAIN, USING NATIONAL SECURITY AS THE BASIS FOR HIS PROPOSED BORDER WALL WITH MEXICO.
PRESIDENT TRUMP:"WE WANT ALL AMERICANS TO SUCCEED, BUT THAT CAN'T HAPPEN IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF LAWLESS CHAOS. WE WILL SOON BEGIN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GREAT, GREAT WALL ALONG OUR SOUTHERN BORDER."
THE PRESIDENT TOUTING HIS DEPORTATION EFFORTS OF UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS.
AND DEFENDING HIS CONTROVERSIAL TRAVEL BAN - HALTED BY A FEDERAL COURT WEEKS AGO.
PRESIDENT TRUMP:"IT IS NOT COMPASSIONATE BUT RECKLESS TO ALLOW UNCONTROLLED ENTRY FROM PLACES WHERE PROPER VETTING CANNOT OCCUR"
THE PRESIDENT ALSO ANNOUNCING A *HUGE* PLAN TO BOOST THE NATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP:"I WILL BE ASKING CONGRESS TO APPROVE LEGISLATION THAT PRODUCES A $1 TRILLION INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE UNITED STATES, FINANCED THROUGH BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CAPITAL, CREATING MILLIONS OF NEW JOBS."
THE PRESIDENT ENDING HIS SPEECH WITH A VERY EMOTIONAL MOMENT -- HONORING THE WIDOW OF RYAN OWENS -- A NAVY SEAL KILLED LAST MONTH IN YEMEN -- SAYING HE WAS PART OF A "HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL" TERROR RAID.
PRESIDENT TRUMP:"RYAN IS LOOKING DOWN RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW THAT, AND HE'S VERY HAPPY BECAUSE I THINK HE JUST BROKE A RECORD. AS THE BIBLE TEACHES US, THERE IS NO GREATER ACT OF LOVE THAN TO LAY DOWN ONE'S LIFE FOR ONE'S FRIENDS."
THANKS, JOE.
BUT IT WASN’T JUST CONGRESS WATCHING. IN FACT, MORE THAN 47 MILLION PEOPLE TUNED IN TO WATCH TRUMP’S FIRST ADDRESS TO CONGRESS – AND MANY OF THEM SAID THE PRESIDENT’S SPEECH MADE THEM MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY.
Instructional Links
Video: C-SPAN, Presidential Economic Address | Includes video, audio clips and full-text
Video Clip: C-SPAN in the Classroom, Video Clip: President Trump Addresses Joint Session of Congress | Includes keywords, related articles and resources
Website Article; National Academy of Engineering, Restore and Improve Urban Infrastructure | Definition and what is needed.
Website: American Society of Civil Engineers, Infrastructure Report Card, Ohio Report Card | Interactive site with explanations on different types of infrastructure