Remarks by President Trump at Signing of Executive Orders on Transparency in Federal Guidance and Enforcement | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

White House Roosevelt Room  •  Washington D.C.  •  October 9  •  3:38 P.M. EDT

    THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. I'll start by saying I just spoke with Boris Johnson, and we had a good talk about a number of subjects, and we'll maybe talk about it a little bit later. But we had an extended conversation and some pretty good ideas, I think. They want to see if we can do a couple of things, and they'll be doing certain things for us.

    I want to also thank the Minneapolis Police Department. They have been so incredible, what they've done. Tomorrow, we have a tremendous amount of people planned to go. I know the requests have been incredible. So, I think it's a great state and we're going to have a lot of fun tomorrow night. I think a lot of you are going to be with us. And then, on Friday night, we'll be going to Louisiana, and there's a big election on Saturday to see whether or not there's a runoff, most likely. And I think we'll do very well. The Republicans are doing very well despite the witch hunt that they have on Republicans.

    So I just want to thank everybody for being here and coming to the White House on this important occasion. In a few moments, I'll be signing two executive orders to expand our record-breaking regulatory reduction campaign that is helping to fuel our incredible economic boom. I guess the stock market is up close to 250 points today, and this is despite lots of trade deals that are getting done one by one.

    We did a deal with South Korea - a big one, a really big one. And we did one yesterday with Japan. And that now goes into effect, and it's tremendous for our farmers.

    As you know, we have China coming. They'll be coming tomorrow. We have the Vice Premier of China coming. So we have a lot of big things happening. We have some tremendous deals under negotiation. So despite all of that, we have a great economy and a great market. Our housing market is on fire, and things are really doing well.

    You look at Asia, they're not doing well. Look at China; China is having a hard time at this moment, and I think they'd like to make a deal very badly.

    And so we have a lot of things that are really exciting. And to be in the midst of negotiating some of the worst trade deals ever made, and to be breaking them up and changing them for the good of the American taxpayer and for our country, and to still be doing so well. We had over 100 record-breaking stock markets. I think 121 or something. I'll get you the exact number. But many, many days, we broke the record. And we continue to do well.

    And when these trade deals are done, and when certain other things that we're doing are done, it's going to be at a level that's incredible.

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    (Baby coos.)

    That was the cutest noise. What was that? (Laughter.) I heard this - see, I'm used to hearing them. (Laughter.) And there's nothing cute about them. (Laughter.) So beautiful. And don't feel bad, he can - just do whatever you want, okay? (Laughter.) That's a beautiful sound.

    Today, we take bold, new action to protect Americans from out-of-control bureaucracy and stop regulators from imposing secret rules and hidden penalties on the American people.

    We're delighted to be joined on this occasion by Acting Director Russ Vought, who has really done a fantastic job; Deputy Attorney [General] Jeffrey Rosen. Are you busy enough, Jeff? (Laughter.) Huh? And Congressman Mark Meadows. Mark, fantastic that you're here. Louisiana Solicitor General - oh, I'll be there - Liz Murrill. Where's Liz? I'll see you on Friday.

    MS. MURRILL: Yes, sir.

    THE PRESIDENT: I don't know if you'll be there, but we have a big crowd, so it's going to be great. Thank you very much, Liz.

    And several other state and local officials. We want to thank you all for being here.

    For many decades, federal agencies have been issuing thousands of pages of so-called "guidance" documents - a pernicious kind of regulation imposed by unaccountable bureaucrats in the form of commentary on how rules should be interpreted.

    All too often, guidance documents are a backdoor for regulators to effectively change the laws and vastly expand their scope and reach. Guidance has frequently been used to subject U.S. citizens and businesses to arbitrary and sometimes abusive enforcement actions. Ha! It sounds like they're talking about me. (Laughter.) I think they're talking about me. I might have a conflict in signing this deal.

    Because of these materials and the fact that these materials are too often hidden and hard to find, many Americans learn of the rules only when federal agents come knocking on the door.

    This regulatory overreach gravely undermines our constitutional system of government. Unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats must not be able to operate outside of the democratic system of government - wow - imposing their own private agenda on our citizens. A permanent federal bureaucracy cannot become a fourth branch of government, unanswerable to American voters. In America, the people must always reign.

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    With us today is Andy Johnson from Wyoming - great place - whose family is one of many that suffered from the absurd redefinitions and interpretations of federal bureaucrats. And Andy is here to say a few words. I'd like to hear that Andy because I think you might be speaking about me or to me. Thank you very much. Where's Andy? Come on up here with that beautiful baby. Beautiful. That's great. Thank you, Andy.

    MR. JOHNSON: Thank you.

    THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Go ahead, please.

    MR. JOHNSON: Well, thank you for having me, today, and my wife Morgan and my son, Roaman. I work as welder in Wyoming, and about five years ago, when I applied for a stock pond permit for my private property, I had no idea that the EPA would come knocking at my door and threaten me and my family - civilly, criminally, and a fine of $37,500 per day. The fines were up to $16 million when Pacific Legal Foundation stepped in and sued the EPA on my behalf, and my family.

    And, at that point, the EPA changed their attitude; we were able to come to an agreement. We won our case, but unlike a lot of other middle class Americans, that's not the case. They - we could have never fought. The litigation was way, way too expensive. So I'd just like to thank the President today for signing this executive order, which will hold the EPA and other government agencies more responsible for their actions. Thank you. (Applause.)

    THE PRESIDENT: That's fantastic. Thank you.

    MR. JOHNSON: Thank you. (Applause.)

    THE PRESIDENT: So they had you up to $16 million. But that's peanuts for you, right? (Laughter.) That's great. Glad it worked out and it's working out even better.

    We're also joined by Richard Schok, who was prevented from expanding his business because of the obscure regulatory guidance on a rule from the 1980s - an old rule. And, Richard, please come up and talk about it. Thank you. Thank you, Richard. Please.

    MR. SCHOK: Thank you.

    THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you.

    MR. SCHOK: Thank you.

    Mr. President, I'd like to thank you for the invitation to speak and bring much-needed attention to the reform to the rulemaking process used by the regulatory agencies.

    ...

    Read the full transcript HERE.


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