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Vice President Mike Pence gave Attorney General Jeff Sessions the White House's vote of confidence Wednesday after a few weeks of turmoil and questions about the relationship between President Trump and Sessions.

"Thank you to this attorney general for your leadership at the Department of Justice," Pence told a crowd at the National Summit on Crime Reduction and Public Safety just outside of Washington.

Pence praised Sessions as a "law and order attorney general" and said both he and President Trump "are proud and honored to have him at our side."

The words come roughly a week after Sessions fended off lawmakers at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing who pressed him on his alleged contacts with Russian officials during the 2016 presidential campaign when he was advising Trump on foreign policy.

Sessions defended his actions including his failure to originally disclose two meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at one point calling the idea of collusion "an appalling and detestable lie."

There have been reports of turmoil between Sessions and Trump, the New York Times reported earlier this month. Following the report, Deputy White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Trump has "confidence" in Sessions after multiple attempts to avoid the question.

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Mike Pence tells Jeff Sessions: Trump 'proud' to have you as attorney general - Washington Examiner

Carolyn Kaster | AP

Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) 2017 Manufacturing Summit in Washington, Tuesday, June 20, 2017.

Vice President Mike Pence promised Tuesday that Republicans will pass an Obamacare replacement plan by the end of the summer and "tax cuts" this year.

Those pledges form the foundation of a platform that President Donald Trump says will boost American economic growth and job creation. But the GOP-controlled Congress faces a packed legislative calendar this year and will have to overcome potential disagreements over what form its health-care and tax bills should take.

At the National Association of Manufacturers summit, Pence said he wanted to "assure" the audience that Trump and Congress will approve an Obamacare replacement plan "before this summer is over." The White House is working with the Senate to "move forward legislation in the very near future," he said.

Pence also promised that Republicans will pass "tax cuts" by the end of the year.

"We will get tax cuts done, and we will get them done this year," he said.

Republicans have faced hurdles in passing their agenda early in Trump's presidency. Last month, the House passed a heavily criticized Obamacare replacement bill after an earlier attempt to approve similar legislation failed.

Senators are now drafting their own Obamacare replacement plan which has not been released publicly or to some GOP senators and aim to vote before July 4. A passed bill would have to go back to the House before it could go to Trump to sign into law.

Pence said Republicans want to move on to slashing tax rates after they pass a health-care bill and stuck to the administration's pledge for a 15 percent corporate tax rate. The Trump administration has only released a one-page outline of its tax plan but is working with members of Congress on a joint plan.

Still, they face their share of hurdles.

Congress takes the month of August off. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is calling for lawmakers to raise the debt ceiling before the August recess, and Congress will also need to pass an appropriations bill.

It also remains to be seen how quickly Republicans can come to an agreement on a joint tax plan, and whether they will agree on full tax reform or just tax cuts.

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Mike Pence promises GOP will replace Obamacare by end of summer, pass 'tax cuts' this year - CNBC

Vice President Mike Pence was among those on Capitol Hill Tuesday who rolled up their sleeves and donated blood in honor of the victims of last week's shooting at congressional baseball practice at an Alexandria, Virginia, park.

The blood drive -- which will also take place on Thursday -- is supported by the American Red Cross and hosted by Deputy Whip Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. It's in honor of Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., who has been upgraded from critical to serious condition, as well as Capitol Police officer Crystal Griner and lobbyist Matt Mika, all of whom were injured when gunman James Hodgkinson opened fire. He was killed in a shootout with police.

"Inspiring to see members of Congress & staffers at the blood drive organized to help those hurt in last week's shooting. #TeamScalise," Pence tweeted, along with photos of himself at the blood bank.

Marc Lotter, Pence's press secretary, tweeted a photo of the vice president "donating blood & getting update on @SteveScalise."

Pence's donation to the blood bank was welcomed by Scalise's staff, who tweeted from the congressman's account, "Thanks to @VP Pence for giving blood today in honor of those injured in last week's attack. #TeamScalise"

Rep. McHenry also commended Pence, tweeting, "Great to see @VP Pence taking part in today's blood drive honoring the victims of last week's attack. #ScaliseStrong @CapitolPolice."

Rep. Pete Aguilar, R-Calif., also donated blood, tweeting a photo of himself at the blood bank. "Thank you @PatrickMcHenry for organizing a blood drive in honor of @stevescalise and all the victims of last week's horrific attack," he wrote.

Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) also tweeted a photo of himself, while blood was being drawn. "Happy to give blood today in honor of @SteveScalise and others injured on the ball field last week," he wrote.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) tweeted a series of photos, as well.

Rep. Jason Lewis (R-Minn.) tweeted a photo of himself giving the thumbs-up, while his blood was being drawn. "Joined @InovaBlood to give blood today in support of my friend @SteveScalise's recovery! Praying for Steve & our brave Capitol Police #Mn02," he wrote.

Georgia congressman Drew Ferguson also tweeted a photo of himself donating blood. "Proud to be supporting #TeamScalise today at the Capitol Hill blood drive," he wrote.

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Mike Pence, other lawmakers donate to Capitol Hill blood bank in honor of Scalise - ABC News

More than almost anyone in Trumps circle, Pence is in demandAlex BrandonAP

Democratic Senators stayed late on the floor last night to lambast the health care bill being drafted by a small group of Republicans. A common refrain: the drafting process has been far too secretive, with some senators calling it shameful and absurd.

But in 2009-10, when the Affordable Care Act was up for vote, the tables were turned. Vice President Mike Pence, then a congressman from Indiana, leveled an identical criticism against the work on the bill that came to be known as Obamacare.

It's simply wrong for legislation that'll affect 100% of the American people to be negotiated behind closed doors, Pence tweeted on January 13, 2010.

While the criticisms closely mirror each other, there have been notable differences between the two processes. The Affordable Care Act was reviewed in a number of bipartisan public hearings and 25 days of floor debate, while its proposed replacement has been kept largely under wraps.

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Mike Pence's Obamacare Tweet Came Back to Haunt Him - TIME

As security pressures mount, with new threats this week from Russia and heightened tensions with North Korea, Vice President Mike Pence saidTuesdaythat American manufacturers are the backbone of the United States' defense system.

In this time of widening challenges and unknowable threats We do not build Navy ships and aircraft and the weapons that defend our freedom, we do not fill the arsenal of democracy without [manufacturers], the vice president said during a speech before the National Association of Manufacturers in Washington, D.C.

After a U.S. Navy fighter jet shot down a Syrian warplane, Russia warned this week that U.S. planes flying over the same airspace would be considered air targets.

Pence also addressed the growing threat from North Korea after the death Monday of 22-year old college student Otto Wambier, who was returned to his family in a coma after being detained in North Korea for nearly a year and a half. While investigators are still trying to determine the exact cause of his death, his parents have cited awful, torturous mistreatment.

The United States of America condemns the brutality of the North Korean regime as we mourn their latest victim, Pence said.

As Pence honored 7 American sailors killed when a Navy destroyer collided with a container ship off of the coast of Japan, the vice president said strong manufacturing remains essentialfor the country to produce products that will protect our citizens and soldiers.

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Together we will make American prosperous again, together we will make America safe again and to borrow a phrase, together we will make America great again, Vice President Pence said.

The vice president also said the administration will work with businesses to create new jobs and also to fill open positions with its newly announced apprenticeship expansion program. Pence said they will continue to eliminate job crushing regulations, while repealing and replacing the ObamaCare which is to be completed by the end of this summer.

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Pence: American manufacturing key to US defense amid Russia, North Korea threats - Fox Business