Trump at Signing of H.R. 1957, The Great American Outdoors Act; August 4, 2020

[mahatmakanejeeves]

REMARKS

Remarks by President Trump at Signing of H.R. 1957, The Great American Outdoors Act
LAND & AGRICULTURE

Issued on: August 4, 2020

East Room
10:41 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you. Well, thank you very much. Please. Great honor to have you the White House.

And we’re here today to celebrate the passage of truly landmark legislation that will preserve America’s majestic natural wonders, priceless historic treasures — and that’s exactly what they are — grand national monuments, and glorious national parks. This is a very big deal. And from an environmental standpoint and from just the beauty of our country standpoint, there hasn’t been anything like this since Teddy Roosevelt, I suspect.

{snip}

Earlier this year, I called on Congress to pass legislation that would end this maintenance backlog once and for all. Today we’re making the most significant investment in our parks since the administration of the legendary conservationist President Theodore Roosevelt. This landmark legislation would not have been possible without the incredible leadership and hard work of two outstanding senators in particular, and two fine people, Cory Gardner and Steve Daines. I want to thank you both. (Applause.)

{snip}

We want every American child to have access to pristine outdoor spaces. When young Americans experience the breathtaking beauty of the Grand Canyon; when their eyes widen in amazement as Old Faithful bursts to the sky; when they gaze upon Yosemite’s — Yoseminite’s [sic] towering sequoias, their love of country grows stronger and they know that every American has truly a duty to preserve this wondrous inheritance. And that’s what they’re doing and that’s what we’re doing: We’re preserving an incredible inheritance.

{snip}

With that, I’d like to again congratulate everybody in this room, and we’re going to have a few people speak, and I’d like to start off with our great Vice President Mike Pence. And, Mike, if you’d say a few words, and then we’re going to go to a couple of other folks. Okay? Good. Thank you very much, Mike. (Applause.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for letting me speak for just a few moments about this historic day. Today, thanks to your leadership, thanks to the vision of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, today you will sign into law the great American Outdoors Act, which will be the single largest investment in America’s national parks and public lands in the history of this country. (Applause.)

And I know I speak for all of those gathered here, but — but every American who cherishes all of our great natural resources, when I say thank you for your leadership.

{snip}

But thanks to your leadership, Mr. President, thanks to the great American Outdoors Act, all those who supported it, those days are over. (Applause.)

With these resources, Mr. President, you’re not only going to revive and restore our parks — $9.5 billion over the next five years in a new fund without spending a dime of taxpayer funds — but also, we’re told — I know you’ll be happy to know, Mr. President, that this will also, we believe, create more than 110,000 infrastructure jobs. As we improve our national parks, we’re putting Americans back to work. (Applause.)

Mr. President, as you know, I’ve long believed that faith and freedom and our vast natural resources are the pillars of America’s greatness. You’ve been dedicated, from the first days of this administration, to preserving all of our God-given ideals and our values. But today, by signing this extraordinary and historic bill, the Great American Outdoors Act, you’re making a commitment to preserve all of our natural blessings from sea to shining sea for generations to come.

And on behalf of a grateful nation, Mr. President, thank you for your leadership for conservation of our great treasures. (Applause.)

{snip}

SECRETARY BERNHARDT: Thank you. I want to begin by thanking not only you, but the First Lady, the Vice President, the Second Lady, and the Advisor to the President, Ivanka Trump. Each of you have contributed greatly to getting to this moment, and I want you to know that America deeply appreciates it.

{snip}

The reality is, absent your call for bold leadership and stepping forward, this bill would not have become law, despite the efforts of everybody else. And I want you to know that America will deeply, deeply appreciate it. Thank you for your leadership. (Applause.)

{snip}

SENATOR GARDNER:

{snip}

To the secretaries who are here — Secretary Perdue, Secretary Bernhardt — thank you for your leadership in getting this done. To my colleagues in the Senate and the House, thank you for your leadership. We stand on the shoulders of people like Lamar Alexander, Rob Portman, and Don Young; people like Richard Burr. Thanks to Joe Manchin, and Mark Warner, and Angus King and the work that they did to get this bill here today.

{snip}

SENATOR PORTMAN: Well, first, I had not expected this honor, but I’m not speechless because there’s so much to talk about. And, Mr. President, this wouldn’t have happened but for your willingness to show leadership.

{snip}

And again, people in this room, including some good fiscally conservative Republicans — I consider myself one — believed that this was an exceptional situation because this was a debt unpaid, and that this funding was appropriate based on the way in which the oil and gas revenue royalties were initially envisioned to go to help with regard to our natural resources and our environment. But it was not without controversy. Right, Mr. Vice President? And it looks good at the end. The vote was strong, but it wasn’t easy to get there. And so I thank you very much for your leadership.

{snip}

Thank you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Rob. Thank you. (Applause.)

And I have to say that one of the things I said in the room was, “I can’t believe previous administrations didn’t do this.” And I viewed it as having really no choice. We had to do this. We had to do this. We couldn’t have allowed this to deteriorate or go down further, and now it’ll be better than ever before. That’s what we want: better than ever before.

So congratulations to everybody. And now I will sign the Great American Outdoors Act, and it’s going to be a real privilege. Thank you.

And if we could have a few of you folks come on up. Thank you very much.

(The act is signed.)

END 11:13 A.M. EDT

[yonder]

1. Circle jerk, rub and tug, whatever you want to call it, that's what that was.

[LuckyLib]

2. Bowing down, one and all at the feet of the king.

Campaign strategy #472 — effusive praise ad nauseum. Scripted one and all!