President Trump Visits Kirkwood Community College

Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump visited Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to address his efforts to foster agriculture innovation. He spoke about the value of farming to the Nation’s economy and ensured the Administration would continuously embrace the challenge to rebuild rural America.

“We have to make sure American farmers and their families, wherever they may be, wherever they may go, have the infrastructure projects that they need to compete and grow. And I mean grow against world competition, because that’s who you’re up against now.”

President Trump

For the past two weeks, the Administration has been working extensively on vocational education, infrastructure, and technology. The President declared he would push for increased rural internet access in his proposed infrastructure plan.

“American farmers and ranchers are the best — absolute best at what they do. And they can compete anywhere if they are given a level playing field.”

President Trump

Watch President Trump’s remarks:

Secretary Price Hosts Listening Session with Obamacare Victims

On Wednesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, M.D., hosted a listening session at the White House with Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Seema Verma to hear from individuals who are facing a lack of choice in healthcare plans due to insurers pulling out of Obamacare marketplaces.

Secretary Price holds a listening session with Obamacare victims

Citizens from Ohio, Iowa, and Missouri shared real-life stories of how Obamacare has negatively impacted themselves, their families, their businesses, and their communities. These real-life examples show the extremely limited options of healthcare plans that are available, and the consequences of such high premiums and deductibles.

Secretary Price holds a listening session with Obamacare victims

A small business owner from Missouri spoke of his inability to keep employees because of the advantage Obamacare gives to large corporations. An insurance agent from Missouri spoke of her guilt as she was unable to help her friends and neighbors, and was forced to deny them insurance due to the high costs. A doctor from Iowa spoke of his children, both diagnosed with a terminal disease, and his struggle as he was forced to choose between his practice and his children’s medical care.

Secretary Price holds a listening session with Obamacare victims

These examples, among countless others, demonstrate the tolls Obamacare has taken on the American people. The American people are frustrated with Obamacare, and they are looking for change.

“This is about real folks; this is about real people’s lives. And the stories that we’ve heard at this table and around the country have been remarkably moving.”

Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price

Secretary Price reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to reduce Obamacare’s burdens by providing the American people with the highest quality healthcare system.

Press Releases: Acting Assistant Secretary Simon Henshaw To Travel to Uganda for Refugee Summit

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

June 21, 2017

Acting Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration Simon Henshaw will travel to Uganda from June 21-23 as part of the United States delegation to the Uganda Solidarity Summit on Refugees, led by U.S. Ambassador to Uganda Deborah Malac. The Summit, hosted by Ugandan President Museveni and UN Secretary General Guterres, is being held in light of Uganda now hosting nearly 1.3 million refugees, including those entering in large numbers from South Sudan – currently the world’s fastest-growing refugee crisis.

Assistant Secretary Henshaw’s visit reinforces the U.S. commitment to the 2016 New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, which demonstrated the unity of the international community in humanitarian efforts to save lives, protect rights, and share responsibility on a global scale.

For more information on the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, visit http://www.state.gov/j/prm and follow @StatePRM on Twitter.

Press Releases: United States Strategy for Engagement in the Caribbean

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

June 21, 2017

The U.S. Department of State, in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), submitted a multi-year Caribbean strategy to Congress on June 19 that establishes a framework for enhancing the security and prosperity of the United States and its Caribbean partners. Considered the “third border” of the United States, the Caribbean is a vital part of our efforts to counter organized crime and illicit trafficking, support democracy throughout the Western hemisphere, strengthen energy security, and create jobs through increased trade and investment.

A secure and stable Caribbean contributes to a safer and more prosperous United States by securing the U.S. border, protecting U.S. citizens abroad, and increasing opportunities for U.S. exports. The United States will continue to work with the Caribbean region to support commitments in the multi-year strategy; encourage private sector-led growth and job creation; reduce energy costs through diversification, regulatory reform, and public-private partnerships; and maximize partnerships in health and education for more sustainable growth and development in the Western Hemisphere.

Congress mandated this Caribbean strategy through the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016 (H.R. 4939), which underscores U.S. interest in enhanced relations with the governments of the Caribbean, the Caribbean diaspora, the private sector, and civil society.

To view the Caribbean strategy, visit our webpage at https://www.state.gov/p/wha/rt/caribbeanstrategy/index.htm

Press Releases: Recent Violence and Casualties in Nagorno-Karabakh

Press Statement

Heather Nauert

Department Spokesperson

Washington, DC

June 21, 2017

The United States is deeply concerned over the recent violations of the ceasefire, which have resulted in multiple casualties on the Line of Contact over the last week. We urge the sides to avoid escalation and encourage immediate consideration of measures to reduce tensions along the Line of Contact and the international border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In their statement released June 19, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs called upon the parties to re-engage in negotiations on substance, in good faith, and with political will. The Co-Chairs further underscored that such negotiations are the only way to bring a lasting peace to the people of the region, who expect and deserve progress toward settlement of the conflict.

The United States continues to engage intensely with the sides. Our longstanding policy, shared by the Minsk Group co-chairs, is that a just settlement must be based on international law, which includes the Helsinki Final Act, in particular the principles of non-use of force, territorial integrity, and self-determination.