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Remarks by President Trump on the America First Healthcare Plan
Launched a $500 million initiative to find cures for childhood cancers - $500 million. (Applause.)
Combated drug demand. We really went very, very strong on drug demand and the opioid crisis with expanded access to medication-assisted treatment and lifesaving naloxone. Naloxone. (Applause.) Opioid prescribed decrease by over 35 percent. So, if you look at the opioid, obviously, horror show, it decreased by over 35 percent since January of 2017. We've worked very, very hard on that.
Launched FindTreatment.gov to connect those with substance abuse disorder to treatment. We have an incredible situation - it's FindTreatment.gov.
Passed Right to Try to give critically ill patients access to lifesaving cures where it hasn't been approved yet by the FDA. Incredible. (Applause.) And, by the way, many of you know what that has meant. We have had some examples of success that - on Right to Try - that have been amazing.
Launched an initiative to end AIDS - HIV/AIDS - in America. We think, in six years, it will be largely eradicated. Who would have ever thought? And this could have started two years before I got there, but they chose not to do it, but we have. And we've launched the initiative; it's into it's almost fourth year. And at the time we did it, it was going to be 10 years - at the end of 10 years. Now six years - we're already down to six. It will largely eradicate AIDS - HIV/AIDS in America. Who would have thought? It's incredible. When I first heard about it - (applause) - when I first heard about it, I said, "Why wouldn't they have started it earlier?" But they didn't.
Expanded access to telehealth, especially in rural and underserved areas. Telehealth.
Signed historic VA Choice legislation; that's a big deal. (Applause.) That's a big deal. And it's - it's the real - it's the real Choice, not the weak Choice - the very, very weak - the Choice that didn't mean anything. But it's been a tremendous success. And we just got a 91 percent approval rating from our vets - the highest we've ever had by a lot. (Applause.)
And we also - while we're at it, we signed the Accountability - VA accountability. That's where people who don't love our vets - if they don't take care of our vets, you couldn't do anything about it. Didn't - you'd have to - they'd have to live in hell with these vets with - with the people that were supposed to be taking care of them. And we have a thing called VA Accountability. They're accountable now. If they don't treat our vets great, if they don't take care of our vets, if they don't love our vets, our country, we can fire them. We can say, "You're fired." (Applause.) We can fire them. VA Accountability, that's a big thing. So VA Choice, VA Accountability.
Took executive action to prevent veteran suicide and launch the 24-hour veteran hotline for suicide. And it's really working. (Applause.)
And signed the largest-ever increase in childcare development block grants.
Those are just - (applause) - those are just some of the - those are some of the things that we've done. We've done actually a lot more than that, but we have to get back to business here. Right? Those are things that we've done, and nobody has any idea.
When you look at a list like that, Democrats have never done anything like that. Under the Democrat socialist agenda, an avalanche of regulation would extinguish the flame of excellence that makes America the center of scientific discovery, groundbreaking treatment, and lifesaving cures.
In our all-out war against the virus, we've lifted bureaucratic barriers and marshaled America's scientific, industrial, and technical brilliance. And we do have total brilliance. Some of it's in this room, by the way, in case you don't know. I will apply - (applause) - it really is - some of the people. Right? Right, Bill? Some incredible people in this room.
I'll apply the same determination to accelerate medical breakthroughs in all areas, including for Alzheimer's, diabetes, generic treatments for sickle cell disease, early detection of cancer, and much, much more.
Already, to improve care for Americans with kidney disease, we enabled patients to receive at-home dialysis, and we're investing in the creation of an artificial kidney. We're getting very close. And we introduced critical incentives to make more kidneys available for transplant, a change that will save tens of thousands of lives. What people have to go through with kidney disease is incredible. It's incredible.
They work so hard. I said, "How do they do?" They can live a long life but it's so much work to do it that they literally - one doctor told me that they die of hard work. It's such a job to go and - I guess, dialysis, et cetera. It's such a hard job that they die of - of - literally, they die of just hard work. It's - it's incredible what we've done there and what we're doing. And especially with some of the research that's been done, what we're coming up with - you'll be seeing it very soon, I believe.
As we invest in the future, we will permanently bring our medical supply chains back home. (Applause.) We will produce our medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and treatments right here in the United States, right here in North Carolina. We're going to bring a lot of business, too.
If you remember, Puerto Rico used to do it, and then they brought tax legislation that destroyed that whole thing. They all left. But they are happy in Puerto Rico. We're going to bring it back to Puerto Rico and many of our states that - that will be doing it. And North Carolina, I see, is on the list as being a very top one. So we're going to bring it back to North Carolina and the country. (Applause.)
And we'll reverse the disastrous and heartless decision Joe Biden made in 1996 to shut down the pharmaceutical industry in Puerto Rico. It took place in 1996. Biden shut down the whole Puerto Rico industry. This was a very good industry. They were doing a fantastic job. And one day, it was just literally gone. Biden shut it down with what he did with taxes. And it was - it was a disgrace, but we will bring it back. (Applause.)
Under our leadership, American medicine will make the biggest breakthroughs, the largest leaps, the most exciting strides, and the most outstanding discoveries.
Before I sign a historic executive order implementing this ambitious agenda, let me introduce two Americans - great Americans who will benefit from our policies.
Julia Stathopoulos was born in - Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, or with - with the Freeman-Sheldon syndrome - which is tough - an extremely rare muscle and bone disorder. Under the previous administration, Julia's family saw their premiums on the individual market skyrocket to $3,000 a month and more. Her parents had to go without health insurance just to afford coverage for their children.
Since I was elected, their family's premiums have been slashed by more than 40 percent, and we're going down further. (Applause.) And everyone is now covered, and Julia always has access to the doctors she needs. Julia, we are with you. I don't know where you are, Julia. Where is Julia? Wow. Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.) You look great, Julia. Thank you. That's great. Thank you, Julia. It's a great story. But we're inspired by your courage. Thank you very much.
Also with us is Sharon Leader, a financial planner from nearby Concord. After spending less than 24 hours in the hospital and receiving a few basic tests, she received surprise bills that added up to $4,000 - that's a lot of money - despite having insurance.
Sharon, those days will soon be over, because we'll end surprise medical billing once and for all. Where is Sharon? (Applause.) Hi, Sharon. That's why they call it surprise billing. She got home and she was surprised. (Laughter.) They sent you the bill, you opened it up, you thought it was going to be $25, and it was a little more than that, right? Yeah. That's great. Well, we're taking care of it. Thank you very much, Sharon.
We're standing up for our people. We're standing up to special interests. We're taking on the powerful lobbyists. We're stopping the radical socialists and communists, to be honest with you. I think we've gone - it's a little bit above socialism or below it, if you want to call it that way. But we are standing up to both - whichever one you want to choose. And we are fighting for the incredible people of North Carolina. They're incredible people - people I love. I love the people. We named - as you know, my grandchild is named Carolina, so - (applause.) Right? Beautiful Carolina, my gran- - most beautiful child.
But we're providing better care and more choice at a lower cost - substantially lower cost. We're delivering a healthier, safer, brighter, and more prosperous future for every citizen in our magnificent land because we are proudly putting America first. It hasn't happened for a long time. (Applause.)
On behalf of all Americans, I will now sign the executive order. I want to thank you all for being here. God bless you. God bless North Carolina. And God bless America. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
(The executive order is signed.) (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. (Applause.)
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Combated drug demand. We really went very, very strong on drug demand and the opioid crisis with expanded access to medication-assisted treatment and lifesaving naloxone. Naloxone. (Applause.) Opioid prescribed decrease by over 35 percent. So, if you look at the opioid, obviously, horror show, it decreased by over 35 percent since January of 2017. We've worked very, very hard on that.
Launched FindTreatment.gov to connect those with substance abuse disorder to treatment. We have an incredible situation - it's FindTreatment.gov.
Passed Right to Try to give critically ill patients access to lifesaving cures where it hasn't been approved yet by the FDA. Incredible. (Applause.) And, by the way, many of you know what that has meant. We have had some examples of success that - on Right to Try - that have been amazing.
Launched an initiative to end AIDS - HIV/AIDS - in America. We think, in six years, it will be largely eradicated. Who would have ever thought? And this could have started two years before I got there, but they chose not to do it, but we have. And we've launched the initiative; it's into it's almost fourth year. And at the time we did it, it was going to be 10 years - at the end of 10 years. Now six years - we're already down to six. It will largely eradicate AIDS - HIV/AIDS in America. Who would have thought? It's incredible. When I first heard about it - (applause) - when I first heard about it, I said, "Why wouldn't they have started it earlier?" But they didn't.
Expanded access to telehealth, especially in rural and underserved areas. Telehealth.
Signed historic VA Choice legislation; that's a big deal. (Applause.) That's a big deal. And it's - it's the real - it's the real Choice, not the weak Choice - the very, very weak - the Choice that didn't mean anything. But it's been a tremendous success. And we just got a 91 percent approval rating from our vets - the highest we've ever had by a lot. (Applause.)
And we also - while we're at it, we signed the Accountability - VA accountability. That's where people who don't love our vets - if they don't take care of our vets, you couldn't do anything about it. Didn't - you'd have to - they'd have to live in hell with these vets with - with the people that were supposed to be taking care of them. And we have a thing called VA Accountability. They're accountable now. If they don't treat our vets great, if they don't take care of our vets, if they don't love our vets, our country, we can fire them. We can say, "You're fired." (Applause.) We can fire them. VA Accountability, that's a big thing. So VA Choice, VA Accountability.
Took executive action to prevent veteran suicide and launch the 24-hour veteran hotline for suicide. And it's really working. (Applause.)
And signed the largest-ever increase in childcare development block grants.
Those are just - (applause) - those are just some of the - those are some of the things that we've done. We've done actually a lot more than that, but we have to get back to business here. Right? Those are things that we've done, and nobody has any idea.
When you look at a list like that, Democrats have never done anything like that. Under the Democrat socialist agenda, an avalanche of regulation would extinguish the flame of excellence that makes America the center of scientific discovery, groundbreaking treatment, and lifesaving cures.
In our all-out war against the virus, we've lifted bureaucratic barriers and marshaled America's scientific, industrial, and technical brilliance. And we do have total brilliance. Some of it's in this room, by the way, in case you don't know. I will apply - (applause) - it really is - some of the people. Right? Right, Bill? Some incredible people in this room.
I'll apply the same determination to accelerate medical breakthroughs in all areas, including for Alzheimer's, diabetes, generic treatments for sickle cell disease, early detection of cancer, and much, much more.
Already, to improve care for Americans with kidney disease, we enabled patients to receive at-home dialysis, and we're investing in the creation of an artificial kidney. We're getting very close. And we introduced critical incentives to make more kidneys available for transplant, a change that will save tens of thousands of lives. What people have to go through with kidney disease is incredible. It's incredible.
They work so hard. I said, "How do they do?" They can live a long life but it's so much work to do it that they literally - one doctor told me that they die of hard work. It's such a job to go and - I guess, dialysis, et cetera. It's such a hard job that they die of - of - literally, they die of just hard work. It's - it's incredible what we've done there and what we're doing. And especially with some of the research that's been done, what we're coming up with - you'll be seeing it very soon, I believe.
As we invest in the future, we will permanently bring our medical supply chains back home. (Applause.) We will produce our medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and treatments right here in the United States, right here in North Carolina. We're going to bring a lot of business, too.
If you remember, Puerto Rico used to do it, and then they brought tax legislation that destroyed that whole thing. They all left. But they are happy in Puerto Rico. We're going to bring it back to Puerto Rico and many of our states that - that will be doing it. And North Carolina, I see, is on the list as being a very top one. So we're going to bring it back to North Carolina and the country. (Applause.)
And we'll reverse the disastrous and heartless decision Joe Biden made in 1996 to shut down the pharmaceutical industry in Puerto Rico. It took place in 1996. Biden shut down the whole Puerto Rico industry. This was a very good industry. They were doing a fantastic job. And one day, it was just literally gone. Biden shut it down with what he did with taxes. And it was - it was a disgrace, but we will bring it back. (Applause.)
Under our leadership, American medicine will make the biggest breakthroughs, the largest leaps, the most exciting strides, and the most outstanding discoveries.
Before I sign a historic executive order implementing this ambitious agenda, let me introduce two Americans - great Americans who will benefit from our policies.
Julia Stathopoulos was born in - Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, or with - with the Freeman-Sheldon syndrome - which is tough - an extremely rare muscle and bone disorder. Under the previous administration, Julia's family saw their premiums on the individual market skyrocket to $3,000 a month and more. Her parents had to go without health insurance just to afford coverage for their children.
Since I was elected, their family's premiums have been slashed by more than 40 percent, and we're going down further. (Applause.) And everyone is now covered, and Julia always has access to the doctors she needs. Julia, we are with you. I don't know where you are, Julia. Where is Julia? Wow. Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.) You look great, Julia. Thank you. That's great. Thank you, Julia. It's a great story. But we're inspired by your courage. Thank you very much.
Also with us is Sharon Leader, a financial planner from nearby Concord. After spending less than 24 hours in the hospital and receiving a few basic tests, she received surprise bills that added up to $4,000 - that's a lot of money - despite having insurance.
Sharon, those days will soon be over, because we'll end surprise medical billing once and for all. Where is Sharon? (Applause.) Hi, Sharon. That's why they call it surprise billing. She got home and she was surprised. (Laughter.) They sent you the bill, you opened it up, you thought it was going to be $25, and it was a little more than that, right? Yeah. That's great. Well, we're taking care of it. Thank you very much, Sharon.
We're standing up for our people. We're standing up to special interests. We're taking on the powerful lobbyists. We're stopping the radical socialists and communists, to be honest with you. I think we've gone - it's a little bit above socialism or below it, if you want to call it that way. But we are standing up to both - whichever one you want to choose. And we are fighting for the incredible people of North Carolina. They're incredible people - people I love. I love the people. We named - as you know, my grandchild is named Carolina, so - (applause.) Right? Beautiful Carolina, my gran- - most beautiful child.
But we're providing better care and more choice at a lower cost - substantially lower cost. We're delivering a healthier, safer, brighter, and more prosperous future for every citizen in our magnificent land because we are proudly putting America first. It hasn't happened for a long time. (Applause.)
On behalf of all Americans, I will now sign the executive order. I want to thank you all for being here. God bless you. God bless North Carolina. And God bless America. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
(The executive order is signed.) (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. (Applause.)
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