Original Broadcaster Captioning (Enhanced). Treat it as a searchable index of what was broadcast, not a quotation record.
00:00:01FIND THE OTHERS LAUGHING AND MAKING FUN OF ME IN MY COAT OF MANY COLORS THAT MY MAMA MADE FOR ME.
00:00:04>> ♪ IN MY COAT OF MANY COLORS
00:00:09THAT MY MAMA MADE FOR ME MADE FROM RAGS BUT I WORE IT SO
00:00:11PROUDLY
00:00:14AND ALTHOUGH WE HAD NO MONEY, I WAS RICH AS I COULD BE
00:00:18IN MY COAT OF MANY COLORS THAT
00:00:19MAMA MADE FOR ME ♪ ♪
00:00:32ANNOUNCER: DOLLY PARTON READING AND SINGING TO CHILDREN IN AN APPEARANCE ON C-SPAN.
00:00:36PARTON, WHO DIED THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 80, HAS DONATED MORE THAN 300 MILLION BOOKS TO
00:00:40CHILDREN AS PART OF HER IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROGRAM. ON SATURDAY, WE WILL REMEMBER THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DOLLY PARTON THROUGH HER APPEARANCES
00:00:44ON C-SPAN.
00:00:44WATCH AT 8:00 P.M. EASTERN. WAS.
00:00:52>>E WANT TO WELCURUR TABLE THIS
00:00:55MAMAUR OVOVERS APR HARD
00:01:05>> WE WANT TO WELCOME TO OUR TABLE THIS MORNING, MAUREEN KLOVERS AND APRIL HARDING. LADIES, I WANT TO BEGIN WITH WHAT IS WE THE DOERS?
00:01:09>> WE'RE A FUND FOR CONGRESS.
00:01:09IT ALL STARTED OVER A CUP OF
00:01:19COFFEE. APRIL AND I DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER, WE PARTICIPATED IN THE DEPARTURE DIALOGUE PROJECT A CHANCE TO GIVE CONGRESS A CHANCE
00:01:23TO GIVE CONGRESS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THE GOVERNMENT MORE EFFECTIVE.
00:01:25WE MET OVER A CUP OF COFFEE BY
00:01:28THE END WE DECIDED WE WOULD START OUR OWN ORGANIZATION AND
00:01:31IT BUILT FROM THERE. THAT WAS NOVEMBER.
00:01:35WE HAD OUR FIRST WORKSHOP IN DECEMBER AND PUBLISHED OUR FIRST
00:01:38REPORT IN JANUARY TO MARK ONE
00:01:41YEAR OF DOGE AND WE PUBLISHED A
00:01:46REPORT ON FAST BUT FAIR FEDERAL FIRING. HOST: WHY DID YOU THINK THIS WAS NECESSARY?
00:01:50GUEST: IN THE GOVERNMENT REFORM
00:01:54CONVERSATION THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER, THE VOICE DELIVERING TO THE AMERICAN
00:01:56PEOPLE, THE DOERS AS WE WERE
00:02:01, ISN'T NECESSARILY REPRESENTED. SO WE WANT TO BRING THAT GROUND
00:02:04TRUTH, THAT OPERATIONAL EXPERTISE ABOUT HOW THINGS WORK
00:02:08TODAY, WHY THEY BREAK DOWN AND HOW WE KNOW IT CAN BE FIXED TO THE BROADER CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT TO DO NEXT.
00:02:11HOST: WHAT DID YOU DO FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
00:02:14GUEST: I WAS DIRECTOR OF USER
00:02:18EXPERIENCE SERVICES FOR THE DIGITAL TEAM AT THE IRS.
00:02:20MY RESPONSIBILITY WAS MAKE SURE
00:02:25EVERYTHING ON IRS.GOV WORKED BETTER FOR PEOPLE AND UNDERSTANDING WHY WE WERE
00:02:28DELIVERING THE DIGITAL
00:02:31EXPERIENCES WE WERE DELIVERING,
00:02:34WHICH BECAME A BROADER PROBLEM OF THE BUREAUCRATIC MACHINE AND
00:02:37PROCESSES AND TOOLS AND CONSTRAINTS AND THAT WAS MY FOCUS TO THINK ABOUT THOSE
00:02:40THINGS AND HOW WE COULD USE THOSE SYSTEMS TO DELIVER BETTER EXPERIENCES.
00:02:43HOST: HOW LONG DID YOU WORK
00:02:45THERE?
00:02:52GUEST: ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS. BEFORE THAT I WAS BUILDING THINGS ON THE INTERNET IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. A BIG PART OF WHAT I WAS
00:02:56BRINGING TO THE IRS IS UNDERSTANDING HOW TO BUILD PRODUCTS WELL USED AND LOVED BY PEOPLE AND THE CONTRAST BETWEEN
00:02:59THE WAY I DID THAT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE WAY I WAS
00:03:02ABLE TO DO THAT IN GOVERNMENT
00:03:06WAS VERY SIGNIFICANT, WHICH IS
00:03:08WHAT SENT ME DOWN THE PATH OF
00:03:18THINKING ABOUT WHY THINGS ARE DIFFERENT AND HOW WE CAN BRING
00:03:21THOSE BEST PRACTICES IN WITHOUT
00:03:22BREAKING THE IMPORTANT THINGS
00:03:33THAT GOVERNMENT DOES NEED TO CONTROL AND BE CAREFUL ABOUT. HOST: HOW DID YOU LOSE YOUR JOB. GUEST: I WAS PUSHED OUT BY THE
00:03:37DOGE PROCESS, ESSENTIALLY.
00:03:44I TOOK THE DEFERRED RESIGNATION ROUND TWO BUT IT WAS NOT A CHOICE IN THE SENSE THAT I DIDN'T BELIEVE I WOULD BE ABLE TO STAY IF I DIDN'T.
00:03:48HOST: WHAT ABOUT YOU. GUEST: I HAVE 14 YEARS INSIDE GOVERNMENT, WORKED AT FOUR
00:03:52DIFFERENT AGENCIES. IT'S EXCITING TO SEE HOW DIFFERENT THINGS ARE AGENCY TO AGENCY. I STARTED IN HAD INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, AND THEN WORKED AT
00:03:55COMMERCE AND TREASURY AND LASTLY DEPUTY CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR USDA WORLD DEVELOPMENT WHICH HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS LATELY.
00:03:58YEAH. HOST: HOW DID YOU LOSE YOUR JOB? GUEST: IT WAS A TUESDAY AT 11:00
00:04:02A.M. AND I GOT AN EMAIL THAT SAID YOU HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM YOUR
00:04:05POSITION.
00:04:08AND IT WAS A MASS EMAIL TO 5000
00:04:21USDA EMPLOYEES THE ONLY REASON
00:04:21WE WERE IN PROBATIONARY YEAR.
00:04:28THEN I WAS REHIRED REINSTATED THREE WEEKS LATER BY A JUDICIAL ORDER AND I THINK A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THAT, TOLD I WOULD BE MOVED TO AN UNDISCLOSED
00:04:31LOCATION, AND WE HAD TO DECIDE
00:04:34WHETHER TO TAKE THE DEFERRED
00:04:39RESIGNATION PROGRAM BEFORE MOVING. AT THE TIME MY MOTHER-IN-LAW HAD STAGE 4 STOMACH CANCER WE
00:04:43COULDN'T MOVE SO I TOOK THE PACKAGE.
00:04:45HOST: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
00:04:54REFORMING THE FIRING PROTOCOL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. OUR TWO GUESTS STARTED A NEW
00:04:56GROUP AFTER THEY LOST THEIR
00:05:01FEDERAL JOBS, WE THE DOERS, THE
00:05:02TWO COFOUNDERERS HERE.
00:05:06IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN, DIAL IN AT 202-748-8001, DEMOCRATS 202-748-8000, AND INDEPENDENTS
00:05:10202-748-8002. IF YOU ARE A CURRENT OR FORMER
00:05:12FEDERAL WORKER, WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY AS WELL AT
00:05:16202-748-8003.
00:05:18LADIES, YOU WERE ONE OF TENS OF
00:05:21THOUSANDS OF CIVIL SERVANTS AT THE GOVERNMENT THAT WERE LET GO
00:05:25PART OF DOGE.
00:05:28OVERALL, WHAT WAS THE PROCESS LIKE FOR FIRING THESE FEDERAL
00:05:31WORKERS?
00:05:36>> THE PROCESS WHEN THE DOGE CHANGES HAPPENED WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE FORMAL
00:05:39OFFICIAL PROCESS.
00:05:41MOSTLY BECAUSE THOSE WERE LARGE
00:05:44SCALE LAYOFFS AND FIRINGS.
00:05:46THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN OUR REPORT IS WHAT IS TYPICAL IN THE CURRENT STATUTE
00:05:50AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT,
00:05:55-- WE ARE GOING TO TAKE YOU LIVE TO
00:05:59LINDA MCMAHON SPEAKING ALONGSIDE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE MIKE TO CHARGE AS HE RUNS TO REPRESENT
00:06:02MICHIGAN'S TENTH CONGRESSIONAL
00:06:06DISTRICT IN THE HOUSE. YOU ARE WATCHING LIVE COVERAGE HERE ON C-SPAN.
00:06:11>> I'M GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE
00:06:16BACKGROUND AND WELCOME OUR PRAYER AND PLEDGE UP.
00:06:19AS SECRETARY MCMAHON IS ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS OF THE
00:06:21AMERICA FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE
00:06:24AND WAS OUR FORMER CHAIRWOMAN, SO IT IS ALWAYS FUN TO BE ABLE TO DO THESE EVENTS WITH HER.
00:06:29BEYOND JUST THAT, SHE'S A
00:06:32BUSINESSWOMAN, EDUCATION, POLICY LEADER, SERVED ON THE CONNECTICUT STATE BOARD OF
00:06:36EDUCATION, PREVIOUSLY LED THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS
00:06:40ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY VALUABLE, ESPECIALLY
00:06:42THE DIRECTION WHERE ARE EDUCATION SYSTEM IS GOING.
00:06:47THE CEO OF WWE AND TRANSFORMED THE COMPANY STARTING WITH
00:06:50HERSELF AND HER HUSBAND, AND THAT HAS CREATED THOUSANDS OF JOBS.
00:06:54BEFORE BECOMING SECRETARY,
00:06:57COCHAIRED PRESIDENT TRUMPS 2024 TRANSITION TEAM.
00:07:01AND THEN HER PRIORITIES, WE WILL TALK ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES, BUT
00:07:05REALLY GIVING PARENTS' RIGHTS
00:07:07BACK, RETIRING CONTROL --
00:07:10RESTORING CONTROL OF EDUCATION
00:07:11TO [APPLAUSE]
00:07:19CAPTAIN MIKE BOUCHARD. INCREDIBLE BACKGROUND.
00:07:23THIRD-GENERATION MICHIGANDER WITH NEARLY A DECADE OF MILITARY SERVICE.
00:07:27THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. MICHIGAN STATE GRADUATE.
00:07:31MY HUSBAND IS A MARINE. OK, THANK YOU.
00:07:34HE WAS WITH BOTH THE 82ND AND
00:07:39101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION.
00:07:40WITH DEPLOYMENTS ALONG THE
00:07:44SOUTHERN BORDER AND IN IRAQ. HE SERVED AS POINT OF THE JOINT
00:07:47TASK FORCE IN OPERATIONS AGAINST ISIS, EARNING THE BRONZE STAR
00:07:51FOR LEADERSHIP. HE SERVED AS CHIEF OPERATING
00:07:54OFFICER FOR A BATTALION IN THE MICHIGAN ARMY NATIONAL GUARD.
00:07:59HIS FAMILY HAS LONG-STANDING ROOTS IN PUBLIC SERVICE WHICH WE
00:08:02WILL ALSO TALK ABOUT. HIS FATHER SERVED AS OAKLAND
00:08:06COUNTY FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES WHILE HIS GRANDFATHER SERVED IN
00:08:09THE U.S. ARMY IN WORLD WAR II AND SPENT 32 YEARS AT GENERAL MOTORS.
00:08:13HE CONTINUES A MULTIGENERATIONAL
00:08:16TRADITION OF MILITARY, PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
00:08:20[APPLAUSE]
00:08:24AND NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO
00:08:27INTRODUCE PASTOR JOE AND TOM
00:08:32BART WHO WILL LEAD US IN PRAYER AND PLEDGE. PLEASE STAND.
00:08:44>> LET US PRAY.
00:08:46HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
00:08:50WE ARE GRATEFUL TODAY TO BE LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
00:08:54WE ARE VERY PRIVILEGED.
00:08:56I THANK YOU THAT WE HAVE LEADERS
00:08:59THAT STILL VALUE YOU AND WANT
00:09:01YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR PEACE AND YOUR WISDOM.
00:09:06TODAY, WE DO THAT, WE ASK SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR WISDOM
00:09:09THAT YOU WOULD LEAD TO, THAT YOU
00:09:10WOULD GUIDE AND PUT ON THE
00:09:13INSIDE OF THESE LEADERS THAT STAND BEFORE US TODAY YOUR DIVINE WISDOM.
00:09:18WISDOM TO MAKE RIGHTEOUS DECISIONS, NOT JUST DECISIONS THAT ARE POPULAR WITH THE
00:09:22VOTERS. I ALSO PRAY YOU WILL GIVE THEM BOLDNESS.
00:09:26BOLDNESS TO SEE IT THROUGH, TO FULFILL WHAT YOU HAVE CALLED
00:09:30THEM TO DO. TODAY, WE LISTEN ATTENTIVELY TO THEM.
00:09:33LORD, WE ASK THAT YOUR PEACE WOULD BE HERE WITH US.
00:09:36WE GIVE YOU PRAISE FOR THIS IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN.
00:09:41>> AMEN. >> PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.
00:09:46I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
00:09:49OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT
00:09:54STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD,
00:09:58INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
00:10:10>> ALL RIGHT, WE WILL JUMP RIGHT IN IT.
00:10:16WE ARE IN BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON. THIS IS A CRAZY TIME OF YEAR WHEN WE ARE GETTING OUR KIDS
00:10:20READY. I HAVE FIVE SMALL LITTLE KIDS.
00:10:25SECRETARY MCMAHON WOULD PLAY WITH ONE OF THEM AT THE OFFICE. IT IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR KIDS
00:10:29AND PARENTS. WHEN THIS ADMINISTRATION TALKS ABOUT THE GREAT AMERICAN
00:10:33COMEBACK, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
00:10:34SEC. MCMAHON: THANKS VERY MUCH
00:10:38AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS MORNING.
00:10:40, THIS AFTERNOON NOW -- IT WENT BY VERY QUICKLY.
00:10:44THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US AND
00:10:49BEING INTERESTED IN WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY. WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT.
00:10:52I THINK THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS REALLY FOCUSED ON RETURNING
00:10:56EDUCATION TO THE STATES. HE WANTS TO GET RID OF THE
00:11:00BUREAUCRACY THAT HAS STOOD IN BETWEEN EDUCATORS AND KIDS.
00:11:04AND I THINK WE HAVE SEEN THAT THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY.
00:11:08WHEN THE PRESIDENT FIRST TOOK
00:11:09OFFICE, THE NATION'S REPORT CARD
00:11:13SHOWED ABOUT 30% TO 35% OF
00:11:17STUDENTS IN EIGHTH GRADE, FOURTH GRADE AND SOMETIMES 12TH GRADE,
00:11:20ONLY 30% TO 35% COULD READ
00:11:24PROFICIENTLY AND DO MATH AT ABOUT THE SAME LEVELS.
00:11:26WHAT HE SAID TO ME WAS HE WAS EMBARRASSED AND ANGRY BY THAT.
00:11:29NOT ONLY THAT, BUT ON OUR
00:11:33NATIONAL COMPARISONS INTERNATIONALLY THAT WE WERE
00:11:37VERY LOW AGAIN. HE SAID WE HAVE TO RESET OUR
00:11:41THINKING ABOUT EDUCATION. SO THAT IS WHAT HE HAS CHARGED
00:11:44ME TO DO. HE HAS CHARGED ME TO PUT MYSELF OUT OF A JOB.
00:11:49WHEN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT BECOMING SECRETARY OF EDUCATION,
00:11:52HE SAID YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN YOU BUY YOURSELF.
00:11:55I SAID THAT'S NOT EXACTLY THE
00:11:58KIND OF INTERVIEW YOU GIVE SOMEONE BUT IT IS A CHALLENGE I
00:12:02TOOK ON BECAUSE I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN WHAT HE SAYS.
00:12:04HE TRULY BELIEVES THE BEST EDUCATION IS THAT THAT IS
00:12:07CLOSEST TO THE CHILD AND HE WANTS BUREAUCRACY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY TO DO THAT.
00:12:11SO, THAT IS MY MISSION. >> THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
00:12:16YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. WHO KNEW SHUTTING DOWN THE
00:12:19DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHOULD LOOK SO EASY?
00:12:22WE WILL GET INTO THAT LATER.
00:12:25GROWING UP, MIKE, YOU HAVE
00:12:27LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WORK AND PUBLIC SERVICE AND RESPONSIBILITY.
00:12:32HOW DOES THAT APPLY TO OUR GREAT AMERICAN COMEBACK? MR. BOUCHARD: I THINK IT IS
00:12:36REALLY COOL TO LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND I THINK WE NEED TO SAY THAT MORE.
00:12:40WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE MORE INVESTED IN THIS COUNTRY. MY DAD WAS A LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR
00:12:4440 YEARS. MY GRANDFATHER SERVED IN WORLD WAR II.
00:12:47SO, IT INSTILLED THIS LOVE OF
00:12:52COUNTRY FOR ME SINCE I WAS LITTLE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION, IT
00:12:56IS A NATIONAL SECURITY THING IF WE CANNOT COMPETE IN THE WORLD STAGE.
00:12:59THE WAY WE MAKE SURE WE ARE THE BEST COUNTRY, THAT WE STAY THE
00:13:02BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IS WE HAVE TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE.
00:13:06AND ECONOMICALLY, MILITARILY, ALL DIFFERENT FACETS.
00:13:11IF WE CANNOT KEEP UP WITH EDUCATION, WE WILL START FALLING
00:13:15BEHIND AS A COUNTRY. SEC. MCMAHON: CAN I ADD ONE THING?
00:13:18LOVE OF COUNTRY IS SOMETHING, UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WE HAVE
00:13:22LOST A LOT OF.
00:13:23WE'VE LOST OUR COMMITMENT TO
00:13:27PATRIOTISM. I WAS IN A SCHOOL NOT TOO LONG
00:13:31AGO JUST OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO AND WE WERE DOING A 1776
00:13:34PRESENTATION, A HISTORY ROCKS TOUR.
00:13:39MAKING HISTORY REALLY FUN AND GETTING ALL THE STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL INVOLVED.
00:13:43PART OF IT WAS QUESTIONS, FEDERAL QUESTIONS AS WELL AS
00:13:47STATE QUESTIONS.
00:13:49THE PRINCIPAL SAID I WAS SO RELIEVED THAT ON THE BOARDS YOU
00:13:53HAD ON EITHER SIDE OF THE STAGE THAT YOU HAVE THE WORDS TO THE
00:13:55PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BECAUSE HE SAID MY KIDS WOULD NOT KNOW
00:13:59THOSE. I SAID YOU DON'T SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE?
00:14:02HE SAID NO, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPT OUT SO WE
00:14:06DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE ANY COMMITMENT TO HAVING THE PLEDGE
00:14:10TO A PARTICULAR FLAG. THERE ARE MANY OTHER FLEX.
00:14:14I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW SHOCKED AND ASTOUNDED I WAS AT THAT.
00:14:19IF WE DO ONE THING RIGHT, IT IS
00:14:22TO MAKE SURE WE RE-INSTILL WITHIN OUR CHILDREN THIS LOVE OF
00:14:26COUNTRY AND PATRIOTISM.
00:14:28IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS BEING LOST.
00:14:31AS I TOUR AND TALK TO DIFFERENT
00:14:36SCHOOLS, I TELL THAT STORY OFTEN BECAUSE IT STILL SHOCKING TO ME
00:14:39SO I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT.
00:14:41>> TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, MIKE,
00:14:44YOU MADE SUCH AN EMPHASIS ON PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION.
00:14:48AS WE ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, IT IS SOMETHING PARENTS NEED TO
00:14:51BE A LOT MORE INVOLVED AND WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE RECEIVING AND WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING AND
00:14:55DOING, WHETHER IT IS SAYING THE PLEDGE, NOT SAYING THE PLEDGE.
00:14:58WHY ARE PARENTAL RIGHTS SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?
00:15:00MR. BOUCHARD: MICHIGAN IS 45TH IN EDUCATION.
00:15:04THAT IS NOT A LACK OF RESOURCES,
00:15:07IT IS A LACK OF LEADERSHIP.
00:15:09WE ARE NEAR THE TOP 10 IN
00:15:14EXPENDITURES FOR STUDENTS. WE NEED TO GIVE PARENTS A CHOICE.
00:15:17WE LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT IDEOLOGIES THAT GET INTO SCHOOLS.
00:15:21I DON'T THINK SCHOOL SHOULD BE POLITICAL. I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE A
00:15:25PARTISAN ISSUE. [APPLAUSE]
00:15:26MATH, READING, SCIENCE, HISTORY.
00:15:31THOSE ARE WHAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON BECAUSE WHEN WE LET
00:15:34POLITICAL IDEOLOGY GET INTO SCHOOLS, WE START FAILING OUR CHILDREN.
00:15:38WE START FAILING THE NEXT GENERATION. I THINK THE WAY WE GIVE THE NEXT
00:15:42GENERATION THE BEST CHANCE TO SUCCEED IS WE GIVE PARENTS A CHOICE.
00:15:45WE ALSO TEACH THEM THE
00:15:48FUNDAMENTALS, THEY ARE GOING TO PUT THE KIDS FIRST.
00:15:51>> SECRETARY MCMAHON, ONE OF THE SIGNATURES OF THIS
00:15:55ADMINISTRATION IS THE TAX CREDITS THAT GIVES PARENTS MORE CHOICE.
00:15:58CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT DOES AND WHAT IT DOES FOR EDUCATION AND PARENTAL RIGHTS?
00:16:02SEC. MCMAHON: SURE. I AM HAPPY YOU ASKED THAT
00:16:05QUESTION BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO JUMP IN AGAIN.
00:16:07THE WORKING FAMILIES -- THE
00:16:12EDUCATION FREEDOM TAX CREDIT WAS PART OF THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL.
00:16:18WHAT THAT DOES IS ALLOWS GOVERNORS OF STATES TO OPT IN TO
00:16:21A PROGRAM WHERE THE GOVERNOR
00:16:24APPROVES A SCHOLARSHIP GRANTED
00:16:29ORGANIZATION.
00:16:30INDIVIDUALS CAN
00:16:35CONTRIBUTE TO THIS AND GET A TAX CREDIT OF UP TO $1700 FOR THEIR DONATION.
00:16:38THEY ARE NOT CAPPED ON HOW MUCH THEY CAN DONATE.
00:16:42THEY ARE CAPPED AT THE TAX
00:16:45CREDIT WHICH IS $1700.
00:16:48IT IS A GROWING SOURCE OF
00:16:51REVENUE SO THAT PARENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN IN FAILING SCHOOLS AND
00:16:55THEY WANT TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF THAT SCHOOL AND PUT THEM
00:16:58IN A DIFFERENT SCHOOL, IT MIGHT BE A PRIVATE SCHOOL, AND PUBLIC
00:17:03SCHOOL, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING YOU CAN USE THIS MONEY FOR.
00:17:06YOU CAN USE THIS MONEY FOR SPECIAL TUTORING.
00:17:08IF YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT JUST
00:17:10NEEDS A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK OR IF YOU HAVE A CHILD WITH SPECIAL
00:17:14NEEDS THAT NEEDS DIFFERENT ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU CAN ALSO USE THAT MONEY FOR THAT.
00:17:18SO, WE ARE ENCOURAGING GOVERNOR
00:17:21WHITMER TO OPT INTO THIS PROGRAM.
00:17:26I BELIEVE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION DENIED THAT HERE IN MICHIGAN.
00:17:30SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO JOIN AND
00:17:34OVERRIDE THAT BUT SO FAR, SHE HAS NOT DONE THAT.
00:17:36YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY SHE HAS
00:17:40DONE SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS FOR FUNDING EDUCATION, WHICH IS WHY
00:17:42IT IS SURPRISING THAT THIS
00:17:46PROGRAM DOES NOT COST THE TAXPAYERS ANY MONEY. IT DOES NOT TAKE ANY MONEY AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
00:17:51IT IS ONLY ADDITIVE TO THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.
00:17:53THIS WOULD BE A PROGRAM SHE
00:17:56WOULD NOT READILY OPT INTO TO GIVE PARENTS MORE CHOICE BECAUSE
00:18:00I CAN TELL YOU THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP CLEARLY BELIEVES THAT NO
00:18:03CHILD SHOULD BE TRAPPED IN A FAILING SCHOOL AND EVERY CHILD
00:18:07OUGHT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
00:18:08LIVE UP TO THEIR GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL.
00:18:11[APPLAUSE] MR. BOUCHARD: THE FACT THAT THE
00:18:15GOVERNOR OF THE STATE HAS NOT OPTED INTO THAT IS PUTTING KIDS LAST.
00:18:21THAT IS PUTTING PARTISAN POLITICS AHEAD OF KIDS. AGAIN, POLITICS SHOULD NOT BE IN SCHOOLS.
00:18:25WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON PUTTING KIDS FIRST.
00:18:29AS SOON AS WE START LETTING POLITICAL DECISIONS GET IN THE WAY OF PUTTING OUR KIDS FIRST,
00:18:32WE ARE LOSING AS A COUNTRY.
00:18:36I TRULY HOPE SHE WILL LOOKS THAT DECISION AND CHANGES HER PATH.
00:18:39SEC. MCMAHON: TO ADD ONTO THAT,
00:18:43I HEARD ONE GOVERNOR WHO IS BEING CHALLENGED A LITTLE BIT
00:18:45FOR OPTING IN, A DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR.
00:18:48THE GOVERNOR SAID, LOOK, THIS IS
00:18:52A FEDERAL TAX CREDIT, SO
00:18:54RESIDENTS OF MY STATE COULD
00:18:57DONATE MONEY TO ANOTHER STATE TO GET THE FEDERAL TAX CREDIT.
00:19:00WHY WOULD WE WANT TO KEEP THAT MONEY IN MY STATE?
00:19:03WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO KEEP THAT MONEY HERE IN MICHIGAN RATHER THAN HAVING TAXPAYERS
00:19:08HERE MAKE THOSE DONATIONS TO GET A TAX CREDIT TO A DIFFERENT STATE?
00:19:11YOU COULD BE PENALIZING STUDENTS
00:19:14AND PENALIZING THEM FROM GETTING THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
00:19:17MR. BOUCHARD: ONE THING YOU
00:19:20MENTIONED IS IT CAN GO TO LSAT'S AND DIFFERENT CURRICULUMS, IT
00:19:23CAN TEACHING DIFFERENT THINGS.
00:19:28YOU CAN USE IT FOR A HOST OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
00:19:31WHEN YOU GIVE PARENTS A CHOICE, YOU GIVE KIDS A CHANCE.
00:19:34THE FACT WE KEEP LETTING POLITICS GET IN -- I DON'T CARE
00:19:37IF IT IS REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, YOU HAVE TO PUT KIDS FIRST.
00:19:40>> I THINK WE KNOW KIDS ARE DIFFERENT.
00:19:45I HAVE FIVE KIDS AND I HAVE ONE CHILD WHO IS EXTREMELY ACADEMICALLY GIFTED.
00:19:49I HAVE ANOTHER ONE WHO IS DYSLEXIC AND COULD NOT READ
00:19:53UNTIL SHE WAS ALMOST IN THE SIX GRADE. THEY HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS AND DIFFERENT STYLES.
00:19:57I CAN SERVE MY KIDS WITH WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM.
00:19:59AS THEY GET OLDER, ONE THING I
00:20:04LOVE THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE AND YOU
00:20:08PLACED SUCH A BIG EMPHASIS ON
00:20:09IS THE IMPORTANCE OF DIFFERENT SKILLS OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.
00:20:15YOU GO THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH, HIGH
00:20:19SCHOOL, A LOT OF THE SHOP PROGRAMS ARE GONE.
00:20:21WHAT ABOUT SKILLS OPPORTUNITY
00:20:25BEYOND JUST GOING TO A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE AND GETTING INTO ALL SORTS OF DEBT AND ALL THOSE THINGS?
00:20:31THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS REALLY EMPHASIZED -- CAN YOU SHARE SOME
00:20:35OF THE PROGRAMS YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON? SEC. MCMAHON: ABSOLUTELY.
00:20:38I'M ALL FOR COLLEGE EDUCATION.
00:20:41I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.
00:20:46THERE ARE MANY PROFESSIONS THAT REQUIRE A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
00:20:50IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE A DOCTOR,
00:20:51LAWYER OR ENGINEER, THERE IS CLEARLY SOME PROFESSIONS YOU
00:20:55HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE AND GET THAT DIPLOMA.
00:20:58BUT SO MUCH OF OUR COUNTRY TODAY, EVERYWHERE IN OUR
00:21:02COUNTRY, WE HAVE LACK OF SKILLED WORKERS.
00:21:06A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
00:21:10FOR EVERY FIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE
00:21:12RETIRING FROM THE WORKFORCE IN
00:21:15SKILLED TRADES, ONLY TWO ARE COMING IN.
00:21:17BY 2030, WE WILL HAVE A SHORTAGE
00:21:19OF ABOUT 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE IF
00:21:23WE DON'T DO MORE TO FILL IN THAT
00:21:25GAP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN
00:21:28ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $1 TRILLION TO OUR ECONOMY.
00:21:32THOSE ARE VERY, VERY REAL NUMBERS. HOW DO WE GET MORE PEOPLE INTO
00:21:36THE SKILLED WORKFORCE? ONE OF THE THINGS AS PART OF THE
00:21:40ONE, BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL THAT PASSED IS THE WORKFORCE PELL
00:21:43PROGRAM. THE PELL PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO
00:21:47LOWER INCOME STUDENTS, BUT WHAT
00:21:50THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS INSTEAD OF
00:21:53GETTING PELL GRANT MONEY TO GO FOR A TWO-YEAR OR FOUR-YEAR
00:21:58PROGRAM, WORKFORCE PELL GRANT MONEY CAN NOW GO TO
00:22:01CERTIFIED EIGHT TO 14 WEEK PROGRAMS.
00:22:06ELECTRICIANS, WELDERS, PLUMBERS
00:22:09CAN GET INTO THE WORKFORCE QUICKER BY ACCESSING THIS MONEY.
00:22:12THAT IS A BIG DEAL.
00:22:14THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS PASSING THAT BILL SO IT
00:22:18IS AVAILABLE.
00:22:20ALSO, WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND I AM
00:22:23REALLY PLEASED TO SEE IS HOW MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE WORKING WITH OUR HIGH
00:22:28SCHOOLS AND EVEN SOMETIMES OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO INTRODUCE
00:22:31SKILLED TRADES AND ALSO, EVEN AT
00:22:35A HIGHER LEVEL, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO GO TO
00:22:38VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS OR COMMUNITY
00:22:41COLLEGES AND START TO EARN DUAL CREDITS. THEY GET A CREDIT TOWARDS THEIR
00:22:45HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND ALSO A CREDIT IN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
00:22:49WHEN THEY FINISH HIGH SCHOOL, THEY ARE READY TO GO INTO THE WORKFORCE.
00:22:53THEY CAN START EARNING A LIVING RIGHT AWAY.
00:22:57OR THEY CAN USE THOSE CREDITS IN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR
00:23:00VOCATIONAL SCHOOL THAT GETS THEM AHEAD OF THE CURVE AND THEY
00:23:04WON'T SPEND AS MUCH TIME IN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
00:23:07THESE ARE ALL PROGRAMS THAT ARE EXISTING.
00:23:11WE ARE IN A BUILDING RIGHT NOW THAT'S EXACTLY PART OF THAT.
00:23:16THE TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING ON ARE SO VITAL FOR OUR
00:23:20ECONOMIC WELFARE BUT NOT ONLY
00:23:23THAT, SKILLED WORKERS ARE THE
00:23:26FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT OF MILLIONAIRES IN THE COUNTRY.
00:23:30IT IS KIND OF A CULTURAL RESET FOR EDUCATION TO THINK ABOUT IT.
00:23:36THESE ARE GOOD PAYING JOBS, GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY AND GOOD FOR THE
00:23:40STUDENTS. THEY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED IN THE
00:23:43FIELDS THAT THEY WANT TO DO AND TO HELP TRAIN THEM FOR IT.
00:23:46MR. BOUCHARD: WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER.
00:23:50THE CULTURAL RESET OF NOT EVERYONE IS MEANT TO GO TO A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE.
00:23:54SKILLED TRADES CAN PROVIDE SO MUCH FOR THIS COUNTRY AND PEOPLE.
00:23:57I KNOW ELECTRICIANS WERE MAKING SIX-FIGURE SALARIES ON THEIR FIRST YEAR OF THE JOB.
00:24:03I KNOW PLUMBERS THAT HAVE THEIR OWN PLANES. I KNOW SOFTWARE ENGINEERS THAT
00:24:06GRADUATE AND CANNOT FIND A JOB BECAUSE THEY ARE PUT OUT BY AI.
00:24:10SKILLED TRADES RAI PROOF.
00:24:12WHEN YOU TALK TO SO MANY MANUFACTURERS, THEY ARE RELYING
00:24:15ON H-1B VISAS.
00:24:17I THINK WE HAVE THE BEST SKILLED WORKERS IN THE COUNTRY.
00:24:22I THINK WE NEED TO GROW THE TRADE SO WE CAN HIRE AMERICAN JOBS AND DO THAT HERE.
00:24:26THAT IS WHAT PUTS US AT THE FOREFRONT AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES
00:24:29OUR COUNTRY ECONOMICALLY VIABLE IN THE LONG TERM. WHEN WE START HAVING MEALS SKILLED TRADES HERE.
00:24:34THEY ARE AI PROOF.
00:24:39THAT IS ONE OF THE FEW JOBS LIKE A LOOK AT YOU AND SAY YOU WILL
00:24:42MAKE SIX FIGURES AND WITHIN FIVE YEARS, YOU WILL STILL HAVE A JOB.
00:24:47IT HAS BEEN A DEDICATED MILITARY. I CANNOT LOOK AT A SOLDIER AND
00:24:49SAY IN 10 YEARS, I GUARANTEE YOU
00:24:52YOU WILL STILL BE A INFANTRYMAN. I CAN LOOK AT A PLUMBER AND SAY THAT.
00:24:55>> SPEAKING OF OUR MILITARY AND
00:24:59SERVICE MEMBERS, SOME OF THE
00:25:01MOST CHALLENGING TIMES IS WHEN YOU ARE TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE
00:25:04MILITARY AND USING YOUR HANDS OR DOING A LOT OF GRUNT WORK, HARD
00:25:08WORK. THIS GIVES SUCH A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.
00:25:11CAN YOU TALK ABOUT TRANSITION
00:25:15LIFE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR VETERANS? MR. BOUCHARD: THIS TIME LAST
00:25:19YEAR, I WAS IN IRAQ. TO COME BACK, IT IS KIND OF FULL CIRCLE.
00:25:24I WAS AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ACTING AS A COMPANY COMMANDER.
00:25:28WHEN THE SOLDIERS ARE GETTING OUT, THEY MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A
00:25:32SKILL AND CAN GET INTO A JOB WHEN THEY GET OUT OF THE MILITARY.
00:25:35THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. ONE HIS CAREER SKILLS PROGRAM.
00:25:39YOU CAN TAKE THAT AND GO TO A VOCATIONAL SCHOOL.
00:25:42THE MILITARY WILL PAY FOR IT SO YOU CAN COME OUT WITH A SKILL. WELDING POPS IN MY HEAD.
00:25:46I HAD A SOLDIER WHO DID WELDING
00:25:49RIGHT OUT OF THE MILITARY, HE HAD AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
00:25:53ONE WENT TO BE A COMPUTER SOFTWARE -- I KEEP COMING BACK TO THIS.
00:25:58NOT PICKING ON SOFTWARE ENGINEERS. HE COULD NOT FIND A JOB.
00:26:02THERE ARE A LOT OF PROGRAMS COMING OUT OF THE MILITARY THAT CAN SET YOU UP TO WORK IN THE
00:26:06SKILLED TRADES. FOR ANYONE THAT IS LOOKING AT HIRING A VETERAN, YOU WILL GET A
00:26:10HARD WORKER. YOU WILL GET SOMEONE WITH WORK ETHIC THAT KNOWS HOW TO BE PART
00:26:14OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES. NOT A LOT OF TIMES I CAN PROMISE
00:26:19YOU LOOKING AT SOMEBODY THAT WILL HAPPEN. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY
00:26:22EARLIER AND THEY WERE GOING TO A SKILLED TRADE JOB INTERVIEW.
00:26:27IT WAS AT 4:00 A.M. AND THE GUY SHOWED UP WITH A SMILE.
00:26:31NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE MILITARY DO THAT.
00:26:344:00 A.M., YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A DIE WITH A SMILE, FIND SOMEONE
00:26:36WHO'S BEEN DOING -- YOU ARE
00:26:39LOOKING FOR A GUY WITH A SMILE, FIND SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN DOING PT
00:26:43FOR 10 YEARS.
00:26:44>> WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT
00:26:48SHUTTING DOWN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE PRESIDENT TELLING YOU TO PUT YOURSELF OUT OF A JOB.
00:26:52RETURNING POWER BACK TO THE STATES.
00:26:53WHY IS THIS A WIN FOR PARENTS IN
00:26:57MICHIGAN AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY?
00:26:58SEC. MCMAHON: WELL, I CERTAINLY
00:27:03DO BELIEVE AS THE PRESIDENT THAT
00:27:05THE BEST EDUCATION IS THAT CLOSEST TO THE CHILD.
00:27:10WHO KNOWS CHILDREN BETTER THAN THEIR PARENTS THAN THE TEACHERS
00:27:13THAT ARE IN THE SCHOOL WITH THEM, ETC.?
00:27:18ONE OF THE WAYS I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT AWAY WE ARE SEEING THE EFFECTS OF RETURNING EDUCATION
00:27:22TO THE STATES IS CALLED A
00:27:26RETURNING EDUCATION TO THE STATES WAIVER. WE'VE HAD SIX STATES OFTEN FOR THAT.
00:27:30IT IS OPEN TO ALL STATES.
00:27:33STATES DELIVER A PLAN FOR EXACTLY WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH THIS PARTICULAR MONEY.
00:27:38WE ARE NOT GIVING THEM ADDITIONAL MONEY.
00:27:42CONGRESS IS NOT APPROPRIATING ADDITIONAL MONEY. IT IS TAKING MONEY THAT HAS
00:27:45ALREADY BEEN APPROPRIATED AND ALLOWING THE STATE TO BUNDLE
00:27:48SEVERAL OF THOSE STREAMS TOGETHER INTO THEIR OWN BLOCK
00:27:52GRANT, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE THE
00:27:55STATE CAN THEN DETERMINE WHERE THEY NEED TO SPEND THAT MONEY BEST.
00:27:59MAYBE THEY NEED TO SPEND IT ON TEACHER TRAINING.
00:28:01MAYBE THEY NEED TO SPEND IT FOR MORE PROGRAMS FOR WHATEVER THEY
00:28:05NEED. MAY BE MORE SKILLED TRADES IN THEIR PARTICULAR AREAS.
00:28:10THEY WILL HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO THAT. SIX STATES HAVE OPTED IN.
00:28:13IOWA WAS THE FIRST.
00:28:15IN IOWA, THE GOVERNOR PROJECTED
00:28:18SHE WAS GOING TO SAVE $8 MILLION
00:28:21IN COSTS, IN COMPLIANCE COSTS OF
00:28:26FEDERAL REGULATIONS. PAPERWORK THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO BE SUBMITTING.
00:28:32GRANT WRITING TO GET THAT MONEY INTO HER STATE. OF THE SIX STATES THAT HAVE
00:28:35OPTED IN, UNFORTUNATELY MICHIGAN
00:28:37IS NOT ONE, BUT OF THE SIX
00:28:39STATES THAT HAVE OPTED IN, IT
00:28:42WILL SAVE OVER $100 MILLION THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO SPEND IN THEIR
00:28:47STATES THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM
00:28:49NOW TO WORK FOR THIS AND SUBMIT
00:28:54THEIR PLANS. THEY SUBMITTED A PLAN.
00:28:58THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUC