In Washington, the Trump administration is still pressuring Republican senators on the fence to back the Republican bill.

Some 22 million Americans would lose their health insurance coverage over the next decade under the bill unveiled by Senate Republicans last month, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.

Welfare reform

Ryan said Republicans are also committed to welfare reform.

“We have a 20th century welfare system which was designed to fight poverty. We are 32 years into the war on poverty, we have spent trillions of dollars, and yet our poverty rates are around the same place that they were when we started this war on poverty,” Ryan said.

He said welfare in its current form discourages some people from working.

“Redesign our welfare system so it always pays to work,” Ryan said. “We’ve got to fix the ways these benefits are designed so that they can be customized to the person.”

Ryan suggested placing work requirements on able-bodied welfare recipients.

Ryan made no mention of President Donald Trump, but he did tell those in attendance to avoid the news.