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2000 State of the Union Address: Transcript
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
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For Immediate Release
January 27,2000
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C.
9:18 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice'President, members of Congress, honored
guests, my fellow Americans:
We are fortunate to be alive at this moment in history. (Applause.) Never before has our
nation enjoyed, at once, so much prosperity and social progress with so.little internal
crisis and so few external threats. Never before have we had such a blessed opportunity
-- and, therefore, such a profound obligation -- to build the more perfect union of our
founders'dreams.
We begin the new century with over 20 million new jobs; the fastest economic growth in
more than 30 years; the lowest unemployment rates in 30 years; the lowest poverty rates
in 20 year$; the lowest African American arid Hispanic unemployment rates on record;
the first back-to-back budget surpluses in 42 years. And next month, America will
achieve the longest period of economic growth in our entire history. (Applause.)
We have built a new economy.
And our economic revolution has been matched by a revival of the American spirit:
crime down by 20 percent, to its lowest level in 25 years; teen births down seven years in
a row; adoptions up by 30 percent; welfare rolls cut in halfto their lowest levels in 30
years.
My fellow Americans, the'state of our union is the strongest it has ever been. (Applause.)
As always, the real credit belongs to the American people. (Applause.) My gratitude also
goes to those of you in this chamber who have worked with us to put progress over
partisanship.
Eight years ago, it was not so clear to most Americans there would be much to celebrate
in the year 2000. Then our nation was gripped by economic distress, social decline,
political gridlock. The title ofa best-selling book asked: "America:· What Went Wrong?"
In the best traditions of our nation, Americans determined to set things right. We
restored the vital center, replacing outmoded ideologies with a new vision anchored in
basic, enduring values: opportunity for all, responsibility from all, a community of all
Americans. We reinvented government, transforming it into a catalyst for new ideas that
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stress both opportunity and responsibility, and give our people the tools they need to
solve their own problems.
With the smallest federal work force in 40 years, we turned record deficits into record
surpluses, and doubled our investment in education. We cut crime, with 100,000
community police and the Brady law, which has kept guns out of the hands of half a
million criminals. (Applause.)
,
We ended welfare as we knew it -- (applause) -- requiring work while protecting health
care and nutrition for children, and investing more in child care, transportation, and
housing to help their parents go to work. We've helped parents to succeed at home and at
work, with family leave, which 20 millions Americans have now used to care for a
newborn child or a sick loved one. We've engaged 150,000 young Americans in citizen
service through AmeriCorps, while helping them earn money for college.
In 1992, we just had a road map; today, we have results. (Applause.)
But even more important, America again has the confidence to dream big dreams. But
we must not let this confidence drift into complacency. For we, all of us, will be judged
by the dreams and deeds we pass on to our children. And on that score, we will be held
to a high standard, indeed, because our chance to do good is so great.
My fellow Americans, we have crossed the bridge we built to the 21st century. Now, we
must shape a 21st century American revolution -- of opportunity, responsibility and
community. We must be now, as we were in the beginning, a new nation ...
At the dawn of the last century, Theodore Roosevelt said, "the one characteristic more
essential than any other is foresight...it should be the growing nation with a future that
takes the long look ahead. II So, tonight, ll=t us take our long look ahead -- and set great
goals for our nation.
To 21 st century America, let us pledge these things: Every child will begin school ready
to learn and graduate ready to ,succeed. (Applause.) Every family will be able to succeed
at home and at work, and no child will be raised in poverty. (Applause.) We will meet
the challenge of the aging of America. We will assure quality, affordable health care, at
last, for all Americans. (Applause.)
,
We will make America the safest big country' on Earth. (Applause.) We will payoff our
national debt for the first time since 1835. (Applause.) We will bring prosperity to every
American community. We will reverse the course of climate change and leave a safer,
cleaner planet. America will lead the world toward shared peace and prosperity, and the
far frontiers of science and technology. And we will become at last what our founders
pledged us to be so long ago -- one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for alL (Applause.)
These are great goals, worthy of a great nation. We will not reach them all this year. Not
even in this decade. But we will reach them. Let us remember that the first American
Revolution was not won with a single shot; the continent was not settled in a single year.
The lesson of our history -- and the lesson of the last seven years -- is that great goals are
reached step by step, always building on our progress, always gaining ground.
Of course, you can't gain ground if you're standing still. And for too long this Congress
has been standing still on some of our most pressing national priorities. So let's b'egin
tonight with them.
.
Again, I ask you to pass a real patients' bill of rights. (Applause.) I ask you to pass
common-sense gun safety legislation. (Applause.) I ask you to pass campaign finance
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reform. (Applause.) I ask you to vote up or down on judicial nominations and other
important appointees. (Applause.) And, again I ask you -- I implore you -- to raise the
minimum wage. (Applause.)
Now, two years ago -- let me try to balance the seesaw here (laughter) -- two years
ago, as we reached across party lines to reach ,our first balanced budget, I asked that we
meet our responsibility to the next generation by maintaining our fiscal discipline.
Because we refused to stray from that path, we are doing something that would have
seemed unimaginable seven years ago. We are actually paying down the national debt.
(Applause.)
Now, if we stay on this path, we can pay down the debt entirely in 13 just years now and
make America debt-free for the first time since Andrew Jackson was President in 1835.
(Applause.)
In 1993, we began to put our fiscal house in order,with the Deficit Reduction Act, which
you'll all remember won passages in both Houses by just a single vote. Your former
colleague, my first Secretary of the Treasury, led that effort and sparked our long boom.
He's here with us tonight. Lloyd Bentsen, you have served America well, and we thank
you. (Applause.)
Beyond paying off the debt, we must ensure that the benefits of debt reduction go to
preserving two of the most important guarantees we make to every American -- Social
Security and Medicare. (Applause.) Tonight, I ask you to work with me to make a
bipartisan down payment on Social Security reform by crediting the interest savings.
from debt reduction to the Social Security Trust Fund so that it will be strong and sound
for the next 5.0 years. (Applause.)
But this is just the start of our journey. We must also take the right steps toward reaching
our great goals. First and foremost, we need a 21 st century revolution in education,
guided by our faith that every single child can leam. (Applause.) Because education is
more important than ever, more than ever the key to our children's future, we must make
sure all our children have that key. That means quality pre-school and after-school, the
best trained teachers in the classroom, and college opportunities for all our children.
(Applause.)
For seven years now, we've worked hard to improve our schools, with opportunity and
responsibility -- investing more, but demanding more in tum. Reading, math, college
entrance scores are up. Some of the most impressive gains are in schools in very poor
neighborhoods.
But all successful schools have followed the same proven formula: higher standards,
more accountability, and extra help so children who need it can get it to reach those
standards. I have sent Congress a reform plan based on that formula. It holds states and
school districts accountable for progress, and rewards them for results. Each year, our
national govemment invests more Jhan $15 billion in our schools. It is time to sUPR0rt
what works and stop supporting what doesn't. (Applause.)
Now, as we demand more from our schools, we should also invest more in our schools.
(Applause.) Let's double our investment to help states and districts tum around their
worst-perfom1ing schools, or shut them down. Let's double our investments in
after-school and summer school programs, which boost achievement and keep people off
the streets and out of trouble. (Applause.) Ifwe do this, we can give every single child in
every failing school in America -- everyone -- the chance to meet high standards.
Since 1993, we've nearly doubled our investment in Head Start and improved its quality.
Tonight, I ask you for ,another $1 billion for Head Start, the largest increase in the history
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Qfthe prQgram. (Applause.)
We knQW that children learn best in smaller classes with gQQd teachers. FQr two' years in
a row, CQngress has supPQrted my plfln to, hire 100,000 new qualified teachers to, IQwer
class size in the early grades. I thank yQU fQr that, and I ask yQU to, .make it three in a row.
(Applause.) And to, make sure all teachers knQW the subjects they teach, tQnight I
proPQse a new teacher quality initiative -- to, recruit mQre talented peQple into' the
classrQQm, reward gOQd teachers fQr staying there, and give all teachers the training they
, need. (Applause.)
We knQW charter schQQls provide real public schQol chQice. When I became President,
there was just Qne independent public charter schQQI in all America. TQday, thanks to,
yQU, there are 1,700. I ask yQU nQW to, help us meet Qur gQal Qf3,000 charter schQQls by
next year. (Applause.)
.
,
.
We knQW we must CQnnect all Qur classroQms to, the Internet, and we're getting there. In
1994, Qnly 3 percent. Qf Qur classrQQms were cQnnected. TQday, with the help Qfthe Vice
President's E-rate program, mQre than half Qf them are. And 90 percent Qf Qur schQQls
have at least Qne Internet cQnnectiQn. (Applause.)
But we cannQt finish t4e jQb when a third Qf all Qur schQQls are in seriQus disrepair.
Many Qf them have walls and wires sO, Qld, they're tQQ Qld fQr the Internet. So' tQnight, I
proPQse to, help 5,000 schQQls a year make immediate and urgent repairs; and again, to,
help build Qr mQdernize 6,000 mQre, to, get students Qut Qf trailers and into, high-tech
classrQQms.. (Applause.)
I ask all QfyQU to' help me dQuble Qur bipartisan Gear-Up prQgram, which provides
mentQrs fQr disadvantaged yQung peQple. If we dQuble it, we can provide mentQrs fQr 1.4 '
milliQn Qfthem. (Applause.) Let's also' Qffer these kids frQm disadvantaged backgrounds
the same chance to, take the same cQllege test-prep CQurses wealthier students use to,
bQQst their test SCQres. (Applause.)
To, make the American Dream achievable fQr all, we must make cQllege affQrdable fQr
alL FQr seven years, Qn a bipartisan basis, we have taken actiQn tQward that gQal: larger
Pell grants, mQre affQrdable student IQans, educatiQn IRAs, and Qur HOPE schQlarships,
.
. which have already benefitted 5 milliQn yQung peQple.
NQw, 67 percent Qfhigh schQQI graduates are gQing Qn to, cQllege. That's up 10 percent
since 1993. Yet milliQns Qffamilies still strain to, pay cQllege tuitiQn. They need help.
(Applause.) So' I prQPQse a landmark $30-billiQn cQllege QPPQrtunity tax cut -- a middle
class tax deductiQn fQr up to, $10,000 in cQllege tuitiQn CQsts. (Applause.) The previQus
- actiQns Qf this CQngress have already made twO, years Qf cQllege affQrdabIe fQr all. It's
time to, make fQur years Qf cQllege affQrdable fQr all. (Applause.) Ifwe take all these
steps, we'll mQve'a IQng way tQward making sure every child starts schQQI ready to, learn
and graduates ready to, succeed,
We need a 21st century revQlutiQn to, reward wQrk and strengthen families, by giving
every parent the tQQls to, succeed at wQrk and at the mQst impQrtant work Qf all -- raising
children. That means making. sure every family has health care and the SUPPQrt to, care
fQr aging parents, the tQQls to, bring their children up right, and that no, child grows up in
PQverty.
FrQm my first days as President, we've wQrked to, give famili~s better access to, better
health care. In 1997, we passed the Children's Health Insurance Program -- CHIP -- sO,
that wQrkers who' dQn't have cQverage through their emplQyers at least can get it fQr their
children. So' far, we've enrQlled 2 milliQnchildren; we're well Qn Qur way to, Qur gQal Qf 5
milliQn.
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But there are still more than 40 million of our fellow Americans without health insurance
-- more than there were in 1993. Tonight I propose that we follow Vice President Gore's
suggestion to make low income parents eIigi~le for the insurance that covers their
children. (Applause.) Together with our children's initiative -- think of this -- together
with our children's initiative, this action would enable us to cover nearly a quarter of all
the uninsured people in America.
.
.
Again, I want to ask you to let people between the ages of 55 and 65 -- the fastest
growing group of uninsured -- buy into Medicare. (Applause.) And this year I propose to
give them a tax credit to make that choice an affqrdable one. I hope you will support
that, as'well. (Applause.)
When the baby boomers retire, Medicare will be faced with caring for twice as many of
our citizens; yet, it is far from ready to do so. My generation must not ask our children's
generation to shoulder our burden. We simply must act now to strengthen and modernize
Medicare.
.
.
My budget includes a comprehensive plan to reform Medicare, to make it more efficient
and competitive. And it dedicates nearly $400 billion of our budget surplus to keep
Medicare solvent past 2025. (Applause.) And, at long last; it also provides funds to give
every senior a voluntary choice of affordable coverage for prescription drugs.
(Applause.)
Lifesaving drugs are an indispensable part of modem medicine. No one creating a
Medicare program today would even think of excluding coverage for prescription drugs.
Yet more than three in five of our seniors now lack dependable drug coverage which can
lengthen and enrich their lives. Millions of older Americans who need prescription drugs
the most pay the highest prices for them. In good conscience, we cannot let another year
pass without extending to all our seniors this lifeline of affordable prescription drugs.
(Applause.)
Record numbers of Americans are providing for aging or ailing loved ones at home. It's a
loving, but a difficult and often very expensive choice. Last year, I proposed a $1,000 tax
credit for long-term care. Frankly, it wasn't enough. This year, let's triple it, to $3,000.
(Applause.) But this year, let's pass it. (Applause.)
We also have to make needed investments to expand access to mental health care. I want
to take a moment to thank the person who led our first White House Conference on
Mental Health last year, and who for seven years has led all our efforts to break down the
barriers to decent treatment of people with mental illness. Thank you, Tipper Gore.
(Applause.)
Taken together, these proposals would mark the largest investment in health care in the
35 years since Medicare was created -- the largest investment in 35 years. That would be
a big step toward assuring quality health care for all Americans, young ,md old. And I
ask you to embrace them and pass them. (Applause.)
We must also make investments that reward work and support families. Nothing does
that better than the Earned Income Tax Credit -- the EITe. (Applause.) The "E" in the
EITC is about earning, working, taking responsibility and being rewarded for it. In my
very first address to you, I asked Congress to greatly expand this credit; and you did. As
a result, in 1998 alone, the EITG helped more than 4.3 million Americans work their
way out of poverty toward the middle class. That's double the number in 1993.
Tonight, I propose another major expansion ofthe EITC: to reduce the marriage penalty,
to make sure it rewards marriage as it rewards work -- (applause) -- and also, to expand
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the tax credit for families that have more than two children. It punishes people with more
than two children today. (Applause.) Our proposal would allow families with three or
more children to get up to $1,100 more in tax relief. These are working families; their
children should not be in poverty. (Applause.)
We also can't reward work and family unless men and women get equal pay for equal
work. (Applause.) Today, the female unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in 46
years. Yet, women still only earn about 75 cents for every dollar !llen earn. We must do
better, by providing the resources to enforce present equal pay laws; training more'
women for high-paying, high-tech jobs; and passing the Paycheck Fairness Act.
(Applause.)
.
Many working parents spend up to a quarter -- a quarter -- of their income on child care.
Last year, we helped parents provide child care for about 2 million children. My child
care initiative, before you now, along with funds already secured in welfare reform,
would make child care better, safer and more affordable for another 400,000 children. I
ask you to pass that. They need it out there -- (applause.) .
For hard-pressed middle-income families, we should also expand the child care tax
credit. And I believe strongly we should take the next big step and make that tax credit
refundable for low-income families. (Applause.) For people making under $30,000 a
year, that could mean up to $2,400 for child care costs. You know, we all say we're
pro-work and pro-family. Passing this proposal would prove it. (Applause.)
Tens of millions of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck. As hard as they work,
they still don't have the opportunity to-save. Too few can make use ofIRAs and 401-K
plans. We should do more to help all working families save and accumulate wealth.
That's the idea behind the Individual Development Accounts, the IDAs. I ask you to take
that idea to a new level, with new Retirement Savings Accounts that enable every low
and moderate-income family in America to save for retirement, a first home, a medical
emergency, ora college education. I propose to match their contributions, however
small, dollar for dollar, every year they save. And I propose to give a major new tax
credit to any small business that will provide a meaningful pension to its workers. Those'
people ought to have retirement as well as the rest of us. (Applause.)
Nearly one in three American children grows up without a father. These children are five
times more likely to live in poverty than children with both parents at home. Clearly,
demanding and supporting responsible fatherhood is critical to lifting all children out of
poverty. We've doubled child support collections since 1992. And I'm proposing to you
tough new measures to hold still more fathers responsible.
But we should recognize that a lot of fathers want to do right by their children, but need
help to do it. Carlos Rosas of St. Paul, Minnesota, wanted to do right by his son, and he
got the help to (Io it. Now he's got a good job and he supports his little boy. My budget
will help 40,000 more fathers make the same choices Carlos Rosas did. I thank him for
being here tonight. (Applause.) Stand up, Carlos. Thank you. (Applause.)
If there is any single issue on which we should be able to reach across party lines, it is in
our common commitment to reward work and strengthen families, similar to what we
did last year. We came together to help people with disabilities keep their health
insurance when they go to work. And I thank you for that. Thanks to overwhelming
bipartisan support from this Congress, we have improved foster care. We've helped those
young people who leave it when they tum 18, and we have dramatically increased the
number of foster care children going into adoptive homes. I thank all of you for all of
that. (Applause.)
Of course, I am forever grateful to the person who has led our efforts from the beginning,
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and who's worked so tirelessly for children and families for 30 years now: my wife, \
Hillary. And I thank her. (Applause.)
Ifwe take the steps I've just discussed, we can go a iong, long way toward empowering
parents to succeed at home and at work, and ensuring that no child is raised in poverty.
We can make these vital investments in health care, education, support for working
families, and still offer tax cuts to help pay for college, for retirement, to care for aging
parents, to reduce the marriage penalty, We can do these things without forsaking the
path of fiscal discipline that got us to this point here tonight.
I
Indeed, we must make these investments and these tax cuts in the context of a balanced
budget that strengthens and extends the life of Social Security and Medicare and pays
down the national debt. (Applause.)
Crime in America has dropped for the past seven years -- that's the longest decline on
record -- thanks to a national consensus we helped to forge on community police,
sensible gun safety laws, and effective prevention. But nobody -- nobody here, nobody
in America -- believes we're safe enough. So again, I ask you to set a higher goal. Let's
make this country the safest big country in the world. (Applause.)
Last fall, Congress supported my plan to hire, in addition to the 100,000 community
police we've already funded, 50,000 more, concentrated in high-crime neighborhoods. I
ask your continued support for that.
Soon after the Columbine tragedy, Congress considered common-sense gun legislation,
to require Brady background checks at the gun shows, child safety locks for new
handguns, and a ban on the importation of large-capacity ammunition clips. With
courage -- and a tie~breaking vote by the Vice President -- (applause) the Senate faced
down the gun lobby, stood up for the American people, and passed this legislation. But
the House failed to follow suit.
Now, we have all seen what happens when guns fall into the wrong hands. Daniel
Mauser was only 15 years old when he was gunned down at Columbine. He was an
amazing kid -- a straight-A student, a good skier. Like all parents who lose their
children, his father Tom has borne unimaginable grief. Somehow he has found the
strength to honor his son by transforming his grief into action. Earlier this month, he
took a leave of absence from his job to fight for tougher gun safety laws. I pray that his
courage and wisdom will at long last move this Congress to make common-sense gun
legislation the very next order of business. (Applause.)
Tom Mauser, stand up. We thank you for being here tonight. (Applause.) Tom. Thank
you, Tom. (Applause.)
We must strengthen our gun laws and enforce those already on the books better.
(Applause.) Federal gun crime prosecutions are up 16 percent since I took office. But we.
must do more. I.propose to hire more federal and local gun prosecutors and more A TF
agents to crack down on illegal gun traffickers and bad-apple dealers. And we must give
them the enforcement tools that they need, tools to trace every gun and every bullet used
in every gun crime in the United States. I ask you to help us do that. (Applause.)
Every state in this country already requires hunters and automobile drivers to have a
license. I think they ought to do the same thing for handgun purchases. (Applause.) Now,
specifically, I propose a plan to ensure that all new handgun buyers must first have a
photo license from their state showing they passed the Bradybackground check and a
gun safety course, before they get the gun. 1 hope you'll help me pass that in this
Congress. (Applause,)
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Listen to this -- listen to this. The accidental gun rate -- the accidental gun death rate of
children under 15 in the United States is nine times higher than in the other 25
industrialized countries combined. Now, technologies now exist that could lead to guns
that can only be fired by the adults who own them. I ask Congress to fund research into
smart gun technology, to save these children's lives. (Applause.) I ask responsible leaders
in the gun industry to work with us on smart· guns, and other steps to keep guns out of
the wrong hands, to keep our children safe:
You know, every parent I know worries about the impact of violence in the media on
their children. I want to begin by thanking the. entertainment industry for accepting my
challenge to put voluntary ratings on TV programs and video and Internet games. But,
-frankly, the ratings are too numerous, diverse and confusing to be really useful to
parents. So tonight, I ask the industry to accept the First Lady's challenge to develop a
single voluntary rating system for all children's entertainment that is easier for parents to
understand and enforce. (Applause.) The steps I outline will take us well on our way to
making America the safest big co~ntry in the world.
Now, to keep our historic economic expansion going -- the subject of a lot of discussion
. in this community and others -- I believe we need.a 21st century revolution to open new
markets, start new businesses, hire new workers right here in America -- in our inner
cities, poor rural areas, and Native American reservations. (Applause.)
Our nation's prosperity hasn't yet reached these places. Over the last six months, I've
traveled to a lot ofthem, joined by many of you, and many far-sighted business people,
to shine a spotlight on the enormous potential in communities from Appalachia to the
Mississippi Delta, from Watts to the Pine Ridge Reservation. Everywhere I go, I meet
talented people eager for opportunity, and able to work. Tonight I ask you, let's put them
to work. (Applause.) For business, it's the smart thing to do. For America, it's the right
thing to do. And let me ask you something -- if we don't do this now, when in the wide
world will we ever get around to it? (Applause.)
So I ask Congress to give businesses the same incentives to invest in America's new
markets they now have to invest in markets overseas. (Applause.) Tonight, I propose a
large New Markets tax credit and other incentives to spur $22 billion in private-sector
capital to create new businesses and new investments in our inner cities and rural areas.
(Applause.)
Because empowerment zones have been creating these opportunities for five years now,
I also ask you to increase incentives to invest in them and to create more of them.
(Applause.)
And let me say to all of you again what I have tried to say at every turn this is not a
Democratic or a Republican issue. Giving people a chance to live their dreams is an
American issue. (Applause.)
Mr. Speaker, it was a powerful moment last November when you joined Reverend Jesse
Jackson and me in your home state ofIllinois, and committed to working toward our
common goal, by combining the best ideas from both sides of the aisle. I want to thank
. you again, and to tell you, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with you. This is a
worthy, joint endeavor. Thank you. (Applause.)
I also ask you to make special efforts to address the areas ofour nation with the highest
rates of poverty -- our Native American reservations and the Mississippi Delta. My
budget includes $11 O-million initiative to promote economic development in the Delta,
and a billion dollars to increase economic opportunity, health care, education apd law
enforcement for our Native American communities. (Applause.) In this new century-
we should begin this new century by honoring our historic responsibiJity to empower the
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first Americans. (Applause.) And l want to thank tonight the leaders and the members
from both parties who've expressed to me an interest in working with us on these efforts.
They are profoundly important.
There's another part of our American community in trouble tonight -- our family farmers.
When I signed the Farm Bill in 1996, I said there was great danger it would work well in
good times, but not in bad. Well, droughts, floods, and historically low prices have made
these times very bad for the farmers. We must work together to strengthen the farm
safety net, invest in land conservation, and create some new markets for them by
expanding our programs for bio-bqsed fuels and products. Please, they need help -- let's
do it together. (Applause.)
.
Opportunity for all requires something else today -- having access to a computer and
knowing how to use it. That means we must close the digital divide between those
who've got the tools and those who don't. (Applause.)
Connecting classrooms and libraries to the Internet is crucial, but it's just a start. My
budget ensures that all new teachers are trained to teach 21st century skills, and it creates
technology centers in 1,000 communities to serve adult~. This spring, I'll invite high-tech
leaders to join me on another New Markets tour, to close the digital divide and open
opportunity for our people.
I want to thank the high-tech companies that already are doing so much in this area. I
hope the new tax incentives I have proposed will get all the rest of them to join us. This
is a national crusade. We have got to do this, and do it quickly. (Applause.)
Now, again I say to you, these are steps, but step by step, we can go a long way toward
our goal of bringing opportunity to every community.
To realize the full possibilities of this economy, we must reach beyond our own borders,
to shape the revolution that is tearing down barriers and building new networks among
nations and individuals, and economies and cultures: globalization. It's the central reality
of our time.
Of course, change this profound is both liberating and threatening to people. But there's
no turning back. And our open, creative society stands to benefit more than any other -
if we understand, and act on, the realities of interdependence. We have to be at the center
of every vital global network, as a good neighbor and a good partner. We have to
recognize that we cannot build our future without helping others to build theirs.
The first thing we have got to do is to forge a new consensus on trade. Now"those of us
who believe passionately in the power of open trade, we have to ensure that it lifts both
our living standards and our values, never tolerating abusive child labor or a race to the
bottom in the enyironment and worker protection. But others must recognize that open
markets and rule-based trade are the best engines we know of for raising living
standards, reducing global poverty and environmental destruction, and assuring the free
.
flow of i d e a s . '
I believe as strongly tonight as I did the first day I got here, the only direction forward
for America on trade -- the only direction for America on trade is to keep going forward.
I ask you to help me forge that consensus. (Applause.)
.
We have to make developing economies our partners in prosperity. That's why I would
like to ask you again to finalize our groundb~eaking African and Caribbean Basin trade
initiatives. (Applause.)
.
But globalization is about more.than economics. Our purpose must be to bring together
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the world around freedom and democracy and peace, and to oppose those who would
tear it apart. Here are the fundamental challenges Ibelieve America must meet to shape
the 21 st century world.
First, we must continue to encourage our former adversaries, Russia and China, to
emerge as stable, prosperous, democratic nations. Both are heing held back today from
reaching their full potential: Russia by the legacy of communism, an economy in
turmoil, a cruel and self-defeating war in Chechnya; China by the illusion that it can buy
stability at the expense of freedom.
But think how much has changed in the past decade: 5,000 former Soviet nuclear
weapons taken out of commission; Russian soldiers actually serving with ours in the
Balkans; Russian people electing their leaders for the first time in a thousand yearsl; and
in China, an economy more open to the world than ever before.
Of course, no one, not a single person in this chamber tonight,can know for sure what
direction these great nations will take. But we do know for sure that we can choose what
we do. And we should do everything in our power to increase the chance that they will
choose wisely! to be constructive members of our global community.
That's why we should support those Russians who are struggling for a democratic,
prosperous future; continue to reduce both our nuclear arsenals; and help Russia to
safeguard weapons and materials that remain .. (
And that's why I believe Congress should support the agre~ment we negotiated to bring
China into the WTO, by passing Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China as soon
as possible this year. (Applause.)
.
I think you ought to do it for two reasons. First of all, our'markets are already open to
China; this agreement will open China's markets to us. (Applause.) And, second, it will
plainly advance the cause of peace in Asia and promote the cause of change in China.
No, we don't know where it's going. All we can do is decide what we're going to do. But
when all is said and done, we need to know we did everything we possibly could to
maximize the chance that China will choose the right future. (Applause.)
A second challenge we've got is to protect our own security from conflicts that pose the
risk of wider war and threaten our common humanity. We can't prevent every conflict or
stop every outrage. But where our interests are at stake and we can make a difference, we
should be, and we must be, peacemakers. .
We should be proud of our role in bringing the Middle East closer to a lasting peace;
building peace in Northern Ireland; working for peace in East Timor and Africa;
promoting reconciliation between Greece and Turkey and in Cyprus; working to defuse
these crises between India and Pakistan; in defending human rights and religious
freedom. And we should be proud of the men and women of our Armed Forces and those
of our allies who stopped the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, enabling a million people to
return to their homes. (Applause.)
When Slobodan Milosevic unleashed.his terror on Kosovo, Captain John Cherrey was
one of the brave airmen who turned the tide. And when another American plane was shot
down over Serbia, he flew into the teeth of enemy air defenses to bring his fellow pilot
home. Thanks to our Armed Forces' skill and bravery, we prevailed in Kosovo without
losing a single American in combat. (Applause.) I want to introduce Captain Cherrey to
you. We honor Captain Cherrey, and we promise you, Captain, we'll finish the job you
began. Stand up so we can see you. (Applause.)
A third challenge we have is to keep this inexorable march of technology from giving
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terrorists and potentially hostile nations the means to undermine our defenses. Keep in
mind, the same technological advances that have shrunk cell phones to fit in the palms of
our hands can also make weapons of terror easier to conceal and easier to use.
We must meet this threat by making effective agreements to restrain nuclear and missile
. programs in North Korea; curbing the flow of lethal technology to Iran; preventing Iraq
from threatening its neighbors; in~reasing our preparedness against chemical and
biological attack; protecting our vital computer systems from hackers and criminals; and.
developing a system to defend against new missile threats-- while working to preserve
our ABM missile treaty with Russia. We must do all these things.
I predict to you; when most of us are long gone, but some time in the next 10 to 20 years,
the major security threat this country will face will come from the enemies ofthe nation
state: the narco-traffickers and the terrorists and the organized criminals, who will be
organized together, working together, with increasing access to ever-more sophisticated
chemical and biological weapons ..
And I want to thank the Pentagon and others for doing what they're doing right now to
try to help protect us and plan for that, so that our defenses will be strong. I ask for your
support to ensure they can succeed. (Applause.)
I also want to ask you for a constructive bipartisan dialogue this year to work to build a
consensus which I hope will eventually lead to the ratification of the Comprehensive
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. (Applause.)
I hope we can also have a constructive effort to meet the challenge that is presented to
our planet by the huge gulfbetween rich and poor. We cannot accept a world in which
part of humanity lives on the cutting edge of a new economy, and the rest live on the
bare edge of survival. I think we have to do our part to change that -- with expanded.
trade, expanded aid, and the expansion Qf freedom.
This is interesting -- from Nigeria to Indonesia, more people got the right to choose their
leaders ih 1999 than in 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell. We've got to stand by these
democracies -- including, and espeCially tonight, Colombia, which is fighting
narco-traffickers, for its own people's lives and our children'S lives. I have proposed a
strong two-year package to help Colombia win this fight. I want to thank the leaders in
both parties in both Houses for listening to me and the President of Colombia about it:
We have got to pass this. I want to ask your help. A lot is riding on it. And it's so
important for the long-terin stability of our country, and for what happens in Latin
America.
I also want you to know I'm going to send you new legislation to go after what these
drug barons value the most -- their money. And I hope you'll pass that as well.
(Applause.)
In a world where over a billion people live on less than a dollar a day, we also have got
to do our part in the global endeavor to reduce the de.bts of the poorest countries, so they
can invest in education, health care and economic growth. That's what the Pope and
other religious leaders have urged us to do. And last year, Congress made a down
payment on America's share. I ask you to continue that. I thank you for what you did,
and ask you to stay the course. (Applause.)
I also want to say that America must help more nations to break the bonds ~f disease.
L<)'st year in Africa, 10 times as many peopJ e died from AIDS as were ki lled in wars -
10 times. The budget I give you invests $150 million more in the fight against this and
other infectious killers. And today, I propose a tax credit to speed the development of
vaccines for diseases like malaria, TB and AIDS. I ask the private sector and our partners
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around the world to join us in embracing this cause.' We can save millions of lives '
together, and we ought to do it. (Applause.)
,
,
I also want to mention our final challenge, which, as always, is the most important. I ask
you to pass a national security budget that keeps our military the best-trained and
best-equipped in the world, with heightened readiness and 21 st century weapons; which
, raises salaries for our servicemen and women; which protects our veterans; which fully
funds the diplomacy that keeps our soldiers out of war; which makes good on our
commitment to pay our U.N. dues and arrears. I ask you to pass this budget. (Applause.)
I also want to say something, in might, very personal tonight. The American people
watching us at home, with the help of all the commentators, can tell from who stands and
who sits, and who claps and who doesn't, that there's still modest differences of opinion
in this room. (Laughter.) But I want to thank you for something, every one of you. I want
to thank you for the extraordinary support you have given -- RepUblicans and Democrats
alike -- to our'men and women in uniform. I thank you for that. (Applause.)
I also want to thank, especially, two people. First, I want to thank our Secretary of
Defense, Bill Cohen, for symbolizing our bipartisan commitment to national security.
Thank you, sir. (Applause.) Even more, I want to thank his wife, Janet, who, more than
any other American citizen, has tirelessly traveled this world to show the support we all
feel for our troops. Thank you, Janet Cohen. I appreciate that. Thank you. (Applause.)
These are the challenges we have to meet so that we can lead the world toward peace and
freedom in an era of globalization.
I want to tell you that I am very grateful for many things as President. But one of the
things I'm grateful for is the opportunity that the Vice President and I have had to finally
put to rest the bogus idea that you cannot grow the economy and protect the environment
at the same time. (Applause.)
As our economy has grown, we've rid more than 500 neighborhoods of toxic waste,
ensured cleaner air and water for millions of people. In the past three months alone,
we've helped preserve 40 million acres of roadless lands in the national forests, created
three new national monuments.
But as our communities grow, our commitment to conservation must continue to grow.
Tonight, I propose creating a permanent conservation fund, to restore wildlife, protect
coastlines, save natural treasures, from the California redwoods to the Florida
Everglades. (Applallse)
This Lands Legacy endowment would represent by far the most enduring investment in
land preservation ever proposed in this House. I hope we can get together with all the
people with different ideas and do this. This is a gift we should give to our children and
our grandchildren for all time, across party lines. We can make an agreement to do this.
(Applause.)
1
Last year, the Vice President launched a new effort to make communities more liberal -
livable -- (laughter) --liberal, I know. (Laughter al)d applause.) Wait a minute, I've got a
punchline now. That's this year's agenda; last year was livable, right? (Laughter.) That's
what Senator Lott is going to say in the commentary afterwards. (Laughter.) To make
our communities more livable. This isbig business. This is a big issue. What does that
mean? You ask anybody that lives in an unlivable community, and they'll tell you. They
, want their kids to grow up next to parks, not parking lots; the parents don't have to spend
all their time stalled in traffic when they could be horne with their children.'
Tonight, I ask you to support new funding for the following things, to make American
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communities for liberal -- livable. (Laughter and applause.) I've done pretty well with
this speech, but I can't say that. (Applause.) ,
One, I want you to help us to do three things. We need more funding for advanced transit
systems. (Applause.) We need more funding for saving open spaces in places of heavy
development. (Applause.) And we need more funding -- this ought to have bipartisan
appeal -- we need more funding for helping major cities around the Great Lakes protect
their waterways arid enhance their quality of life. We need these things and I want you to
help us. (Applause.)
.
The greatest environmental challenge of the new century is global warming. The
scientists tell us the 1990s were the hottest decade cifthe entire millennium. Ifwe fail to
reduce the emission of greenhouse, gases, deadly heat waves and droughts will become
more frequent, coastal areas will flood, and economies will be disrupted. That is going to
,happen, unless we act. '
'
Many people in the United States -- some people in this chamber -- and lots of folks
around the world still believe you cannot cut greenhouse gas emissions without slowing
economic growth. In the Industrial Age that may well have been true. But in this digital
economy, it is not true anymore. New technologies make it possible to cut harmful
emissions and provide even more gro~th.
, For example, just last week, automakers unveiled cars that get 70 to 80 miles a gallon -
the fruits of a unique research partnership between government and industry. And before
you know it, efficient production ofbio-fuels will give us the equivalent of hundreds of
miles from a gallon of gasoline.
To speed innovation in these kind of technologies, I think we should give a major tax
incentive to business for the production of clean energy, and to families for buying
energy-saving homes and appliances and the next generation of super-efficient cars when
they hit the showroom floor. I also ask the auto industry to use the available technologies
to make all new cars more fuel-efficient right away.
'
And I ask this Congress to do something else. Please help us make more of our clean
energy technology available to the developing world. That will create cleaner growth
abroad and a lot more new jobs here in the United States of America. (Applause.)
,
,
,
In the new century, innovations in science and technology will be the key not only to the
health ofthe environment, but to miraculous improvements in the quality of our lives
and advances in the economy. Later this year, researchers will complete the first draft of
the entire human genome, the very blueprint of life. It is important for all our fellow
Americans to recognize'that federal tax dollars have funded much of this research, and
that this and other wise investments in science are leading to a revolution in our ability to
detect, treat, and prevent disease.
.
For example, researchers have identified genes that cause Parkinson'S, diabetes, and
certain kinds of cancer -- they are designed precision therapies that will block the
harmful effect ofthese genes for good. Researchers already are using this new technique
to target and destroy cells that cause breast cancer. Soon, we may be able to use it to
prevent the onset of Alzheimer's. Scientists are also working on an artificial retina to
help many blind people to see -- and listen to this -- microchips that would actually
directly stimulate damaged spinal cords in a way that could allow people now paralyzed
to stand up and walk. (Applause.)
These kinds of innovations are also propelling our remarkable prosperity. Information
technology only includes 8 percent of our employmerit, but now it counts for a third of
our economic growth -- along with jobs that pay, by the way, about 80 percent above the
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private sector average. Again, we ought to keep in mind, government-funded research
brought supercomputers, the Internet, and communications satellites into being. Soon
researchers will bring us devices that can translate foreign languages as fast as you can
talk; materials 10 times stronger than steel at a fraction of the weight; and -- this is
unbelievable to me -- molecular computers the size of a tear drop with the power of
today's fastest supercomputers.
To accelerate the march of discovery across all these disciplines in science arid
technology, I ask you to support my recommendation of an unprecedented $3 billion in
the 21 st Century'Research Fund, the largest increase in civilian research in a generation.
We owe it to our future. ( A p p l a u s e . ) '
.
Now, these new breakthroughs have to be used in ways that reflect our values. First and.
foremost, we have to safeguard our citizens' privacy. Last year, we proposed to protect
every citizen's medical record. This year; we will finalize those niles. We've also taken
the first steps to protect the privacy ofbank and credit card records and other financial
statements. Soon I will send legislation to you t6 finish that job. We must also act to
prevent any genetic discrimination whatever by employers or insurers. I hope you will
support that. (Applause.)
.
These steps will allow us to lead .toward the far frontiers of science and technology. They
will enhance our health, the environment, the economy in ways we can't even imagine
today. But we all know that at a time when science,technologyand the forces of
globalization are bringing so many changes into all our lives, it's more important than
ever that we strengthen the bonds that root us in our local communities and in our
national community.
No tie, binds different people together like citizen service. There's a new spirit of ~ervice
in America -- a movement we've tried to support with AmeriCorps, expanded Peace
Corps, unprecedented new partnerships with businesses, foundations, community
groups. Partnerships, for example, like the one that enlisted 12,000 companies which
have now moved 650,000 of our fellow citizens from welfare to work. Partnerships to
battle drug abuse, AIDS, teach young people to read, save America's treasures,
strengthen the arts, fight teen pregnancy, prevent violence among young people, promote
racial healing. The American people are working together.
But we should do more to help Americans help each other. First, we should help
faith-based organizations to do more to fight poverty and drug abuse, and help people get
.back on the right track, with initiatives like Second Chance Homes that do so much to
help unwed teen mothers. Second, we should support Americans who tithe and
contribute to charities, but don't earn enough to claim a tax deduction for it. (Applause.)
Tonight, I propose new tax incentives that would allow low- and middle-income citizens
who don't itemize to get that deduction .. It's nothing but fair, and it will get more people
to give. (Applause.)
We should do more. to help new immigrants to fully participate in our community. That's
why I recommend spending more to teach them civics and English. And since everybody
in our community counts, we've got to make sure everyone is counted in this year's
census. (Applause.)
Within 10 years -- just 10 years -- there will be no majority race in our largest state of
California. In a little more than 50· years, there will be no majority race in America. In a
more interconnected world, this diversity can be our greatest strength. Just look around
this chamber. Look around. We have members in this Congress from virtually every
racial, ethnic, and religious background. And I think you would agree that America is
stronger because of it. (Applause.)
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You also have to agree that all those differences you just clapped for all too often spark
hatred and division even here at home. Just in the last couple of years, we've seen a man
dragged to death in Texas just because he was black. We saw a young man murdered in
Wyoming just because he was gay. Last year, we saw the shootings of African
Americans, Asian Americans, and Jewish children just because of who they were. This is
not the American way, and we must draw the line. (Applause,)
I ask you to draw that line by passing without delay the Hate Crimes Prevention Act and
the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. (Applause.) And I ask you to reauthorize the
Violence Against Women Act. (Applause.)
.
Finally tonight, I propose the largest-ever investment in our civil rights laws for
enforcement, because no American should be subjected to discrimination in finding a
home, getting ajob, going to school, or securing a loan. Protections in law should be
protections in fact. (Applause.)
Last February, because I thought this was so important, I created the White House Office
of One America to promote racial reconciliation. That's what one of my personal heroes,
Hank Aaron, has done all his life. From his days as our all-time home run king to his
recent acts of healing, he has always brought people together. We should follow his
example, and we're honored to have him with us tonight. Stand up, Hank: Aaron.
(Applause.)
'.
Ijust want to say one more thing about this, and I want every one of you to think about
this the next time you get mad at one of your colleagues on the other side of the aisle.
This fall, at the White House, Hillary had one of her millennium dinners, and we had this
very distinguished scientist there, who is an expert in this whole work in the human
genome. And he said that we are all, regardless ofrace, genetically 99.9 percent the
same.
Now, you may find that uncomfortable when you look around here. (Laughter.) But it .is
worth remembering. We can laugh about this, but you think about it. Modem science has
confirmed what ancient faiths has always taught: the most important fact of life is our
common humanity. Therefore, we should do more than just tolerate our diversity -- we
should honor it and celebrate it. (Applause.) .
My fellow Americans, every time I prepare for the State of the Union, I approach it with
hope and expectation and excitement for our nation. But tonight is very special, because
we stand on the mountain top of a new millennium. Behind us we can look back and see
the great expanse of American achievement; and before us we can see even greater,
grander frontiers of possibility. We should, all of us, be filled with gratitude and humility
for our present progress and prosperity. We should be filled with awe and joy at what
lies over the horizon. And we should be filled with absolute detennination to make the
most of it.
You know, when the framers finished crafting our Constitution in Philadelphia,
Benjamin Franklin stood in Independen'ce Hall and he reflected on the carving of the sun
, that was on the back of a chair he saw. The sun was low on the horizon. So he said this -
he said, "I've often wonder.ed whether that sun was rising or setting. Today," Franklin
said, "I have the happiness to know it's a rising sun." Today, because each succeeding
generation of Americans has kept the fire of freedom burning brightly, lighting those
frontiers of possibility, we all still bask in the glow and the warmth ofMr. Franklin's
nsmg sun.
After 224 years, the American revolution continues. We remain a new nation. And as
long as our dreams outweigh our memories, America will be forever young. That is our
destiny., And this is our moment.
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Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. (Applause.)
END 11 :08 P.M. EST
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�... _
. BACKGROUND ON PRESIDENT CLINTON'S
AGENDA FOR·THE NATION
STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
JANUARY 27~ 200()
�Outlille of Presidellt ClilltOIl 's State ofthe UII;OIl Address
January 27, 2000
Fiscal Discipline and Economic I'rosperitv
•
•
,
Opening New Mai'kets
•
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•
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('
Maintainillg Fiscal Discipline
Paying Down the Debt by 2013
Protecting and Strengthening Social Seclirity
Neari~g the Longest Economic Expansion
OpportunitY and ResllOnsihilitv in Education
•
•
•
New Markets Initiutive
Della'initiative
Native Americul1 Initiative
Strengthening the Farm Safety Net
From Digital "Divide to Digital Opportunity
Global Change and Amcrican LeaderShip
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Proposing Largest Head Start Expansiol: in History
Promoting Early Lcaming
Fixing Failing Schools and Rewarding Success
Class Size Reduction
'
Small. Safe and Successl'ul High Schools
Teaching to High ~tai,dards
Charter Schools
School Construction ami Modcmization
Preventing Youth"Violcnce
College Opportunity Tax Cut"
$1 Billion to Pell Grants. SEOG,etc,
$400 Million to Keep Youth ~n Track 1'0;, Success
Rewarding Work and Strengthening Familil's
•
•
•
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'•.
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Expanding the Earncd Income Tax Crcdii (EITC),
Minimum Wage Increase
Ensuring Equal Pay"
Housing Vouch..:rs I'or Hard-Pressed Working Families
Homeless Initiative
Millions Move Ii'om Welfare to Work
New Initiatives to Collect More Child Support
New Fathers Work/Fal11ilies Win Grunts
Helping Long-Terl11 Recipients Move frol11 Wc1fure to Work
Second Chance HOl11es
Helping Low-Income Families Allord Child Care
Assisting 8 Million Families with Child Care Expenses
Creating New Child Care Tax Inccntives fur Ousincsscs
Supporting I-iigli Quality Early Childhood Educators
Promoting Early Learning,
Call1pus Based Child Care
Retirement Security Accounts
Expand Pension Coverage lor Small Ousincsscs
Tax Relier lor Working Families
•
•
Benelits of Expanding Intcl11ationul Trade
Forging a New Consensus on Trade
• Trude Agreements Enforcement Initiative
'
• Child Labor
• Ali'iean Grtlwth and Opportunity Act
• Caribbean Basin Trade Initiative,
• BUildingDemocracy Around the World
• Leailing a Global Cumpaign Against AIDS and Disease
•
U.S.-China Trade Agi'ecment
'. '. B;lilding Peucc in the Middle East
• Oringing Peace to Northern Ireland
• Reversing Ethnic Clcansing in Kosovo
• Protecting Computer Networks Against Cybcr'Atlaek
• Combating International Crimc
• Aiding Colombia in its Fight Against'Drugs
• Debt Relief
• Lcadll1g the Way in Global NOIl-I)rolitcration
• Maintaining the Stl'On,gcst Military in the World
Responsihility, 0Pllortunitv and the Envirollml'llt
•
•
•
•
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Lands Legacy
Climule Change
Tax Credits 11)1' Energy-Erticiency
Cleai, Energy lor the 21 st ,Century'
Livable Communities
"
,
'
The OlljlOrtunity and Hcsilollsihilitv ofScil'llce and 'Technologv
•
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Major New In"estments in Science and Technology
Protecting Am\:rieans' Personal Privacy
Commnnitv
Health Care
Service alllll>hilanthropy
•
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Patients' Bill or Rights
Health Insurance Coverage Initiative
Strengthening and Modernizing Medicare
Long-Term Care Initiative
Increasing Federal Mental Health Funding
Preventing Med'ieal Errors/Improving Car~
Major Ncw Investment to Combat HIV and AiDS
Itcsilonsibility and Crime
•
•
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•
21" Century Policing Initiative
National Gun Enforcement Initiative
Funding Innovative Smart Gun Technology,
Passing C0l11111on Sense' Gun Legislation
•
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Al11criCorps and Encouraging Community Service"
Faith-Onsed and COl11munity Organizations
Increusing Charitable Giving
One America
•
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".•
Civil Rights Enforcement ,
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act ("ENDA")
The I'late Crimes Prevention Act
English Literacy/Civics Initiative
Faimcss to Immigrants
GovCI'l1lllental and Political Itcfol'm
•
•
Enact Bilprtisun Cumpaign Finance Rdorm
Reinventing Government
�FISCAL DISCIPLINE. .
.
.
AND NEARING THE LONGEST ECONOMIC EXPANSION IN U.S. HISTORY
Maintaining Fiscal Discipline
When President Clinton. was elected seven years ago, America was burdened with a $290 billion deficit,
and our national debt had quadrupled over the previous 12 years. Interest rates were high and growth was
low. The President and the Vice President set a new path of fiscal responsibility, opening markets, and
investing in our people and new technologies. We passed strong deficit reduction packages in.both 1993
and in 1997, and made tough choices in'each and every budget. This has put the nation on a course of
fiscal discipline, while continuing to invest in our people and our future.
Now we s.ee the. results of the last seven years: the, first back-to~back budget surpluses in 42 years; last
year's surplus of $124 billion was the largest in our history. The latest numbers from the Treasury
indicate the surplus fQr t\1is year will be even larger: In just the la~;t two years, we've already paid doWn
$140 billion of the national debt. Because we've resisted efforts to push ou~ nation off the path of fiscaf
discipline with large and irresponsible tax cuts, our debt is $1.7 trillion less this year than it was projected
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to be back in 1993.
Last year, the President asked the Congress to use every single dollar of OLlr Social Security surplus to pay,
down the debt, and to use the interest savings from that debt reduction to lengthen the life of Social
Sycurity. This year the President has announced that because of the choices we have made, the budget he
will submit for 2001 accelerates the' date that we will be able to .pay off our debt to. 2013 -- two years
earlier than we had originally planned. The President wiil do this by protecting Social Security funds, arid'
dedicating the interest savings to Social Security, allowing us, in addition to paying off the debt, to extend
the solvency of the Social Security trust fund to at least 2050. We will also be able to make Medicare.
secure now, through 2025. And we will be debt~free for·the first time since 1835, when our nation just
had 24 states and fewer than 15 million people.
Paying Down tbe Debt by 2013
In the State of the Union address, President Clinton will announce thatl1is budget for 2001 would put
America in a position' to payoff the $3.6 trilli0l1 debt by. 2013 .,- 2 years earlier than planned. The
President will emphasize that this debt reduction would be acc0l11plished· by protecting Social Security
funds and dedicating the interest savings to Social Security, allowing the Social. Security solvency to be
extended until at least 2050. In contrast, the Republican lockbox plans in Congress fail to extend the life
of Social Security by even one day. The President also will anno.unce that his budget will make Medicare
secure through at least 2025 by devoting a substantial fraction of the surplus to Medicare solvency and
debt reduction. The President's plan to pay down the debt will result in lower interest rates and sfronger
investment. For typical families it will mean lower mortgage payments and car payments. By
strengthening the economy and eliminating the debt, the President's plan will help prepare the government
-- and the Nation -- to meet the challenge of the retiring baby boomers.
Protecting and Strengthening Social Security
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As he did in his 1998 and 1999 Stat~ of the Union addresses, the President will call on Congress to enact
his plan to save Social Security first and strengthen it. For almost 65 years, Social Security has been an
unshakable covenant among generations, between workers and retirees,' between the disabled and the able
bodied. For many AI'nericans, Social Security, along with savings and pensions, is the foundation of
retire!11ent security. In his 1999 State of the, Union Address, the President proposed a plan that would, .
building'on our historic period of prosperity and budget surpluses, use debt reduction to exterid the life of
Social Security without damaging and unnecessary benefit cuts or tax increases. In the last session of
Congress, the President ptoposed s'pecific legislation that reserves the entire Social Security surplus for
Social Security and debt reduction and, in addition, devotes the interest savings from. paying down the
�national debt to extending the life of Social Security from 2034 to 2050. If the interest savings were
prudently invested in equities, solvency would be extended to 2054.
Nearing th~ LOilgest Economic Expansion in U.S. History
The President's leadership on fiscal discipline and economic strategy has helped the put the economy on
track for the longest expansion in American history. The strong economy has benefited Americans in the
form of more jobs, higher wages, lower inflation, 'greater homeownership, and an increasing sense of
9ptimism about the future:'
• America is currently in the longest peacetime expansion in its history. By the end of February, the
U.S. will have enjoyed 107 consecutive months of expansion - thelonge'st economic expansion in
history.
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• Since President Clinton t90]( \officein 1993, the economy has created 2004 million new jobs the
highest number of jobs ever created under a single President. These are overwhelmingly good jobs:
according to a study by the Council of Economic Advisers and the U.S. Department .of Labor, 81
'percent of all new jobs are located in industry/occupation categories. that pay above-nledian wages.
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• The vast majority of the new jobs - 18.8 million or 92 percent of the total were createq by the
private sectOl~, the highest private sector share of job creation since Harry S. Truman was President.
• The unemployment rate in 1999 fell to 4.2 percent - the lowest rate in 30 years. For African
Americans, the unemployment rate fell 'to 8.0 percent - the lowest on record. For Hispanics, the
unemployment rate fell to 6.4 percent the lowest on record ..
• The economy has expanded at 3.8 percent annually under President Clinton...; the fastest growth rate
of any ad ministration since President Johnson. .
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• As a result of the strong, economy and investments in people, 7.7 millipn people have been lifted out
of poverty under President Clinton .. The poverty has fallen to 12.7 percent - the lowest rate since
1979. For African Americans and Afl'ican American children, the poverty rate is the lowest on
record. For Hispanics, the poverty' rate is the lowest.since 1980 .. For single mothers, the poverty rate
has fallen to the lowest level in history.
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• In the third quarter of 1999, the homeownership rate rose to 67.0~percentt!1e highest rate ever
. recorded. The homeownership rates for African Americans and Hispanics also reached record levels
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• The' underlying core rate of in11ation was 1.9 percent in 1999 -: the lowest rate since 1965.
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�OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY IN 1j:DUCATION
Proposing the Largest Head Start Expansion in History
The President's budget increases funding forHeadStart by $1 billion - the largest funding increase ever
proposed for the program - to provide Head Start ~nd Early Head Start to .approximately 950,000
children. This funding will bring within reach the President;s goal of serving one million children in
2092 and builds the foundation for the long~ternl goal of universal pre-school. Head Start prepares low
income children fora lifetime of learning and development by. providing early, rigorous and
comprehensive child development. Early Head Start, created by the Clinton-Gore Administration 'in
1994, brings these services to families with children ages zero to three aild to pregriarit women. The
President's FY 2001 proposal would im::rease funding for Early Head Sta,rtby $143 million. Since 1993,
this Administration has already increased funding for Head Start by 90 percent.
Promoting Early Learning
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The President's budget includes $3 billion over five years for the Eaj-]y Learning Fund to help improve
child care quality and early childhood education for children under five years old. The Early Learning
Fund will provide community grants for activities that foster cognitive development, improve child care
quality and' promote readiness for .school. Resources could be used to help child care providers get
training or certification, facilitate licensing or accreditation of child care centers, a.nd reduce child-to-staff
ratios.
Fixing Failing Schools and Rewarding Success
• Universal After-School for Students in the Most Need- The President and Vice President propose
to invest $1 billion in the 21 st CenturyCommunity Learning Centers program to help ensure that
every child.in every failing school can have a safe place to. learn during the after school and
summertime hours. This more than doubles the FY 2000 investment. The Administration's budget
will maintain the commitment to serving all children, but, will dedicate the increase to help those
childl~en most· in need of academic assistance. as part ·of a comprehensive approach to help low
achieving'students meet high academic standards. The budget provides sufficient funding to make
after school or summer s'chool programs universally available to all students attending Title I school
identified aslow-perfomling, nearly tripling the number of children served by the program to 2.5
million.
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• Accountability Fund - In November, the Congress appropriated $134 million for the President's
accountability fund. This year, the President will increase funding for this initiative to $250 million
to tum around failing schools. This funding is' used by states and localities to. tum around low
performing schools by overhauling curriculum, improving staffing, or even closing the school and
reopening it as a charter school. . The accountability initiative also includes provisions expanding·
public school choice for students in failing schools.
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• Rewarding High Performance and Closing the Achievement Gap - The President also proposes a
$50 million initiative to provide high-performance bonuses to states that l11akeexemplary progress in
improving student performance and closing the achIevement gap between high and low perforn1ing
groups of students. States would be eligible for bonuses based on substantial overall improvements.in
student performance andsignificarit narrowing of the achievement gap as indicated by performance
on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
Class Size Reduction
The President's class size reduction initiative continues his commitment to reduce class size in the early'
grades by staying on a path to hiring 100,000 high quality teachers. The Administration' sFY200 1 budget
will funding for'this initiative to $1.75 billion, an increase of $450 million over current levels - enough to
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fund about Lj.9,000'teachers, nearly half Way,- to our long-term goaL Smaller classes allow teachers to
spend more time Oi1 instruction anci" less time on discipline, and, pi6vide more individualized attent'ion,
Research shows,:that. studentsattending small classes in the early grades make more rapid educational
progress than students in lm:ger 'classes; New teachers hired under .this program mllst be qualified and
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, Small, Safe and Successful High Schools
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ReSearch shows that smaller schools can boost acad~mi6, achieve~el;t and ,extracurrbilar involvement
'and lead to fewer ~iscipline problems, The President's budget will include $120 million for a Small'
, ~Schocils Initiative to reinvent high schools on a smaller. scale and make them more responsive to student
'. needs. School districts could use this money to, 'create small schools or break up existing large schools
i~to smaller learning communities. Districts would be expected to, demonstrate increases in student
achievement,' graduation rates, and the number of students pursuing postsecondary options, and decreases
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This initiative is new $l billion teacher quality plan to recruit, train and rewaidgood teachers. The
Teaching to High Standards Initiative will give grants to states and districts to fund higI1-quajity,
standards~bas~d professional development for'teachers; It als9 iricludesseveral new proposals:
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• HigherStandards-Higher Pay for,Te~chers""': This $50 million initiative will award grants to. high-.
poverty school districts to h,elp them attract and retain' high-quality teachers tlu-ough better pay and
,higher standards, Participatil1g teachers\Vo~J!d receive imm~diate, pay increases 'and additionatraises
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,.TeacherQuality Rewards -This $50 million ,program will reward school districts that have m~de
exceptional progress in reducing the, number ,ofuncertified teachers and teachers teaching outside,
their subject area. The President has proposed reqUiring states toellsu,re that 95 percent of teachers
are certified and95 percent of secondary teachers are teaching within field by 2004. '
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• Hometown' T'each~r Recruitment -'This $75 million 'progr~ri1 would 'empower high~p~verty scho'ol
districts to :develop programs to recruit homegrown' teachers to address the sJ10rtage of qualified'
te~chers. Programs supported by this grant w<;mld rhakestudents aware, as early .as 'middle school,of
, ,th'e opportunities available ,in the, teaching profession; pr:ovidementoring and teac,h'ing ~xperiencesas ' ,
they progress through school;, and provide financial assistance for students who .enter college and
. pursue acaddlicdegrees with the goal of teaching in high~ne.ed co'nlmunitiesaftei-:graduation.
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Transition to, Teachin'g - This $25 million 'i~ltiative w~ll bu'ild, on the success of the Department of
Defense's Troops'to Teachers prog'ram hy recruiting ana preparilfgtalented mid~career professi.onals
from diverse fields to become teachers in high-need subject areas and hi.gh-need scheiols. , '
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School Lea<.iers Initiative - This, $40 million program' will fHnd 'non,-profitpartn~rships desighedto
recruit, prepare and provide professional deyeloprilent fof superintendents and principals, and,other
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Charter Schools
The President's budget will increase' f~nding for charterschoo'ls hy$30 million dollarsfrom$14)'.million
t~$175 million. Charter schools ~re public schools started, by parents, 'teachers, or community groups
that are open to all and 'given a great deal of flexibility in exchange for agre,eing to' meet defined g'oals for
student performance. Charter schools are' one way to increase'cO'mpetition,provide options and chO'ices
, for parents, and increase accO'untability in public education. When the President'wa$ first elected i111992,
ther~ was only one charter schO'ol in the country:' Now, according to the. '
Department O'f Education, there
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�are approximately 1,700 and 36 states and ,the District of Columbia have passed laws allowing the
creation of charter schools. This proposed new funding will ensure that we can meet the President's goal
of creating 3,000 public charter schools.
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School Construction and Modernization
At least 2,400 new ptiblic schools will be needed nationwide by 2003 to accommodate rising enrollments
and to relieve overcrowding. Thousands more will be needed in following years. To address this critical '
need, President Clinton is reIiewing his commitment to his School Modernization Bond proposal. It
provides $24.8 billion in tax credit bonds over two years to modernize up'to 6,000 schools. This proposal
has an estimated ,cost of $8 billion over ten years. Within this $24.8 billion program, $2.4 billion is
, reserved for Qualified Zone Academy Bonds. In addition, the 2001 budget includes a new $ 1.3 billion,
school urgent/emergency renovation loan and grant proposal. This $1.3, billion program could support
nearly $7 billion of renovation projects in high-need school districts with little or no capacity to fund
urgent repairs. Both loans and grants would be made available, with the smaller grant program directed
toward the neediest districts. '
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Preventing Youth Violence
Over the past year, the country has been traumatized by a spate of school shootings. The President has
taken leadershIp to address the issue of preventing youth violence by establishing a National Campaign
Against Youth Violence. The National Campaign is beginning a public engag~ment campaign on how
bestto prevent youth violence and is working with the best minds in ,the field of youth violence to identify
and replicate best practices of prevention' in local communities. ,The President's budget includes over
$8.8 billion, $875 million above FY 2000, ,for program's throughout the govemment that work to t'arget
youth violence and programs that support the healthy development of young people including developing
smaller high schools; promoting safe after-school opportunities; cracking down on illegal gun traffickers'
who supply guns to youth; and, helping communities develop and implement comnlunity-wide responses
to school and youth' violence' through the Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative. The Safe Schools
program joins principals, parents, police and others in the community to collaborate on comprehensive
strategies to address violence problems confronting children in and out of school. The President's new
budget will provide a $100 mill.ion incr-ease for his safe schools initiative, investing a total of nearly $250
million in this signature program:
College Opportunity Tax Cut
Since 1993, the President has taken numerous steps to make college ,more affordable and accessible,
including direct' student loans, Pell Grant' increases, as well as the Hope Scholarship and Lifetime
Learning tax c'redits, producing the biggest expansion in college opportunity since the GI BilL This year
the President goes one step further and calls, on Congress to pass his College Opportunity Tax Cut to
expand on previous educational tax cuts and make college, graduate" school, and job training more
" affordable for millions of families, The President's proposal would give fam,iliesthe option of taking a
tax deduction or a 28 percent tax credit on tuition and fees to pay for college and oth~r plgl)er education,
The proposal would cover up to' $5,000 of educational expenses in 2001 and 2002 and rise to $10,000 of
educational expenses fi'om 2003 forward. When fully phased in, this' proposal would provide up to
$2,800 in tax relief annually to help Ainerican families pay for college, graduate work, or courses taken to
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Nearly $1 Billion In Increases To PeJl Grants,SEOG, Wor,k Study, And Other Programs:
• . PelJ Grants. The Pell Grant program provides grants to economically disadvantaged young people to
help pay the cost of a postsecondary education. The maximum Pell Grant in FY2000 is $3,300. The
President's FY2001 budget increases the maximum to $3,500, more than 50 percent larger than the
maximum grant in 1993, to make a college education more affordable for the nearly 4 million Pell
Grant recipients. Funding for the Pell Grant program is increased. by over $71'6 million, bringing the
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�total Pell Grant appropriation to $8.356 billion .
• ' SEOG. SEOG, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant.program, provides campus
based grant assistance to needy undergraduate students. Generally, this program supplements the aid'
students receive from other soul:ces, and leverages institutional aid by at least one dollar for every
three federal dollars. The FY2001 budget provides $691 million for SEOG, a $60 million increase,
the largest increase in 10 years. An estimated 1.2 million students (over 60,000 more than in 2000)
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• Work Study. Work Study provides students the opportunity to work their way through college. The
FY 2000 budget achieved the goal of giving one million students the opportunity to participate in
Work Study. The FY2001 budget includes $1.011 billion for Work Study, an increase of $77 million
to continue this commitment to serve one million students.
• College Completion Challenge Grants. The FY2001 budget creates a new initiative within the
TRIO program called College Completion Challenge Grants (CCCG). Although college enrollment
rates haverisen, 37 percent of students that go on to post-secondary school drop out before they get
certificate or a degree. The problem is especially acute for minoritie~:, 29 percent of African
Americans and 31 percent of Hispanics drop out of college after less than one year, compared to 18
percent of whites. The CCCG program is designed to address this problem with a comprepensive
approach including p're-freshman summer programs, support services and'increased grant aid to
students. This $35 ,million initiative will improve the ch~nces of success for nearly 18,000 students.
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• Dual Degree }>rograms for Minority..:Serving Institutions. The FY i001 budget proposes a new
program to increase. opportunities for students at minority-serving institutions that offer four-year
degrees. Students would receive two degrees within five years: one from' a minority-serving
institution, and one from a partner institution in a field in which minorities are underrepresented.
This new $40 million program will serve an estimated 3,000 students.
Over $400 Million In Increases To Keep Young People On The Track To Success:
• GEAR UP. GEAR UP is a nationwide initiative to encourage rnore disadvantaged young people to
have high expectations, stay in school, study hard, and take the right courses to go to and succeed in
college. GEAR UP is funded at $200 million in FY 2000, enough to provide services to over 750,000
students. The FY 2001 budget provides a 62.5% increase to $325 million, enough to provide services
to 1.4 million students.
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• TRIO. The TRIO programs seek to motivate arid prepare students to go to and stay in college. The
FY 2001 budget provides $725 million for'TRIO, an increase of $80 million to help provide
assistance to over 760,000 students, 37,000 more than in 2000.
• Youth Opportunity Grants and Youth Training Formula Grants. Youth Opportunity Grants are
an initiative to provide comprehensive employment and training assistance to all out-of-school young
people in high poverty areas. The program was passed as part of the bipartisan Workforce Investmen~
Act. Funded at $250 million in FY 2000, this program would serve up to 50,000 of the most
disadvantaged young people iri central cities and rural communities across America. The President's
FY2001 budget provides a 50 percent increase in funding to $375 million, enough to serve an
additional 25,000 youth in high poverty areas. In addition, the FY2001 budget provides a $25 million
increase (from $1.001 billion to $1.022), to the Youth Training Formula Grants, enough to provide
job training and summer job opportunities to nearly 600,000 disadvantaged young people.
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�• Youthbuild.
The Y outhbuild program, is targeted to '16-24 year old high school dropouts, and
provides disadvantaged young adults with education and etnp\oyment skills through rehabilitating and
building housing for low-income and homeless people. The program also helps to expand the supply
of housing in these categories. Funded at $42.5 million, the Youthbuild programs will provides
opportunities for approximately 2,000 trainees in 2000. 'The FY2001 increases funding by 76% to '
$75 million', enough to serve approximately 3,330 trainees.
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Job Corps. Job Corps is the nation's largest and most comprehensive residential education and job
training program targeted at impoverished young people. The FY2001 budget Increases Job Corp?
funding b~ $33 million, bringing the total Job C~rps,budget to $1.392 billion.
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�REWARDING, WORK A.ND STRENGTHENING FAMILIES
Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
President Clinton will call on :Congress to pass his $21 billion plan to expand the Earned Income Tax
Credit - a key part of his opportunity, responsibility, and community agenda to re\vard work and family,
According to estimates by the Department of the Treasury, the President's proposed EITC expansion
would deliver tax relief for 6,8 million families, providing up to $1 ;200 in additional tax relief for some of
these hard-pressed, working families, The President's proposal would build 'on the EITC expansion that
he signed into law in 1993 and which provided a tax cut forI 5 million families. That expansion made the
EITC even more effective at encouraging work ,and reducing poverty: In 1998,4,3 million people were
directly lifted out of poverty by the EITC - more than double the num,ber in 1993. The, President's
proposal would further increase the reward to work and family by: (l) increasing benefits for families
with three children; (2) ,expanding the credit for married, two-earnercouples; (3) rewarding families that
are working hard to move into the middle class by lowering the phaseout rate; and (4) encouraging
savings througb simplification, To illustrate the effects of the President's proposed expansion: under
cun'ent law, a married couple earning $23,000 and with three kids qualify for a- $1,892 EITC; the
President's proposed expansion would boost that amount to $2;867 an increase of $975.
Minimum \Vage Increase
The President wi II call on Congress to pass a $1 increase in the minimum wage. Despite the strongest'
economy in a generation, there are still millions of workers trying to raise a family and make ends meet. '
The President believes that par~nts who work hard and play by the rules ,should not have to raise their
children in poverty. That is -why, in 1993, he expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and, in
1996, fought for and won a minimum wage increase. A working parent with two children earning the
minimum wage in 1993 made $10,559 with the EITC (in 1998 inflation-adjusteddol1.ars) -.well below the
poverty line, As a result of the expanded EITC and higher rnininium wage, a similarly situated family in
1998 was above the poverty line - making $13;268 - a 26 percent intlation-adjusted increase in their
standard of living, The President's challenge to build on the success of these, policies by raising the
minimum wage by $1 would help 11.4111illion Americans :...70 percent of whom are adults and 59 per,cent
of whom are women. For a full-time, year-round worker at the minimum wage, the President~s proposal
would mean an additioBal $2,000 per year, enough to buy 7 months of groceries or pay 5 mOhths ofrent-. '
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, . Ensuring Equal Pay ,
According to the Department of Labor, the average woman who works full-time earns approximately 75
,cents for each dollar that an average man earns, For wbn1en of the color, the gap' is even wider. This gap
is attributable, in part, to, differing levels of experience, educatiori, and skilL However," even after
accounting for these factors, a significant pay gap still remains between men and women in similar jobs.
The President will announce a $27 million Equal Pay Initiative in his Fiscal Year 200 1 budget, an
increase of $12 million bver Fiscal Year 2000, The Initiative requests $IQ million for the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to' provide training aild technical assistance to about
3,000 employers on how to comply with equaJpay requirements and to launch a public, service
announcement campaign on wage issues. The Initiative also dedicates $10 million for the Department Of ,
, Labor (DOL) to train women in nontraditional jobs, including high-te'ch jobs and other skill shortage
occupations. Lastly, the ~Initiative provides $7 million for DOL to help employers assess and improve
their pay policies, support public education efforts, provide, for projects in non-traditional apprenticeships, .
and implement industry partnerships. The President also will call on Congress again to pass the Paycheck
Fairness Act, which would strengthen wage discrimination laws, provide for new collection of data on
wage issues, and provide for additional research, training, and public education efforts on this important
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New Housing Vouchers for Hard~Pressed Working Families
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The P~esiQent's budget will include $690 m'iHion for 120,000 new:hoLising vouchers to help America's
hard-pressed working families. These hOLising vouchers, subsidize the rents ofJow-income Americans;
enabling them to move closer to job 'opportunities - many of which are being created far from where these
families live, Of the 120,000 new housing vouchers;'32,000willbe targeted to families moving from
welfare to work, 18,000 to homeless)ndividuals and families, and 10,000 to low-income families moving
to new housing constructed through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, with the remaining 60,000 ,
vouchers allocated to local areas to help address the large unmet need for affordable housing, These new
, vouchers build on the 110,000 new housing vouchers secured thro~gh the President's leadership over the
past two years.
Homeless Initiative
Homeless persons do not participate fully, in important health and other programs for which they are
eligible', The President's blldge~ proposes legislation for a new $10 million initiative that would improve
homeless individuals' access to mainstream programs that will help them move toward self-sufficiency.
Demonstration grants would be awarded to several states to improve access to and provide coordination
among mainsti'eam programs such 'as Medicaid, State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP),
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Food Stamps, the Workforce Investment Act, arid the Mental
The', budget also proposes $1.2 billion for homeless
Health and Substance Abuse Block Grants.
assistance programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, including $105 million for
18,000 homeless vouchers.
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Millions Move f.'om Welfare to Work
In 1992, President Clinton promised to end welfare as we know it, and now more than three years after
the enactment of the welfare reform law, we've seen revolutionary changes to pronl0te work and
responsibility: the number of Americans on \W;lfare is at its lowest level since 1969 -~JO years ago ,..~ as
millions of people move from welfare to work. Since January 1993, the welfare rolls have fallen by more
than half, from 14.1 million to 6,9 million. More than 1.3 million welfare recipients went to work in 1998
alone. The 12,000 business participating in the Welfare to Work Partnership launched by the President in
1997 have hired nearly 650,000 former welfare recipients. The federal government is also doing its share:
in 1997, -the President asked the Vice President to lead the federal hiring initiative to hire 10,000 welfare
recipients over four years. Today, we've far exceeded that goal, hiring more than 16,000 people. At a
time when the federal workforce is the smallest it has been in thirty years, the Vice President has shown
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that you can both create a leaner government and one that leads by example.
New Initiatives to Collect More Child Support
Since the President took office, child support collections have nearly doubled. Today, parents who owe
child support have their wages garnished, their bank accounts seized, and their tax refunds withheld. To'
build on this success, the budget contains several new initiatives to further increase child support
collections and crack down on parents' who owe child support. Parents who owe past-due child support
will have their gambling winnings intercepted and their vehicles bOoted. They wi)l have a harder time,
obtaining or renewing a passport, and they can be prohibited from enrolling as a Medicare provider.
Finally, the budget will require that child support orders be updated more frequently and increase the
amount of child support paid directly to families.
New Fathers Work/Families Win Grants
The President's budget will contain $255 million in new competitive grants in FY 2001 to promote
responsible fatherhood and support working families, critical next steps in reforn1ing welfa,re' and
reducing child poverty. The Clinton-Gore Administration's budget will encourage responsible fatherhood
through $125 million in "Fathers Work" grants to put approximately 40,000 non "custodial parents
(mainly fathers) who owe child support to work and help them connect with their children. As part of this'
effort, states will need to put in place procedures allowing them to require more parents who owe child
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�support to payor goto work. The President's budget will also contain $130 million in "Families Win"
grants to help about 40,000 low-income parents stay in their jobs, move up the career ladder, and remain
off cash assistance. An important part of these grants will be to improve families' access to food stamps,
health care, child care, and otbel~ critical support for working families. $1 million will be set aside for
Indian and Native American grantees. Fathers Work/Families Win competitive grants will be run by one
stop career centers, cominullity groups, and faith-based organizations under contract to local and state
workforce investment boards.
°
Helping More Long-Term Recipients Move from Welfare to Work
Because of the President's leadership, the 1997 Balanced Budget Act cont<;lined $3 billion for Welfare-to
Work grants to help long-term welfare recipients and certain non-cllstodialparents go to work and
.
support their children. To fully implement these important efforts, the Pr~sident's budget allows grantees
an additional two years to spend these existing funds.
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Second Chance Homes
The budget includes $25 million in new funds to support "second chance homes," adult-supervised and
,suPPl?rtive living arrangements, tor unmarried teen parents and their children who cannot live at home or
with other relatives. States will be able to use. these funds, as they can other Social Services Block Grant
(SSBG) funds, to support services provided by faith7based and community-based organizations. (Overall,
the budget increases SSBG' funds by $75' million.) This new initiative will be latest 'of the
Administration's efforts to reduce teen pregnancy, which have res';!lted in the lowest teen pregnancy rates
on-record and an 18 percent decline in teen births from 1991 to 1998.
Helping Low-Income Families Afford Child Care
_
The President's budget expands the Child Care and Development Block Grant to help working families
struggling to. afford child care. The President's budget request will increase funding for child care'
subsidies by $817 million in FY 2001, enabling the program to serve nearly 150,000 more children next
year. These new funds, combined with the child care funds provided in welfare reform, will enable the
_program to serve over 2.2 million children in 2001, an increase of nearly one million since 1997. The
block grant is part of the Child Care and Development Fund, the primary federal'subsidy program that
helps families pay for child care, thereby enabling low-income parents to work. Today, millions of
families who are eligible for assistance with their child care costs do not receive any help; in 1999, only
,a,bout: 12 percent'of the 15 million low-income children eligible for assistance underf~derallaw, received
subsidies.
. .
Tax Relief for Over 8 Millfon Families with Child Care Expenses
The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) provides tax relief to those who, in order to work,
pay· for the care of a child under 13 or for a disabled dependent or spouse. The President's proposals,
which cost $30 billion ovecl years" broaden this tax relief,and will help.over 8 million families pay their
child care expenses:
°
• Making the Credit Refundable for Nearly Two Million Working Parents. Under current law, a
typical family of four with an income under $25,000 is ineligible for credits for child care. expenses
because it has no income tax liability. Many such families earn too little to claim the credit, but too
much to get the full benefit of child care subsidies. To help these families, the President proposes to
make the CD eTC refundable for the, first time -- so that families with no tax liability can receive up
to $2,400 to help offset the cost of child care. 'This proposal will assist ~earlytwo millionfamilles.
• Increasing the Child Care Tax Credit. For 'families earning lip to $60,000, the President proposes
to increase the maximum level of. tile CDCTC from 30 percent to 50 percent. This will 'provide ali
average additional tax cut of $249 for these' families and etiminatingtax liability for nearly all,
families with incomes below 200 percent of poverty that claim the maximum allowable child care
10
�expenses. Under this proposal, a family of four with an annual salary of S35,000, and child care
expenses of $3, 100, would receive a tax credit of $1 ,395 -- an increase.of $775 over current law. This·
expansion proposal will help over four million working families pay for child care.
• Providing Tax Relief to Parents Who Stay at Home.' The President will also propose enabling
parents who stay at home with children under age one to take advantage of the Child and Dependent
Care Tax Credit by claiming assumed child care expenses of $500. This proposal will provide an
- average tax cut of $'154, benefiting almost two million parents.
.
.. Creating NewChild CareTax Incentives for Businesses
In his budget, President Clinton will also propose a new tax credit for businesses that provide child cine
services, for their employees.' These services could include: building or expanding child care facilities,
operating existing tacilities, training child care workers, or providing child care resource and referral
services. The credit covers 2~ .percent of qualified costs (and 10 percent of resource and referral service
expenses), but may not \exceed '$150,000 per year per business. The President's budget includes $539
million over five years for this tax credit..
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Supporting High-Quality Early Childhood Educators
The President's budget includes $30 million to ensure that well-trained professionals are teaching our
yourig children. The Early Childhood Professional Developnlent initiative will provide competitive
grants to local partnerships that can pull together universities; local school' districts and child care
providers. The initiative would focus on equipping early childhood educators with the tools they need to
help children develop vital language and literacy skills.
Encouraging the Pursuit of Higher Education by 'Offering Coliege Campus Based Child Care
To encourage low-income parents to pursue higher education, the President' s.budget includes $15 million
~ a $10 million increase over last year's funding level -- to provide an additional 150 college campuses
with grants to support the establishment or expansion of child care services. States may also use a share
of the Child Care and Developn)cnt Block Grant for this purpose.
Retirement' Savings Accouilts To Help Families Save and Invest
The President's' Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) proposal will- give 76 million Americans the
opportunity to build wealth and save for their retirementthrollgh a progressive tax cut. The President's
proposal builds on .the successful model ofIndividual Development Accounts (IDAs), extending generous
matches to all low- and moderate-income families to encourage them to develop savings and assets. A
. person who participated for 40 years in this savings program ~ol1ld accumulate over $266,000 - enough to
produce $24,000 a year of income in'retirement. This proposal would cost $54 billion over 10 years.
Expand PensiQn Coverage for Small Businesses
. ;
In an effort to encourage more small businesses to offer pensions for their employees, the President will .
also announce a PI:oposalto provide a 50 percent tax credit for qualified contributions to employees'
pensions. This provision would cost S17 billion over 10 years.
Tax Relief for W,orking Families: Simplifying Taxes and Rewarding Marriage and Work
Today as part of his State of the Union Address, President Clinton will announce his plan to reduce the
marriage penalty for married, two-earner couples by increasing the standard deduction by nearly $2,000.
The President will propose to increase the standard deduction Jortwo-earner married couples to twice that
of single filers, providing substantial tax relief for 9.1 millio'n families. Jhe Presidentw,ould provide an
additional .$500 increase in the standard deduction for single-earner rnarried couples that do not face a
marriage penalty. H~ would also increase the standard deduction for single filers by $250. The
President's plan would cost $45 billion over 10 years and benefit 42:1 million families.
11
�HEALTH CARE
Patients' Bill of Rights
The President and Vice President continue to challenge the Congress to finally finish the overdue job of
passing patients' rights legislation that includes critical protections such as: guaranteed access to needed
health care specialists; access to 'emergency room services when and where the need arises; continuity of
care protections so that patients will not have an abrupt transition in care if their providers are dropped;
access to a fair, unbiased and timely internal and independent external appeals process to address health
plan grievances; and an enforcement mechanism that ensure~,recourse for patients who have been hanned
as a result of a health plan's actions. Last fall, over 60 Republicans joined virtually every Democrat in the
House in voting for the N"orwood-Dingell Patients Bill of Rights. This strong,enforceable,- patient
protections bill should not be watered down in a manner that makes it ineffective and unworthy of
signing. It should also not include provisions that do little more than further segment healthy from
unhealthy populations without significantly expanding coverage for the cUlTently uninsured.
Health Insurance Coverage Initiative
The President and Vice President strongly. believe we should expand qccess to affordable health care
coverage to more Americans. The budget proposes a 10-year, $110 billion initiative that would expand
coverage to at least 5 million uninsured Americans and expand access to millions more. It addresses the
nation's coverage challenges by building on and complementing current private and public programs.
Specifically, the initiative: (1) provides a new, affordable health insurance option for families called
"F,an1ilyCare," which builds on the State Children'~ Health Insurance Program to provide higher Federal
matching payments to parents of ch,ildren eligible for or enrolled in Medicaid or S-CHIP; (2) accelerates
enrollment of uninsured children eligible for,M~diGaid and S-CfIIP; (3) expands health insurance options
for Americans facing'unique barriers to coverage, including a Medicare buy-in with a new 25 percent tax
credit; 'a new 25 percent tux credit for COBRA continuation coverage; an initiative to help small
businesses afford insurance, and ·new Medicaid options for vulnerable groups of Americans (people ages
19 and 20; people leaving welt~lre for \vork; legal immigrants); and (4) strengthens programs that provide
health care directly to the uninsured. If enacted, this would be. the largest investment in coverage since
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Medicare was created in 1965.
Strengthening and Modernizing Medicare'
The President's budget includes a comprehensive plan to ref01111 and modernize Medicare. This plan will:
(I) make the program more efficient and competitive; (2) extend the solvency of the Health Insurance
(HI) trust fund to at least 2025; (3) modernize benefits including adding a long-overdue, voluntary
prescription drug benefit; and (4) create a reserve fund to be used for debt relief or to create bipartisan
consensus to fuI'ther strengthen the. proposed drug' benefit for Medicare beneficiaries. Building on the
President's successful fight against fraud and waste, the plan would dedicate over $300 billion in savings
and 'surplus over 10 years to the HI trust fund,. helping to meet the inevitable financing and health
challenges that result from the aging of the baby boom. The proposed prescription drug benefit would be
vo!untary,available and affordable to all beneficiaries, including low-income beneficiaries who would
pay low to no costs for coverage, It would be administered by private organizations like phannaceutical
benefit managers (PBMs) and would give financial incentives to 'employers who cUlTently offer retiree
'prescription drug benefits to maintain coverage. Finally, a reserve fund would be created for debt
reduction or, if there is bipartisan consensus, to strengthen the Administration's drug benefit by adding
protections against the cost ofcatastrophic drug expenses.
Long-Term Care Initiative
The budget proposes a 10-year, $28 billion initiative that helps address the nafion's multifaceted long
term care challenge. It includes: (l) a $3,000 tax credit to compensate people with long-term care needs
12
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or their caregivers for the 'cost of care; (2) a maJor hew investment in the Older An'iericans Act for·
information and referral as well as direct support services for family caregivers; (3) a new Medicaid
option to increase income eligibility levels for home and community based services to the same levels as
nursing home residents; (4) a I-lousing and Urban Development program to encourage assisted living
facilities for low-income elderly; and (5) a new option for Federal employees to purchase quality private'
long-term care in§urance. The FY 2001 budget also includes an additional $16.8 million to help states
strengthen nursing home enforcement tools and increase Federal oversight of riursing. home quality and
safety standards.
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Increasing Federal Support for Improving the Mental Health of All Americans
According to the December 1999 Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health, one in five Americans is
living with a mental health disorder. This report states that the fundamental components of effective
service delivery are. broadly agreed . upon, but in short supply. The President will .highlight his .new
investment of$1 00 million for mental healthservic.es, an increase of 16 percent over last year's funding
.,
level and a 90 percent increase since 1993. .
'
Preventing Medical Errors and Improving Quality of Care
.
Late last year, the Institute of Medicine reported that as many as 98,000 Americans die from preventable'
medical errors each year. In response, the President instructed that the over 300 health plans serving
Federal employees institute patient safety initiatives as a condition of participating in the program arid
directed all Federal agel1cies to conduct a comprehensive review of the steps they could take to reduce'
medical errors. In the coming weeks, the President will announce further actions we should take to help.
eliminate all preventable errors.
Major New Investment to Combat HIV and AIDS in the. United States
The Presid~nt has proposed to invest an addi,tional $125 million.in the Ryah White Program, an increase
of almost 8 percent over last year's funding level, to provide primary medical care, pharrnaceuticals
critical to treatment, and other criti.cal support services for people living \vith HIV and AIDS. The .budget
also includes an additional $50' million for HIV prevention, the largest increase 'ever in funding for these
activities, to encourage individuals at risk to avoid behaviors that can result in the transmission of the
disease. .
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'
RES~ONSIBILITY
N .
•
AND. CRIME
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21 sf Century Policing Initiative'
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In .order to keep, crime rates down to record low levels, and officers on the beat at all time highs, the,
President is committed to continuing the second year of his 21 sl Century Policing Initiative. The 21 5t
Policing Initiative, builds on his successful COPS program that has funded 100,000 more community
police for our streets, by: (1) providing resources for communities to hire and redeploy up to 50,000 more
police for our streets by FY 2005 with an effort to target new police officers to crime "hot spots'~; (2)
giving law enforcement access to the latest crime-fighting and crime-solving technologies, such' as
improved police communications, crime mapping software, laptop computers, and crime lab
improvements; and (3) funding new state and local prosecutors to work with local law enforcement and
the community to combat local crime problems; and (4) engaging all sectorsof th~community to prevent
and fight crime by funding partnerships with probation parole officers, schools, and faith~based
organizations.
Fighting,Gun Crime with New National Gun Enforcement Illitiatiye
Building on his successful strategy of combating gun violence that has helped lead to a 35 percent decline
in gun crime, the President proposedS280 million to fund the largest national gun enforcement initiative
in history that specifically includes:
.'
500 New ATF,Agents and Inspectors - The President's initiative includes the largest increase ever
in ATF agents and inspectors, with new agents to crack down on violent gun criminals and illegal gun
traffickers at guns shows, gun stores and on the streets,' and more firearms inspectors to target
unscrupulous gun'dealers who supply firearms to criminals and juveniles.
• Over 1,000 New Federal, State and Local Gun Prosecutors ~ The proposal will fund 1,000 new
state and local prosecutors to combat gun crime and violence, 100 new federal gun prosecutors, and
new gun enforcement teams to coordinate efforts with local law enforcement to rep10ve gun criminals
from our communities and put them behind bars.
• Comprehensive Crime GUll Tracing - To move toward tracing every crime gun in America, 250
local law enforcement agencies will receive training and tracing equipment to' facilitate
comprehensive tracing, and the Administration's Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative (YCGII)
will be/expanded from 38 to 50 cities across the country.
• New National Integrated Ballistics Information Network - The President's initiative will triple
current funding for ballistics'testing programs to launch the first-ever national ball istics network -- to
support the 'deployment of ISO ballistics imaging units to law enforcement, helping to link bullets and
, shell casings to the criminal guns they were fired from. '
• Local Anti-Gun Violence Media Campaigns - To help com'munities send a strong message to
combat gun crime and violence, the initiative funds matching grants to support local media campaigns
, highlighting penalties for breaking gun laws, proper storage of firearms and preventing child access.
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Funding Innovative Smart Gun Technology
The accidental gun death rate for chiidren under 15 in the U.S. is nine times higher than 25 other
industrialiied nations combined. To help prevent accidental gun death and injuries of children who
obtain access to guns, gun theft, and other unauthorized uses, the President committed to fund the
expansion, testing and replication of "smal't" gun technologies. These state-of-the-art gun safety
precautions can limit a gun's 'use to its adult - owner or other authorized users.
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�Passing Common Sense Gun Legislation
In addition to pressing the ,Congress t6 pass his- aggressive gun enforcement budget to give communities
more and better tools to fight gun crime, President Clinton urged the Congress to make passage of
pending common sense gun safety measures the first order. of legislative business. Among the refoons he
called on the Congress to enact include: closing the gun show loophole by requiring background checks
and records at gun shows; requiring child safety locks for handguns sold; banning, the importation of large
capacity ammunition magazines; and banning violent juveniles fro\TI owning guns for life.
15
�OPENING NEW MARKETS
The New Markcts Initiative
The United States is currently in the midst of the longe~t peacfetime expansion in its historY. The strength
and ~uration of this expansion has helped bring economic opportunity to millions of people once cut off
from the economic mainstream. Buttoo manyurban and rural areas have not participated in this growth.
These areas have tremendous potential as New Markets. The President's expanded New Markets initiative
'will 'spur $22 billion in new capital investment in businesses in these economically distressed areas
through a package of tax credits and loan guarantees. The package includes the following components:'
• Morc Than Doubling the Ne\" Markcts Tax Credit The President proposes'to more than double
the New Markets tax credit to spur $15 billion dollars in new investment in community development
in economically distressed areas. An entity making new equity' investments in a selected community
development project would
eligible for a tax credit worth 25 percent of the cost of the investment.
A variety of vehicles providing equity and creditto businesses in underserved areas would be eligible.
The total cost of the tax credits amounts to about $5 billion over 10 years.
.
• Expanded Empowerment Zonc Tax Incentives - These tax credits wiil extend and improve
economic growth in the 31 existing urban and rural Empowerment Zones, administered byHUD and
USDA, and support a third round of 10 new empowerment zones be desig~ated in 2001. The total,
cost of these proposals will be $4.4 billion over 10 years.
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• Anlcrica's Private Invcstment Companies (APICs) - Modeled after the Overseas Private
Investment Corporation's (OPIC), successful investment fund program, APICs would provide
guaranteed debt to private investment companies, licensed by HUD, to help leverage private equity
capital and lower the cost of capital for investments in low- and moderate-income communities. For
every dollar .that private investors provide; the government will guarantee two dollars in debt to
, ,expand the APIC's pool of capital available for making investments and enhance the return on those
investments to the private investors, APICs will make ,equity investments in larger businesses that are
,
expanding or relocating in inner citiesand rural areas. ;
• New Market Venture Capital Firms (NMVC;:s) -'The President is asking for $51.7 million in his
2001 budget to allow SBA'to match equity investment and technical assistance funds to finance 10-20
new investment partnerships - New Markets Venture Capital Firi11S -- selected to provide both long
term growth capital and expert guidance to entrepreneurs who need both in order to transform their
small businesses and great ideas into thriving companies.
• Other Elcments of Ncw Markets - Other elements include: II1creasing the furiding for SBA' s
microenterprise lending program;: creating PRlME-- a program providing technical assistance to
low-income entrepreneurs;
boosting CDFI funding; expanding support for BusinessLINC to
encourage large businesses to work with small businesses in new markets; and establishing a New
Markets University Partnerships pilot project which, 'under the auspices of HUD, would provide
Universities with funding to develop local community partnerships, assistance to intermediaries, and
technical and business development assistance to new and existing fin11S. In addition, to bettenerve
Native Arrierican communities, the President will provide additional funding to expand the New
'Markets initiative to Indian Country.
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,Delta Initiative
In the: Mississippi -Delta, poverty remains at 175 percent of the national average. The President has
proposed the creation of a new Delta Regional Authority, mo.deled after the successful Appalachian,
Regional Commission, to bring the resources of a Federal-State partnership to the fight forecol)omic
16
�growth in the region. This partnership will help bring the infrastructure and job'training needed to make
the Nation's prosperity a reality in the Delta;
Native American Initiative
In order to better serve Native, American communities in tl~is millennium and to honor the federal
government's trust responsibility to tribes, the President's budget includes an increase of$1.2 billion over'
Fisc,al Year 2000 for keynew and existing programs assisting Native Americans and indian reservations.
This initiative brings together several agencies in order to address the needs of Native American
communities comprehensively, Soine of the' highlights of this initiative include: $300 million for Bureau
of Indian Affairs'school construction and repair; $349 million through the Department·Of Transportation
for roads in Indian Country; $650 million to provide rental and homeownership assistance through the
'Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and $2,6 billion for the Indian Health Service.
Other key components of the .Native American initiative include: "Ne\v Markets" economic development
initiatives such as funding to create Native American Small Business Development Centers at the Small
Business Administration; funding to create a Native. American Economic Development Access Center at
HUD; addressing the "digital divide" by creating a new program, in conjunction with the tribal colleges,
to encourage Native Americans to enter information technology fields; funding 500 new Native American
school administrators; increased funding. for tribal colleges; $49 million to fund technology,
infrastructure, planning, and public works projects at the Economic Development 'Administration; arid
increased funding of $103 mi11i0l1 for the third year of the joint Department of Justice/Bureau of Indian
Affairs Law Enforcement initiative.
St.'engthening the Farm Safety Net
As the President has noted on numerous'occasions since its passage, the 1996 Farn1 Bill fails to provide
America's farmers with an adequate safety net As prices haVeremained depressed for the past two years,
the Federal government has provided over $15 billion in' emergency assistance. In order to provide.
American farmers and ranchers with the critical assistance that they need and deserve, the. President's
. budget includes $11 billion to strengthen the farm safety net until the next farm bill iri 2002, with three
key components: conservation, supplemental income assistance, and crop insurance. The budget includes
for FY 2001:
.
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• ·$1.3 billion to help family farmers take steps to protect water quality and the environment and to
preserve .farmland, including $600 million for a new conservation security program that will assist
. farmers who voluntarily adopt comprehensive plans to curb erosion and protect water supplies from
pesticii:ie and nutrient runotf.
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'. ·$3.1 billion for a flew targeted supplemental income assist~nce pl:ogram that will provide payments
to producers whose farm revenue falls more than 92 percent below its 5-year average.
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• ·$640 million to .subsidize the cost of crop insurance pr:emiums, to allow farn1ers to purchase higher
levels of coverage than are included in the basic' catastrophic coverage.
From Digital Divide to Digital Opportunity
Access to computers and the Internet and the ability- to use this technology effectively are becoming
increasingly importa.nt for fulI participation in America's economic, social and political life.
Unfortunately, there is strong evidence of a "digital divide" - unequal access. to techilOlogy by income,
education level, race, and geography. In 1998, those with a college .degree were more than eight times
more likely to have a computer at home and nearly sixteen times as likely to have home Internet access as
those with an elementary school education. And the gap is widening. This growing divide also cleaves
our community along income, ethnic, and geographic lines, w'lth affluent, white, and urban/suburban
households enjoying· better computer and Internet access than their Atl'ican-American, Hispanic, less
affluent and more rural counterparts. To address this troubling trend, the President will shortly unveil a
comprehensive program that relies on all levels of government working in partnership with the private
. 17
�sector and non-profit orgabizationsand al;:;o will lead high-tech executives and others on a New Markets
tour focused on closing the Digital Divide.
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�''-..,
GLOBAL CHANGE AND Al\:fERI,CAN LEADERSHIP'
Benefits of Expanding International Trade
Trade has been crucial to American' prosperity', Since World War II, as the U,S, ha's led eight separate
rounds of multilateral trade negotiations and signed hundreds of trade' agreements, 'global trade has
increased IS-fold, contributing to the most rapid, sustained economic growth ever recorded. Real
production in the United States is up S-fold an9 real average American per capit~:income is up 3-fold over
this period. Still, there remains much work to be done. Ninety-six percent Of the world's consumers'live
outside, the US, mal!y in, cOlmtries that are only, now, achieving the, means to become significant
purchasers of American products.
Forging a New Consensus on Tl'ade
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American leadersh'ip over the last 50 years has helped develop a world trading system in which the United
States is now the world's'largest exporter and importer with over $2 trillion worth of goods and servic'es
, in trade each year. Since the creation of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in 1948,
Democratic and Republican Administr<).tjons, working in partnership with Congress, have concluded eight
negotiating Rounds, opening markets for American goods, and helping advanc.e basic principles of rule of
law,transparency, and fair play in the world economy. Most recelitly; since the conclusion of the
Uruguay Round in 1994, a more open world economy has helpe,d American exports to rise by well over
$200 billion, This has contributed significantly to the rapid economic growth we have enjoyed' over the
past five years, and the continuation of the longest peacetime expansion in America's history. At the
same time, it has helped us to gain high-skill, high-wage jobs, reverse a 20-yearperiod of decline in
wages, and in fact increase wages by 6% in, real terms, Neve'rtheless, as President Clinton has said, we
need to build a new, consensus on trade by putting ,a human face, on the global economy. The five years
since the WTO was founded as the successor to the' General Agree'ment on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
, have revealed areas where the institutioh can be further'strengthened in this regard --including ,greater
transparency, a greater role in addressing worlcers' , concerns about globalization through the
establishment of a Working Group on Trade and Labor, anda commitment to sustainable development,
including protection of the environment,as enshrined in the WTO's Preamble.
Trade Agreements Enforcement Initiative
The President is committed to ensuring that trade is free and fair and that American companies and
workers benefit fully 'from our l:>ilateral and multilateral trade agreemerlts. He is proposing in FY 2001.
that the Department of Commerce and related agencies have the resoui'ces necessary to monitor and
enforce international trade agreements.
Child Labor
,
In his 1999 State of the Union address, President Clinton pJe'dge'd: n[W]e will lead the international
community to conclude a treaty to ban abusive child .labor everywhere in the world." In June, he spoke
to the ILO before it adopted the new convention and in December, with Senate advice and consent, he
signed the convention on behalf of the United States. Now.we must do, more to help countries around the
world 'make the convention's aspirations a reality, bringing education -- not hard labor -- to millions of
children and preventing the loss of future generations of youth to abusive wol·k. In the last two budgets,
the United States became the world's largest contributor .to the ILO's International Programme for the
Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC). This year, the P~esident proposes to expand support for international'
efforts to,eliminate child labor.
African Growth and Opportunity Act
In the State of the Union, President Clinton called upon Congress, to pass the African Growth and
Opportunity Act (AGOA), an important and groundbreaking piece of legislation, which 'recognizes
19
�African countries' efforts to institute sound ecoriomic policies and reform.' The House and Senate passed
different versions of the legislation last year. The philosophy of the legislation is simple: America stands
ready, to help those African countries that undertake difficult reforms to build a better future. Effective
aid, combined with strong reform and increased trade and inv~stment, \vill help bring Africa into the
global economy and create new markets for U.S. exports .. American businesses, farmers, and workers all
stand to benefit from expanding our trade with one of the largest underdeveloped markets in the world.
Caribbean Basin Trade Initiative
The President will work vvith, Congress toward swift passage of legislation expanding our C~ribbean
Basin Initiative (CBI) trading relationship with Caribbean and Central American countries. As part of a
package including the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, the Senate passed legislation last fall similar,
to that which the Administration has proposed. The President's CBr enhancement legislation will create
opportunities for American companies and workers as it provides enhanced market access and economic
stimulus for countries devastated by Hurricane ·Mitch. The Administration is strongly committed to
conclude, by 2005, negotiations for a, Free Trade Area of the Americas, which will expand U.S. export
opportunities throughout Latin America, and views CBI enhanc~ment <)s a useful bridge to this il~itiative.
Promoting Democracy and Advancing Human Rights
Promoting democracy and advancing human rights has been a central pn.onty of the Chnton-Gore
Administration's foreign policy, one that he will again stress in his State of the Union address. Over the
past seven years, the Clinton Administration has succeeded in ending bloodshed and reducing tensions in
the Middle East, Northern Ireland, East Timor, Bosnia, Kosovo, Haiti, SielTa Leone and else~here has
offered new hope for peace, democracy and prosperity'. This year the Pi-esident will reaffirm his
,commitment to advance this cause by calling for continued support for his efforts to broker peace,
promote democracy, protect human fights, defend religious freedom, and fully fLind our diplomacy.
Leading the Global Campaign Against'AIDS and Other Deadly Diseases
Although much progress has been made in the fight against AIDS and other deadly diseases, much more
still needs to be done. To that end, President Clinton and Vice President Gore have stepped up the
international battle to prevent, treat, and search for 'a cure for AIDS, which has disproportionately
afflicted our poorest nations. The FY2001 budget that the President' {viII send to Congress next month
calls for an additional $100 million investment in AIDS prevention, care, public health infrastructure, and
education ih {the African and Asian countries that have been hit the hardest by the disease .. Vice President
Gore announced this additional funding during an address to the UN Security Council in early January.
The President has also called for a new tax credit for sales of vaccines for malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS
to accelerate the development of these vacciries, creating an incentive 'tor the pharnlaceutical industry to
invest in the development of vaccines for poor countries, which often cannot afford to buy the vaccines
they need. This would build upon a proposed $50 million investment in the vaccine purchase fund of the
Global Alliance tor Vaccines and Immunization. Finally, the pj<esident wiIl, call upon the World Bank
and other multilateral development banks to dedicate an additional $400 million to $900 million annually
of their low-interest-rate loans to expand immunization, prevent and treat common diseases, and build
sound delivery systeinsfor other basic health services.
U.S.-China Trade Agreement
Under the terms of the agreement, China has agreed to grant the United States SigllijicclI1t new access to
its rapidly growing market of over one 'billi'on people, while we have agreed' simply to maintain the
market access policies we already apply to China by granting it permanent Normal Trade Relations
(NTR). The agreement slashes Chinese tariffs on our goods, opens China's markets to our services,and
contains safeguards against unfair trading practices. The agreement also advances critic,al national
'security goals. WTOmembership will spur China's economy, ridding impetus to reforms there; introduce
China to global economic competition and accelerate a process that is removing the government from vast
areas of the country's economic life; open China's telecommunications market, including to Internet and
20
�satellite services, and thUs expose China to information, ideas and debate from around the world; ~nd
oblige the govemment to publish laws and regulations and subject pertin"ent, decisions to review of an
international body,all of which will strengthen the rule of law in China and increase the likelihood that it
will play by "global rules as well. While WTO membership will not'by"itself or overnight transform
China's human rights record, it will move the country inthe'right direction, The United States must grant
China permanent NTR or risk ceding the full benefits of the agreement we negotiated to our Asian and
European competitors, For all these reasons, the President will make passage of this historic legislation a
high priority in the coming year.
B
" ~ilding Peace ill the Middle East
After days of intense 'negotiations at Wye Plantation in November 1998, President Clinton brokered an
historicagreemeilt between Israelis and Palestinians that strel)gthens Israel's security, expands the area of
Palestinian control in the,West Bank,and enhances economic opportunities for the Israeli and Palestinian
people, And in December of last year, President Clinton ended years of stalemate between Syria and
Israel by achieving a resumption 'of Israeli-Syrian peace talks and hosting the highest level meeting ever
between Israel and Syria after months of behind-the-scenes diplomacy', The ynited States has helped
broker agreements bet\veen Israel and the Palestinians and between Israel and Jordan, and led the efforts
toward a resumption of the Israeli-Syrian talks. The United States has stoodfirn1ly by thm,e who have'
taken risks for peace, providing them with strong political, econori1ic and material ,support; and
demonstrated to the enemies of peace that violence and "terror will not succeed in disrupting the peace
process. At the same time, the" United States has ma.intained its long-standing commitment to the security
of Israel, strengthened its ties with Egypt and Jordan, , and built a new relationship with the Palestinian
Authority and the Palestinian people.
' ,
Bringing Peace to Northern Ireland
,
President Clinton's intensive diplomatic efforts helped achieve, the .landmark Good' Friday Accord in
April 1998, bringing new governing structures and a new era of cooperation to Northern Ireland. And in
December of last year, both sides made historic progress towards'implementation of the Accord, forming
of an inclusive government in Northern It:eland, acceptirig the principle of consent with respect to any
change in the territorial status of Northern Ireland, launching new institutions for 'North/South cooperation
on the island, and taking the first steps to address the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons. In his
State of the Union address, President Clinton reaffirmed his support for full implementation, of the
agreement, so Northern Ireland can pursue a prosperous, democratic course, free of viole nee and terror.
The' United States will also con'tinue to support the International Fund for Ireland, which promotes
, reconciliation through economic I:egeneration projects targeting disadvantaged Irish,border counties and
Northern Ireland.
Reversing Ethiiic Cleansing in Kosovo
This past year, President Clinton led the NATO Alliance in a 79-day air war that expelled Serb forces'
from Kosovo and restored self-government to the province, ending a deca'de of repression and reversing
Slobodan Milosovic'sbrutal campaign of ethnic cleansing. In the face of Allied unity, American military
superiority, and strong Presidential leadership, the Serb dictator capitulated, withdrawing his troops and
permitting international peacekeepers to secure the peace for returning refugees. The President is now
committed to winning the peace, joining European leaders in strengthening democracy and civil society in
Kosovo, enhancing economic development and' regional integration through the Stability Pact, and
supporting opposition within Serbia to complete the democratization of the Balkans,
Protecting Our Computer Networks from CyberAttack
In his State of the Union address, President Clinton reaffirmed his commitment to strengthen America's
defense against the emerging threats cyber terrorists pose to our critical infrastructure, computer systems,
and networks, Earlier this month, he launched the National Plan for Inforq1ation~ystems Protection and
announced new budget proposals to protect our computer networks from cyberattack, including $621
21
�million to enhance fede~al research and development in computer secmity; $50' million to create· a new
Institute for Information Infrastructure Protection; $25 million to recruit, train and retain federal
information technology experts; and $10 million to design a Federallntrusion Detection Network
(FIDNET) which alerts the federal government to cyber attacks. President Clinton has increased funding
on critical infrastructure substantially over the past three years, including a16% Increase in the FY200 I
budget proposal to $2.03 billion. He has also developed and .funded new initiatives to defend the nation's
. computer systems from cyber attack. To jumpstart the FYOI program initiatives, the President will also
propose a $9 millionsupplemental t~is·spring. .
.
Combating International Crime
In his State of the Union address, President Clinton highlighted new measures to combat international
. money laundering, whi.ch facilitates illegal money flows, fosters corruption, and undermines democracy.
Combating international money laundering has become an increasingly important issue for the United
States. The last decade has seen an explosive proliferation of offshore banking centers that facilitate
international criminal money flows. ',Tpis proliferation also works against U.S. developmental goals by
allowing easy placement of funds obtained from official corruption .. There is also a growing concern that
these offshore centers can conn:ibute to significant financial destabilization, by providing new avenues for
unregulated capital flight and new opportunities for financial management entities incorporated in these
jurisdictions to tak~ advantage of the absence of supervisory authorities, to engage in activities that·would
be prohibited in the United States.
Aiding Colombia to Fight Drugs and Strengthen Democracy
Eighty percent of the cocaine entering the U.S. is either processed, transported, or grown in Colomb,ia:
For the first time in years, new adl11inistr?tion, led by President Andres Pastrana, is takjng the tough,
steps necessary to cnick dmvn both on narcotics traffickers and human rights violators. The President
recently announced his support for a bold new plan developed by President Pastrana to both stem the tide
of drugs e,ntering the United States and to strengthen the Colombian economy and democracy. To assist
the Colombians.in this effort, the President has proposed a total of $1 ,6 billion in funding 'over two years
to help fight narcotics trafficking, provide economic alternatives for coioi11bian farmers who now grow
coca and poppy plants, improve the judicial system, increase the protection' of human rights, and crack
down on money laundering. A portion o(the investment will go to help train and equip special counter
narcotics b~ttalions and to improve the Colombian capability to interdict .traffickers by improving radar,
aircraft, airfields, and intelligence-gathering equipment. The Administration will also propose $95
million to purchase equipment to enable the Colombian National Police to eradicate more coca and poppy
fields, and $93 million for new programs to help the judicial system and promote the peace process. Most
of the effort will be financeG n'om the Colombian government's own resources. The aid froin the United
States is expected to be supplemented by multilateral agencies and our allies.
a
International Debt Relief
At their Summit ·last June, G-7 leaders endorsed a new initiative spearheaded by the President to enable
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) to receive deeper, bro,ader and faster debt relief. Under the so
called Cologne Initiative, international financial institutions are developing a new framework for linking
debt reIlef with poverty reduction. The goal is to boost resources for priority social expenditures,
including health, child survival, AIDS prevention and education, as well .as improve transparency in
government budgeti.ng and consultation with. civil society in the development and implementation of
economic programs. Together with earlier debfrelief commitments, the Cologne Initiative provides for
reduction of up to 70 percent of the tota:! debts for these countries; decreasing the stock of debt from about "
$127 billion today to as low as $37 billion with the cancellation of official development assistance (ODA)
debt by G-7 and other bilateral creditors. As part ()f the initiative, the President announced in September
that the U.S, would seek to write off all of the $5.7 billion it is owed by as many as 36 heavily indebted
poor countries. Last fall, Congress .'passed part of the funding and authority necessary for the United
, State's full participation in the initiative, and the President is seeking approval of the remainder this year.
22
�Leading the Way in Global Non-Proliferation
The Clinton-Gore Administration has led the effort to reduce the international threat of weapons of rilass
destruction. Over the past six years, the Administration has made unprecedented progress in curbing the
proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the missiles that deliver them, in reducing
the dangerous legacy of Cold War weapons' stockpiles and in promoting responsible conventional arms
transfer policies. pJ'esident Clinton was the first world leader to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
(CTBT) and has proposed a bipartisan dialogue this year to build a consenslls that will lead to its eventual
ratification. The United States has also ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention and is working to .
strengthen the 1972 treaty outlawing biological weapon;:; and to achieve a positive Non-Proliferation
Treaty Review Conference.
Strengthening Military Readiness
,
President Clinton and Vice President Gore have rema,ined committed to ensuring that America's' military
remains the best-equipped, best-trained and best-prepared fighting force in the world, ready to face the
continuing challenges posed by the post-Cold War world and the challenges of a new century. He has
matched new commitments with 'new resources, requesting'and receiving from Congress billions in
additional defense spending in 1999, reversing declines that began a decade ago. The FY2000 budget
proposed a six-year increase of $112B for military readiness and modernization through a combination of
new spending and budgetary savings, assu'ring the first sustained real (after inflation) increase for defense
spending in over a' decade. This ,plan increased military pay by the largest percentage since the' early
1980s, and increased the. 20-year retirement benefit from 40% to 50l Yo of average base pay over the last
three years of service. The President's 2001 Defense budget builds on this plan, ensuring military
readiness remains first-rate' for years to come, Mor~over, significant increases are proposed for weapons
modernization to guarantee 'the continued technological superiority of U.S. forces.
23.
�RESPONSIBILITY, OPPORTUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Lands Legacy .
To meet the conservation challenges of a new century, President Clinton is proposing a new category of
dedicated, discretionary funding to protect America's land, coastal and wildlife resources. In FY 2000,'
the President secured $652 million for Lands Legacy, a 42 percent increase. For FY 2001, the President'
is proposing another substantial increase and creation of a new budget category to preserve this higher
level of funding in future years. The proposed FY 2001 funding would dramatically increase support for
. state, local and tribal efforts to protect farmland, forests, urban parks and other local green spaces. It also
would p\'ovide significant increases for federal, state, local and tribal efforts to protect ocean and coastal
resources. In addition, Lands Legacy would supported federal protection of natural·and historic lands
across the country, with priorities including Civil. War battlefields, the Florida Everglades, the Mojave
Desert, and New England forests and wildlife refuges.
Climate Change
Against a backdrop of growing scientific consensus that the Earth is warming - and that human activity is
at least partly to blame - the President is proposing a series of new initiatives to address global climate
change. The President's FY 2001 budget will propose a new effort to accelerate the development and
deployment of clean energy technologies in developing countries; increased funding for the research and
development of bio-based technologies that use crops, trees and agricultural waste to make fuels and
products; and start-up funding for a Clean Air Partnership Fund to support state' and local efforts that
'. achieve early reductions in bothgreenhollse gas emissions and ground-level air pollutants. Other'
elements of the Administration's climate change strategy include continued increases in both investments
and tax incentives to spur the development and deployment of clean energy technologies and energy- .
efficient cars, homes, and appliances; cutting energy use by the Federal government; working with
Congress to reward companies taking early, voluntary action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
'restructuring the electricity industry; and continued diplomatic efforts to Jill in key details of the Kyoto
Protocol and secure mor~ meaningful participation by ke;: developing countries in the fight against global
warming.
Tax credits for energy-efficientcars, homes and appliances
Cars and light trucks (including minivans, sport utilities, and pickups) currently account for 20 percent of
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The President's FY 2001 budget will propose tax incentives to help curb
these emissions by moving advanced technologies for electric, fuel cell, and hybrid vehicles from the
laboratory to the highway. Tax credits would be offered for the purchase of qualifying hybrid vehicles
from 2003 through 2006; and the CUiTent tax credit for. electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles would be
extended through 2006. The President also is proposing a tax credits for the purchase of energy-efficient
homes; for solar energy systems; for the purchase of energy~efficient l1eating and cooling equipment; and
for wind and biomass power.
. .
.
Clean Energy for the 21 st Century
.
.
Energy technology rnarkets in developing countries are projected to total $4 trillion to $5 trillion over the
n<;:xt 20 years. To accelerate the developn1ent and deployment of clean energy technologies around the
world, President Clinton is proposing the Clean 'Energy for the 21 st Century: International Initiative a
multi-agency effort to encourage remove market barriers to clean energy technologies in developing and
transition countries and to provide new incentives for clean energy technology innovation and export.
This initiative, which builds on a set of recommendations by the President's Committee of Advisors on .
Science and Technology (PCAST), will create as much as $5 billiori in new export revenues for U.S.
companies and tip to 100,000 new U.S. jobs,and will assist developing countries in powering their
economic development while fighting air pollution and climate change.
24
�Livable Communities
President Clinton and Vice President Gore are proposing to strengthen the Livable Communities
initiative, which expands the choices available to communities to;·help thenl grow in ways that ensure a
high quality of life and strong, sustainable economic growth. The Administration's FY 2001 budget will
propose recorq funding for public transit and other programs to ease traffic congestion while reducing air
pollution; matching grants to 'help' neighboring communities develop collaborative "smart· growth"
strategies; and funding to provide communities with new information tools, and improve public safety by
sharing crime data. The Administration also will propose tax credits for Better America Bonds, a new
financing tool generating billions in bond authority for investments by state,loca't and tribal governments
to preserve green'space, create or restore urban' parks, protect water quality, and clean up brownfields
(abandoned industrial sites). By delivering tools and resources to the local level, where issues of growth
management are most appropriately addressed, this initiative helps enipower citi,zens to. build more
"livable communities"for the 21st century .
..;
25
�THE OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILiTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Major New Investments in Science and Technology Research
President Clinton n has announced that he will include a nearly $3 billionin~rease in the "Twenty-First
Century Research Fund" in his FY2001budget, including a $1 billion increase in bioniedical research at
. the National Institutes of Health and double the largest dollar increase for the National Science
Foundation in its 50 year history. These investments will ensure that science and technology will
continue to fuel econornic growth and aIlow, Americans to lead longer, healthier lives. The funding
includes increased support in all scientific and engineering disciplines, including biomedical research,
nanotechnology, information technology, clean energy, and university-based research. 'The President's
budget includes:
• $1 billion increase in biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health. The President's
FY 2001 budget includes almost $19 billion,anincrease of $1 billion over last year's funding. level,
for biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health.. In addition, the President will eliminate
the delays in releasing $4 billion in research funds as required in last year's appropriations bill. This
increase will support resear~h in areas such as diabetes, brain disorders, cancer;' genetic medicine,
. disease prevention strategies, and development of an AIDS vaccine:' It will also help, researchers
complete in the,hear future a first draft of the entire human genon1e ~ the very blueprint of life. TIlis
and other wise investments in. science are leading to a revolution in our ability to detect, treat, and
prevent disease.lfCongress passes the President's proposal, funding for NIH will increase by over 80
percent nearly twice what theNIH budget was when President Clinton came into Qffice.
• 'Anew $495 million National Nanotechnology Initiative. Nanotechnology - the ability to
manipulate individual atoms and molecules - yould revolut.ionize the 21 st century in the same way
that the transistor did the 20 th • Inci-eased investments in nanotechnology, could lead to breakthroughs.
sllch as illolecularcomputers that can store the contents of the Library of Congress in a device the
size of a sugar cube, and new materials ten times stronger than steel and a fraction of the weight.
• A $675 million increase in the National Science Foundation -:- double the largest dollar
increase in NSF's history. This increase will boost university~based research and ensure balan'ced
support for all science and engll1eenng disciplines: NSF accounts for half of all non-health,
university-based research.
'
• An almost $600 million incnase in information technology research. This increase in
info1111ation technology research could lead to advances such as high-speed wireless networks that
can bring distance leaming and telemedicine ,to isoiated rural areas; and supercomputers that can
more accurately predict tornadoes and hurricanes and more rapidly develop life-saving drugs, .
Protecting Americans' Personal Privacy
As information technology tranSf01111S our government and our economy, a growing chalienge is how to
gain the benefits from the new technology while preserving one of our oldest values - privacy -in a
variety of different settings:
• Medical Records: This year the Clinton-Gore Administr'ation will issue historic; final rules that will
legally guarantee the key privacy protections: notice of data uses; consent before'records are used for
non-medical purposes;, patient access to records;' propersecLlrity; and effective enforcement.
President Clinton also will support legislation to expand the, scope and enforcement of those rules
• Financial Information: Financial modernization legislation signed by President Clinton last year
included important privacy protections, but more needs to be done .. This year, the President will seek
26
�further protections, 'including consumer choice before financi~l firms c~n share their information
within a corporate family.
.
•
Genetic Infoni1ation: As the human genome project nears completion, genetic testing and
. information will be increasingly common .to help predict, prevent, and treat diseases. However, there
are real concerns tliat as this information becomes increasingly common that it will be used not to
promote health in a protected manner, but. wil1' be used as a basis for discrimination. There are
already examples of employers using this type of information asa basis not to hire or promote
. individuals and studies are showing that Americans fear that this information will i.bemisused. The
President will stress the need for strong action on this issue.
• On-line: In the on-line world, the Clinton-Gore Administration has encouraged self-regulatory efforts
by industry to address privacy issues posed by emerging technologies and will work with consu'mers,
industry, and interested public officials to explore how best to address the growing practice of
building detailed profiles of every action consumers take online.
'.
27
�COMMUNITY
. ,
,
Service And Philanthropy
AmeriCorps and Encouraging Community Service
Since the start ofhis Administration, the President has encouraged and facilitated community service.
Over 150,00Q young people have participated in AmeriCorps' they have helped to im,munize more than a
million people; taught, tutored or m~ntored 4.4 million children; helped build some 11,000 homes; and
truly sparked a hew spirit of public engagement across the land .. The President's budget includes over
$850 million for the Corporation for National Service. This, increase of nearly $120 million keeps
AmeriCorps on track for the President's goal of 100,000 members each year by the year 2004. The
budgetwill also include a new "AmeriCorps Reserves" program, modeled after the military reserves, and
designed to engage former Corps members in times of need. ,The budget also includes $15.5 million in
new initiatives that reward innovations in youth service, as well as additional resources to encourage
service by senior citizens, and to engage students in service through a new "Community Coaches"
program.
Increasing Involvement ofIntcrfaith Partnerships and Community Organizations
Already many faith and community-based organizations partner with government to help our nation's
families,but the President and Vice President believe we should do more, and their budget proposes to
increase the.involvement of intedaith and community-based organizations in after school, housing,
community development, criminal justice, welfare refon11, teen pregnancy prevention, and juvenile justice
, programs, consistent with the constitutional line between church and state.
Increasing Chadtable G i v i n g .
.
In his State of the Union address and his new budget, President Clinton today will unveil a package of
new tax proposals to encourage philanthropy. First, he will propose allowing nonitemizers to take a tax
deduction for charitable giving. Second, he will propose new rules to make it easier for charitable
• foundations to make gifts in times of need. And third, he will propose .making it easier for individuals to
donate appreciated assets like securities and real property. Last October, the President and First Lady
convened the first-ever White I-loLlse 'Conference on Philanthropy: The conference highlighted the unique
American tradition 'of charitable giving, and emphasized that at a moment of great prosperity, we must
.
,
preser.ve and expand this tradition. These proposals will help do just that,
One America
Civil Rights Enforcement
,
President Clinton's FY 200 I budget proposes a significant increase for civil rights enforcement to help
ensure equal opportunity for all Americans. ' These funds will help to ensure that no American is
discriminated against at work, a home, or in school. The President's budget request of $698 million for
c.ivil rights ~nforcement agencies represents a $81 million, or 13 percent increase, over last year's funding
levels of $617 million. Highlights of the President's package include: (I) $98 million Civil Rights
Division of the Department of Justice -- a 20 percent increase over the 2000 enacted level -- to expand'
investigations, and prosecutions of criminal civil rights cases (including hate crimes and police
, misconduct), proniote compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act ,(ADA), and review
redistricting plans; (2) $322 million for the Equal Employment Opportunity Corim1ission (EEOC) -- an
increase of 15 percent over the 2000 enacted level --to support the agency's effort to reduce the backlog_
of private sector cases to 28,000 by the end of2001; (3) $76 n'lilJion for Department of Labor's Office of
Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) -~ an increase of 4 percent over the. 2000 enacted level
-to expand the compliance assistance strategy to encourage Federal contractor compliance through
increased outreach, education, and technical assistance, including providing contractors with the
28
�necessary tools to ~valuate their equal employment practices; (4) $50 million for D~partment of Housing
and Urban Development's (HUD) fair housing efforts -" an increase of 14 percent over the 2000 enacted
level -- to reduce housing discrimination, including funding for the final year of a three-year audit-based
enforcement initiative and training for' housing providers to ensure that individuals with disabilities have
access to housing,
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act ("'ENDA")
This bill would outlaw,discrimination in hiring, firing, and promotions based on· sexual orientation. It is
designed to, protect the rights of all Americans to participate in the job market without fear of unfair
discrimination. The Act providesan'exempti6n for small businesses,' the Armed Forces, and religious
organizations, including schools and other educational institutions that are substantially' controlled or
supported by religious organizations. The bill specifically prohibits preferential treatment on the basis of
sexual orientation, inciuding quotas. President Clinton and Vice President Gore are the first President and
Vice President evel: to back civil' rights legislation for gays and lesbian~. President Clinton originally
announced his support for the legislation ·in October 1995.'
",
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act
The President has urged Congress to pass, as one of its first orders of business, the Hate Crimes
Prevention Act, which would strengthen the existing federal hate crimes law by expanding the situations
in which the Department of Justice can prosecute defendants for violent crimes based on race, color,
religion, or national origin. Further, it would expand existihg law to cover cases of hate crimes based on
sexual orientation, gender, or disability. The President's budget includes $20 million for training for
federal, state, and local lawen forcement to prevent and respond to hate crimes, and to promote police
integrity.
.
English Literacy/Civics Initiative'
Like generations of immigrants past, today's immigrants are driven by a dream and .to achieve that
dream, they seek to learn the ways of this land and become full participants in American sqciety. To. this
end, President Clinton is proposing an increase for the English Language/Civics Initiative an innovative
program to help states and communities pro'vide limited English proficient (LEP) individuals with
expanded access to high-quality English-language instruction linked to civics and life skills instruction,
including understanding and mivigating the U.S. government system, the public education system, the
workplace, and other key instltutions of American life. This important initiative is a powerful tool in
building a stronger American coimminity. For FY 200'1, the Administration's budget request $75 million
for this initiative, anearly $50 million increase from FY 2000 ~nacted level.
Fairness to Immigrant Famil.ies
The Administration is committed to improving the way the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
conducts its busiliess, partic~l!arly the naturalization process that bestows United St~tes citizenship. The
Administration~s FY 2001 budget provides additional funds to INS to improve the naturalization process
and reduce the application backlogs and to expand the process to ensure that all immigration benefits and
services are provided in a fair, efficient, and timely manner.
Furthermore, the Administration will
continue to urge Congress to pass legislation th~t provides fail11ess for immigrant families by
restructuring the INS; approving the Administration's proposal to support the process of democratization
and stabilization now underway in Central American and Haiti by ensuring equitable treatnient for
migrants from these countries; ~nd changing the registry date to pennit long-term migrants to adjusUheir
status.
29
�(;
J
GOVERNMENTAL AND POLITICAL REFORM '
I
Enact Bipartisan Campaigi) Finance Reform
The President and the Vice President remain' committed to the enactment of bipartisan campaign finance
reform. Last year, the House of Representatives passed bipartisan reform. Tonight the President is
challenging the Senate to follow suit and enact rea~ reform early this year. Acceptable campaign finance
reform legislation must meet five criteria: 1) it must be bipartisan; 2) it must be comprehensive; 3) it
must reduce the amount of money that is raised 'and spent on federal elections; 4) it must 'help level the
playing field between challengers and incumbents; and 5) it cannot favor. one' party over the other.
Reinventing Government
Three months iDto our Administration, the Vice President took charge of our reinventing government
initiative. Seven years later, the government is the smallest it's been in nearly 40 years - over 350,000
fewer employees, And it's focLlsed on giving Americans customer service equal to the best in business by
getting results they care about. We're tossing aside outdated bureaLlcratic binders and red tape that too
often kept us from making a real difference in people's lives. But this is not just another exercise in
"good govemli1ent" -- our goal is nothing short of restoring the American people's trust in their
govemment. When we started, only 21% of the American people trusted govemment to do the right thing
all or most of the time -- down ii'om 76(1'0 under President Kennedy. Today, that 'figure is back up to 40%
-- a dramatic tumaround. But it's not nearly good enough. And we won't rest until "change" and
'~CLlstomer service" become a I~ermanent part of the landscape and a majority of Americans frust their
, govemment again.
"
30
�
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Andrew Rotherham - Education Series
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Domestic Policy Council
Andrew Rotherham
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1999-2000
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The Education Series highlights topics relating to class size reduction, test preparation, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, charter schools, the digital divide, distance learning, youth violence in schools, teacher salaries, social promotion, Hispanic education, standardized testing, and after-school programs. The records include reports, draft legislation, memoranda, correspondence to and from organizations and community leaders that focus on education issues, articles, publications, email, and fact sheets relating to the Administration’s progress on education.
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Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
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State of the Union
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Box 6
<a href="http://www.clintonlibrary.gov/assets/Documents/Finding-Aids/Systematic/2011-0103-S-edu.pdf">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="http://catalog.archives.gov/id/612954">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Adobe Acrobat Document
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Medium
The material or physical carrier of the resource.
Reproduction-Reference
Date Created
Date of creation of the resource.
8/22/2013
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
2011-0103-Sa-state-of-the-union
612954