i stressed the need to

balance the two priorities the health and well-being of our people and their ability to put food on the table for themselves and their families . in march and april 2020, that was not easy. many problems we confronted as a state led to long days and sleepless nights. it seems like forever ago, but in the early days of our fight against covid-19, protecting the lives was a minute by minute value battle against a virus we knewlittle

about . our first test was in albany in the southwest part of our state. a few super spreader that led to the first church in virus cases andhospitalizations throughout the region . the local healthcare infrastructure was being strained to the breaking point andcommunity spread of the virus was rampant . in response, the state quickly deployed national guard infection control teams to alert local nursing homes. contracted with additional hospital staff to a local front-line healthcare workers and dispatch estate purchased mobile hospital unit to help with patient overflow. we stood up additional that capacity and purchased critical ppe supplies and ventilators to aid in the critical-care uninfected georgians. alongside local leaders we made every resource available and worked tirelessly to providelife-saving medical treatment , protect the most vulnerable and flatten the

curve. the local communities stepped up to the plate and brought in to what local and state leaders asked them to do . they were masks, practiced socialdistancing, avoided large crowds and followed public health guidance . the community, not the government threatened the curve and slow the spread of covid-19 and while every part of our state continues to see higher cases, more hospitalizations and more details , more deaths at the hands of this virus , the doherty county community has shown what is possiblewhen we all work together . and choose to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem . here with us today is the gentleman who led a team of healthcare euros through some of the worst of this virus that has been thrown at our state. during one of the darkest times in recent memory, scott steiner and the hard-working

georgians at cd puppy health systems help align. they worked with the local community partners to educate the public so when much of the virus was unknown. they provided life-saving treatment to thousands of their neighbors, friends and coworkers and like so many nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals across the state , the team worked long hours under extraordinary circumstances , not just because it was their job but because they have a deep abiding passion for theirwork . scott, thank you and thank you to your team for your dedication and service to the people of our state. we are grateful. [applause] learning from

albany as we moved into the summer months, the state launched a strategic plan to address the effects of covid-19 and its impacts on our healthcare infrastructure and communities on the whole. thanks to the help from our federal partners, the state purchased for mobilehospital units to respond to increased hospitalizations in real time . working with the general assembly in grady memorial hospital we ramped up the georgia coordinating center to allow for statewide coordination of hospital capacity. we brought in additional bed capacity at the georgia world congress center, allowing metro atlanta hospitals the ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions on the ground. we kept hospitals, accepting patients and keeping georgians healthy. like every other state across the country, the pandemic introduced a dire need for

rapid accurate and widely available testing. and infrastructure the department of health public health literally created from scratch. we persevered through significant supply-chain challenges. we brought in the georgia national guard and contracted with augusta university to boost testing . set up mega sites and drive-through testing operations. engaged hard-to-reach communities to help identify cases and slow the spread of thevirus . as of today, there has been a staggering 5.7 million tests administered in the state of georgia . and we all know has had our most vulnerable georgians the hardest, especially those residing in working in nursing homes. from the start of the pandemic doctor to me and our team recognized at nursing homes and their residents and staff would be among the

toughestchallenges that we face . the state sprang into action and was first in the nation to utilize national guard infection control strike teams to conduct missions and facilities in nearly every community. all told the guards 65 infection control teams inducted missions in more than 2400 facilities. speaking of the national guard, i like to pause here for a moment and recognize their truly remarkableefforts throughout this pandemic . in addition, to spearheading our early testing and infection control efforts, our very own men and women in uniform also helps atlanta area schools deliver nine 48,000 meals to children who were out of the classroom through the spring and summer . our members assisted overwhelmed food banks on savannah to atlanta and

answered the call to help keep our communities safe. at this time i like to thank general tom carted, and every georgian serving in the national guard for their tireless work on behalf of our state and our nation. we are grateful. [applause] the state prioritized the fight against into other specific areas. the germans additional

healthcare personnel staffing . activating the georgia emergency management and homeland security agency statewide network. state security and tired warehouses of ppe, from hundreds of vendors which was immediately said to hospitals , nursing homes, doctors offices and other healthcare providers on the front lines. because of their around-the-clock efforts under the leadership of armor director homer bryson director chris stallings, the state now has at least and 80 day supply of all critical ppe categories. as our hospital and nursing homes confront the fiercest part of the pandemic, the front-line healthcare workers in these facilities have literally faced hell on earth . under conditions or multiple shifts over months now. there's no doubt that george's healthcare euros have done their job with the grit and determination has

inspired 1 million georgians. never has it been clearer how important your job is and how vital all of you are to keeping our state healthy and prosperous. i want to thank you for sacrificing your time with loved ones. for going above and beyond the duty each and every day. god bless you all. [applause] to lend a hand to these heroes the state has spared no expense. through the endof 2020 , georgia allocated $250 million in care zacks funds

to augment staff at nursing homes and hospitals across the state. with an additional 7 million 70 million plan through early march. these nurses and healthcare professionals have been absolutely vital to our loud against and often serving as a lifeline for these facilities and patients. i want to thank them for their willingness to do so. these have been dark times for our state, for our country and for ournation . we have overcome so much. and together, we can now see the light at the end of this tunnel. thanks to the efforts of operation works the, we have a miracle of modern science is quickly being administered with over 283,000 georgians vaccinated as of yesterday. we still have a long way to go. but we are making steady progress. this is certainly good news.

but our fight is far fromover . this pandemic is still infecting and killing fellow georgians and americans. we must all continue wearing a mask. practicing social distancing, washing your hands and eating the heating the regulations of the executive orders still in place but we also know that there are 283,000 reasons for hope and optimism . we will get through this. we will get there together. [applause] it's pretty common for us to refer to 20/20 in the pandemic as a fight or maybeeven allow . i know it certainly felt like one for many georgians myself included .

in any fight for battle, victory or defeat is often determined by leadership . i thank god countless times for sending georgians a remarkable leader to see us through these challenging moments . because it is not only through god's grace and eternal wisdom that wehave doctor kathleen to me . if i recited doctor toomey's resume we would be here all day . train, decades of experience in epidemiology, on paper no one would be better prepared for the job of confronting a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic . but i will tell you the resume does not live up to the woman all of us have seen countless press conferences, interviews and fly around tours . for knowledge is certainly unmatched . her work ethic is unparalleled. and her passion for public service and public health and serving the people of our state is nothing short of remarkable. doctor toomey has become a

friend and someone i trust completely . god sent georgia the right person at the right time. doc, we are thankful for everything you have done . [applause] >> thanks to the partnership of both legislative chambers, the outstanding work of the best economic development team in the country led by

commissioner wilson, george's economy was able to hold its own during 2020. in a year riddled with economic hardship from coast-to-coast, vice president mike pence said it best. georgia helped lead the way back to a prosperous american economy and the first half of the newfiscal year is been any indication , the state is well-positioned to emerge from the start training of economic crisis, stronger and more prosperous than before. for an unprecedented eight consecutive years, georgia earned the title of numberone state for business . affirming and solidifying our status as the leading competitor for jobs and investment right here in the united states and around the world. [applause] time in our nation's history when jobless claims have skyrocketed, our unemployment rate in georgia

at 5.7 percent, well below the national average. in the midst of a global, george's's numbers shattered record after record. since the start of the fiscal year in 2021 department of economic development as announced the creation of more than 16,000 new jobs more than $6 billion in new investment. with more than half of those jobs going to outside, to outside communities from the metro area. whether it was, thank you. whether it was georgia-based wind core windows growing their operation by 100 jobs in swainsboro, nestlc doubling down on their investment in heart will lead with 30 jobs major brands like papa john's at home depot relocating their

headquarters and expanding their footprint, creating thousands of jobs in the metro area, those numbers constitute a 40 percent increase in new jobs created and a 47 percent increase in new investments compared to the first six months of fy 20 . but what they represent is so much more than that. they represent decades of hard fought battles, foresight and strong conservative leadership under this goal don't. they serve as a beacon of hope to georgians who had to worry aboutkeeping food on the table . or their kids could build a career in their home state when the dust settles fromthe pandemic . they showed that rural georgia, not just atlanta is right for investment and opportunity and basic to the strength of our business community. those hard-working georgians who faced very long odds to stay in business to keep their teams on thepayroll .

i faced just a little criticism from all sides when we chose to safely and methodically reopen the state . for news cycle after news cycle it seemed like the only voices given a megaphone were from those who can work from home long-term and those who had the resources to shelter in place for months on end. but the voices i heard were the voices of men and women bainbridge to bolingbrook to baldwin who has spent years buildingtheir business , creating jobs, telling artist able to one day read for themselves andtheir families . literally days away from losing it all. i heard their fear, the uncertainty, not knowing what tomorrow may hold. it was familiar to me. you see, as a small business owner in the construction industry during the great

recession , marty and i had similar conversations together in our kitchen, living week to week, day-to-day, hour to hour. like many other hard-working georgians, it was not uncommon for the guys on the job site working for me to have more money in their pockets than i had in my bank account. i can tell you those memories came to the often in theearly days of this pandemic .the phone calls, phone calls, texts i received from people holding out for a miracle. they were that different from the thoughts going through my head on more thanone night all those years ago . these hard-working georgians were struggling. not because their business was a failure or because their products or services were no longer needed, they faced devastation because of a virus through nofault of their own . while some disagree with me,

i know our decision to work with doctor toomey and her team to give these people a fighting chance, a glimmer of hope meant everything to them . salons, barber shops, restaurant owners and so many more who sacrificed time and resources to implement new protocols and their stores when wereopen . these new regulations upended their daily operations, that kept many from closing stores , laying off workers and losing businesses sometimes had been families and communities forgenerations . hundreds of thousands of waiters and waitresses, contractors, hospitality and tourism workers and farmers. the pandemic came for themas well . this virus something precious away from each one of them and not all of them ended up in the spotlight . [applause] my message to

these great georgians has been the same every day since we announcedour measured reopening . your state hears you, your governor hears you and we have your back. [applause] that decision allowed george's small business community to live to fight another day and some of our largest companies like

kia and bridgestone to have record success. it has never been clearer that we must honor their commitment to the job creators in the state. our commitment as held through these last 10 months. and communities rallying around local businesses overhauled to adhere to the public health guidance and keep customers say. and in the work done by leaders in both legislative chambers to make it easier to stay in business in that era of covid-19. you see, in the heat of the summer when we were facing some of our toughest days in the fight with when access to testing was crucial and the state struggled in the demand for critical he, it was georgia businesses large and small who stepped up to meet the moment. from craft breweries in albany to local masters manufacturers in rome to a

plastics business that began in a small startup in a garage in newnan 13 years ago , our very own pitched in to build up the state stockpile, the need to compete with other states and ensure our healthcare euros had the resources they need to care for georgia's mostvulnerable . one of those businesses, american ribbon to mark the official grand opening of their facility in swainsboro inlate 2019 . with the two jobs in their community. their ribbon-cutting heralded the return of american-made manufacturing to swainsboro more than 20 years after many cut and so plants closed throughout the united states and of course meant good job more opportunities were on the way to hard-working georgians and their families. like all of us seated here today, i'm sure no one at the team america hits anticipated

the pandemic and how hard it would hit our economy but when the pandemic hit, they didn't slow down. they rolled up theirsleeves and kept chopping . [applause] these american heroes shifted their entire operation to begin producing masks and gowns for frontline healthcare professionals . and while their products may not bear the name of a major brand, they caught the attentionof people in high places . receiving fda approval in a matter of days to so and send life-savinggarments to our front-line heroes . steve hawkins, president of american it's twins us in the chamber today. steve, i know at this time last year you could not have found that your plant which it to 20 hour days, bring on more staff and work harder

than you thought possible to fight the virus that we knew so little about . i want to thank you for that. you and your team's commitment to that mission represents the best of the georgia business community and reminds us all of what is possible in rural georgia. on behalf of all georgians, thank you sirthank you and your team god bless you . >> as state leaders we knew we had to support these businesses as strongly as they were supporting georgia. that's why i was proud to work alongside speakerralston , lieutenant governor duncan and leaders in both legislative chambers last

session to support the passage of a ppe tax credit. to incentivize and estate production and ensure that we aren't forced to rely on anyone but our own georgia and eightentrepreneurs for critical supplies . that piece of legislation was exactly the type of common sense business friendly policy that we should champion herein the number one state for business . to stand alongside businesses who are working hard each and every day to provide for their employees and their communities and leverage state programs to support their efforts. that is why as part of my leslie end of this session i'm proposing a natural next step to the ppe tax credit. by expanding the letter of the law to cover pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturers, george's home to some of healthcare's strongest pillars with the cdc, several major healthcare systems and

premier medical research institutions like augusta university and emory . and as we look to the future, on the other side of we should focus our efforts on planning more seeds in the soil, my starting job creation from those industries that are critical to the healthcare industry. and building on george's momentum to become a leader in all sectors of the healthcare industry. we learned many lessons as a result of. and one that we learned early on is one that we cannot waste time in bidding wars with other states or foreign adversaries. no one nation to hold a monopoly on life-saving medical supplies or equipment . we should bring -- [applause] and we should bring these critical industries and the

jobs that come with them back to america adhere to georgia. [applause] despite the challenges of 20/20, i'm exceptionally proud of what we were able to accomplish while working together last year. for the first time in our state's history, the general assembly enacted a public health state of emergency, granting my office flexibility and tools needed to lead our state through the crisis. as i said many times, i know that decision was not made lightly . i want to thank each of you for placing trust in me . working alongside german england, tillery and our state budget director really far, we were able to make the difficult choices to balance our state budget when the session reconvened last june.

through diligent work we passed a balanced budget that reflected our priorities, healthcare, public safety, education and economic opportunity. and while the media and politicians in california and new york and others that there 2020 throwing stones in glass houses, you're in georgia i'm proud to report that unlike them that the state will not befacing budget cuts this year . [applause] >> in fact, our careful planning and measured approach was reported in spades . when the pandemic's efforts affect on our state revenue

projections looked worse, we worked closely with german england, chairman tillery, peterralston , lieutenant governor the house and senate budget offices toprepare for the worst . however, after the passage of the character, conservative budgeting and our measured reopening ofgeorgia's economy, our rainy day fund remains strong . other states are looking at further cuts to employees in essential services . a, they are now forced to turnto a dysfunctional and distracted washington dc . but because we acted swiftly and early, but my administration will propose in the coming days included no new cuts to state agencies and departments. no furloughs, no widespread layoffs to state employees. i might have, no new taxes to pay for it all. [applause] this sound fiscal

management enable georgia to maintain our coveted aaa bond rating and we find ourselves in a position that many other states and envy. as an expert george's ability to weather the economic fallout from as better than most. but now as we begin a new legislative session, our state still faces and wins due to uncertainty in the global and national markets. but it is our job to tell the earth. past budgets hard-working georgians first. and getready for landing . continuing to invest in soil ready to grow george's

economy means we have to stay laser focused on promoting development in all 59 counties, not just our capital city. this has been a top priority of mine since the campaign trail and i know permitted underthis gold dome as well . we delivered almost promises by championing progrowth legislation for rural georgia and establishing rules team to build local developers, officials and industry leaders together to bring projects of regional significance to communities working to grow. but this is no time to let. we know we can land major investment in job creation and rural communities throughout georgia but we also know that will invest heavily in infrastructure and resources necessary to encourage growth. many of the economic, medical and other challenges that are facing rural georgia cannot be fixed with a top-down one-size-fits-all approach. these issues are best

addressed through targeted innovative public-private solutions that meet the needs of specific communities, not just today but five, 10 or 25 years down the road. that's why i've included in my budget nearly $40 million to establish rural innovation fund to provide a readily available pool of resources and empower rural georgia businesses and entrepreneurs to get started, expand and thrive. [applause] this pandemic highlightedmany challenges for communities outside metro atlanta . but none more so than the critical need for high-speed internetaccess . or better healthcare and educational outcomes, for job opportunities and something

as simple as keeping in touch with loved ones. that's why i'm proud to announce we are including $20 million for this fiscal year and $10 million per year moving forward to boost access for rural broadband grants to local leaders continue a growing and vital partnership with the private sector and quickly improve internet access for the people of rural georgia. [applause] >> in a year where doctors, nurses, medical staff, public health workers and other healthcare professionals have shown themselves to be the best ofgeorgia , and the best of america, there's no question that we must direct

every resource available to the expansion of health care access in georgia. two are most vulnerable, to the families who have seen their income cut and hard-working georgians trying their destinationsmeet . we made great strides towards this goal already . passing and signing over 50 healthcare bills in the last2 years to expand access , spur innovation and cut costs for better coverage including the patient's firstact . georgia has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country. and many who are insured are struggling to pay for care. in the midst of apandemic, that is quite honestly unacceptable . moreaction is needed . that is why my budget proposal for the coming fiscal year includes $76 million to implement georgia pathwaysaccess , to make health care accessible for the first time to thousands

and affordable for millions more. by scaling back dependence on failed promises of healthcare.gov. giving low income georgians i have. increasing competition in the private sector to drive down costs. we will also make use of resources to george's health care programs with $329 million for medicaid peach care to fund theprojected costs in the coming year . when it comes to meaningful innovative reforms in healthcare, georgia is leading the nation. we are putting our money where it truly matters, to plant the seeds we will grow in our state years,. we must add important nutrients and strengthen vital late saving programs and invest our resources in keeping georgia healthy and prosperous for generations to come. [applause] our oldest

daughter is in school at the university of georgia to become a teacher. earlier this week she actually started her student teaching assignment. marty and her sisters and i are so proud she has chosen this path and her passion for educating is only strengthened my commitment to the teachersof our state . the state was proactive in and aggressive in easing the overwhelming challenges that face teachers and administrators last year. including allocating $30 million in health insurance student connectivity, slashing the requirements on testing, allocating $19 million to support childcare for working parents and fighting over 8.3 million units of ppe to schools across ourstate . but daunting task of teaching george's next generation in

the midst of that anything that easy . so many educators want the extra mile to help the children and their classroom who don't have the best life. or maybe it was to do whatever it took to make sure their kids meals to last them throughout the day . in a day and age where so much is thrown at those investing in our children on the frontlines , additional burdens of remote learning, social distancing, wearing a mask, adapting to the new normal, honestly made educating overwhelming. but the great men and women running georgia schools misses the. from principals, teachers, custodians, bus drivers and support staff on down . their actions inspired us all . and today i'm proud to announce working closely with state school superintendent richard woods , the state will provide additional support to school system reopening efforts, equating

to a one-time supplement of $1000 per teacher and other employees richard woods and his team have been tireless champions for our schools, teachers andstudents even before the pandemic . i appreciate his friendship and his leadership. at this time i like to ask all those in the chamber and those joining us via lifestream to join me in thanking our educators, administrators, cafeteria workers and school staff who face trance covid-19 with heart, passionand perseverance . thank youall .

>> ladies and gentlemen, i believe it's the responsibility of all of those serving under this gold dome to send a clear message that we supportour educators , students and parents. that's why for this year's amended budget i'm recommending $647 million to restore funding to school systems across our state. fully funded enrollment growth, and hold schools harmless for enrollment reductions with $573 million allocated to continue those efforts innext year's budget as well . [applause] those funds being school will prioritize our students, ensure quality instruction continues and stand with our educators in the months and years to come

. in a year when other state may face no other option but to/education dollars, furlough teachers cut back on essential student programs, georgia is restoring funding to schools, backing our teachers andlaunching new initiatives to keep kids enrolled . like many families are three dollars have had to get use to distance learning. having seen this firsthand as a dad, i think i speak for many parents, students and teachers when i say that having a class a computer screen is leading to many kids behind. experts in education and pediatrics have been sounding the alarm for months i believe toll on the pandemic has taken the next generation to a crisis point. these challenges are most concerning for our special needs children . education achievement, personal development and emotional well-being have been severelyimpacted .

to prioritize assistance to these at-risk students and families, my office will be working with the department of education to set aside $10 million and garners emergency education relief funds to reimburse expenses, parents and guardians incurred while providing a quality education to their loved ones during covid-19. pandemic or not it's my commitment that we will make every resource available to get each and every student an opportunityto succeed . as many of you have read in the news reports over the last few months, covid-19 has had a negative impact on enrollments at someof our colleges and universities . the institutions hardest have often been those serving minority students. with additional $5 million of pilot programs through the university system of georgia, we can keep 10,000 juniors and seniors with unmet

obligations enrolled in college . these hard-working georgians have nearly crossed the finish line of their higher education . and i believe the least we can do is ensure that financial hardship at the hands of covid-19 does not stand in the way of them achieving their dreams. the future well-being of our state at any artist we hope to enjoy in the years to come will be determined by our shared commitment to education , to students, parents, teachers andschool staff . as your 83rd daughter, that commitment will never waver . class in addition to the pandemic, our country faced anothercrisis throughout the summer and early fall 2020 . the tragic death of george

floyd and ahmad are very real the entire nation witnessed injustice with our own eyes. and i was proud to support useful protests that drew the world attention to these terrible acts. and those voices demanded change to protect the lives of every georgian regardless of race, creed or political preference. in a bipartisan way, leaders under this gold dome stood side-by-side andanswered that call . together we passed meaningful the crimes legislation. reaffirmed george's commitment to be a welcoming state, that values the life ofeach and every one of its citizens . i like to thank peter ralston who lieutenant governor duncan, dean smiley, chairman hauser, center harold jones and others for their work on this important issue . often times the best of what is accomplished in this building is achieved when the six aside and simply do what is best.

when i signed hb 426 into law last year called it a sign of progress and a milestone worth applauding. but we know thanks to the example set for us: by titans might john lewis that work is far from finished. on may 5, 2020 the viral video shocked the world. the horrific killing of ahmaud arbery shook the georgia community to its core. we felt disbelief and the deep sorrow not more than ahmaud arbery's family and loved ones. ahmaud was a victim of a vigilante style of violence that has no place in our state. the behavior that led to this tragedy was excused away because of a law is right for abuse and enables sinister motives. that's why my administration plans to introduce significant reforms to our state citizens arrest statute

and working with legislative leaders and members of both parties i believe that we can take another step towards a better, safer and more just future for our state. we can again send a clear message. georgia is a state that protects all its people and fight for injustice wherever it is found . [applause] peaceful demonstrations across our state in honor of ahmaud, george floyd and others were made possible by our dedicated men and women in law enforcement. it worked long hours to protect protesters and to ensure if anyone had a

different motive involving violence at our communities and streets remain safe fortunately many of our law enforcement personnel were faced with and has turned disruptive throughout the summer months of 2020. i don't believe in tucker, more dangerous, more challenging to wear a law-enforcement uniform police offices across the state have made us proud. our state cannot prosper or read a good harvest without safe communities, safe streets and safe families. [applause] in a day and age where many vilified the men and women who protected our communities as you and every day, my messages very clear: in georgia as long as i'm done we back the blue.

>> -- -- >> atlanta police officer max brewer is an 18 year law enforcement veteran and a self-described motor man and serves in the atlanta police motorcycle unit. on saturday, may 30, max was on duty in the city of atlanta on the corner of marietta and spring street assisting in traffic flow insuring demonstrators were kept safe. around 10:30 that night officer brewer struck quite a drunk maniac on an atv suffered serious

life-threatening injuries. going in and out of consciousness, and losing a significantamount of blood, officer rumors need was critical . the call went out for help. the closest available assistance with a georgia national guard unit under the leadership of sergeant first class justin rustin. sergeant rustin's team responded quickly to the scene, applying a trike officer brewer's way and providing life-saving medical treatment at a moments notice . actions of sergeant rustin and his fellow georgia guardsmen literally save officerbrewer's life . once stable in critical condition, max was transported by the argument to grady where healthcare heroes continue to save his legs in his life. these two gentlemen and countless other first responders answered the call to duty in 2020 .

both sergeant rustin and officer brewer went above and beyond the call and for that my family and our state are incredibly grateful. officer brewer wanted to join us today but he's still receiving treatment for his injuries. today sergeant rustin is in the chamber,". thank you sir. [applause] as state leaders we spent a lot of time talking about george's status as the best place in the country to live, work and raise a family. we talk about it because so

many georgians that phrase reflects the reality of how blessed we areto live in the peach state . georgia is rich with good soil. but it is our job to weed out the evils which seek to steal that promise from all those who call our state home. it is abundantly clear that no industry and by depth of innocence, child and an opportunity more than the sensor enterprise human trafficking. during our first days in office, we had the ground running to crack down on traffickers, care for victims and eradicate modern-day slavery in ourstate . and before i go any further let me just say this: i don't think and i know no first lady in the country has done more to end human trafficking and our first lady marty kept the people of georgia, myself included are lucky to have you. thank you for your work. [applause] marty and the

grace commission have done incredible work these first two years implementing statewide training programs so georgians know the signs and how to report instances of human trafficking. passing bipartisan legislation, meaningful legislation that toughens penalties on those whose participate in the sale of a person's innocence for profit and working with organizations on the front lines in communities throughout georgia to ensure survivors of human trafficking find their voice and transition back into society. but as marty and all those who are fighting tooth and nail to end that industrywill tell you , there is far more work to be done. on the heels of the year at

soda so much division among party lines more than any in recent history, i'm asking members of the general assembly to unite once again. let's build on the great work done by the grace commission. i have more chain training programs georgians recognize and prevent instances of sex slavery. let's make common sense report to our laws so survivors seeking a name change to build a new life no longer have to take out an ad in the paper that puts their safety at risk. let's strengthen hours statutes to add a civil remedy that allows victims to seek court action against their trafficker or those who knowingly aid in their trafficking. there is no shortage of issues -- [applause] there is no shortage of issues on

policy or politics to debate this year. but taking commonsense steps to keep people safe and bring an end to modern-day slavery is a goal that each of us can work together to achieve. you see, there is so much more that unites us and divides us and working together, we can continue taking necessary bipartisan action to champion the voices of the vulnerable you're in georgia, protect our children , implement adoption reforms that make it easier to put them in a safe loving home and ultimately secure the promise of georgia for generations to come. as i come before you today, my memories of 2020 will not just be the struggles, the many challenges i spoke about today. countless tough decisions or the sleepless nights. like many of you i will remember times spent with my family that otherwise would not have been possible. i will remember standing

shoulder to shoulder. well, six feet apart with the best private-sector political and civic leaders in our state to face a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. i will remember my travels across the state to visit georgia companies and workers innovation and hard work are the backbone of our economy and well-being as a people. i will remember the countless sacrifices and hardships faced by the people of our state and how we hold through . how we weathered the storm, how we emerged resilient and stronger than ever. the reason you build a house with a strong foundation is not for the good times. not for the sunny days. you do it to weather the storm when times get tough. i've spent my summers working on a farm. it's hot. it's hard work, but it's also rewarding.

watching the seeds you planted grow over the days, weeks and months. literally enjoying the fruits of your labor. i know that many in this room and those watching are worn out, tired and burdened. it's a new year but it all feels the same. there's no doubt that this new normal isn't really normal. and frankly, it's not clear when things will return to business as usual. but my phone georgians, we have the opportunity and responsibility to make strategic decisions now that will impact generations to come. we have the opportunity to act and accomplish what we were sent here to do. and in five years, 10 years or 20 years, we can look back and tell our kids, grandkids and their kids that we invested in healthcare, education and the safety of our communities. we upheld our sworn oath and

stood up for what was right even when it wasn't popular. we prioritize jobs and prosperity in all parts of our state. we championed legislation to make our state a more welcoming place to live, work and raise a family. we protected the lives and livelihoods of what makes georgia great. our people. it is time to put differences aside. put 20/20 in the rearview. let's stand together as georgians and clear of the destruction caused by the storms. let's clear away this conspiracy theories and division. let's focus on a bountiful harvest to come. find soil together and start planting. may god bless you and may god continue to bless this great state of georgia and you very much .

>> week not this month we are featuring tv programs is a preview of what's available every weekend on c-span2. tonight we feature. their essays. new york times journalist nikita stewart reports on a girl scout troop party for girls living in a homeless shelter in new yorkcity . when comedian judy goal to free speech and censorship and later, sas early shares of identity, body image and her writing style. after the easter. enjoyable tediously every weekend on c-span2. >> wednesday july will be sworn in as 46th president of the united states in our nation's capital and in light of the attack on the capital and temporary closing of the national all the traditional inauguration ceremony has been modified. follow our live coverage of the day unfolds at 7 am eastern.

what's the arrival of the capital, swearing in of july and kamala harris. the inauguration beginning at 7 am eastern on trend i had c-span.org or listen live on the c-span radio app. book tv on c-span2 has nonfiction books and authors every weekend. heritage foundation senior fellow mike gonzalez on his book the plot to change america which argues identity politics is dividing america and on sunday at 9 pm eastern on "after words", adam jensen county deputy chief of staff for harry reid of nevada talks about his book kill switch, the rise of the modern and crippling american democracy. these interviewed bible street journal congressional reporter christina peterson. what book tv this weekend on c-span2.

>> sunday on q&a discussion on presidential inaugural addresses from jfk to the upcoming inaugural address of president-elect joe cemetery, former speechwriter for president barack obama and john o'connell, former speechwriter president george w. bush. >> speakers and inaugural addresses have it kind of feel, a sense of the ambience of where the new president plans to take the country so think about jfk's inaugural, there was a feeling of newness, turned up a leader generation and you get that sense of inaugural's so this will be an opportunity for president-elect biden to offer what he thinks the tone of this moment ought to be. >> if you look at inaugural addresses throughamerican history , the bestones , the most effective ones are the ones in which the new

president points forward and really talk about his agenda, not necessarily in great specificity because you don't have the time to do that is more of a thematic speech but points clearly and confidently forward presidential inaugural addresses with sarah parry and john mcconnell on c-span's q and a. >> the group jews united for democracy and justice hosted a discussion about racial tension, bigotry and division in america. we hear from heads of the naacp and the league ofunited latin american citizens . >> these have been an amazing four years of extremist demonstrations, muslim travel band, the trashing of mexican immigrants, operating kids from the borders.