President Donald J. Trump: Year One of Making America Great Again: Part II | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

Publisher's note: This expansive explanation of President Trump's first year is separated into three parts, and all parts can be found here.

Another Bill Passed and Signed     Click image to expand.    Official White House Photo.

    From now on, America will be empowered by our aspirations, not burdened by our fears; inspired by the future, not bound by the failures of the past; and guided by our vision, not blinded by our doubts. - President Donald J. Trump

    PROTECTING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE HOMELAND: President Trump is enforcing our immigration laws, protecting American communities and American jobs.

    •  President Trump has laid out his principles for reforming our immigration system to serve hard-working Americans instead of harming them. In particular, President Trump has called on Congress to fund a wall along the Southern border, close legal loopholes that enable illegal immigration, end Chain Migration, and eliminate the Visa Lottery program.

    •  President Trump pulled the United States out of negotiations for a "Global Compact on Migration," a plan for global governance of immigration and refugee policy that would have had far-reaching implications for U.S. sovereignty.

    •  Under President Trump's leadership, the Department of Homeland Security took action to wind down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in an orderly fashion, following the assessment of the Department of Justice (DOJ) that DACA lacks legal authorization.

       •  This action gives Congress the opportunity to consider appropriate legislative solutions, as required by our Constitution.

    •  President Trump's Administration rescinded the unlawful Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) program.

    •  In keeping with President Trump's campaign promise, the Department of Homeland Security launched the office of Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE).

    •  From President Trump's inauguration through the end of FY 2017, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made 110,568 arrests of illegal aliens, a 40 percent increase compared to the same time period the prior year.

       •  Over the same time period, removals that resulted from arrests increased by 37 percent.

       •  Of the illegal aliens arrested by ICE, over 92 percent had criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, were ICE fugitives, or were illegal reentrants.

    •  The number of counties participating in the 287(g) program, which gives state and local law enforcement entities delegated authority by ICE to enforce immigration in their jurisdiction, has doubled.

    •  In FY 2017, 36 percent more criminal gang members were removed by ICE compared to FY 2016.

    •  President Trump's Administration is cracking down on sanctuary cities by improving the administration of Federal grants to increase information sharing on illegal aliens.

    PROTECTING AMERICA'S COMMUNITIES: President Trump is protecting American communities and restoring law and order so that every American can feel safe in their community.

    •  The Department of Justice announced more than $98 million in grant funding to hire 802 additional full-time law enforcement officers.

       •  President Trump signed an Executive Order to restore state and local law enforcement's access to surplus Defense Department equipment through the 1033 program, including safety equipment.

    •  The DOJ has worked with Central American partners to arrest and charge about 4,000 MS-13 members so far this year.

       •  This includes the alleged leader of MS-13's "East Coast Program."

    •  The Department of Homeland Security arrested 796 MS-13 gang members and associates in FY 2017, an 83 percent increase from the previous year.

    •  In February, President Trump signed three Executive Orders aimed at cracking down on international criminal organizations.

    •  In June, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of the new National Public Safety Partnership, a cooperative initiative with cities to reduce violent crimes.

    MAKING GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE: President Trump is following through on his promise to drain the Washington swamp and make the Government accountable.

    •  President Trump fulfilled his promise to the American people by placing Neil Gorsuch on the United States Supreme Court.

       •  As of December 14, President Trump has nominated 73 Federal judges.

       •  Twenty-two judges have been confirmed, including a record-setting 12 circuit judges.

    •  President Trump implemented higher ethical standards to make sure his Administration works for the American people.

       •  President Trump signed an Executive Order on lobbying that included a five-year ban on lobbying and a lifetime ban on lobbying for foreign countries.

       •  President Trump has donated his salary, following through on his promise to the American people.

    •  To ensure the Government serves the needs of all Americans, President Trump has called for a comprehensive plan to reorganize the executive branch and has begun to implement this plan.

    •  President Trump has commenced a comprehensive overhaul of digitally delivered Government services.

    •  President Trump has called for "conducting a full audit of the Pentagon." The Department of Defense (DOD) responded to the President's call to action and has begun its first full financial statement audit.

       •  Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has called for business reform in the DOD to instill budget discipline and effective resource management.

    COMBATTING OPIOIDS: President Trump and his Administration are fighting back against drug addiction and opioid abuse.

    •  President Trump directed the declaration of a Nationwide Public Health Emergency to address the opioid crisis.

    •  The President's Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) recently found that evidence suggests drug overdoses involving opioids are underreported by as much as 24 percent.

    •  In April, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) laid out a comprehensive five-point strategy to combat the opioid abuse crisis.

    •  The DOJ announced it was scheduling fentanyl substances as a drug class under the Controlled Substances Act.

       •  Anyone who possesses, imports, distributes, or manufactures any illicit fentanyl-related substance will be subject to criminal prosecution similar to other controlled substances.

       •  The DOJ announced its first-ever indictments against two Chinese nationals and their North American-based associates for distributing large quantities of fentanyl and other opiate substances.

    •  In an opioid fraud crackdown, the DOJ charged more than 400 people, including doctors and medical facilities, for prescribing unnecessary opioids, fueling the drug crisis.

    •  In 2017, the Administration provided nearly $500 million to States to prevent and treat opioid abuse. The President's FY 2018 Budget requests another $500 million.

    •  On National Drug Take Back Day, the Drug Enforcement Administration collected a record-breaking 912,305 pounds - 456 tons - of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs at more than 5,300 collection sites.

    PROTECTING LIFE: President Trump recognizes the precious gift of life and protects the sanctity of life at all stages.

    •  During his first week in office, President Trump reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy that protects $9 billion in foreign aid from being used to fund the abortion industry.

       •  President Trump de-funded a U.N. agency for colluding with China's brutal program of forced abortion and sterilization.

    •  President Trump worked with the Congress to sign a bill overturning an Obama midnight regulation that prohibited States from defunding abortion service providers.

    •  The Trump Administration published guidance promising to enforce the Obamacare requirement that taxpayer dollars should not support abortion coverage in exchange plans.

    SERVING OUR COUNTRY'S VETERANS: President Trump is making sure the government fulfills its commitment to our country's veterans.

    •  The President signed the Veterans Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act to allow senior officials in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fire failing employees and establish safeguards to protect whistleblowers.

       •  Under President Trump, the VA has fired 1,298 employees, suspended 425, and demoted 73, as part of President Trump's efforts to restore accountability.

    •  President Trump signed the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act after it passed the Senate unanimously in August.

       •  The legislation streamlines the lengthy process that veterans undergo when appealing disability benefits claims with the VA.

    •  The President signed the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, an important step in providing our nation's heroes the support they have earned.

       •  This funds the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides educational benefits to veterans, service members, and their family members, including tuition, fees, books, housing, and additional costs.

    •  President Trump signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 to authorize $2.1 billion in additional funds for the Veterans Choice Program (VCP).

    •  Fulfilling President Trump's promise, the Administration created a new White House VA Hotline staffed by veterans and family members.

    •  The VA increased transparency and accountability by launching an online "Access and Quality Tool," providing veterans with a way to access wait time and quality of care data.

    •  President Trump and VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin announced three initiatives to expand access to healthcare for veterans using telehealth technology:

       •  "Anywhere to Anywhere VA Health Care" allows VA providers to use telehealth technology to serve veterans no matter where the provider or veteran is located.

       •  VA Video Connect allows veterans and providers to connect by video across the country.

       •  The Veteran Appointment Request (VAR) application allows veterans to schedule appointments at VA facilities on digital devices.

    Contact: White House • whitehouse.gov/the-press-office
Go Back


Leave a Guest Comment

Your Name or Alias
Your Email Address ( your email address will not be published)
Enter Your Comment ( no code or urls allowed, text only please )




President Donald J. Trump: Year One of Making America Great Again: Part I News Services, Government, State and Federal Statements from the White House for December 26-27, 2017

HbAD0

 
Back to Top