Remarks by President Trump on Renewable Energy | Eastern North Carolina Now

    And, you know, I thought it was going to be a tough time for a while, and it wasn't. People got it, and they got it right away. And that was a great honor for you folks. That was a great honor. Thank you. (Applause.)

    And last year, I signed into law a historic farm bill, which increased the amount farmers can borrow to start, improve, and expand their businesses. You know that.

    We secured nearly $1.2 billion to expand rural broadband, which you need very badly. (Applause.) You need very badly. They have not treated the Midwest well with broadband, with anything having to do with the word "computer." I look at some of those tractors, and they don't even hook up. They're all set, but you don't have the capability here, in terms of your infrastructure. So we'll be taking care of that shortly.

    We're taking bold action to deploy high-speed 5G networks, and we're bringing prosperity to distressed rural communities across America through Opportunity Zones. By the way, Opportunity Zones - it's been incredible. And Tim Scott really helped us with that. Tim Scott. (Applause.) Great state of South Carolina. Tim Scott was incredible on Opportunity Zones, and they are taking off like nobody would have believed. Nobody thought they'd be so successful as they are.

    We're delivering the support of the federal government to help you overcome flooding and other natural disasters that have caused such terrible destruction.

    I flew in today in Air Force One, and I look outside and I'm looking at water where I used to see fields. I came here many times and I'd see fields. And now I'm looking at water. It's incredible. It still hasn't receded enough. But it will be. Joni, it will be. Deb, it will be. Pete, right? Kim, it's getting there.

    And we just did another little emergency because something happened. After it ended, something happened and your Governor - your great Governor of Iowa - asked for some help. Your great Governor of Nebraska asked for some additional help, and we're giving it to him. So you'll be able to work that out. You need it. (Applause.)

    And FEMA has committed to spend over $150 million in Iowa and Nebraska to respond to the catastrophic additional flooding that's been taking place. Never seen anything like it.

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    At our urging, we are finally starting to see some progress on better forest management. Remember I went to California? I saw something that nobody has ever seen. It was like a blowtorch. It was 80-mile-an-hour winds and the death and destruction was incredible. And I said, "You need forest management." They were saying it was global warming. Could've had something to do with it. But you need forest management.

    You can't let 15 and 20 years of leaves and broken trees and deadwood - that after the first 18 months is dry as a bone - you can't let that be there. You have to clean it. You have to clean those floors of the forest. And you're going to see a big difference. And, actually, they mocked me. They said, "Oh, what's he doing? He's talking about sweeping the floors." Well, I don't use the word "sweeping," but you have to have forest management.

    And all of a sudden, about four weeks after that happened, they learned I was right. And now they are managing the forests, at least as much as they could. They have a long way to go because there's a lot of it. But when you look every year, year after year, you see California mostly burning down. It's management. And I think they're going to do a much better job.

    Last week, I signed legislation to provide $4.5 billion in disaster relief for agriculture, farmers, and all of the folks that we love. We also secured $670 million to repair Air Force facilities, including Offutt Air Force Base - (applause) - only a few miles from where we stand today. We just left some great generals and colonels. And they were very happy to hear, but they got hit very hard, as you know. It's a very important base.

    In a moment, I'm going to be signing right there an executive order to speed up reviews of biotechnology so that farmers can get access to critical scientific advances faster, and reap the full benefits of American innovation for many years into the future. That's right there. (Applause.)

    And, every day, we're working to deliver for America's farmers just as they work every day to deliver for us. Thank you very much. You deliver for us. (Applause.) Incredible people. We never go hungry. You really do. You deliver for us. Through bad times and good times, you deliver.

    We know that our nation was founded by farmers. Our independence was won by farmers. Our continent was settled by farmers. Our armies have been fed by farmers and made of farmers. Our armies were made of farmers. And throughout our history, farmers have always led the way. They're our special people.

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    Just a few days ago, Melania and I returned from Europe, where we commemorated the 75th Anniversary of D-Day in the Second World War. It was an incredible ceremony, a beautiful ceremony. (Applause.) And in that great crusade, thousands of American farm boys sailed halfway around the world and gave their youth, gave their tears, their blood, and gave their lives, in many cases, for our country and for our freedom. Many farm boys.

    We must never forget that in that historic endeavor - D-Day - the greatest strength of our army came from the incredible heart of our people. That noble spirit of patriotism will always thrive in the homes of America's heartland.

    America's farmers are not just the keepers of a cherished legacy. You are the guardians of a way of life - a great, beautiful way of life. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

    You love this land because it's a part of you. You pour out your sweat, your love, and your devotion into this soil each and every day.

    From generation to generation, you pass down that tradition of American grit, American skill, and American pride. Such great pride.

    Throughout our history, America's farmers have always been there to keep our country strong and independent and free.

    And that is why, every day of my presidency, we will never stop fighting for our farmers, or for our country, and for our great American flag. Never stop. (Applause.) Because we know that farm country is God's country. (Applause.)

    Thank you all for our nation's farmers. May God bless you, and may God bless America! Thank you very much, everybody.

END  •  4:40 P.M. CDT

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