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diff --git a/old/sucli10.txt b/old/sucli10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..76f002c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/sucli10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5989 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of State of the Union Addresses +by William J. Clinton +(#39 in our series of US Presidential State of the Union Addresses) + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: State of the Union Addresses of William J. Clinton + +Author: William J. Clinton + +Release Date: February, 2004 [EBook #5048] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on April 11, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OF ADDRESSES BY WILLIAM J. CLINTON *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by James Linden. + +The addresses are separated by three asterisks: *** + +Dates of addresses by William J. Clinton in this eBook: + January 25, 1994 + January 24, 1995 + January 23, 1996 + February 4, 1997 + January 27, 1998 + January 19, 1999 + January 27, 2000 + + + +*** + +State of the Union Address +William J. Clinton +January 25, 1994 + +Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, members of the 103rd Congress, my fellow +Americans: + +I am not sure what speech is in the TelePrompTer tonight, but I hope we can +talk about the State of the Union. + +I ask you to begin by recalling the memory of the giant who presided over +this chamber with such force and grace. Tip O'Neill liked to call himself +"A Man of the House" and he surely was that. But even more, he was a man of +the people, a bricklayer's son who helped to build the great American +middle class. Tip O'Neill never forgot who he was, where he came from, or +who sent him here. Tonight he's smiling down on us for the first time from +the Lord's gallery. But in his honor, may we too also remember who we are, +where we come from, and who sent us here. + +If we do that we will return over and over again to the principle that if +we simply give ordinary people equal opportunity, quality education, and a +fair shot at the American dream, they will do extraordinary things. + +We gather tonight in a world of changes so profound and rapid that all +nations are tested. Our American heritage has always been to master such +change, to use it to expand opportunity at home, and our leadership abroad. +But for too long and in too many ways, that heritage was abandoned, and our +country drifted. + +For 30 years family life in America has been breaking down. For 20 years +the wages of working people have been stagnant or declining. For the 12 +years of trickle down economics we built a false prosperity on a hollow +base as our national debt quadrupled. From 1989 to 1992 we experienced the +slowest growth in a half century. For too many families, even when both +parents were working, the American dream has been slipping away. + +In 1992 the American people demanded that we change. I year ago I asked all +of you to join me in accepting responsibility for the future of our +country. + +Well, we did. We replaced drift and deadlock with renewal and reform. And I +want to thank every one of you here who heard the American people, who +broke gridlock, who gave them the most successful teamwork between a +president and a Congress in 30 years. Accomplishments + +This Congress produced a budget that cut the deficit by half a trillion +dollars, cut spending and raised income taxes on only the wealthiest +Americans. This Congress produced tax relief for millions of low-income +workers to reward work over welfare. It produced NAFTA. It produced the +Brady bill, now the Brady law. + +And thank you, Jim Brady, for being here, and God bless you, Sarah. This +Congress produced tax cuts to reduce the taxes of nine out of 10 small +businesses who use the money to invest more and create more jobs. It +produced more research and treatment for AIDS, more childhood +immunizations, more support for women's health research, more affordable +college loans for the middle class, a new national service program for +those who want to give something back to their country and their +communities for higher education, a dramatic increase in high-tech +investments to move us from a defense to a domestic high-tech economy. This +Congress produced a new law – the motor voter bill – to help millions of +people register to vote. It produced family and medical leave – all passed, +all signed into law, with not one single veto. + +These accomplishments were all commitments I made when I sought this +office, and in fairness, they all had to be passed by you in this Congress. +But I am persuaded that the real credit belongs to the people who sent us +here, who pay our salaries, who hold our feet to the fire. But what we do +here is really beginning to change lives. Let me just give you one +example. + +Family And Medical Leave + +I will never forget what the family and medical leave law meant to just one +father I met early one Sunday morning in the White House. It was unusual to +see a family there touring early Sunday morning, but he had his wife and +his three children there, one of them in a wheelchair. And I came up, and +after we had our picture taken and had a little visit, I was walking off, +and that man grabbed me by the arm and he said, "Mr. President, let me tell +you something. My little girl here is desperately ill. She's probably not +going to make it. + +But because of the family leave law, I was able to take time off to spend +with her, the most important I ever spent in my life, without losing my job +and hurting the rest of my family. It means more to me than I will ever be +able to say. Don't you people up here ever think what you do doesn't make a +difference. It does." + +Though we are making a difference, our work has just begun. Many Americans +still haven't felt the impact of what we've done. The recovery still hasn't +touched every community or created enough jobs. Incomes are still stagnant. +There's still too much violence and not enough hope in too many places. + +Abroad, the young democracies we are strongly supporting still face very +difficult times and look to us for leadership. + +And so tonight, let us resolve to continue the journey of renewal, to +create more and better jobs, to guarantee health security for all, to +reward welfare – work over welfare, to promote democracy abroad and to +begin to reclaim our streets from violent crime and drugs and gangs to +renew our own American community. + +Deficit Reduction + +Last year, we began to put our house in order by tackling the budget +deficit that was driving us toward bankruptcy. We cut $255 billion in +spending, including entitlements, in over 340 separate budget items. We +froze domestic spending and used honest budget numbers. + +Led by the vice president, we've launched a campaign to reinvent +government. We've cut staff, cut perks, even trimmed the fleet of federal +limousines. After years of leaders whose rhetoric attacked bureaucracy but +whose actions expanded it, we will actually reduce it by 252,000 people +over the next five years. By the time we have finished, the federal +bureaucracy will be at its lowest point in 30 years. + +Because the deficit was so large and because they benefited from tax cuts +in the 1980s, we did ask the wealthiest Americans to pay more to reduce the +deficit. So on April the 15th, the American people will discover the truth +about what we did last year on taxes. Only the top one -- the top 1.2 +percent of Americans, as I said all along, will face higher income tax +rates – let me repeat, only the wealthiest 1.2 percent of Americans will +face higher income tax rates and no one else will, and that is the truth. +Of course, there were, as there always are in politics, naysayers who said +this plan wouldn't work, but they were wrong. When I became president, the +experts predicted that next year's deficit would be $300 billion, but +because we acted, those same people now say the deficit's going to be under +$180 billion, 40 percent lower than was previously predicted. + +The Economy + +Our economic program has helped to produce the lowest core inflation rate +and the lowest interest rates in 20 years, and because those interest rates +are down, business investment and equipment is growing at seven times the +rate of the previous four years. Auto sales are way up, home sales at a +record high. Millions of Americans have refinanced their homes and our +economy has produced 1.6 million private-sector jobs in 1993, more than +were created in the previous four years combined. + +The people who supported this economic plan should be proud of its early +results – proud. But everyone in this chamber should know and acknowledge +that there is more to do. Next month I will send you one of the toughest +budgets ever presented to Congress. It will cut spending in more than 300 +programs, eliminate 100 domestic programs, and reforms the way in which +governments buy goods and services. + +This year we must again make the hard choices to live within the hard +spending ceilings we have set. We must do it. We have proved we can bring +the deficit down without choking off recovery, without punishing seniors or +the middle class, and without putting our national security at risk. If you +will stick with this plan, we will post three consecutive years of +declining deficits for the first time since Harry Truman lived in the White +House. And once again, the buck stops here. Trade + +Our economic plan also bolsters our strength and our credibility around the +world. Once we reduced the deficit and put the steel back into our +competitive edge, the world echoed with the sound of falling trade +barriers. In one year, with NAFTA, with GATT, with our efforts in Asia and +the national export strategy, we did more to open world markets to American +products than at any time in the last two generations. That means more jobs +and rising living standards for the American people, low deficits, low +inflation, low interest rates, low trade barriers and high investments. +These are the building blocks of our recovery. But if we want to take full +advantage of the opportunities before us in the global economy, you all +know we must do more. + +As we reduce defense spending, I ask Congress to invest more in the +technologies of tomorrow. Defense conversion will keep us strong militarily +and create jobs for our people here at home. + +As we protect our environment, we must invest in the environmental +technologies of the future which will create jobs. This year we will fight +for a revitalized Clean Water Act and a Safe Drinking Water Act and a +reformed Superfund program. + +And the vice president is right; we must also work with the private sector +to connect every classroom, every clinic, every library, every hospital in +America into a national information superhighway by the year 2000. Think of +it. Instant access to information will increase productivity. It will help +to educate our children. It will provide better medical care. It will +create jobs. And I call on the Congress to pass legislation to establish +that information superhighway this year. + +As we expand opportunity and create jobs, no one can be left out. We must +continue to enforce fair lending and fair housing and all civil rights +laws, because America will never be complete in its renewal until everyone +shares in its bounty. But we all know, too, we can do all these things – +put our economic house in order, expand world trade, target the jobs of the +future, guarantee equal opportunity. + +But if we're honest, we'll all admit that this strategy still cannot work +unless we also give our people the education, training and skills they need +to seize the opportunities of tomorrow. We must set tough, world-class +academic and occupational standards for all our children and give our +teachers and students the tools they need to meet them. Education + +OurGoals 2000 proposal will empower individual school districts to +experiment with ideas like chartering their schools to be run by private +corporations or having more public school choice, to do whatever they wish +to do as long as we measure every school by one high standard: Are our +children learning what they need to know to compete and win in the global +economy? + +Goals 2000 links world-class standards to grassroots reforms and I hope +Congress will pass it without delay. Our school to work initiative will for +the first time link school to the world of work, providing at least one +year of apprenticeship beyond high school. After all, most of the people +we're counting on to build our economic future won't graduate from college. +It's time to stop ignoring them and start empowering them. We must +literally transform our outdated unemployment system into a new +reemployment system. The old unemployment system just sort of kept you +going while you waited for your old job to come back. We've got to have a +new system to move people into new and better jobs because most of those +old jobs just don't come back. And we know that the only way to have real +job security in the future, to get a good job with a growing income, is to +have real skills and the ability to learn new ones. So we've got to +streamline today's patchwork of training programs and make them a source of +new skill for our people who lose their jobs. Reemployment, not +unemployment, must become the centerpiece of our economic renewal. I urge +you to pass it in this session of Congress. Welfare + +And just as we must transform our unemployment system, so must we also +revolutionize our welfare system. It doesn't work; it defies our values as +a nation. If we value work, we can't justify a system that makes welfare +more attractive than work if people are worried about losing their health +care. + +If we value responsibility, we can't ignore the $34 billion in child +support absent parents out to be paying to millions of parents who are +taking care of their children – . If we value strong families, we can't +perpetuate a system that actually penalizes those who stay together. Can +you believe that a child who has a child gets more money from the +government for leaving home than for staying home with a parent or a +grandparent? That's not just bad policy, it's wrong and we ought to change +it. + +I worked on this problem for years before I became president, with other +governors and with members of Congress in both parties and with the +previous administration of another party. I worked on it with people who +were on welfare, lots of them. And I want to say something to everybody +here who cares about this issue. The people who most want to change this +system are the people who are dependent on it. They want to get off +welfare; they want to go back to work; they want to do right by their +kids. + +I once had a hearing when I was a governor and I brought in people on +welfare from all over America who had found their way to work and a woman +from my state who testified was asked this question. What's the best thing +about being off welfare and in a job. And without blinking an eye, she +looked at 40 governors and she said, when my boy goes to school and they +say "What does your mother do for a living?" he can give an answer. These +people want a better system and we ought to give it to them. + +Last year, we began this. We gave the states more power to innovate because +we know that a lot of great ideas come from outside Washington and many +states are already using it. Then this Congress took a dramatic step. +Instead of taxing people with modest incomes into poverty, we helped them +to work their way out of poverty by dramatically increasing the earned +income tax credit. It will lift 15 million working families out of poverty, +rewarding work over welfare, making it possible for people to be successful +workers and successful parents. Now that's real welfare reform. + +But there is more to be done. This spring I will send you a comprehensive +welfare reform bill that builds on the Family Support Act of 1988 and +restores the basic values of work and responsibility. We will say to +teenagers if you have a child out of wedlock, we'll no longer give you a +check to set up a separate household, we want families to stay together; +say to absent parents who aren't paying their child support if you're not +providing for your children we'll garnish your wages, suspend your license, +track you across state lines, and if necessary make some of you work off +what you owe. + +People who bring children into this world cannot and must not walk away +from them. + +But to all those who depend on welfare, we should offer ultimately a simple +compact. We will provide the support, the job training, the child care you +need for up to two years, but after that anyone who can work, must, in the +private sector wherever possible, in community service if necessary. That's +the only way we'll ever make welfare what it ought to be, a second chance, +not a way of life. + +I know it will be difficult to tackle welfare reform in 1994 at the same +time we tackle health care. But let me point out, I think it is inevitable +and imperative. It is estimated that one million people are on welfare +today because it's the only way they can get health care coverage for their +children. Those who choose to leave welfare for jobs without health +benefits, and many entry level jobs don't have health benefits, find +themselves in the incredible position of paying taxes that help to pay for +health care coverage for those who made the other choice, to stay on +welfare. No wonder people leave work and go back to welfare, to get health +care coverage. We've got to solve the health care problem to have real +welfare reform. + +Health Care Reform + +So this year we will make history by reforming the health care system. And +I would say to you, all of you my fellow public servants, this is another +issue where the people are way ahead of the politicians. + +That may not be popular with either party, but it happens to be the truth. + +You know, the first lady has received now almost a million letters from +people all across America and from all walks of life. I'd like to share +just one of them with you. Richard Anderson of Reno, Nevada, lost his job +and, with it, his health insurance. Two weeks later, his wife, Judy, +suffered a cerebral aneurysm. He rushed her to the hospital, where she +stayed in intensive care for 21 days. The Anderson's bills were over +$120,000. Although Judy recovered and Richard went back to work at $8 an +hour, the bills were too much for them and they were literally forced into +bankruptcy. + +"Mrs. Clinton," he wrote to Hillary, "no one in the United States of +America should have to lose everything they've worked for all their lives +because they were unfortunate enough to become ill." It was to help the +Richard and Judy Andersons of America that the first lady and so many +others have worked so hard and so long on this health care reform issue. We +owe them our thanks and our action. + +I know there are people here who say there's no health care crisis. Tell it +to Richard and Judy Anderson. Tell it to the 58 million Americans who have +no coverage at all for some time each year. Tell it to the 81 million +Americans with those preexisting conditions; those folks are paying more or +they can't get insurance at all or they can't ever change their jobs +because they or someone in their family has one of those preexisting +conditions. Tell it to the small businesses burdened by skyrocketing costs +of insurance. Most small businesses cover their employers, and they pay on +average 35 percent more in premiums than big businesses or government. Or +tell it to the 76 percent of insured Americans, three out of four whose +policies have lifetime limits, and that means they can find themselves +without any coverage at all just when they need it the most. + +So, if any of you believe there's no crisis, you tell it to those people, +because I can't. + +There are some people who literally do not understand the impact of this +problem on people's lives, but all you have to do is go out and listen to +them. Just go talk to them anywhere, in any congressional district in this +country. They're Republicans and Democrats and independents. It doesn't +have a lick to do with party. They think we don't get it, and it's time we +show that we do get it. + +From the day we began, our health care initiative has been designed to +strengthen what is good about our health care system -- the world's best +health care professionals, cutting edge research, and wonderful research +institutions, Medicare for older Americans. None of this -- none of it +should be put at risk. But we're paying more and more money for less and +less care. Every year, fewer and fewer Americans even get to choose their +doctors. Every year, doctors and nurses spend more time on paperwork and +less time with patients because of the absolute bureaucratic nightmare the +present system has become. + +This system is riddled with inefficiency, with abuse, with fraud, and +everybody knows it. In today's health care system, insurance companies call +the shots. They pick whom they cover and how they cover them. They can cut +off your benefits when you need your coverage the most. They are in +charge. + +What does it mean? It means every night millions of well-insured Americans +go to bed just an illness, an accident, or a pink slip away from having no +coverage or financial ruin. It means every morning millions of Americans go +to work without any health insurance at all – something the workers in no +other advanced country in the world do. It means that every year more and +more hard working people are told to pick a new doctor because their boss +has had to pick a new plan. And countless others turndown better jobs +because they know, if they take the better job, they'll lose their health +insurance. + +If we just let the health care system continue to drift, our country will +have people with less care, fewer choices, and higher bill. + +Now, our approach protects the quality of care and people's choices. It +builds on what works today in the private sector, to expand employer based +coverage, to guarantee private insurance for every American. And I might +say, employer based private insurance for every American was proposed 20 +years ago by President Richard Nixon to the United States Congress. It was +a good idea then, and it's a better idea today. + +Why do we want guaranteed private insurance? Because right now, nine out of +ten people who have insurance get it through their employers – and that +should continue. And if your employer is providing good benefits at +reasonable prices, that should continue too. And that ought to make the +Congress and the president feel better. Our goal is health insurance +everybody can depend on – comprehensive benefits that cover preventive care +and prescription drugs, health premiums that don't just explode when you +get sick or you get older, the power – no matter how small your business is +– to choose dependable insurance at the same competitive rates that +governments and big business get today, one simple form for people who are +sick, and most of all, the freedom to choose a plan and the right to choose +your own doctor. + +Our approach protects older Americans. Every plan before the Congress +proposes to slow the growth of Medicare. The difference is this. We believe +those savings should be used to improve health care for senior citizens. +Medicare must be protected, and it should cover prescription drugs, and we +should take the first steps in covering long-term care. + +To those who would cut Medicare without protecting seniors, I say the +solution to today's squeeze on middle class working people's health care is +not to put the squeeze on middle class retired people's health care. We can +do better than that. When it's all said and done, it's pretty simple to me. +Insurance ought to mean what it used to mean. You pay a fair price for +security, and when you get sick, health care is always there – no matter +what. + +Along with the guarantee of health security, we all have to admit, too, +there must be more responsibility on the part of all of us in how we use +this system. People have to take their kids to get immunized. We should all +take advantage of preventive care. We must all work together to stop the +violence that explodes our emergency rooms. We have to practice better +health habits, and we can't abuse the system. And those who don't have +insurance under our approach will get coverage, but they will have to pay +something for it, too. The minority of businesses that provide no insurance +at all, and in so doing, shift the cost of the care of their employees to +others, should contribute something. People who smoke should pay more for a +pack of cigarettes. Everybody can contribute something if we want to solve +the health care crisis. There can't be anymore something for nothing. It +will not be easy, but it can be done. Now in the coming months I hope very +much to work with both Democrats and Republicans to reform a health care +system by using the market to bring down costs and to achieve lasting +health security. But if you look at history, we see that for 60 years this +country has tried to reform health care. President Roosevelt tried, +President Truman tried, President Nixon tried, President Carter tried. +Every time the special interests were powerful enough to defeat them, but +not this time. + +Campaign Finance Reform + +I know that facing up to these interests will require courage. It will +raise critical questions about the way we finance our campaigns and how +lobbyists yield their influence. The work of change, frankly, will never +get any easier until we limit the influence of well financed interests who +profit from this current system. So I also must now call on you to finish +the job both houses began last year, by passing tough and meaningful +campaign finance reform and lobby reform legislation this year. + +You know, my fellow Americans, this is really a test for all of us. The +American people provide those of us in government service with terrific +health care benefits at reasonable costs. We have health care that's always +there. I think we need to give every hard working, taxpaying American the +same health care security they have already given to us. + +I want to make this very clear: I am open, as I have said repeatedly, to +the best ideas of concerned members of both parties. I have no special +brief for any specific approach, even in our own bill, except this: if you +send me legislation that does not guarantee every American private health +insurance that can never be taken away, you will force me to take this pen, +veto the legislation, and we'll come right back here and start all over +again. + +But I don't think that's going to happen. I think we're ready to act now. I +believe that you're ready to act now. And if you're ready to guarantee +every American the same health care that you have, health care that can +never be taken away – now, not next year or the year after, now is the time +to stand with the people who sent us here. Now. + +Foreign Policy + +As we take these steps together to renew our strength at home, we cannot +turn away from our obligations to renew our leadership abroad. This is a +promising moment. Because of the agreements we have reached this year, last +year, Russia's strategic nuclear missiles soon will no longer be pointed at +the United States. Nor will we point ours at them. + +Instead of building weapons in space, Russian scientists will help us to +build the international space station. + +And of course there are still dangers in the world: rampant arms +proliferation, bitter regional conflicts, ethnic and nationalist tensions +in many new democracies, severe environmental degradation the world over, +and fanatics who seek to cripple the world's cities with terror. As the +world's greatest power, we must therefore maintain our defenses and our +responsibilities. This year we secured indictments against terrorists and +sanctions against those harbor them. We worked to promote +environmentally-sustainable economic growth. We achieved agreements with +Ukraine, with Belarus, with Kazakhstan, to eliminate completely their +nuclear arsenals. We are working to achieve a Korean Peninsula free of +nuclear weapons. We will seek early ratification of the treaty to ban +chemical weapons worldwide. And earlier today we joined with over 30 +nations to begin negotiations on a comprehensive ban to stop all nuclear +testing. + +But nothing – nothing – is more important to our security than our nation's +armed forces. We honor their contributions, including those who are +carrying out the longest humanitarian airlift in history in Bosnia – -- +those who will complete their mission in Somalia this year and their brave +comrades who gave their lives there. Our forces are the finest military our +nation has ever had, and I have pledged that as long as I am president they +will remain the best-equipped, the best-trained and the best-prepared +fighting force on the face of the earth. Defense + +Last year, I proposed a defense plan that maintains our post-Cold War +security at a lower cost. This year, many people urged me to cut our +defense spending further to pay for other government programs. I said no. +The budget I send to Congress draws the line against further defense cuts. +It protects the readiness and quality of our forces. Ultimately, the best +strategy is to do that. We must not cut defense further. I hope the +Congress without regard to party will support that position. + +Ultimately, the best strategy to ensure our security and to build a durable +peace is to support the advance of democracy elsewhere. Democracies don't +attack each other. They make better trading partners and partners in +diplomacy. That is why we have supported, you and I, the democratic +reformers in Russia and in the other states of the former Soviet bloc. I +applaud the bipartisan support this Congress provided last year for our +initiatives to help Russia, Ukraine and the other states through their epic +transformations. + +Our support of reform must combine patience for the enormity of the task +and vigilance for our fundamental interest and values. We will continue to +urge Russia and the other states to press ahead with economic reforms, and +we will seek to cooperate with Russia to solve regional problems while +insisting that, if Russian troops operate in neighboring states, they do so +only when those states agree to their presence and in strict accord with +international standards. + +But we must also remember as these nations chart their own futures, and +they must chart their own futures, how much more secure and more prosperous +our own people will be if democratic and market reform succeed all across +the former communist bloc. Our policy has been to support that move and +that has been the policy of the Congress. We should continue it. Europe + +That is why I went to Europe earlier this month, to work with our European +partners to help to integrate all the former communist countries into a +Europe that has the possibility of becoming unified for the first time in +its entire history, it's entire history, based on the simple commitments of +all nations in Europe to democracy, to free markets, and to respect for +existing borders. + +With our allies, we have created a partnership for peace that invites +states from the former Soviet bloc and other non-NATO members to work with +NATO in military cooperation. When I met with Central Europe's leaders, +including Lech Walesa and Vaclav Havel, men who put their lives on the line +for freedom, I told them that the security of their region is important to +our country's security. + +This year, we must also do more to support democratic renewal and human +rights and sustainable development all around the world. We will ask +Congress to ratify the new GATT accord, we will continue standing by South +Africa as it works its way through its bold and hopeful and difficult +transition to democracy. We will convene a summit of the Western +hemisphere's democratic leaders from Canada to the tip of South America. +And we will continue to press for the restoration of true democracy in +Haiti. + +And as we build a more constructive relationship with China, we must +continue to insist on clear signs of improvement in that nation's human +rights record. + +Middle East + +We will also work for new progress toward the Middle East peace. Last year +the world watched Yitzhak Rabin and Yasir Arafat at the White House when +they had their historic handshake of reconciliation. But there is a long, +hard road ahead. And on that road I am determined that I and our +administration will do all we can to achieve a comprehensive and lasting +peace for all the peoples of the region. + +Now, there are some in our country who argue that with the Cold War, +America should turn its back on the rest of the world. Many around the +world were afraid we would do just that. But I took this office on a pledge +that had no partisan tinge to keep our nation secure by remaining engaged +in the rest of the world. And this year, because of our work together, +enacting NAFTA, keeping our military strong and prepared, supporting +democracy abroad, we have reaffirmed America's leadership, America's +engagement, and as a result, the American people are more secure than they +were before. Crime + +But while Americans are more secure from threats abroad, I think we all now +that in many ways we are less secure from threats here at home. Everyday +the national peace is shattered by crime. + +In Petaluma, California, an innocent slumber party gives way to agonizing +tragedy for the family of Polly Klaas. An ordinary train ride on Long +Island ends in a hail of nine millimeter rounds. A tourist in Florida is +nearly burned alive by bigots simply because he is black. Right here in our +nation's capital, a brave young man named Jason White, a policeman, the son +and grandson of policemen, is ruthlessly gunned down. + +Violent crime and the fear it provokes are crippling our society, limiting +personal freedom, and fraying the ties that bind us. + +The crime bill before Congress gives you a chance to do something about it, +a chance to be tough and smart. What does that mean? Let me begin by saying +I care a lot about this issue. Many years ago, when I started out in public +life, I was the attorney general of my state. I served as a governor for a +dozen years. I know what it's like to sign laws increasing penalties, to +build more prison cells, to carry out the death penalty. I understand this +issue and it is not a simple thing. + +First, we must recognize that most violent crimes are committed by a small +percentage of criminals who too often break the laws even when they are on +parole. Now those who commit crimes should be punished, and those who +commit repeated violent crimes should be told when you commit a third +violent crime, you will be put away and put away for good, three strikes +and you are out. + +Second, we must take serious steps to reduce violence and prevent crime, +beginning with more police officers and more community policing. We know +right now that police who work the streets, know the folks, have the +respect of the neighborhood kids, focus on high crime areas, we know that +they are more likely to prevent crime as well as catch criminals. Look at +the experience of Houston, where the crime rate dropped 17 percent in one +year when that approach was taken. Here tonight is one of those community +policemen, a brave, young detective, Kevin Jett, whose beat is eight square +blocks in one of the toughest neighborhoods in New York. Every day he +restores some sanity and safety, and a sense of values and connection to +the people whose lives he protects. I'd like to ask him to stand up and be +recognized tonight. + +You will be given a chance to give the children of this country, the law +abiding working people of this country, and don't forget, in the toughest +neighborhoods in this country, in the highest crime neighborhoods in this +country the vast majority of people get up every day and obey the law, pay +their taxes, do their best to raise their kids. They deserve people like +Kevin Jett, and you're going to be given the chance to give the American +people another 100,000 of them, well trained, and I urge you to do it. + +You have before you crime legislation which also establishes a police corps +to encourage young people to get an education, and pay it off by serving as +police officers, which encourages retiring military personnel to move into +police forces – and enormous resources for our country, one which has a +safe schools provisions which will give our young people the chance to walk +to school in safety and to be in school in safety instead of dodging +bullets. These are important things. + +The third thing we have to do is to build on the Brady Bill – the Brady Law +to take further steps – -- to take further steps to keep guns out of the +hands of criminals. + +Now, I want to say something about this issue. Hunters must always be free +to hunt, law abiding adults should always be free to own guns and protect +their homes. I respect that part of our culture. I grew up in it. But I +want to ask the sportsmen and others who lawfully own guns to join us in +this campaign to reduce gun violence. I say to you, I know you didn't +create this problem, but we need your help to solve it. There is no +sporting purpose on earth that should stop the United States Congress from +banishing assault weapons that outgun police and cut down children. + +Fourth, we must remember that drugs are a factor in an enormous percentage +of crimes. Recent studies indicate, sadly, that drug use is on the rise +again among our young people. The Crime Bill contains – all the crime bills +contain – more money for drug treatment, for criminal addicts, and boot +camps for youthful offenders that include incentives to get off drugs and +to stay off drugs. Our administration's budget, with all its cuts, contains +a large increase in funding for drug treatment and drug education. You must +pass them both. We need then desperately. + +My fellow Americans, the problem of violence is an un-American problem. It +has no partisan or philosophical element. Therefore, I urge you find ways +as quickly as possible to set aside partisan differences and pass a strong, +smart, tough crime bill. + +But further, I urge you to consider this: As you demand tougher penalties +for those who choose violence, let us also remember how we came to this sad +point. In our toughest neighborhoods, on our meanest streets, in our +poorest rural areas, we have seen a stunning and simultaneous breakdown of +community, family, and work, the heart and soul of civilized society. This +has created a vast vacuum which has been filled by violence and drugs and +gangs. So I ask you to remember that even as we say no to crime, we must +give people, especially our young people something to say yes to. Many of +our initiatives, from job training to welfare reform to health care to +national service will help to rebuild distressed communities, to strengthen +families, to provide work, but more needs to be done. That's what our +community empowerment agenda is all about – challenging businesses to +provide more investment through empowerment zones, ensuring banks will make +loans in the same communities their deposits come from, passing legislation +to unleash the power of capital through community development banks to +create jobs, opportunity, and hope where they're needed most. + +But I think you know that to really solve this problem, we'll all have to +put our heads together, leave our ideological armor aside, and find some +new ideas to do even more. + +The Role Of Government + +And let's be honest, we all know something else, too. Our problems go way +beyond the reach of government. They're rooted in the loss of values and +the disappearance of work and the breakdown of our families and our +communities. My fellow Americans, we can cut the deficit, create jobs, +promote democracy around the world, pass welfare reform and health care, +pass the toughest crime bill in history and still leave too many of our +people behind. + +The American people have got to want to change from within if we're going +to bring back work and family and community. We cannot renew our country +when, within a decade, more than half of the children will be born into +families where there has been no marriage. We cannot renew this country +when 13-year-old boys get semi-automatic weapons to shoot 9 year olds for +kicks. We can't renew our country when children are having children and the +fathers walk away as if the kids don't amount to anything. We can't renew +the country when our businesses eagerly look for new investments and new +customers abroad but ignore those people right here at home who'd give +anything to have their jobs and would gladly buy their products if they had +the money to do it. + +We can't renew our country unless more of us – I mean all of us – are +willing to join the churches and the other good citizens, people like all +the black ministers I've worked with over the years or the priests and the +nuns I met at Our Lady of Help in East Los Angeles or my good friend Tony +Campolo in Philadelphia, unless we're willing to work with people like +that, people who are saving kids, adopting schools, making streets safer. +All of us can do that. + +We can't renew our country until we realize that governments don't raise +children; parents do. Parents who know their children's teachers and turn +off the television and help with the homework and teach their kids right +from wrong – those kind of parents can make all the difference. I know. I +had one. And I'm telling you we have got to stop pointing our fingers at +these kids who have no future and reach our hands out to them. Our country +needs it. We need it. And they deserve it. + +And so I say to you tonight let's give our children a future. Let us take +away their guns and give them books. Let us overcome their despair and +replace it with hope. Let us, by our example, teach them to obey the law, +respect our neighbors, and cherish our values. Let us weave these sturdy +threads into a new American community that once more stand strong against +the forces of despair and evil because everybody has a chance to walk into +a better tomorrow. + +Oh, there will be naysayers who fear that we won't be equal to the +challenges of this time, but they misread our history, our heritage, even +today's headlines. All those things tell us we can and we will overcome any +challenge. + +When the earth shook and fires raged in California; when I saw the +Mississippi deluge the farmlands of the Midwest in a 500 year flood; when +the century's bitterest cold swept from North Dakota to Newport News it +seemed as though the world itself was coming apart at the seams. But the +American people, they just came together. They rose to the occasion, +neighbor helping neighbor, strangers risking life and limb to stay total +strangers, showing the better angels of our nature. + +Let us not reserve the better angels only for natural disasters, leaving +our deepest and most profound problems to petty political fighting. + +Let us instead by true to our spirit, facing facts, coming together, +bringing hope and moving forward. + +Tonight, my fellow Americans, we are summoned to answer a question as old +as the republic itself, what is the state of our union ? + +It is growing stronger but it must be stronger still. With your help and +God's help it will be. + +Thank you and God Bless America. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +William J. Clinton +January 24, 1995 + +Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, members of the 104th Congress, my fellow +Americans: + +Again we are here in the sanctuary of democracy. And once again, our +democracy has spoken. + +So let me begin by congratulating all of you here in the 104th Congress, +and congratulating you, Mr. Speaker. + +If we agree on nothing else tonight, we must agree that the American people +certainly voted for change in 1992 and in 1994. + +And as I look out at you, I know how some of you must have felt in 1992. + +I must say that in both years we didn't hear America singing, we heard +America shouting. And now all of us, Republicans and Democrats alike, must +say: We hear you. We will work together to earn the jobs you have given us. +For we are the keepers of the sacred trust and we must be faithful to it in +this new and very demanding era. + +Over 200 years ago, our founders changed the entire course of human history +by joining together to create a new country based on a single, powerful +idea. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created +equal, endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. Among +these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. + +It has fallen to every generation since then to preserve that idea – the +American idea – and to deepen and expand its meaning in new and different +times. To Lincoln and to his Congress, to preserve the Union and to end +slavery. To Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, to restrain the abuses +and excesses of the Industrial Revolution and to assert our leadership in +the world. To Franklin Roosevelt, to fight the failure and pain of the +Great Depression and to win our country's great struggle against fascism. + +And to all our Presidents since, to fight the cold war. Especially, I +recall two who struggled to fight that cold war in partnership with +Congresses where the majority was of a different party. To Harry Truman, +who summoned us to unparalleled prosperity at home and who built the +architecture of the cold war. And to Ronald Reagan, whom we wish well +tonight, and who exhorted us to carry on until the twilight struggle +against Communism was won. + +In another time of change and challenge, I had the honor to be the first +President to be elected in the post-cold-war era, an era marked by the +global economy, the information revolution, unparalleled change in +opportunity and in security for the American people. + +I came to this hallowed chamber two years ago on a mission: To restore the +American dream for all our people and to make sure that we move into the +21st century still the strongest force for freedom and democracy in the +entire world. + +I was determined then to tackle the tough problems too long ignored. In +this effort I am frank to say that I have made my mistakes. And I have +learned again the importance of humility in all human endeavor. + +But I am also proud to say tonight that our country is stronger than it was +two years ago. Accomplishments + +Record numbers, record numbers of Americans are succeeding in the new +global economy. We are at peace, and we are a force for peace and freedom +throughout the world. We have almost six million new jobs since I became +President, and we have the lowest combined rate of unemployment and +inflation in 25 years. + +Our businesses are more productive and here we have worked to bring the +deficit down, to expand trade, to put more police on our streets, to give +our citizens more of the tools they need to get an education and to rebuild +their own communities. But the rising tide is not lifting all the boats. + +While our nation is enjoying peace and prosperity, too many of our people +are still working harder and harder for less and less. While our businesses +are restructuring and growing more productive and competitive, too many of +our people still can't be sure of having a job next year or even next +month. And far more than our material riches are threatened, things far +more precious to us: our children, our families, our values. + +Our civil life is suffering in America today. Citizens are working together +less and shouting at each other more. The common bonds of community which +have been the great strength of our country from its very beginning are +badly frayed. + +What are we to do about it? + +More than 60 years ago at the dawn of another new era, President Roosevelt +told our nation new conditions impose new requirements on Government and +those who conduct Government. And from that simple proposition he shaped +the New Deal, which helped to restore our nation to prosperity and defined +the relationship between our people and their Government for half a +century. + +That approach worked in its time but today we face a very different time +and very different conditions. We are moving from an industrial age built +on gears and sweat to an information age demanding skills and learning and +flexibility. + +Our Government, once a champion of national purpose, is now seen by many as +simply a captive of narrow interests putting more burdens on our citizens +rather than equipping them to get ahead. The values that used to hold us +all together seem to be coming apart. + +So tonight we must forge a new social compact to meet the challenges of +this time. As we enter a new era, we need a new set of understandings not +just with Government but, even more important, with one another as +Americans. + +New Covenant + +That's what I want to talk with you about tonight. I call it the New +Covenant but it's grounded in a very, very old idea that all Americans have +not just a right but a solemn responsibility to rise as far as their +God-given talents and determination can take them. And to give something +back to their communities and their country in return. + +Opportunity and responsibility – they go hand in hand; we can't have one +without the other, and our national community can't hold together without +both. + +Our New Covenant is a new set of understandings for how we can equip our +people to meet the challenges of the new economy, how we can change the way +our Government works to fit a different time and, above all, how we can +repair the damaged bonds in our society and come together behind our common +purpose. We must have dramatic change in our economy, our Government and +ourselves. + +My fellow Americans, without regard to party, let us rise to the occasion. +Let us put aside partisanship and pettiness and pride. As we embark on this +course, let us put our country first, remembering that regardless of party +label we are all Americans. And let the final test of everything we do be a +simple one: Is it good for the American people? + +Let me begin by saying that we cannot ask Americans to be better citizens +if we are not better servants. You made a good start by passing that law +which applies to Congress all the laws you put on the private sector – and +I was proud to sign it yesterday. + +But we have a lot more to do before people really trust the way things work +around here. Three times as many lobbyists are in the streets and corridors +of Washington as were here 20 years ago. The American people look at their +capital and they see a city where the well-connected and the well-protected +can work the system, but the interests of ordinary citizens are often left +out. + +As the new Congress opened its doors, lobbyists were still doing business +as usual – the gifts, the trips – all the things that people are concerned +about haven't stopped. + +Twice this month you missed opportunities to stop these practices. I know +there were other considerations in those votes, but I want to use something +that I've heard my Republican friends say from time to time: There doesn't +have to be a law for everything. + +So tonight I ask you to just stop taking the lobbyists' perks, just stop. + +We don't have to wait for legislation to pass to send a strong signal to +the American people that things are really changing. But I also hope you +will send me the strongest possible lobby reform bill, and I'll sign that, +too. We should require lobbyists to tell the people for whom they work what +they're spending, what they want. We should also curb the role of big money +in elections by capping the cost of campaigns and limiting the influence of +PAC's. + +And as I have said for three years, we should work to open the air waves so +that they can be an instrument of democracy not a weapon of destruction by +giving free TV time to candidates for public office. + +When the last Congress killed political reform last year, it was reported +in the press that the lobbyists actually stood in the halls of this sacred +building and cheered. This year, let's give the folks at home something to +cheer about. + +More important, I think we all agree that we have to change the way the +Government works. Let's make it smaller, less costly and smarter. Leaner +not meaner. + +I just told the Speaker the equal time doctrine's alive and well. + +The Role Of Government + +The New Covenant approach to governing is as different from the old +bureaucratic way as the computer is from the manual typewriter. The old way +of governing around here protected organized interests; we should look out +for the interests of ordinary people. The old way divided us by interests, +constituency or class; the New Covenant way should unite us behind a common +vision of what's best for our country. + +The old way dispensed services through large, top-down, inflexible +bureaucracies. The New Covenant way should shift these resources and +decision making from bureaucrats to citizens, injecting choice and +competition and individual responsibility into national policy. + +The old way of governing around here actually seemed to reward failure. The +New Covenant way should have built-in incentives to reward success. + +The old way was centralized here in Washington. The New Covenant way must +take hold in the communities all across America, and we should help them to +do that. + +Our job here is to expand opportunity, not bureaucracy, to empower people +to make the most of their own lives and to enhance our security here at +home and abroad. + +We must not ask Government to do what we should do for ourselves. We should +rely on Government as a partner to help us to do more for ourselves and for +each other. + +I hope very much that as we debate these specific and exciting matters, we +can go beyond the sterile discussion between the illusion that there is +somehow a program for every problem, on the one hand, and the other +illusion that the Government is the source of every problem that we have. + +Our job is to get rid of yesterday's Government so that our own people can +meet today's and tomorrow's needs. + +And we ought to do it together. + +You know, for years before I became President, I heard others say they +would cut Government and how bad it was. But not much happened. + +We actually did it. We cut over a quarter of a trillion dollars in +spending, more than 300 domestic programs, more than 100,000 positions from +the Federal bureaucracy in the last two years alone. + +Based on decisions already made, we will have cut a total of more than a +quarter of a million positions from the Federal Government, making it the +smallest it has been since John Kennedy was president, by the time I come +here again next year. + +Under the leadership of Vice President Gore, our initiatives have already +saved taxpayers $ 63 billion. The age of the $ 500 hammer and the ashtray +you can break on David Letterman is gone. Deadwood programs like mohair +subsidies are gone. We've streamlined the Agriculture Department by +reducing it by more than 1,200 offices. We've slashed the small-business +loan form from an inch thick to a single page. We've thrown away the +Government's 10,000-page personnel manual. + +And the Government is working better in important ways. FEMA, the Federal +Emergency Management Agency, has gone from being a disaster to helping +people in disaster. + +You can ask the farmers in the Middle West who fought the flood there or +the people in California who've dealt with floods and earthquakes and fires +and they'll tell you that. + +Government workers, working hand-in-hand with private business, rebuilt +Southern California's fractured freeways in record time and under budget. + +And because the Federal Government moved fast, all but one of the 5,600 +schools damaged in the earthquake are back in business. + +Now, there are a lot of other things that I could talk about. I want to +just mention one because it'll be discussed here in the next few weeks. + +University administrators all over the country have told me that they are +saving weeks and weeks of bureaucratic time now because of our direct +college loan program, which makes college loans cheaper and more affordable +with better repayment terms for students, costs the Government less and +cuts out paperwork and bureaucracy for the Government and for the +universities. + +We shouldn't cap that program, we should give every college in America the +opportunity to be a part of it. + +Previous Government programs gather dust; the reinventing Government report +is getting results. And we're not through -- there's going to be a second +round of reinventing Government. + +We propose to cut $ 130 billion in spending by shrinking departments, +extending our freeze on domestic spending, cutting 60 public housing +programs down to 3, getting rid of over a hundred programs we do not need +like the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Helium Reserve Program. + +And we're working on getting rid of unnecessary regulations and making them +more sensible. The programs and regulations that have outlived their +usefulness should go. We have to cut yesterday's Government to help solve +tomorrow's problems. + +And we need to get Government closer to the people it's meant to serve. We +need to help move programs down to the point where states and communities +and private citizens in the private sector can do a better job. If they can +do it, we ought to let them do it. We should get out of the way and let +them do what they can do better. + +Community Empowerment + +Taking power away from Federal bureaucracies and giving it back to +communities and individuals is something everyone should be able to be for. +It's time for Congress to stop passing onto the states the cost of +decisions we make here in Washington. + +I know there are still serious differences over the details of the unfunded +mandates legislation but I want to work with you to make sure we pass a +reasonable bill which will protect the national interest and give justified +relief where we need to give it. + +For years, Congress concealed in the budget scores of pet spending +projects. Last year was no different. There was a million dollars to study +stress in plants and $ 12 million for a tick removal program that didn't +work. It's hard to remove ticks; those of us who've had them know. + +But I'll tell you something, if you'll give me the line-item veto, I'll +remove some of that unnecessary spending. + +But, I think we should all remember, and almost all of us would agree, that +Government still has important responsibilities. + +Our young people – we should think of this when we cut -- our young people +hold our future in their hands. We still owe a debt to our veterans. And +our senior citizens have made us what we are. Budget + +Now, my budget cuts a lot. But it protects education, veterans, Social +Security and Medicare, and I hope you will do the same thing. You should, +and I hope you will. + +And when we give more flexibility to the states, let us remember that there +are certain fundamental national needs that should be addressed in every +state, north and south, east and west. + +Immunization against childhood disease, school lunches in all our schools, +Head Start, medical care and nutrition for pregnant women and infants – all +these things are in the national interest. + +I applaud your desire to get rid of costly and unnecessary regulations, but +when we deregulate let's remember what national action in the national +interest has given us: safer food for our families, safer toys for our +children, safer nursing homes for our parents, safer cars and highways and +safer workplaces, cleaner air and cleaner water. Do we need common sense +and fairness in our regulations? You bet we do. But we can have common +sense and still provide for safe drinking water. We can have fairness and +still clean up toxic dumps and we ought to do it. + +Should we cut the deficit more? Well of course we should. Of course we +should. But we can bring it down in a way that still protects our economic +recovery and does not unduly punish people who should not be punished, but +instead should be helped. + +I know many of you in this chamber support the balanced-budget amendment. I +certainly want to balance the budget. Our Administration has done more to +bring the budget down and to save money than any in a very, very long +time. + +If you believe passing this amendment is the right thing to do, then you +have to be straight with the American people. They have a right to know +what you're going to cut, what taxes you're going to raise, how it's going +to affect them. + +And we should be doing things in the open around here. For example, +everybody ought to know if this proposal is going to endanger Social +Security. I would oppose that, and I think most Americans would. Welfare + +Nothing is done more to undermine our sense of common responsibility than +our failed welfare system. This is one of the problems we have to face here +in Washington in our New Covenant. It rewards welfare over work, it +undermines family values, it lets millions of parents get away without +paying their child support, it keeps a minority – but a significant +minority – of the people on welfare trapped on it for a very long time. + +I worked on this problem for a long time – nearly 15 years now. As a +Governor I had the honor of working with the Reagan Administration to write +the last welfare reform bill back in 1988. + +In the last two years we made a good start in continuing the work of +welfare reform. Our Administration gave two dozen states the right to slash +through Federal rules and regulations to reform their own welfare systems +and to try to promote work and responsibility over welfare and dependency. + +Last year, I introduced the most sweeping welfare reform plan ever +presented by an Administration. We have to make welfare what it was meant +to be – a second chance, not a way of life. + +We have to help those on welfare move to work as quickly as possible, to +provide child care and teach them skills, if that's what they need, for up +to two years. But after that, there ought to be a simple, hard rule. Anyone +who can work must go to work. + +If a parent isn't paying child support, they should be forced to pay. + +We should suspend driver's licenses, track them across state lines, make +them work off what they owe. That is what we should do. Governments do not +raise children, people do. And the parents must take responsibility for the +children they bring into this world. + +I want to work with you, with all of you, to pass welfare reform. But our +goal must be to liberate people and lift them from dependence to +independence, from welfare to work, from mere childbearing to responsible +parenting. Our goal should not be to punish them because they happen to be +poor. + +We should – we should require work and mutual responsibility. But we +shouldn't cut people off just because they're poor, they're young or even +because they're unmarried. We should promote responsibility by requiring +young mothers to live at home with their parents or in other supervised +settings, by requiring them to finish school. But we shouldn't put them and +their children out on the street. + +And I know all the arguments pro and con and I have read and thought about +this for a long time: I still don't think we can, in good conscience, +punish poor children for the mistakes of their parents. + +My fellow Americans, every single survey shows that all the American people +care about this, without regard to party or race or region. So let this be +the year we end welfare as we know it. + +But also let this be the year that we are all able to stop using this issue +to divide America. + +No one is more eager to end welfare. + +I may be the only President who's actually had the opportunity to sit in +the welfare office, who's actually spent hours and hours talking to people +on welfare, and I am telling you the people who are trapped on it know it +doesn't work. They also want to get off. + +So we can promote, together, education and work and good parenting. I have +no problem with punishing bad behavior or the refusal to be a worker or a +student or a responsible parent. I just don't want to punish poverty and +past mistakes. All of us have made our mistakes and none of us can change +our yesterdays, but every one of us can change our tomorrows. + +And America's best example of that may be Lynn Woolsey, who worked her way +off welfare to become a Congresswoman from the state of California. Crime + +I know the members of this Congress are concerned about crime, as are all +the citizens of our country. But I remind you that last year we passed a +very tough crime bill – longer sentences, three strikes and you're out, +almost 60 new capital punishment offenses, more prisons, more prevention, +100,000 more police – and we paid for it all by reducing the size of the +Federal bureaucracy and giving the money back to local communities to lower +the crime rate. + +There may be other things we can do to be tougher on crime, to be smarter +with crime, to help to lower that rate first. Well if there are, let's talk +about them and let's do them. But let's not go back on the things that we +did last year that we know work – that we know work because the local +law-enforcement officers tell us that we did the right thing. Because local +community leaders, who've worked for years and years to lower the crime +rate, tell us that they work. + +Let's look at the experience of our cities and our rural areas where the +crime rate has gone down and ask the people who did it how they did it and +if what we did last year supports the decline in the crime rate, and I am +convinced that it does, let us not go back on it, let's stick with it, +implement it – we've got four more hard years of work to do to do that. + +I don't want to destroy the good atmosphere in the room or in the country +tonight, but I have to mention one issue that divided this body greatly +last year. The last Congress also passed the Brady bill and in the crime +bill the ban on 19 assault weapons. + +I don't think it's a secret to anybody in this room that several members of +the last Congress who voted for that aren't here tonight because they voted +for it. And I know, therefore, that some of you that are here because they +voted for it are under enormous pressure to repeal it. I just have to tell +you how I feel about it. + +The members who voted for that bill and I would never do anything to +infringe on the right to keep and bear arms to hunt and to engage in other +appropriate sporting activities. I've done it since I was a boy, and I'm +going to keep right on doing it until I can't do it anymore. + +But a lot of people laid down their seats in Congress so that police +officers and kids wouldn't have to lay down their lives under a hail of +assault-weapon attacks, and I will not let that be repealed. I will not let +it be repealed. + +I'd like to talk about a couple of other issues we have to deal with. I +want us to cut more spending, but I hope we won't cut Government programs +that help to prepare us for the new economy, promote responsibility and are +organized from the grass roots up, not by Federal bureaucracy. + +The very best example of this is the National Service Corps – AmeriCorps. +It passed with strong bipartisan support and now there are 20,000 Americans +– more than ever served in one year in the Peace Corps – working all over +this country, helping person to person in local grass-roots volunteer +groups, solving problems and in the process earning some money for their +education. + +This is citizenship at its best. It's good for the AmeriCorps members, but +it's good for the rest of us, too. It's the essence of the New Covenant and +we shouldn't stop it. + +Illegal Immigration + +All Americans, not only in the states most heavily affected, but in every +place in this country are rightly disturbed by the large numbers of illegal +aliens entering our country. + +The jobs they hold might otherwise be held by citizens or legal immigrants. +The public services they use impose burdens on our taxpayers. That's why +our Administration has moved aggressively to secure our borders more, by +hiring a record number of new border guards, by deporting twice as many +criminal aliens as ever before, by cracking down on illegal hiring, by +barring welfare benefits to illegal aliens. + +In the budget I will present to you, we will try to do more to speed the +deportation of illegal aliens who are arrested for crimes, to better +identify illegal aliens in the workplace as recommended by the commission +headed by former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan. + +We are a nation of immigrants, but we are also a nation of laws. It is +wrong and ultimately self-defeating for a nation of immigrants to permit +the kind of abuse of our immigration laws we have seen in recent years, and +we must do more to stop it. + +The most important job of our Government in this new era is to empower the +American people to succeed in the global economy. America has always been a +land of opportunity, a land where, if you work hard, you can get ahead. +We've become a great middle-class country; middle-class values sustain us. +We must expand that middle class and shrink the underclass even as we do +everything we can to support the millions of Americans who are already +successful in the new economy. + +America is once again the world's strongest economic power: almost six +million new jobs in the last two years, exports booming, inflation down, +high-wage jobs are coming back. A record number of American entrepreneurs +are living the American dream. + +If we want it to stay that way, those who work and lift our nation must +have more of its benefits. + +Today, too many of those people are being left out. They're working harder +for less. They have less security, less income, less certainty that they +can even afford a vacation, much less college for their kids or retirement +for themselves. + +We cannot let this continue. If we don't act, our economy will probably +keep doing what it's been doing since about 1978, when the income growth +began to go to those at the very top of our economic scale. And the people +in the vast middle got very little growth and people who worked like crazy +but were on the bottom then, fell even further and further behind in the +years afterward, no matter how hard they worked. + +We've got to have a Government that can be a real partner in making this +new economy work for all of our people, a Government that helps each and +every one of us to get an education and to have the opportunity to renew +our skills. Education + +That's why we worked so hard to increase educational opportunities in the +last two years from Head Start to public schools to apprenticeships for +young people who don't go to college, to making college loans more +available and more affordable. + +That's the first thing we have to do: We've got to do something to empower +people to improve their skills. Taxes + +Second thing we ought to do is to help people raise their incomes +immediately by lowering their taxes. + +We took the first step in 1993 with a working family tax cut for 15 million +families with incomes under $ 27,000, a tax cut that this year will average +about $ 1,000 a family. + +And we also gave tax reductions to most small and new businesses. Before we +could do more than that, we first had to bring down the deficit we +inherited and we had to get economic growth up. Now we've done both, and +now we can cut taxes in a more comprehensive way. + +But tax cuts should reinforce and promote our first obligation: to empower +our citizens through education and training to make the most of their own +lives. The spotlight should shine on those who make the right choices for +themselves, their families and their communities. + +Middle Class Bill Of Rights + +I have proposed a middle-class bill of rights, which should properly be +called the bill of rights and responsibilities, because its provisions only +benefit those who are working to educate and raise their children and to +educate themselves. It will, therefore, give needed tax relief and raise +incomes, in both the short run and the long run, in a way that benefits all +of us. + +There are four provisions: + +First, a tax deduction for all education and training after high school. If +you think about it, we permit businesses to deduct their investment, we +permit individuals to deduct interest on their home mortgages, but today an +education is even more important to the economic well-being of our whole +country than even those things are. We should do everything we can to +encourage it, and I hope you will support it. + +Second, we ought to cut taxes $ 500 for families with children under 13. + +Third, we ought to foster more savings and personal responsibility by +permitting people to establish an individual retirement account and +withdraw from it tax free for the cost of education, health care, +first-time home buying or the care of a parent. + +And fourth, we should pass a G.I. bill for America's workers. We propose to +collapse nearly 70 Federal programs and not give the money to the states +but give the money directly to the American people, offer vouchers to them +so that they – if they're laid off or if they're working for a very low +wage – can get a voucher worth $ 2,600 a year for up to two years to go to +their local community colleges or wherever else they want to get the skills +they need to improve their lives. Let's empower people in this way. Move it +from the Government directly to the workers of America. + +Cutting The Deficit Now + +Any one of us can call for a tax cut, but I won't accept one that explodes +the deficit or puts our recovery at risk. We ought to pay for our tax cuts +fully and honestly. Just two years ago it was an open question whether we +would find the strength to cut the deficit. + +Thanks to the courage of the people who were here then, many of whom didn't +return, we did cut the deficit. We began to do what others said would not +be done: We cut the deficit by over $ 600 billion, about $ 10,000 for every +family in this country. It's coming down three years in a row for the first +time since Mr. Truman was President and I don't think anybody in America +wants us to let it explode again. + +In the budget I will send you, the middle-class bill of rights is fully +paid for by budget cuts in bureaucracy, cuts in programs, cuts in special +interest subsidies. And the spending cuts will more than double the tax +cuts. My budget pays for the middle-class bill of rights without any cuts +in Medicare, and I will oppose any attempts to pay for tax cuts with +Medicare cuts. That's not the right thing to do. + +I know that a lot of you have your own ideas about tax relief. And some of +them, I find quite interesting. I really want to work with all of you. + +My tests for our proposals will be: Will it create jobs and raise incomes? +Will it strengthen our families and support our children? Is it paid for? +Will it build the middle class and shrink the underclass? + +If it does, I'll support it. But if it doesn't, I won't. + +Minimum Wage + +The goal of building the middle class and shrinking the underclass is also +why I believe that you should raise the minimum wage. + +It rewards work – two and a half million Americans, often women with +children, are working out there today for four-and-a-quarter an hour. In +terms of real buying power, by next year, that minimum wage will be at a +40-year low. That's not my idea of how the new economy ought to work. + +Now I studied the arguments and the evidence for and against a minimum-wage +increase. I believe the weight of the evidence is that a modest increase +does not cost jobs and may even lure people back into the job market. But +the most important thing is you can't make a living on $ 4.25 an hour. Now +– especially if you have children, even with the working families tax cut +we passed last year. + +In the past, the minimum wage has been a bipartisan issue and I think it +should be again. So I want to challenge you to have honest hearings on +this, to get together to find a way to make the minimum wage a living +wage. + +Members of Congress have been here less than a month but by the end of the +week – 28 days into the new year – every member of Congress will have +earned as much in congressional salary as a minimum-wage worker makes all +year long. + +Everybody else here, including the President, has something else that too +many Americans do without and that's health care. + +Health Care + +Now, last year we almost came to blows over health care, but we didn't do +anything. And the cold, hard fact is that since last year -- since I was +here – another 1.1 million Americans in working families have lost their +health care. And the cold, hard fact is that many millions more -- most of +them farmers and small business people and self-employed people -- have +seen their premiums skyrocket, their co-pays and deductibles go up. + +There's a whole bunch of people in this country that in the statistics have +health insurance but really what they've got is a piece of paper that says +they won't lose their home if they get sick. + +Now I still believe our country has got to move toward providing health +security for every American family, but – but I know that last year, as the +evidence indicates, we bit off more than we could chew. + +So I'm asking you that we work together. Let's do it step by step. Let's do +whatever we have to do to get something done. Let's at least pass +meaningful insurance reform so that no American risks losing coverage for +facing skyrocketing prices but that nobody loses their coverage because +they face high prices or unavailable insurance when they change jobs or +lose a job or a family member gets sick. + +I want to work together with all of you who have an interest in this: with +the Democrats who worked on it last time, with the Republican leaders like +Senator Dole who has a longtime commitment to health care reform and made +some constructive proposals in this area last year. We ought to make sure +that self-employed people in small businesses can buy insurance at more +affordable rates through voluntary purchasing pools. We ought to help +families provide long-term care for a sick parent to a disabled child. We +can work to help workers who lose their jobs at least keep their health +insurance coverage for a year while they look for work, and we can find a +way – it may take some time, but we can find a way – to make sure that our +children have health care. + +You know, I think everybody in this room, without regard to party, can be +proud of the fact that our country was rated as having the world's most +productive economy for the first time in nearly a decade, but we can't be +proud of the fact that we're the only wealthy country in the world that has +a smaller percentage of the work force and their children with health +insurance today than we did 10 years ago – the last time we were the most +productive economy in the world. + +So let's work together on this. It is too important for politics as usual. + +Much of what the American people are thinking about tonight is what we've +already talked about. A lot of people think that the security concerns of +America today are entirely internal to our borders, they relate to the +security of our jobs and our homes and our incomes and our children, our +streets, our health and protecting those borders. + +Foreign Policy + +Now that the Cold War has passed, it's tempting to believe that all the +security issues, with the possible exception of trade, reside here at home. +But it's not so. Our security still depends on our continued world +leadership for peace and freedom and democracy. We still can't be strong at +home unless we're strong abroad. Mexico + +The financial crisis in Mexico is a case in point. I know it's not popular +to say it tonight but we have to act, not for the Mexican people but for +the sake of the millions of Americans whose livelihoods are tied to +Mexico's well-being. If we want to secure American jobs, preserve American +exports, safeguard America's borders then we must pass the stabilization +program and help to put Mexico back on track. + +Now let me repeat: it's not a loan, it's not foreign aid, it's not a +bail-out. We'll be given a guarantee like co-signing a note with good +collateral that will cover our risk. + +This legislation is the right thing for America. That's why the bipartisan +leadership has supported it. And I hope you in Congress will pass it +quickly. It is in our interest and we can explain it to the American +people, because we're going to do it in the right way. Russia + +You know, tonight this is the first State of the Union address ever +delivered since the beginning of the cold war when not a single Russian +missile is pointed at the children of America. + +And along with the Russians, we're on our way to destroying the missiles +and the bombers that carry 9,000 nuclear warheads. We've come so far so +fast in this post-cold-war world that it's easy to take the decline of the +nuclear threat for granted. But it's still there, and we aren't finished +yet. + +This year, I'll ask the Senate to approve START II to eliminate weapons +that carry 5,000 more warheads. The United States will lead the charge to +extend indefinitely the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, to enact a +comprehensive nuclear test ban, and to eliminate chemical weapons. + +North Korea + +To stop and roll back North Korea's potentially deadly nuclear program, +we'll continue to implement the agreement we have reached with that nation. +It's smart, it's tough, it's a deal based on continuing inspection with +safeguards for our allies and ourselves. + +This year, I'll submit to Congress comprehensive legislation to strengthen +our hand in combating terrorists, whether they strike at home or abroad. As +the cowards who bombed the World Trade Center found out, this country will +hunt down terrorists and bring them to justice. + +Middle East + +Just this week, another horrendous terrorist act in Israel killed 19 and +injured scores more. On behalf of the American people and all of you, I +send our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims. I know that in +the face of such evil, it is hard for the people in the Middle East to go +forward. But the terrorists represent the past, not the future. We must and +we will pursue a comprehensive peace between Israel and all her neighbors +in the Middle East. + +Accordingly, last night I signed an executive order that will block the +assets in the United States of terrorist organizations that threaten to +disrupt the peace process. It prohibits financial transactions with these +groups. + +And tonight I call on all our allies in peace-loving nations throughout the +world to join us with renewed fervor in a global effort to combat +terrorism, we cannot permit the future to be marred by terror and fear and +paralysis. Defense + +From the day I took the oath of office, I pledged that our nation would +maintain the best-equipped, best-trained and best-prepared military on +earth. We have and they are. They have managed the dramatic downsizing of +our forces after the cold war with remarkable skill and spirit. But to make +sure our military is ready for action and to provide the pay and the +quality of life the military and their families deserve, I'm asking the +Congress to add $ 25 billion in defense spending over the next six years. + +I have visited many bases at home and around the world since I became +President. Tonight I repeat that request with renewed conviction. We ask a +very great deal of our armed forces. Now that they are smaller in number, +we ask more of them. They go out more often to more different places and +stay longer. They are called to service in many, many ways, and we must +give them and their families what the times demand and what they have +earned. + +Just think about what our troops have done in the last year, showing +America at its best, helping to save hundreds of thousands of people in +Rwanda, moving with lightning speed to head off another threat to Kuwait, +giving freedom and democracy back to the people of Haiti. + +We have proudly supported peace and prosperity and freedom from South +Africa to Northern Ireland, from Central and Eastern Europe to Asia, from +Latin America to the Middle East. All these endeavors are good in those +places but they make our future more confident and more secure. + +Well, my fellow Americans, that's my agenda for America's future: expanding +opportunity not bureaucracy, enhancing security at home and abroad, +empowering our people to make the most of their own lives. + +It's ambitious and achievable. But it's not enough. + +We even need more than new ideas for changing the world or equipping +Americans to compete in the new economy, more than a Government that's +smaller, smarter and wiser, more than all the changes we can make in +Government and in the private sector from the outside in. + +Values And Voices + +Our fortunes and our prosperity also depend upon our ability to answer some +questions from within – from the values and voices that speak to our hearts +as well as our heads, voices that tell us we have to do more to accept +responsibility for ourselves and our families, for our communities, and +yes, for our fellow citizens. + +We see our families and our communities all over this country coming apart. +And we feel the common ground shifting from under us. The PTA, the town +hall meeting, the ball park – it's hard for a lot of overworked parents to +find the time and space for those things that strengthen the bonds of trust +and cooperation. + +Too many of our children don't even have parents and grandparents who can +give them those experiences that they need to build their own character and +their sense of identity. We all know that while we here in this chamber can +make a difference on those things, that the real differences will be made +by our fellow citizens where they work and where they live. + +And it'll be made almost without regard to party. When I used to go to the +softball park in Little Rock to watch my daughter's league and people would +come up to me – fathers and mothers – and talk to me, I can honestly say I +had no idea whether 90 percent of them were Republicans or Democrats. + +When I visited the relief centers after the floods in California, Northern +California, last week, a woman came up to me and did something that very +few of you would do. She hugged me and said, "Mr. President, I'm a +Republican, but I'm glad you're here." + +Now, why? We can't wait for disasters to act the way we used to act every +day. Because as we move into this next century, everybody matters. We don't +have a person to waste. And a lot of people are losing a lot of chances to +do better. + +That means that we need a New Covenant for everybody – for our corporate +and business leaders, we're going to work here to keep bringing the deficit +down, to expand markets, to support their success in every possible way. +But they have an obligation: when they're doing well, to keep jobs in our +communities and give their workers a fair share of the prosperity they +generate. + +For people in the entertainment industry in this country, we applaud your +creativity and your worldwide success and we support your freedom of +expression but you do have a responsibility to assess the impact of your +work and to understand the damage that comes from the incessant, +repetitive, mindless violence and irresponsible conduct that permeates our +media all the time. + +We've got to ask our community leaders and all kinds of organizations to +help us stop our most serious social problem: the epidemic of teen +pregnancies and births where there is no marriage. I have sent to Congress +a plan to target schools all over this country with anti-pregnancy programs +that work. But government can only do so much. Tonight, I call on parents +and leaders all across this country to join together in a national campaign +against teen pregnancy to make a difference. We can do this and we must. + +And I would like to say a special word to our religious leaders. You know, +I'm proud of the fact that the United States has more house of worship per +capita than any country in the world. These people, who lead our houses of +worship, can ignite their congregations to carry their faith into action, +can reach out to all of our children, to all of the people in distress, to +those who have been savaged by the breakdown of all we hold dear, because +so much of what must be done must come from the inside out. And our +religious leaders and their congregations can make all the difference. They +have a role in the New Covenant as well. + +There must be more responsibility for all of our citizens. You know it +takes a lot of people to help all the kids in trouble stay off the streets +and in school. It takes a lot of people to build the Habitat for Humanity +houses that the Speaker celebrates on his lapel pin. It takes a lot of +people to provide the people power for all the civic organizations in this +country that made our communities mean so much to most of us when we were +kids. It takes every parent to teach the children the difference between +right and wrong and to encourage them to learn and grow and to say no to +the wrong things but also to believe that they can be whatever they want to +be. + +I know it's hard when you're working harder for less, when you're under +great stress, to do these things. A lot of our people don't have the time +or the emotional stress they think to do the work of citizenship. Most of +us in politics haven't helped very much. For years, we've mostly treated +citizens like they were consumers or spectators, sort of political couch +potatoes who were supposed to watch the TV ads – either promise them +something for nothing or play on their fears and frustrations. And more and +more of our citizens now get most of their information in very negative and +aggressive ways that is hardly conducive to honest and open conversations. +But the truth is we have got to stop seeing each other as enemies just +because we have different views. + +If you go back to the beginning of this country, the great strength of +America, as de Tocqueville pointed out when he came here a long time ago, +has always been our ability to associate with people who were different +from ourselves and to work together to find common ground. And in this day +everybody has a responsibility to do more of that. We simply cannot wait +for a tornado, a fire or a flood to behave like Americans ought to behave +in dealing with one another. + +I want to finish up here by pointing out some folks that are up with the +First Lady that represent what I'm trying to talk about. Citizens. I have +no idea what their party affiliation is or who they voted for in the last +election, but they represent what we ought to be doing. + +Cindy Perry teaches second-graders to read in AmeriCorps in rural Kentucky. +She gains when she gives. She's a mother of four. + +She says that her service inspired her to get her high school equivalency +last year. She was married when she was a teen-ager. Stand up, Cindy. She +married when she was a teen-ager. She had four children, but she had time +to serve other people, to get her high school equivalency and she's going +to use her AmeriCorps money to go back to college. + +Steven Bishop is the police chief of Kansas City. He's been a national +leader – stand up Steve. He's been a national leader in using more police +in community policing and he's worked with AmeriCorps to do it, and the +crime rate in Kansas City has gone down as a result of what he did. + +Cpl. Gregory Depestre went to Haiti as part of his adopted country's force +to help secure democracy in his native land. And I might add we must be the +only country in the world that could have gone to Haiti and taken +Haitian-Americans there who could speak the language and talk to the +people, and he was one of them and we're proud of him. + +The next two folks I've had the honor of meeting and getting to know a +little bit. The Rev. John and the Rev. Diana Cherry of the A.M.E. Zion +Church in Temple Hills, Md. I'd like to ask them to stand. I want to tell +you about them. In the early 80's they left Government service and formed a +church in a small living room in a small house in the early 80's. Today +that church has 17,000 members. It is one of the three or four biggest +churches in the entire United States. It grows by 200 a month. + +They do it together. And the special focus of their ministry is keeping +families together. They are – Two things they did make a big impression on +me. I visited their church once and I learned they were building a new +sanctuary closer to the Washington, D.C., line, in a higher-crime, +higher-drug-rate area because they thought it was part of their ministry to +change the lives of the people who needed them. Second thing I want to say +is that once Reverend Cherry was at a meeting at the White House with some +other religious leaders and he left early to go back to his church to +minister to 150 couples that he had brought back to his church from all +over America to convince them to come back together to save their marriages +and to raise their kids. This is the kind of work that citizens are doing +in America. We need more of it and it ought to be lifted up and supported. + +The last person I want to introduce is Jack Lucas from Hattiesburg, +Mississippi. Jack, would you stand up. Fifty years ago in the sands of Iwo +Jima, Jack Lucas taught and learned the lessons of citizenship. On February +the 20th, 1945, he and three of his buddies encountered the enemy and two +grenades at their feet. Jack Lucas threw himself on both of them. In that +moment he saved the lives of his companions and miraculously in the next +instant a medic saved his life. He gained a foothold for freedom and at the +age of 17, just a year older than his grandson, who's up there with him +today, and his son, who is a West Point graduate and a veteran, at 17, Jack +Lucas became the youngest marine in history and the youngest soldier in +this century to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. All these years +later, yesterday, here's what he said about that day: Didn't matter where +you were from or who you were. You relied on one another. You did it for +your country. We all gain when we give and we reap what we sow. That's at +the heart of this New Covenant. Responsibility, opportunity and +citizenship. + +More than stale chapters in some remote civic book they're still the virtue +by which we can fulfill ourselves and reach our God-given potential and be +like them. And also to fulfill the eternal promise of this country, the +enduring dream from that first and most-sacred covenant. I believe every +person in this country still believes that we are created equal and given +by our creator the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. + +This is a very, very great country and our best days are still to come. +Thank you and God bless you all. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +William J. Clinton +January 23, 1996 + +Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of the 104th Congress, +distinguished guests, my fellow Americans all across our land: + +Let me begin tonight by saying to our men and women in uniform around the +world, and especially those helping peace take root in Bosnia and to their +families, I thank you. America is very, very proud of you. + +My duty tonight is to report on the state of the Union -- not the state of +our government, but of our American community; and to set forth our +responsibilities, in the words of our Founders, to form a more perfect +union. + +The state of the Union is strong. Our economy is the healthiest it has been +in three decades. We have the lowest combined rates of unemployment and +inflation in 27 years. We have created nearly 8 million new jobs, over a +million of them in basic industries, like construction and automobiles. +America is selling more cars than Japan for the first time since the 1970s. +And for three years in a row, we have had a record number of new businesses +started in our country. + +Our leadership in the world is also strong, bringing hope for new peace. +And perhaps most important, we are gaining ground in restoring our +fundamental values. The crime rate, the welfare and food stamp rolls, the +poverty rate and the teen pregnancy rate are all down. And as they go down, +prospects for America's future go up. + +We live in an age of possibility. A hundred years ago we moved from farm to +factory. Now we move to an age of technology, information, and global +competition. These changes have opened vast new opportunities for our +people, but they have also presented them with stiff challenges. While more +Americans are living better, too many of our fellow citizens are working +harder just to keep up, and they are rightly concerned about the security +of their families. + +The Role Of Government + +We must answer here three fundamental questions: First, how do we make the +American Dream of opportunity for all a reality for all Americans who are +willing to work for it? Second, how do we preserve our old and enduring +values as we move into the future? And, third, how do we meet these +challenges together, as one America? + +We know big government does not have all the answers. We know there's not a +program for every problem. We have worked to give the American people a +smaller, less bureaucratic government in Washington. And we have to give +the American people one that lives within its means. + +The era of big government is over. But we cannot go back to the time when +our citizens were left to fend for themselves. Instead, we must go forward +as one America, one nation working together to meet the challenges we face +together. Self-reliance and teamwork are not opposing virtues; we must have +both. + +I believe our new, smaller government must work in an old-fashioned +American way, together with all of our citizens through state and local +governments, in the workplace, in religious, charitable and civic +associations. Our goal must be to enable all our people to make the most of +their own lives – with stronger families, more educational opportunity, +economic security, safer streets, a cleaner environment in a safer world. + +To improve the state of our Union, we must ask more of ourselves, we must +expect more of each other, and we must face our challenges together. + +Here, in this place, our responsibility begins with balancing the budget in +a way that is fair to all Americans. There is now broad bipartisan +agreement that permanent deficit spending must come to an end. + +I compliment the Republican leadership and the membership for the energy +and determination you have brought to this task of balancing the budget. +And I thank the Democrats for passing the largest deficit reduction plan in +history in 1993, which has already cut the deficit nearly in half in three +years. Deficit + +Since 1993, we have all begun to see the benefits of deficit reduction. +Lower interest rates have made it easier for businesses to borrow and to +invest and to create new jobs. Lower interest rates have brought down the +cost of home mortgages, car payments and credit card rates to ordinary +citizens. Now, it is time to finish the job and balance the budget. + +Though differences remain among us which are significant, the combined +total of the proposed savings that are common to both plans is more than +enough, using the numbers from your Congressional Budget Office to balance +the budget in seven years and to provide a modest tax cut. + +These cuts are real. They will require sacrifice from everyone. But these +cuts do not undermine our fundamental obligations to our parents, our +children, and our future, by endangering Medicare, or Medicaid, or +education, or the environment, or by raising taxes on working families. + +I have said before, and let me say again, many good ideas have come out of +our negotiations. I have learned a lot about the way both Republicans and +Democrats view the debate before us. I have learned a lot about the good +ideas that we could all embrace. + +We ought to resolve our remaining differences. I am willing to work to +resolve them. I am ready to meet tomorrow. But I ask you to consider that +we should at least enact these savings that both plans have in common and +give the American people their balanced budget, a tax cut, lower interest +rates, and a brighter future. We should do that now, and make permanent +deficits yesterday's legacy. + +Now it is time for us to look also to the challenges of today and tomorrow, +beyond the burdens of yesterday. The challenges are significant. But +America was built on challenges, not promises. And when we work together to +meet them, we never fail. That is the key to a more perfect Union. Our +individual dreams must be realized by our common efforts. + +Tonight I want to speak to you about the challenges we all face as a +people. + +Strengthening Families + +Our first challenge is to cherish our children and strengthen America's +families. Family is the foundation of American life. If we have stronger +families, we will have a stronger America. + +Before I go on, I would like to take just a moment to thank my own family, +and to thank the person who has taught me more than anyone else over 25 +years about the importance of families and children – a wonderful wife, a +magnificent mother and a great First Lady. Thank you, Hillary. + +All strong families begin with taking more responsibility for our children. +I have heard Mrs. Gore say that it's hard to be a parent today, but it's +even harder to be a child. So all of us, not just as parents, but all of us +in our other roles – our media, our schools, our teachers, our communities, +our churches and synagogues, our businesses, our governments -- all of us +have a responsibility to help our children to make it and to make the most +of their lives and their God-given capacities. + +To the media, I say you should create movies and CDs and television shows +you'd want your own children and grandchildren to enjoy. + +I call on Congress to pass the requirement for a V-chip in TV sets so that +parents can screen out programs they believe are inappropriate for their +children. When parents control what their young children see, that is not +censorship; that is enabling parents to assume more personal responsibility +for their children's upbringing. And I urge them to do it. The V-chip +requirement is part of the important telecommunications bill now pending in +this Congress. It has bipartisan support, and I urge you to pass it now. + +To make the V-chip work, I challenge the broadcast industry to do what +movies have done – to identify your programming in ways that help parents +to protect their children. And I invite the leaders of major media +corporations in the entertainment industry to come to the White House next +month to work with us in a positive way on concrete ways to improve what +our children see on television. I am ready to work with you. + +I say to those who make and market cigarettes: every year a million +children take up smoking, even though it is against the law. Three hundred +thousand of them will have their lives shortened as a result. Our +administration has taken steps to stop the massive marketing campaigns that +appeal to our children. We are simply saying: Market your products to +adults, if you wish, but draw the line on children. + +I say to those who are on welfare, and especially to those who have been +trapped on welfare for a long time: For too long our welfare system has +undermined the values of family and work, instead of supporting them. The +Congress and I are near agreement on sweeping welfare reform. We agree on +time limits, tough work requirements, and the toughest possible child +support enforcement. But I believe we must also provide child care so that +mothers who are required to go to work can do so without worrying about +what is happening to their children. + +I challenge this Congress to send me a bipartisan welfare reform bill that +will really move people from welfare to work and do the right thing by our +children. I will sign it immediately. + +Let us be candid about this difficult problem. Passing a law, even the best +possible law, is only a first step. The next step is to make it work. I +challenge people on welfare to make the most of this opportunity for +independence. I challenge American businesses to give people on welfare the +chance to move into the work force. I applaud the work of religious groups +and others who care for the poor. More than anyone else in our society, +they know the true difficulty of the task before us, and they are in a +position to help. Every one of us should join them. That is the only way we +can make real welfare reform a reality in the lives of the American +people. + +To strengthen the family we must do everything we can to keep the teen +pregnancy rate going down. I am gratified, as I'm sure all Americans are, +that it has dropped for two years in a row. But we all know it is still far +too high. + +Tonight I am pleased to announce that a group of prominent Americans is +responding to that challenge by forming an organization that will support +grass-roots community efforts all across our country in a national campaign +against teen pregnancy. And I challenge all of us and every American to +join their efforts. + +I call on American men and women in families to give greater respect to one +another. We must end the deadly scourge of domestic violence in our +country. And I challenge America's families to work harder to stay +together. For families who stay together not only do better economically, +their children do better as well. + +In particular, I challenge the fathers of this country to love and care for +their children. If your family has separated, you must pay your child +support. We're doing more than ever to make sure you do, and we're going to +do more, but let's all admit something about that, too: A check will not +substitute for a parent's love and guidance. And only you -- only you can +make the decision to help raise your children. No matter who you are, how +low or high your station in life, it is the most basic human duty of every +American to do that job to the best of his or her ability. Education + +Our second challenge is to provide Americans with the educational +opportunities we will all need for this new century. In our schools, every +classroom in America must be connected to the information superhighway, +with computers and good software, and well-trained teachers. We are working +with the telecommunications industry, educators and parents to connect 20 +percent of California's classrooms by this spring, and every classroom and +every library in the entire United States by the year 2000. I ask Congress +to support this education technology initiative so that we can make sure +this national partnership succeeds. + +Every diploma ought to mean something. I challenge every community, every +school and every state to adopt national standards of excellence; to +measure whether schools are meeting those standards; to cut bureaucratic +red tape so that schools and teachers have more flexibility for grass-roots +reform; and to hold them accountable for results. That's what our Goals +2000 initiative is all about. + +I challenge every state to give all parents the right to choose which +public school their children will attend; and to let teachers form new +schools with a charter they can keep only if they do a good job. + +I challenge all our schools to teach character education, to teach good +values and good citizenship. And if it means that teenagers will stop +killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be +able to require their students to wear school uniforms. + +I challenge our parents to become their children's first teachers. Turn off +the TV. See that the homework is done. And visit your children's classroom. +No program, no teacher, no one else can do that for you. + +My fellow Americans, higher education is more important today than ever +before. We've created a new student loan program that's made it easier to +borrow and repay those loans, and we have dramatically cut the student loan +default rate. That's something we should all be proud of, because it was +unconscionably high just a few years ago. Through AmeriCorps, our national +service program, this year 25,000 young people will earn college money by +serving their local communities to improve the lives of their friends and +neighbors. These initiatives are right for America and we should keep them +going. + +And we should also work hard to open the doors of college even wider. I +challenge Congress to expand work-study and help one million young +Americans work their way through college by the year 2000; to provide a +$1000 merit scholarship for the top five percent of graduates in every high +school in the United States; to expand Pell Grant scholarships for +deserving and needy students; and to make up to $10,000 a year of college +tuition tax deductible. It's a good idea for America. + +Our third challenge is to help every American who is willing to work for +it, achieve economic security in this new age. People who work hard still +need support to get ahead in the new economy. They need education and +training for a lifetime. They need more support for families raising +children. They need retirement security. They need access to health care. +More and more Americans are finding that the education of their childhood +simply doesn't last a lifetime. + +G.I. Bill For Workers + +So I challenge Congress to consolidate 70 overlapping, antiquated +job-training programs into a simple voucher worth $2,600 for unemployed or +underemployed workers to use as they please for community college tuition +or other training. This is a G.I. Bill for America's workers we should all +be able to agree on. + +More and more Americans are working hard without a raise. Congress sets the +minimum wage. Within a year, the minimum wage will fall to a 40-year low in +purchasing power. Four dollars and 25 cents an hour is no longer a living +wage, but millions of Americans and their children are trying to live on +it. I challenge you to raise their minimum wage. + +In 1993, Congress cut the taxes of 15 million hard-pressed working families +to make sure that no parents who work full-time would have to raise their +children in poverty, and to encourage people to move from welfare to work. +This expanded earned income tax credit is now worth about $1,800 a year to +a family of four living on $20,000. The budget bill I vetoed would have +reversed this achievement and raised taxes on nearly 8 million of these +people. We should not do that. + +I also agree that the people who are helped under this initiative are not +all those in our country who are working hard to do a good job raising +their children and at work. I agree that we need a tax credit for working +families with children. That's one of the things most of us in this +Chamber, I hope, can agree on. I know it is strongly supported by the +Republican majority. And it should be part of any final budget agreement. + +I want to challenge every business that can possibly afford it to provide +pensions for your employees. And I challenge Congress to pass a proposal +recommended by the White House Conference on Small Business that would make +it easier for small businesses and farmers to establish their own pension +plans. That is something we should all agree on. + +We should also protect existing pension plans. Two years ago, with +bipartisan support that was almost unanimous on both sides of the aisle, we +moved to protect the pensions of 8 million working people and to stabilize +the pensions of 32 million more. Congress should not now let companies +endanger those workers' pension funds. I know the proposal to liberalize +the ability of employers to take money out of pension funds for other +purposes would raise money for the treasury. But I believe it is false +economy. I vetoed that proposal last year, and I would have to do so +again. + +Health Care + +Finally, if our working families are going to succeed in the new economy, +they must be able to buy health insurance policies that they do not lose +when they change jobs or when someone in their family gets sick. Over the +past two years, over one million Americans in working families have lost +their health insurance. We have to do more to make health care available to +every American. And Congress should start by passing the bipartisan bill +sponsored by Senator Kennedy and Senator Kassebaum that would require +insurance companies to stop dropping people when they switch jobs, and stop +denying coverage for preexisting conditions. Let's all do that. + +And even as we enact savings in these programs, we must have a common +commitment to preserve the basic protections of Medicare and Medicaid – not +just to the poor, but to people in working families, including children, +people with disabilities, people with AIDS, and senior citizens in nursing +homes. + +In the past three years, we've saved $15 billion just by fighting health +care fraud and abuse. We have all agreed to save much more. We have all +agreed to stabilize the Medicare Trust Fund. But we must not abandon our +fundamental obligations to the people who need Medicare and Medicaid. +America cannot become stronger if they become weaker. + +The G.I. Bill for workers, tax relief for education and child rearing, +pension availability and protection, access to health care, preservation of +Medicare and Medicaid – these things, along with the Family and Medical +Leave Act passed in 1993 – these things will help responsible, hard-working +American families to make the most of their own lives. + +But employers and employees must do their part, as well, as they are doing +in so many of our finest companies – working together, putting the +long-term prosperity ahead of the short-term gain. As workers increase +their hours and their productivity, employers should make sure they get the +skills they need and share the benefits of the good years, as well as the +burdens of the bad ones. When companies and workers work as a team they do +better, and so does America. Crime + +Our fourth great challenge is to take our streets back from crime and gangs +and drugs. At last we have begun to find a way to reduce crime, forming +community partnerships with local police forces to catch criminals and +prevent crime. This strategy, called community policing, is clearly +working. Violent crime is coming down all across America. In New York City +murders are down 25 percent; in St. Louis, 18 percent; in Seattle, 32 +percent. But we still have a long way to go before our streets are safe and +our people are free from fear. + +The Crime Bill of 1994 is critical to the success of community policing. It +provides funds for 100,000 new police in communities of all sizes. We're +already a third of the way there. And I challenge the Congress to finish +the job. Let us stick with a strategy that's working and keep the crime +rate coming down. + +Community policing also requires bonds of trust between citizens and +police. I ask all Americans to respect and support our law enforcement +officers. And to our police, I say, our children need you as role models +and heroes. Don't let them down. + +The Brady Bill has already stopped 44,000 people with criminal records from +buying guns. The assault weapons ban is keeping 19 kinds of assault weapons +out of the hands of violent gangs. I challenge the Congress to keep those +laws on the books. + +Our next step in the fight against crime is to take on gangs the way we +once took on the mob. I'm directing the FBI and other investigative +agencies to target gangs that involve juveniles in violent crime, and to +seek authority to prosecute as adults teenagers who maim and kill like +adults. + +And I challenge local housing authorities and tenant associations: Criminal +gang members and drug dealers are destroying the lives of decent tenants. +From now on, the rule for residents who commit crime and peddle drugs +should be one strike and you're out. + +I challenge every state to match federal policy to assure that serious +violent criminals serve at least 85 percent of their sentence. + +More police and punishment are important, but they're not enough. We have +got to keep more of our young people out of trouble, with prevention +strategies not dictated by Washington, but developed in communities. I +challenge all of our communities, all of our adults, to give our children +futures to say yes to. And I challenge Congress not to abandon the Crime +Bill's support of these grass-roots prevention efforts. + +Finally, to reduce crime and violence we have to reduce the drug problem. +The challenge begins in our homes, with parents talking to their children +openly and firmly. It embraces our churches and synagogues, our youth +groups and our schools. + +I challenge Congress not to cut our support for drug-free schools. People +like the D.A.R.E. officers are making a real impression on grade +schoolchildren that will give them the strength to say no when the time +comes. + +Meanwhile, we continue our efforts to cut the flow of drugs into America. +For the last two years, one man in particular has been on the front lines +of that effort. Tonight I am nominating him – a hero of the Persian Gulf +War and the Commander in Chief of the United States Military Southern +Command – General Barry McCaffrey, as America's new Drug Czar. + +General McCaffrey has earned three Purple Hearts and two Silver Stars +fighting for this country. Tonight I ask that he lead our nation's battle +against drugs at home and abroad. To succeed, he needs a force far larger +than he has ever commanded before. He needs all of us. Every one of us has +a role to play on this team. + +Thank you, General McCaffrey, for agreeing to serve your country one more +time. Environment + +Our fifth challenge: to leave our environment safe and clean for the next +generation. Because of a generation of bipartisan effort we do have cleaner +water and air, lead levels in children's blood has been cut by 70 percent, +toxic emissions from factories cut in half. Lake Erie was dead, and now +it's a thriving resource. But 10 million children under 12 still live +within four miles of a toxic waste dump. A third of us breathe air that +endangers our health. And in too many communities, the water is not safe to +drink. We still have much to do. + +Yet Congress has voted to cut environmental enforcement by 25 percent. That +means more toxic chemicals in our water, more smog in our air, more +pesticides in our food. Lobbyists for polluters have been allowed to write +their own loopholes into bills to weaken laws that protect the health and +safety of our children. Some say that the taxpayer should pick up the tab +for toxic waste and let polluters who can afford to fix it off the hook. I +challenge Congress to reexamine those policies and to reverse them. + +This issue has not been a partisan issue. The most significant +environmental gains in the last 30 years were made under a Democratic +Congress and President Richard Nixon. We can work together. We have to +believe some basic things. Do you believe we can expand the economy without +hurting the environment? I do. Do you believe we can create more jobs over +the long run by cleaning the environment up? I know we can. That should be +our commitment. + +We must challenge businesses and communities to take more initiative in +protecting the environment, and we have to make it easier for them to do +it. To businesses this administration is saying: If you can find a cheaper, +more efficient way than government regulations require to meet tough +pollution standards, do it – as long as you do it right. To communities we +say: We must strengthen community right-to-know laws requiring polluters to +disclose their emissions, but you have to use the information to work with +business to cut pollution. People do have a right to know that their air +and their water are safe. + +Foreign Policy + +Our sixth challenge is to maintain America's leadership in the fight for +freedom and peace throughout the world. Because of American leadership, +more people than ever before live free and at peace. And Americans have +known 50 years of prosperity and security. + +We owe thanks especially to our veterans of World War II. I would like to +say to Senator Bob Dole and to all others in this Chamber who fought in +World War II, and to all others on both sides of the aisle who have fought +bravely in all our conflicts since: I salute your service, and so do the +American people. + +All over the world, even after the Cold War, people still look to us and +trust us to help them seek the blessings of peace and freedom. But as the +Cold War fades into memory, voices of isolation say America should retreat +from its responsibilities. I say they are wrong. + +The threats we face today as Americans respect no nation's borders. Think +of them: terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, organized +crime, drug trafficking, ethnic and religious hatred, aggression by rogue +states, environmental degradation. If we fail to address these threats +today, we will suffer the consequences in all our tomorrows. + +Of course, we can't be everywhere. Of course, we can't do everything. But +where our interests and our values are at stake, and where we can make a +difference, America must lead. We must not be isolationist. + +We must not be the world's policeman. But we can and should be the world's +very best peacemaker. By keeping our military strong, by using diplomacy +where we can and force where we must, by working with others to share the +risk and the cost of our efforts, America is making a difference for people +here and around the world. For the first time since the dawn of the nuclear +age, there is not a single Russian missile pointed at America's children. + +North Korea + +North Korea has now frozen its dangerous nuclear weapons program. In Haiti, +the dictators are gone, democracy has a new day, the flow of desperate +refugees to our shores has subsided. Through tougher trade deals for +America – over 80 of them – we have opened markets abroad, and now exports +are at an all-time high, growing faster than imports and creating good +American jobs. + +Northern Ireland + +We stood with those taking risks for peace: In Northern Ireland, where +Catholic and Protestant children now tell their parents, violence must +never return. In the Middle East, where Arabs and Jews who once seemed +destined to fight forever now share knowledge and resources, and even +dreams. Bosnia + +And we stood up for peace in Bosnia. Remember the skeletal prisoners, the +mass graves, the campaign to rape and torture, the endless lines of +refugees, the threat of a spreading war. All these threats, all these +horrors have now begun to give way to the promise of peace. Now, our troops +and a strong NATO, together with our new partners from Central Europe and +elsewhere, are helping that peace to take hold. + +As all of you know, I was just there with a bipartisan congressional group, +and I was so proud not only of what our troops were doing, but of the pride +they evidenced in what they were doing. They knew what America's mission in +this world is, and they were proud to be carrying it out. + +Through these efforts, we have enhanced the security of the American +people. But make no mistake about it:important challenges remain. Russia + +The START II Treaty with Russia will cut our nuclear stockpiles by another +25 percent. I urge the Senate to ratify it – now. We must end the race to +create new nuclear weapons by signing a truly comprehensive nuclear test +ban treaty – this year. + +As we remember what happened in the Japanese subway, we can outlaw poison +gas forever if the Senate ratifies the Chemical Weapons Convention – this +year. We can intensify the fight against terrorists and organized criminals +at home and abroad if Congress passes the anti-terrorism legislation I +proposed after the Oklahoma City bombing -- now. We can help more people +move from hatred to hope all across the world in our own interest if +Congress gives us the means to remain the world's leader for peace. + +My fellow Americans, the six challenges I have just discussed are for all +of us. Our seventh challenge is really America's challenge to those of us +in this hallowed hall tonight: to reinvent our government and make our +democracy work for them. Reform + +Last year this Congress- applied to itself the laws it applies to everyone +else. This Congress banned gifts and meals from lobbyists. This Congress +forced lobbyists to disclose who pays them and what legislation they are +trying to pass or kill. This Congress did that, and I applaud you for it. + +Now I challenge Congress to go further – to curb special interest influence +in politics by passing the first truly bipartisan campaign reform bill in a +generation. You, Republicans and Democrats alike, can show the American +people that we can limit spending and open the airwaves to all candidates. + +I also appeal to Congress to pass the line-item veto you promised the +American people. + +Our administration is working hard to give the American people a government +that works better and costs less. Thanks to the work of Vice President +Gore, we are eliminating 16,000 pages of unnecessary rules and regulations, +shifting more decision-making out of Washington, back to states and local +communities. + +As we move into the era of balanced budgets and smaller government, we must +work in new ways to enable people to make the most of their own lives. We +are helping America's communities, not with more bureaucracy, but with more +opportunities. Through our successful Empowerment Zones and Community +Development Banks, we are helping people to find jobs, to start businesses. +And with tax incentives for companies that clean up abandoned industrial +property, we can bring jobs back to places that desperately, desperately +need them. + +But there are some areas that the federal government should not leave and +should address and address strongly. One of these areas is the problem of +illegal immigration. After years of neglect, this administration has taken +a strong stand to stiffen the protection of our borders. We are increasing +border controls by 50 percent. We are increasing inspections to prevent the +hiring of illegal immigrants. And tonight, I announce I will sign an +executive order to deny federal contracts to businesses that hire illegal +immigrants. + +Let me be very clear about this: We are still a nation of immigrants; we +should be proud of it. We should honor every legal immigrant here, working +hard to become a new citizen. But we are also a nation of laws. + +I want to say a special word now to those who work for our federal +government. Today our federal government is 200,000 employees smaller than +it was the day I took office as President. + +Our federal government today is the smallest it has been in 30 years, and +it's getting smaller every day. Most of our fellow Americans probably don't +know that. And there is a good reason: The remaining federal work force is +composed of Americans who are now working harder and working smarter than +ever before, to make sure the quality of our services does not decline. + +I'd like to give you one example. His name is Richard Dean. He is a 49 +year-old Vietnam veteran who's worked for the Social Security +Administration for 22 years now. Last year he was hard at work in the +Federal Building in Oklahoma City when the blast killed 169 people and +brought the rubble down all around him. He reentered that building four +times. He saved the lives of three women. He's here with us this evening, +and I want to recognize Richard and applaud both his public service and his +extraordinary personal heroism. + +But Richard Dean's story doesn't end there. This last November, he was +forced out of his office when the government shut down. And the second time +the government shut down he continued helping Social Security recipients, +but he was working without pay. + +On behalf of Richard Dean and his family, and all the other people who are +out there working every day doing a good job for the American people, I +challenge all of you in this Chamber: Never, ever shut the federal +government down again. + +On behalf of all Americans, especially those who need their Social Security +payments at the beginning of March, I also challenge the Congress to +preserve the full faith and credit of the United States -- to honor the +obligations of this great nation as we have for 220 years; to rise above +partisanship and pass a straightforward extension of the debt limit and +show people America keeps its word. + +I know that this evening I have asked a lot of Congress, and even more from +America. But I am confident: When Americans work together in their homes, +their schools, their churches, their synagogues, their civic groups, their +workplace, they can meet any challenge. + +I say again, the era of big government is over. But we can't go back to the +era of fending for yourself. We have to go forward to the era of working +together as a community, as a team, as one America, with all of us reaching +across these lines that divide us – the division, the discrimination, the +rancor – we have to reach across it to find common ground. We have got to +work together if we want America to work. + +I want you to meet two more people tonight who do just that. Lucius Wright +is a teacher in the Jackson, Mississippi, public school system. A Vietnam +veteran, he has created groups to help inner-city children turn away from +gangs and build futures they can believe in. Sergeant Jennifer Rodgers is a +police officer in Oklahoma City. Like Richard Dean, she helped to pull her +fellow citizens out of the rubble and deal with that awful tragedy. She +reminds us that in their response to that atrocity the people of Oklahoma +City lifted all of us with their basic sense of decency and community. + +Lucius Wright and Jennifer Rodgers are special Americans. And I have the +honor to announce tonight that they are the very first of several thousand +Americans who will be chosen to carry the Olympic torch on its long journey +from Los Angeles to the centennial of the modern Olympics in Atlanta this +summer – not because they are star athletes, but because they are star +citizens, community heroes meeting America's challenges. They are our real +champions. + +Now, each of us must hold high the torch of citizenship in our own lives. +None of us can finish the race alone. We can only achieve our destiny +together – one hand, one generation, one American connecting to another. + +There have always been things we could do together -- dreams we could make +real – which we could never have done on our own. We Americans have forged +our identity, our very union, from every point of view and every point on +the planet, every different opinion. But we must be bound together by a +faith more powerful than any doctrine that divides us – by our belief in +progress, our love of liberty, and our relentless search for common +ground. + +America has always sought and always risen to every challenge. Who would +say that, having come so far together, we will not go forward from here? +Who would say that this age of possibility is not for all Americans? + +Our country is and always has been a great and good nation. But the best is +yet to come, if we all do our part. + +Thank you, God bless you and God bless the United States of America. Thank +you. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +William J. Clinton +February 4, 1997 + +Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of the 105th Congress, +distinguished guests, my fellow Americans: + +I think I should start by saying thanks for inviting me back. + +I come before you tonight with a challenge as great as any in our peacetime +history – and a plan of action to meet that challenge, to prepare our +people for the bold new world of the 21st century. + +We have much to be thankful for. With four years of growth, we have won +back the basic strength of our economy. With crime and welfare rolls +declining, we are winning back our optimism, the enduring faith that we can +master any difficulty. With the Cold War receding and global commerce at +record levels, we are helping to win an unrivaled peace and prosperity all +across the world. + +My fellow Americans, the state of our union is strong, but now we must rise +to the decisive moment, to make a nation and a world better than any we +have ever known. + +The new promise of the global economy, the Information Age, unimagined new +work, life-enhancing technology – all these are ours to seize. That is our +honor and our challenge. We must be shapers of events, not observers, for +if we do not act, the moment will pass and we will lose the best +possibilities of our future. + +We face no imminent threat, but we do have an enemy. The enemy of our time +is inaction. + +So tonight I issue a call to action – action by this Congress, action by +our states, by our people to prepare America for the 21st century; action +to keep our economy and our democracy strong and working for all our +people; action to strengthen education and harness the forces of technology +and science; action to build stronger families and stronger communities and +a safer environment; action to keep America the world's strongest force for +peace, freedom and prosperity; and above all, action to build a more +perfect union here at home. + +The spirit we bring to our work will make all the difference. + +We must be committed to the pursuit of opportunity for all Americans, +responsibility from all Americans in a community of all Americans. And we +must be committed to a new kind of government: not to solve all our +problems for us, but to give our people – all our people – the tools they +need to make the most of their own lives. And we must work together. + +The people of this nation elected us all. They want us to be partners, not +partisans. They put us all right here in the same boat. They gave us all +oars, and they told us to row. Now, here is the direction I believe we +should take. + +First, we must move quickly to complete the unfinished business of our +country: to balance the budget, renew our democracy, and finish the job of +welfare reform. + +Over the last four years we have brought new economic growth by investing +in our people, expanding our exports, cutting our deficits, creating over +11 million new jobs, a four-year record. + +Now we must keep our economy the strongest in the world. We here tonight +have an historic opportunity. Let this Congress be the Congress that +finally balances the budget. Thank you. + +In two days I will propose a detailed plan to balance the budget by 2002. +This plan will balance the budget and invest in our people while protecting +Medicare, Medicaid, education and the environment. It will balance the +budget and build on the vice president's efforts to make our government +work better – even as it costs less. + +It will balance the budget and provide middle-class tax relief to pay for +education and health care, to help to raise a child, to buy and sell a +home. + +Balancing the budget requires only your vote and my signature. It does not +require us to rewrite our Constitution. I believe, I believe it is both +unnecessary, unwise to adopt a balanced budget amendment that could cripple +our country in time of economic crisis and force unwanted results such as +judges halting Social Security checks or increasing taxes. + +Let us at least agree we should not pass any measure, no measure should be +passed that threatens Social Security. We don't need, whatever your view on +that, we all must concede we don't need a constitutional amendment, we need +action. Whatever our differences, we should balance the budget now, and +then, for the long-term health of our society, we must agree to a +bipartisan process to preserve Social Security and reform Medicare for the +long run, so that these fundamental programs will be as strong for our +children as they are for our parents. + +And let me say something that's not in my script tonight. I know this is +not going to be easy. But I really believe one of the reasons the American +people gave me a second term was to take the tough decisions in the next +four years that will carry our country through the next 50 years. I know it +is easier for me than for you to say or do. But another reason I was +elected is to support all of you, without regard to party, to give you what +is necessary to join in these decisions. We owe it to our country and to +our future. + +Our second piece of unfinished business requires us to commit ourselves +tonight, before the eyes of America, to finally enacting bipartisan +campaign finance reform. + +Now, Senators McCain and Feingold, Representatives Shays and Meehan have +reached across party lines here to craft tough and fair reform. Their +proposal would curb spending, reduce the role of special interests, create +a level playing field between challengers and incumbents, and ban +contributions from non-citizens, all corporate sources, and the other large +soft-money contributions that both parties receive. + +You know and I know that this can be delayed, and you know and I know that +delay will mean the death of reform. + +So let's set our own deadline. Let's work together to write bipartisan +campaign finance reform into law and pass McCain-Feingold by the day we +celebrate the birth of our democracy, July the 4th. + +There is a third piece of unfinished business. Over the last four years we +moved a record two and a quarter million people off the welfare roles. Then +last year Congress enacted landmark welfare reform legislation demanding +that all able-bodied recipients assume the responsibility of moving from +welfare to work. Now each and every one of us has to fulfill our +responsibility, indeed our moral obligation, to make sure that people who +now must work can work. And now we must act to meet a new goal: two million +more people off the welfare rolls by the year 2000. + +Here is my plan: Tax credits and other incentives for businesses that hire +people off welfare; Incentives for job placement firms in states to create +more jobs for welfare recipients; Training, transportation and child care +to help people go to work. Now I challenge every state – turn those welfare +checks into private sector paychecks. I challenge every religious +congregation, every community nonprofit, every business to hire someone off +welfare. And I'd like to say especially to every employer in our country +who ever criticized the old welfare system, you can't blame that old system +anymore; we have torn it down. Now, do your part. Give someone on welfare +the chance to go to work. + +Tonight I am pleased to announce that five major corporations – Sprint, +Monsanto, UPS, Burger King and United Airlines – will be the first to join +in a new national effort to marshal America's businesses large and small to +create jobs so that people can move from welfare to work. + +We passed welfare reform. All of you know I believe we were right to do it. +But no one can walk out of this chamber with a clear conscience unless you +are prepared to finish the job. + +And we must join together to do something else, too, something both +Republican and Democratic governors have asked us to do: to restore basic +health and disability benefits when misfortune strikes immigrants who came +to this country legally, who work hard, pay taxes, and obey the law. To do +otherwise is simply unworthy of a great nation of immigrants. + +Now, looking ahead, the greatest step of all, the high threshold to the +future we must now cross, and my number one priority for the next four +years, is to ensure that all Americans have the best education in the +world. Thank you. + +Let's work together to meet these three goals: every eight-year-old must be +able to read, every 12-year-old must be able to log on to the Internet, +every 18-year-old must be able to go to college, and every adult American +must be able to keep on learning for a lifetime. + +My balanced budget makes an unprecedented commitment to these goals – $51 +billion next year – but far more than money is required. I have a plan, a +call to action for American education based on these 10 principles: + +First, a national crusade for education standards – not federal government +standards, but national standards, representing what all our students must +know to succeed in the knowledge economy of the 21st century. Every state +and school must shape the curriculum to reflect these standards and train +teachers to lift students up to them. To help schools meet the standards +and measure their progress, we will lead an effort over the next two years +to develop national tests of student achievement in reading and math. + +Tonight I issue a challenge to the nation. Every state should adopt high +national standards, and by 1999, every state should test every 4th grader +in reading and every 8th grader in math to make sure these standards are +met. + +Raising standards will not be easy, and some of our children will not be +able to meet them at first. The point is not to put our children down, but +to lift them up. Good tests will show us who needs help, what changes in +teaching to make, and which schools need to improve. They can help us end +social promotion, for no child should move from grade school to junior high +or junior high to high school until he or she is ready. + +Last month our secretary of education, Dick Riley, and I visited northern +Illinois, where 8th grade students from 20 school districts, in a project +aptly called First in the World, took the third International Math and +Science Study. + +That's a test that reflects the world-class standards our children must +meet for the new era. And those students in Illinois tied for first in the +world in science and came in second in math. Two of them, Kristen Tanner +and Chris Getsla, are here tonight along with their teacher, Sue Winski. +They're up there with the first lady, and they prove that when we aim high +and challenge our students, they will be the best in the world. Let's give +them a hand. Stand up, please. + +Second, to have the best schools, we must have the best teachers. Most of +us in this chamber would not be here tonight without the help of those +teachers. I know that I wouldn't be here. + +For years many of our educators, led by North Carolina's governor, Jim +Hunt, and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, have +worked very hard to establish nationally accepted credentials for +excellence in teaching. + +Just 500 of these teachers have been certified since 1995. My budget will +enable 100,000 more to seek national certification as master teachers. We +should reward and recognize our best teachers. And as we reward them, we +should quickly and fairly remove those few who don't measure up, and we +should challenge more of our finest young people to consider teaching as a +career. + +Third, we must do more to help all our children read. Forty percent – 40 +percent – of our 8-year-olds cannot read on their own. That's why we have +just launched the America Reads initiative, to build a citizen army of one +million volunteer tutors to make sure every child can read independently by +the end of the 3rd grade. We will use thousands of AmeriCorps volunteers to +mobilize this citizen army. We want at least 100,000 college students to +help. + +And tonight I'm pleased that 60 college presidents have answered my call, +pledging that thousands of their work-study students will serve for one +year as reading tutors. + +This is also a challenge to every teacher and every principal. + +You must use these tutors to help your students read. And it is especially +a challenge to our parents. You must read with your children every night. + +This leads to the fourth principle: Learning begins in the first days of +life. Scientists are now discovering how young children develop emotionally +and intellectually from their very first days and how important it is for +parents to begin immediately talking, singing, even reading to their +infants. The first lady has spent years writing about this issue, studying +it. And she and I are going to convene a White House conference on early +learning and the brain this spring to explore how parents and educators can +best use these startling new findings. + +We already know we should start teaching children before they start school. +That's why this balanced budget expands Head Start to one million children +by 2002. And that is why the vice president and Mrs. Gore will host their +annual family conference this June on what we can do to make sure that +parents are an active part of their children's learning all the way through +school. + +They've done a great deal to highlight the importance of family in our +life, and now they're turning their attention to getting more parents +involved in their children's learning all the way through school. I thank +you, Mr. Vice President, and I thank you especially, Tipper, for what +you're doing. + +Fifth, every state should give parents the power to choose the right public +school for their children. Their right to choose will foster competition +and innovation that can make public schools better. We should also make it +possible for more parents and teachers to start charter schools, schools +that set and meet the highest standards and exist only as long as they do. + +Our plan will help America to create 3,000 of these charter schools by the +next century, nearly seven times as there are in the country today, so that +parents will have even more choices in sending their children to the best +schools. + +Sixth, character education must be taught in our schools. We must teach our +children to be good citizens. And we must continue to promote order and +discipline; supporting communities that introduce school uniforms, impose +curfews, enforce truancy laws, remove disruptive students from the +classroom, and have zero tolerance for guns and drugs in schools. + +Seventh, we cannot expect our children to raise themselves up in schools +that are literally falling down. With the student population at an all-time +high, and record numbers of school buildings falling into disrepair, this +has now become a serious national concern. Therefore, my budget includes a +new initiative: $5 billion to help communities finance $20 billion in +school construction over the next four years. + +Eighth, we must make the 13th and 14th years of education – at least two +years of college – just as universal in America by the 21st century as a +high school education is today, and we must open the doors of college to +all Americans. + +To do that, I propose America's Hope Scholarship, based on Georgia's +pioneering program – two years of a $1,500 tax credit for college tuition, +enough to pay for the typical community college. I also propose a tax +deduction of up to $10,000 a year for all tuition after high school, an +expanded IRA you can withdraw from tax free for education, and the largest +increase in Pell Grant scholarship in 20 years. + +Now this plan will give most families the ability to pay no taxes on money +they save for college tuition. I ask you to pass it and give every American +who works hard the chance to go to college. + +Ninth, in the 21st century we must expand the frontiers of learning across +a lifetime. All our people, of whatever age, must have the chance to learn +new skills. + +Most Americans live near a community college. The roads that take them +there can be paths to a better future. My GI bill for America's workers +will transform the confusing tangle of federal training programs into a +simple skill grant to go directly into eligible workers' hands. + +For too long this bill has been sitting on that desk there, without action. +I ask you to pass it now. Let's give more of our workers the ability to +learn and to earn for a lifetime. + +Tenth, we must bring the power of the Information Age into all our +schools. + +Last year I challenged America to connect every classroom and library to +the Internet by the year 2000, so that for the first time in our history, +children in the most isolated rural town, the most comfortable suburbs, the +poorest inner-city schools will have the same access to the same universe +of knowledge. + +That is my plan – a call to action for American education. Some may say +that it is unusual for a president to pay this kind of attention to +education. Some may say it is simply because the president and his +wonderful wife have been obsessed with this subject for more years than +they can recall. That is not what is driving these proposals. We must +understand the significance of this endeavor. + +One of the greatest sources of our strength throughout the Cold War was a +bipartisan foreign policy. Because our future was at stake, politics +stopped at the water's edge. Now I ask you, and I ask all our nation's +governors, I ask parents, teachers and citizens all across America, for a +new nonpartisan commitment to education, because education is a critical +national security issue for our future and politics must stop at the +schoolhouse door. + +To prepare America for the 21st century, we must harness the powerful +forces of science and technology to benefit all Americans. This is the +first State of the Union carried live in video over the Internet, but we've +only begun to spread the benefits of a technology revolution that should +become the modern birthright of every citizen. + +Our effort to connect every classroom is just the beginning. Now we should +connect every hospital to the Internet so that doctors can instantly share +data about their patients with the best specialists in the field. + +And I challenge the private sector tonight to start by connecting every +children's hospital as soon as possible so that a child in bed can stay in +touch with school, family and friends. A sick child need no longer be a +child alone. + +We must build the second generation of the Internet so that our leading +universities and national laboratories can communicate in speeds a thousand +times faster than today to develop new medical treatments, new sources of +energy, new ways of working together. But we cannot stop there. + +As the Internet becomes our new town square, a computer in every home: a +teacher of all subjects, a connection to all cultures. This will no longer +be a dream, but a necessity. And over the next decade, that must be our +goal. + +We must continue to explore the heavens, pressing on with the Mars probes +and the International Space Station, both of which will have practical +applications for our everyday living. + +We must speed the remarkable advances in medical science. The human genome +project is now decoding the genetic mysteries of life. American scientists +have discovered genes linked to breast cancer and ovarian cancer and +medication that stops a stroke in progress and begins to reverse its +effects, and treatments that dramatically lengthen the lives of people with +HIV and AIDS. + +Since I took office, funding for AIDS research at the National Institutes +of Health has increased dramatically to $1.5 billion. With new resources, +NIH will now become the most powerful discovery engine for an AIDS vaccine, +working with other scientists, to finally end the threat of AIDS. Thank +you. Remember that every year, every year we move up the discovery of an +AIDS vaccine we'll save millions of lives around the world. We must +reinforce our commitment to medical science. + +To prepare America for the 21st century we must build stronger families. +Over the past four years the Family and Medical Leave Law has helped +millions of Americans to take time off to be with their families. + +With new pressures on people and the way they work and live, I believe we +must expand family leave so that workers can take time off for teacher +conferences and a child's medical checkup. We should pass flex time so +workers can choose to be paid for overtime in income or trade it in for +time off to be with their families. + +We must continue – we must continue, step by step, to give more families +access to affordable quality health care. Forty million Americans still +lack health insurance. Ten million children still lack health insurance. +Eighty percent of them have working parents who pay taxes. That is wrong. + +My – my balanced budget will extend health coverage to up to 5 million of +those children. Since nearly half of all children who lose their insurance +do so because their parents lose or change a job, my budget will also +ensure that people who temporarily lose their jobs can still afford to keep +their health insurance. No child should be without a doctor just because a +parent is without a job. + +My Medicare plan modernizes Medicare, increases the life of the trust fund +to 10 years, provides support for respite care for the many families with +loved ones afflicted with Alzheimer's, and, for the first time, it would +fully pay for annual mammograms. + +Just as we ended drive-through deliveries of babies last year, we must now +end the dangerous and demeaning practice of forcing women home from the +hospital only hours after a mastectomy. + +I ask your support for bipartisan legislation to guarantee that a woman can +stay in the hospital for 48 hours after a mastectomy. With us tonight is +Dr. Kristen Zarfos, a Connecticut surgeon whose outrage at this practice +spurred a national movement and inspired this legislation. I'd like her to +stand so we can thank her for her efforts. Dr. Zarfos, thank you. + +In the last four years, we have increased child support collections by 50 +percent. Now we should go further and do better by making it a felony for +any parent to cross a state line in an attempt to flee from this, his or +her most sacred obligation. + +Finally, we must also protect our children by standing firm in our +determination to ban the advertising and marketing of cigarettes that +endanger their lives. + +To prepare America for the 21st century, we must build stronger +communities. We should start with safe streets. Serious crime has dropped +five years in a row. The key has been community policing. We must finish +the job of putting 100,000 community police on the streets of the United +States. + +We should pass the Victims' Rights Amendment to the Constitution, and I ask +you to mount a full-scale assault on juvenile crime, with legislation that +declares war on gangs with new prosecutors and tougher penalties, extends +the Brady bill so violent teen criminals will not be able to buy handguns, +requires child safety locks on handguns to prevent unauthorized use, and +helps to keep our schools open after hours, on weekends and in the summer +so our young people will have someplace to go and something to say yes to. + +This balanced budget includes the largest anti-drug effort ever – to stop +drugs at their source; punish those who push them; and teach our young +people that drugs are wrong, drugs are illegal, and drugs will kill them. I +hope you will support it. + +Our growing economy has helped to revive poor urban and rural +neighborhoods, but we must do more to empower them to create the conditions +in which all families can flourish and to create jobs through investment by +business and loans by banks. + +We should double the number of empowerment zones. They've already brought +so much hope to communities like Detroit, where the unemployment rate has +been cut in half in four years. We should restore contaminated urban land +and buildings to constructive use. We should expand the network of +community development banks. + +And together, we must pledge tonight that we will use this empowerment +approach, including private sector tax incentives, to renew our capital +city so that Washington is a great place to work and live – and once again +the proud face America shows the world! + +We must protect our environment in every community. In the last four years, +we cleaned up 250 toxic waste sites, as many as in the previous 12. Now we +should clean up 500 more so that our children grow up next to parks, not +poison. I urge to pass my proposal to make big polluters live by a simple +rule: If you pollute our environment, you should pay to clean it up. + +In the last four years, we strengthened our nation's safe food and clean +drinking water laws; we protected some of America's rarest, most beautiful +land in Utah's Red Rocks region; created three new national parks in the +California desert; and began to restore the Florida Everglades. + +Now we must be as vigilant with our rivers as we are with our lands. +Tonight I announce that this year I will designate 10 American Heritage +Rivers to help communities alongside them revitalize their waterfronts and +clean up pollution in the rivers, proving once again that we can grow the +economy as we protect the environment. + +We must also protect our global environment, working to ban the worst toxic +chemicals and to reduce the greenhouse gases that challenge our health even +as they change our climate. + +Now, we all know that in all of our communities some of our children simply +don't have what they need to grow and learn in their own homes or schools +or neighborhoods. And that means the rest of us must do more, for they are +our children, too. That's why President Bush, General Colin Powell, former +Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros will join the vice president and me to +lead the President's Summit of Service in Philadelphia in April. + +Our national service program, AmeriCorps, has already helped 70,000 young +people to work their way through college as they serve America. Now we +intend to mobilize millions of Americans to serve in thousands of ways. +Citizen service is an American responsibility which all Americans should +embrace. And I ask your support for that endeavor. + +I'd like to make just one last point about our national community. Our +economy is measured in numbers and statistics. And it's very important. But +the enduring worth of our nation lies in our shared values and our soaring +spirit. So instead of cutting back on our modest efforts to support the +arts and humanities I believe we should stand by them and challenge our +artists, musicians, and writers, challenge our museums, libraries, and +theaters. + +We should challenge all Americans in the arts and humanities to join with +their fellow citizens to make the year 2000 a national celebration of the +American spirit in every community, a celebration of our common culture in +the century that is past and in the new one to come in a new millennium so +that we can remain the world's beacon not only of liberty but of creativity +long after the fireworks have faded. + +To prepare America for the 21st century we must master the forces of change +in the world and keep American leadership strong and sure for an uncharted +time. + +Fifty years ago, a farsighted America led in creating the institutions that +secured victory in the Cold War and built a growing world economy. As a +result, today more people than ever embrace our ideals and share our +interests. Already we have dismantled many of the blocks and barriers that +divided our parents' world. For the first time, more people live under +democracy than dictatorship including every nation in our own hemisphere +but one, and its day, too, will come. + +Now we stand at another moment of change and choice, and another time to be +farsighted, to bring America 50 more years of security and prosperity. + +In this endeavor, our first task is to help to build for the very first +time an undivided, democratic Europe. When Europe is stable, prosperous, +and at peace, America is more secure. + +To that end, we must expand NATO by 1999, so that countries that were once +our adversaries can become our allies. At the special NATO summit this +summer, that is what we will begin to do. We must strengthen NATO's +Partnership for Peace with non-member allies. And we must build a stable +partnership between NATO and a democratic Russia. + +An expanded NATO is good for America, and a Europe in which all democracies +define their future not in terms of what they can do to each other, but in +terms of what they can do together for the good of all – that kind of +Europe is good for America. + +Second, America must look to the East no less than to the West. + +Our security demands it. Americans fought three wars in Asia in this +century. + +Our prosperity requires it. More than 2 million American jobs depend upon +trade with Asia. There, too, we are helping to shape an Asia Pacific +community of cooperation, not conflict. + +Let our – let our progress there not mask the peril that remains. Together +with South Korea, we must advance peace talks with North Korea and bridge +the Cold War's last divide. And I call on Congress to fund our share of the +agreement under which North Korea must continue to freeze and then +dismantle its nuclear weapons program. + +We must pursue a deeper dialogue with China for the sake of our interests +and our ideals. An isolated China is not good for America. A China playing +its proper role in the world is. I will go to China, and I have invited +China's president to come here, not because we agree on everything, but +because engaging China is the best way to work on our common challenges, +like ending nuclear testing, and to deal frankly with our fundamental +differences, like human rights. + +The American people must prosper in the global economy. We've worked hard +to tear down trade barriers abroad so that we can create good jobs at home. +I'm proud to say that today America is once again the most competitive +nation and the No. 1 exporter in the world. + +Now we must act to expand our exports, especially to Asia and Latin +America, two of the fastest-growing regions on earth, or be left behind as +these emerging economies forge new ties with other nations. That is why we +need the authority now to conclude new trade agreements that open markets +to our goods and services even as we preserve our values. + +We need not shrink from the challenge of the global economy. After all, we +have the best workers and the best products. In a truly open market, we can +out-compete anyone, anywhere on earth. + +But this is about more than economics. By expanding trade, we can advance +the cause of freedom and democracy around the world. There is no better +example of this truth than Latin America where democracy and open markets +are on the march together. That is why I will visit there in the spring to +reinforce our important ties. + +We should all be proud that America led the effort to rescue our neighbor, +Mexico, from its economic crisis. And we should all be proud that last +month Mexico repaid the United States, three full years ahead of schedule, +with half a billion dollar profit to us. + +America must continue to be an unrelenting force for peace. From the Middle +East to Haiti, from Northern Ireland to Africa, taking reasonable risks for +peace keeps us from being drawn into far more costly conflicts later. With +American leadership, the killing has stopped in Bosnia. Now the habits of +peace must take hold. + +The new NATO force will allow reconstruction and reconciliation to +accelerate. Tonight I ask Congress to continue its strong support of our +troops. They are doing a remarkable job there for America, and America must +do right by them. + +Fifth, we must move strongly against new threats to our security. In the +past four years, we agreed to ban – we led the way to a worldwide agreement +to ban nuclear testing. + +With Russia, we dramatically cut nuclear arsenals and we stopped targeting +each other's citizens. We are acting to prevent nuclear materials from +falling into the wrong hands, and to rid the world of land mines. + +We are working with other nations with renewed intensity to fight drug +traffickers and to stop terrorists before they act and hold them fully +accountable if they do. + +Now we must rise to a new test of leadership – ratifying the Chemical +Weapons Convention. Make no mistake about it, it will make our troops safer +from chemical attack. It will help us to fight terrorism. We have no more +important obligations, especially in the wake of what we now know about the +Gulf War. + +This treaty has been bipartisan from the beginning, supported by Republican +and Democratic administrations, and Republican and Democratic members of +Congress, and already approved by 68 nations. But if we do not act by April +the 29th, when this convention goes into force – with or without us – we +will lose the chance to have Americans leading and enforcing this effort. +Together we must make the Chemical Weapons Convention law so that at last +we can begin to outlaw poisoned gas from the earth. + +Finally, we must have the tools to meet all these challenges. We must +maintain a strong and ready military. We must increase funding for weapons +modernization by the year 2000. And we must take good care of our men and +women in uniform. They are the world's finest. + +We must also renew our commitment to America's diplomacy and pay our debts +and dues to international financial institutions like the World Bank – and +to a reforming United Nations. Every dollar – every dollar we devote to +preventing conflicts, to promoting democracy, to stopping the spread of +disease and starvation brings a sure return in security and savings. Yet +international affairs spending today is just 1 percent of the federal +budget, a small fraction of what America invested in diplomacy to choose +leadership over escapism at the start of the cold war. + +If America is to continue to lead the world, we here who lead America +simply must find the will to pay our way. A farsighted America moved the +world to a better place over these last 50 years. And so it can be for +another 50 years. But a shortsighted America will soon find its words +falling on deaf ears all around the world. + +Almost exactly 50 years ago in the first winter of the Cold War President +Truman stood before a Republican Congress and called upon our country to +meet its responsibilities of leadership. This was his warning. He said, "If +we falter, we may endanger the peace of the world, and we shall surely +endanger the welfare of this nation." + +That Congress, led by Republicans like Senator Arthur Vandenburg, answered +President Truman's call. Together, they made the commitments that +strengthened our country for 50 years. Now let us do the same. Let us do +what it takes to remain the indispensable nation, to keep America strong, +secure and prosperous for another 50 years. + +In the end, more than anything else, our world leadership grows out of the +power of our example here at home, out of our ability to remain strong as +one America. + +All over the world people are being torn asunder by racial, ethnic and +religious conflicts that fuel fanaticism and terror. We are the world's +most diverse democracy, and the world looks to us to show that it is +possible to live and advance together across those kinds of differences. +America has always been a nation of immigrants. + +From the start, a steady stream of people in search of freedom and +opportunity have left their own lands to make this land their home. We +started as an experiment in democracy fueled by Europeans. We have grown +into an experiment in democratic diversity fueled by openness and promise. + +My fellow Americans, we must never, ever believe that our diversity is a +weakness; it is our greatest strength. + +Americans speak every language, know every country. People on every +continent can look to us and see the reflection of their own great +potential, and they always will, as long as we strive to give all our +citizens, whatever their background, an opportunity to achieve their own +greatness. + +We're not there yet. We still see evidence of a biting bigotry and +intolerance in ugly words and awful violence, in burned churches and bombed +buildings. We must fight against this in our country and in our hearts. + +Just a few days before my second inauguration, one of our country's +best-known pastors, Reverend Robert Schuller, suggested that I read Isaiah +58:12. Here's what it says: "Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many +generations, and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, the +restorer of paths to dwell in." + +I placed my hand on that verse when I took the oath of office, on behalf of +all Americans, for no matter what our differences in our faiths, our +backgrounds, our politics, we must all be repairers of the breach. + +I want to say a word about two other Americans who show us how. Congressman +Frank Tejeda was buried yesterday, a proud American whose family came from +Mexico. He was only 51 years old. He was awarded the Silver Star, the +Bronze Star and the Purple Heart fighting for his country in Vietnam. And +he went on to serve Texas and America fighting for our future here in this +chamber. + +We are grateful for his service and honored that his mother, Lillie Tejeda, +and his sister, Mary Alice, have come from Texas to be with us here +tonight. And we welcome you. Thank you. + +Gary Locke, the newly-elected governor of Washington state, is the first +Chinese-American governor in the history of our country. He's the proud son +of two of the millions of Asian American immigrants who strengthened +America with their hard work, family values and good citizenship. + +He represents the future we can all achieve. Thank you, governor, for being +here. Please stand up. + +Reverend Schuller, Congressman Tejeda, Governor Locke, along with Kristen +Tanner and Chris Getsla, Sue Winski and Dr. Kristen Zarfos – they're all +Americans from different roots whose lives reflect the best of what we can +become when we are one America. + +We may not share a common past, but we surely do share a common future. +Building one America is our most important mission, the foundation for many +generations of every other strength we must build for this new century. +Money cannot buy it, power cannot compel it, technology cannot create it. +It can only come from the human spirit. + +America is far more than a place; it is an idea – the most powerful idea in +the history of nations, and all of us in this chamber, we are now the +bearers of that idea, leading a great people into a new world. + +A child born tonight will have almost no memory of the 20th century. +Everything that child will know about America will be because of what we do +now to build a new century. We don't have a moment to waste. + +Tomorrow there will be just over 1,000 days until the year 2000. One +thousand days to prepare our people. One thousand days to work together. +One thousand days to build a bridge to a land of new promise. + +My fellow Americans, we have work to do. Let us seize those days and the +century. + +Thank you. God bless you. And God bless America. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +William J. Clinton +January 27, 1998 + +Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of the 105th Congress, +distinguished guests, my fellow Americans: + +Since the last time we met in this chamber, America has lost two patriots +and fine public servants. Though they sat on opposite sides of the aisle, +Representatives Walter Capps and Sonny Bono shared a deep love for this +House and an unshakable commitment to improving the lives of all our +people. + +In the past few weeks, they have both been eulogized. Tonight, I think we +should begin by sending a message to their families and their friends that +we celebrate their lives, and give thanks for their service to our nation. + +For 209 years, it has been the president's duty to report to you on the +state of the union. Because of the hard work and high purpose of the +American people, these are good times for America. We have more than 14 +million new jobs, the lowest unemployment in 24 years, the lowest core +inflation in 30 years, incomes are rising and we have the highest home +ownership in history. Crime has dropped for a record five years in a row, +and the welfare rolls are at their lowest levels in 27 years. Our +leadership in the world is unrivaled. Ladies and gentlemen, the state of +our union is strong. + +But with barely 700 days left in the 20th century, this is not a time to +rest. It is a time to build-to build the America within reach, an America +where everybody has a chance to get ahead, with hard work; where every +citizen can live in a safe community; where families are strong, schools +are good, and all our young people can go on to college; an America where +scientists find cures for diseases from diabetes to Alzheimer's to AIDS; an +America where every child can stretch a hand across a keyboard and reach +every book ever written, every painting ever painted, every symphony ever +composed; where government provides opportunity and citizens honor the +responsibility to give something back to their communities; an America +which leads the world to new heights of peace and prosperity. + +This is the America we have begun to build. This is the America we can +leave to our children – if we join together to finish the work at hand. Let +us strengthen our nation for the 21st century. + +Rarely have Americans lived through so much change in so many ways in so +short a time. Quietly, but with gathering force, the ground has shifted +beneath our feet as we have moved into an information age, a global +economy, a truly new world. + +For five years now, we have met the challenge of these changes as Americans +have at every turning point in our history, by renewing the very idea of +America, widening the circle of opportunity, deepening the meaning of our +freedom, forging a more perfect union. We shaped a new kind of government +for the information age. I thank the vice president for his leadership, and +the Congress for its support, in building a government that is leaner, more +flexible, a catalyst for new ideas, and most of all, a government that +gives the American people the tools they need to make the most of their own +lives. + +We have moved past the sterile debate between those who say government is +the enemy and those who say government is the answer. My fellow Americans, +we have found a third way. We have the smallest government in 35 years, but +a more progressive one. We have a smaller government but a stronger +nation. + +We are moving steadily toward a an even stronger America in the 21st +century-an economy that offers opportunity, a society rooted in +responsibility, and a nation that lives as a community. + +First, Americans in this chamber and across this nation have pursued a new +strategy for prosperity: fiscal discipline to cut interest rates and spur +growth; investments in education and skills, in science and technology and +transportation, to prepare our people for the new economy; new markets for +American products and American workers. + +When I took office, the deficit for 1998 was projected to be $357 billion, +and heading higher. This year, our deficit is projected to be $10 billion, +and heading lower. + +For three decades, six presidents have come before you to warn of the +damage deficits pose to our nation. Tonight, I come before you to announce +that the federal deficit, once so incomprehensively large that it had 11 +zeros, will be simply zero. + +I will submit to Congress, for 1999, the first balanced budget in 30 +years. + +And if we hold fast to fiscal discipline, we may balance the budget this +year – four years ahead of schedule. + +You can all be proud of that, because turning a sea of red ink into black +is no miracle. It is the product of hard work by the American people, and +of two visionary actions in Congress: The courageous vote in 1993 that led +to a cut in the deficit of 90 percent and the truly historic bipartisan +balanced budget agreement passed by this Congress. + +Here's the really good news: If we maintain our resolve, we will produce +balanced budgets as far as the eye can see. + +We must not go back to unwise spending or untargeted tax cuts that risk +reopening the deficit. Last year, together, we enacted targeted tax cuts so +that the typical middle class family will now have the lowest tax rates in +20 years. + +My plan to balance the budget next year includes both new investments and +new tax cuts targeted to the needs of working families: for education, for +child care, for the environment. + +But whether the issue is tax cuts or spending, I ask all of you to meet +this test: approve only those priorities that can actually be accomplished +without adding a dime to the deficit. + +Now, if we balance the budget for next year, it is projected that we'll +then have a sizeable surplus in the years that immediately follow. What +should we do with this projected surplus? + +I have a simple four-word answer: Save Social Security first. + +Tonight, I propose that we reserve 100 percent of the surplus – that's +every penny of any surplus – until we have taken all the necessary measures +to strengthen the Social Security system for the 21st century. + +Let us say – let us say to all Americans watching tonight, whether you're +70 or 50, or whether you just started paying into the system, Social +Security will be there when you need it. Let us make this commitment: +Social Security first. Let's do that – together. + +I also want to say that all the American people who are watching us tonight +should be invited to join in this discussion, in facing these issues +squarely and forming a true consensus on how we should proceed. We'll start +by conducting nonpartisan forums in every region of the country, and I hope +that lawmakers of both parties will participate. We'll hold a White House +conference on Social Security in December. And one year from now, I will +convene the leaders of Congress to craft historic bipartisan legislation to +achieve a landmark for our generation, a Social Security system that is +strong in the 21st century. + +In an economy that honors opportunity, all Americans must be able to reap +the rewards of prosperity. Because these times are good, we can afford to +take one simple, sensible step to help millions of workers struggling to +provide for their families. We should raise the minimum wage. + +The information age is first and foremost an education age, in which +education will start at birth and continue throughout a lifetime. Last +year, from this podium, I said that education has to be our highest +priority. I laid out a 10-point plan to move us forward, and urged all of +us to let politics stop at the schoolhouse door. + +Since then, this Congress – across party lines – and the American people +have responded, in the most important year for education in a generation – +expanding public school choice, opening the way to 3,000 charter schools, +working to connect every classroom in the country to the information +superhighway, committing to expand Head Start to a million children, +launching America Reads, sending literally thousands of college students +into our elementary schools to make sure all our 8-year-olds can read. + +Last year I proposed – and you passed – 220,000 new Pell Grant scholarships +for deserving students. Student loans, already less expensive and easier to +repay-now you get to deduct the interest. Families all over America now can +put their savings into new, tax-free education IRAs. + +And this year, for the first two years of college, families will get a +$1500 tax credit – a Hope Scholarship that will cover the cost of most +community college tuition. And for junior and senior year, graduate school, +and job training, there is a lifetime learning credit. You did that, and +you should be very proud of it. + +And because of these actions, I have something to say to every family +listening to us tonight: your children can go on to college. If you know a +child from a poor family, tell her not to give up, she can go on to +college. If you know a young couple struggling with bills, worried they +won't be able to send their children to college, tell them not to give up, +their children can go on to college. If you know somebody who's caught in a +dead-end job and afraid he can't afford the classes necessary to get better +jobs for the rest of his life, tell him not to give up, he can go on to +college. + +Because of the things that have been done, we can make college as universal +in the 21st century as high school is today. And, my friends, that will +change the face and future of America. + +We have opened wide the doors of the world's best system of higher +education. Now we must make our public elementary and secondary schools the +world's best as well-by raising standards, raising expectations and raising +accountability. + +Thanks to the actions of this Congress last year, we will soon have, for +the very first time, a voluntary national test based on national standards +in fourth grade reading and eighth grade math. + +Parents have a right to know whether their children are mastering the +basics. And every parent already knows the key; good teachers and small +classes. + +Tonight, I propose the first ever national effort to reduce class size in +the early grades. My balanced budget will help to hire a hundred thousand +new teachers who have passed the state competency tests. Now with these +teachers – listen – with these teachers, we will actually be able to reduce +class size in the first, second and third grades to an average of 18 +students a class all across America. + +Now, if I've got the math right, more teachers teaching smaller classes +requires more classrooms. So I also propose a school construction tax cut +to help communities modernize or build 5,000 schools. + +We must also demand greater accountability. When we promote a child from +grade to grade who hasn't mastered the work, we don't do that child any +favors. It is time to end social promotion in America's schools. + +Last year, in Chicago, they made that decision – not to hold our children +back, but to lift them up. Chicago stopped social promotion and started +mandatory summer school to help students who are behind to catch up. + +I propose to help other communities follow Chicago's lead. Let's say to +them stop promoting children who don't learn, and we will give you the +tools to make sure they do. + +I also ask this Congress to support our efforts to enlist colleges and +universities to reach out to disadvantaged children starting in the sixth +grade so that they can get the guidance and hope they need so they can know +that they, too, will be able to go on to college. + +As we enter the 21st century, the global economy requires us to seek +opportunity not just at home, but in all the markets of the world. We must +shape this global economy, not shrink from it. + +In the last five years, we have led the way in opening new markets, with +240 trade agreements that remove foreign barriers to products bearing the +proud stamp, "Made in the USA." Today, record high exports account for +fully one-third of our economic growth. I want to keep them going, because +that's the way to keep America growing and to advance a safer, more stable +world. + +Now, all of you know, whatever your views are, that I think this is a great +opportunity for America. I know there is opposition to more comprehensive +trade agreements. I have listened carefully, and I believe that the +opposition is rooted in two fears: first, that our trading partners will +have lower environmental and labor standards, which will give them an +unfair advantage in our market and do their own people no favors, even if +there's more business; and second, that if we have more trade, more of our +workers will lose their jobs and have to start over. + +I think we should seek to advance worker and environmental standards around +the world. It should – I have made it abundantly clear that it should be a +part of our trade agenda, but we cannot influence other countries' +decisions if we send them a message that we're backing away from trade with +them. + +This year I will send legislation to Congress, and ask other nations to +join us, to fight the most intolerable labor practice of all-abusive child +labor. + +We should also offer help and hope to those Americans temporarily left +behind with the global marketplace or by the march of technology, which may +have nothing to do with trade. That's why we have more than doubled funding +for training dislocated workers since 1993. And if my new budget is +adopted, we will triple funding. That's why we must do more, and more +quickly, to help workers who lose their jobs for whatever reason. + +You know, we help communities in a special way when their military base +closes. We ought to help them in the same way if their factory closes. +Again, I ask the Congress to continue its bipartisan work to consolidate +the tangle of training programs we have today into one single GI Bill for +Workers, a simple skills grant so people can, on their own, move quickly to +new jobs, to higher incomes and brighter futures. + +Now, we all know in every way in life change is not always easy, but we +have to decide whether we're going to try to hold it back and hide from it, +or reap its benefits. And remember the big picture here: while we've been +entering into hundreds of new trade agreements, we've been creating +millions of new jobs. So this year we will forge new partnerships with +Latin America, Asia and Europe, and we should pass the new African Trade +Act. It has bipartisan support. + +I will also renew my request for the fast-track negotiating authority +necessary to open more new markets, created more new jobs, which every +president has had for two decades. + +You know, whether we like it or not, in ways that are mostly positive, the +world's economies are more and more interconnected and interdependent. +Today, an economic crisis anywhere can affect economies everywhere. Recent +months have brought serious financial problems to Thailand, Indonesia, +South Korea and beyond. + +Now why should Americans be concerned about this? + +First, these countries are our customers. If they sink into recession, they +won't be able to buy the goods we'd like to sell them. + +Second, they're also our competitors, so if their currencies lose their +value and go down, then the price of their goods will drop, flooding our +market and others with much cheaper goods, which makes it a lot tougher for +our people to compete. + +And finally, they are our strategic partners. Their stability bolsters our +security. + +The American economy remains sound and strong, and I want to keep it that +way. But because the turmoil in Asia will have an impact on all the world's +economies, including ours, making that negative impact as small as possible +is the right thing to do for America, and the right thing to do for a safer +world. + +Our policy is clear: no nation can recover if it does not reform itself, +but when nations are willing to undertake serious economic reform, we +should help them do it. So I call on Congress to renew America's commitment +to the International Monetary Fund. + +And I think we should say to all the people we're trying to represent here, +that preparing for a far off storm that may reach our shores is far wiser +than ignoring the thunder 'til the clouds are just overhead. + +A strong nation rests on the rock of responsibility. A society rooted in +responsibility must first promote the value of work, not welfare. We could +be proud that after decades of finger-pointing and failure, together we +ended the old welfare system. And we're now replacing welfare checks with +paychecks. + +Last year, after a record four-year decline in welfare rolls I challenged +our nation to move two million more Americans off welfare by the year 2000. +I'm pleased to report we have also met that goal two full years ahead of +schedule. + +This is a grand achievement, the sum of many acts of individual courage, +persistence and hope. + +For 13 years, Elaine Kinslow of Indianapolis, Indiana was on and off +welfare. Today she's a dispatcher with a van company. She's saved enough +money to move her family into a good neighborhood. And she's helping other +welfare recipients go to work. + +Elaine Kinslow and all those like her are the real heroes of the welfare +revolution. There are millions like her all across America, and I am happy +she could join the first lady tonight. Elaine, we're very proud of you. +Please stand up. + +We still have a lot more to do, all of us, to make welfare reform a +success; providing child care, helping families move closer to available +jobs, challenging more companies to join our Welfare to Work Partnership, +increasing child-support collections from deadbeat parents who have a duty +to support their own children. I also want to thank Congress for restoring +some of the benefits to immigrants who are here legally and working hard. +And I hope you will finish that job this year. + +We have to make it possible for all hard-working families to meet their +most important responsibilities. Two years ago, we helped guarantee that +Americans can keep their health insurance when they changed jobs. Last +year, we extended health care to up to 5 million children. This year, I +challenge Congress to take the next historic steps. A hundred and sixty +million of our fellow citizens are in managed care plans. These plans save +money, and they can improve care. But medical decisions ought to be made by +medical doctors, not insurance company accountants. + +I urge this Congress to reach across the aisle and write into law a +consumer bill of rights that says this: You have the right to know all your +medical options, not just the cheapest. You have the right to choose the +doctor you want for the care you need. You have the right to emergency room +care wherever and whenever you need it. You have the right to keep your +medical records confidential. + +Now, traditional care or managed care, every American deserves quality +care. Millions of Americans between the ages of 55 and 65 have lost their +health insurance. Some are retired. Some are laid off. Some lose their +coverage when their spouses retire. After a lifetime of work, they're left +with nowhere to turn. + +So I ask the Congress, let these hard-working Americans buy into the +Medicare system. It won't add a dime to the deficit, but the peace of mind +it will provide will be priceless. + +Next, we must help parents protect their children from the gravest health +threat that they face: an epidemic of teen smoking spread by multimillion +dollar marketing campaigns. I challenge Congress. Let's pass bipartisan, +comprehensive legislation that will improve public health, protect our +tobacco farmers, and change the way tobacco companies do business forever. + +Let's do what it takes to bring teen smoking down. Let's raise the price of +cigarettes by up to $1.50 a pack over the next 10 years, with penalties on +the tobacco industry if it keeps marketing to our children. + +Now tomorrow, like every day, 3,000 children will start smoking, and a +thousand will die early as a result. Let this Congress be remembered as the +Congress that saved their lives. + +In the new economy, most parents work harder than ever. They face a +constant struggle to balance their obligations to be good workers, and +their even more important obligations to be good parents. + +The Family and Medical Leave Act was the very first bill I was privileged +to sign into law as president in 1993. Since then, about 15 million people +have taken advantage of it, and I've met a lot of them all across this +country. I ask you to extend the law to cover 10 million more workers, and +to give parents time off when they have to go see their children's teachers +or take them to the doctor. + +Child care is the next frontier we must face to enable people to succeed at +home and at work. Last year, I co-hosted the very first White House +conference on child care with one of our foremost experts, America's first +lady. From all corners of America, we heard the same message-without regard +to region or income or political affiliation-we've got to raise the quality +of child care, we've got to make it safer, we've got to make it more +affordable. + +So here's my plan: Help families to pay for child care for a million more +children; scholarships and background checks for child-care workers, and a +new emphasis on early learning; tax credits for businesses that provide +child care for their employees; and a larger child-care tax credit for +working families. + +Now, if you pass my plan, what this means is that a family of four with an +income of $35,000 and high child-care costs will no longer pay a single +penny of federal income tax. + +You know, I think this is such a big issue with me because of my own +personal experience. I have often wondered how my mother, when she was a +young widow, would have been able to go away to school and get an education +and come back and support me, if my grandparents hadn't been able to take +care of me. She and I were really very lucky. + +How many other families have never had that same opportunity? The truth is, +we don't know the answer to that question, but we do know what the answer +should be. Not a single American family should ever have to choose between +the job they need and the child they love. + +A society rooted in responsibility must provide safe streets, safe schools, +and safe neighborhoods. We pursued a strategy of more police, tougher +punishment, smarter prevention with crime-fighting partnerships, with local +law enforcement and citizen groups, where the rubber hits the road. + +I can report to you tonight that it's working. Violent crime is down, +robbery is down, assault is down, burglary is down for five years in a row +all across America. Now, we need to finish the job of putting 100,000 more +police on our streets. + +Again, I ask Congress to pass a juvenile crime bill that provides more +prosecutors and probation officers to crack down on gangs and guns and +drugs and bar violent juveniles from buying guns for life. And I ask you to +dramatically expand our support for after-school programs. I think every +American should know that most juvenile crime is committed between the +hours of 3:00 in the afternoon and 8:00 at night. We can keep so many of +our children out of trouble in the first place if we give them some place +to go other than the streets, and we ought to do it. + +Drug use is on the decline. I thank General McCaffrey for his leadership, +and I thank this Congress for passing the largest anti-drug budget in +history. Now I ask you to join me in a ground-breaking effort to hire a +thousand new Border Patrol agents and to deploy the most sophisticated +available new technologies to help close the door on drugs at our borders. + +Police, prosecutors, and prevention programs, good as they are, they can't +work if our court system doesn't work. Today, there are large numbers of +vacancies in our federal courts. Here is what the chief justice of the +United States wrote: "Judicial vacancies cannot remain at such high levels +indefinitely without eroding the quality of justice." + +I simply ask the United States Senate to heed this plea and vote on the +highly qualified nominees before you, up or down. + +We must exercise responsibility not just at home but around the world. On +the eve of a new century, we have the power and the duty to build a new era +of peace and security. But make no mistake about it; today's possibilities +are not tomorrow's guarantees. America must stand against the poisoned +appeals of extreme nationalism. We must combat an unholy access of new +threats from terrorists, international criminals and drug traffickers. + +These 21st century predators feed on technology and the free flow of +information and ideas and people, and they will be all the more lethal if +weapons of mass destruction fall into their hands. To meet these +challenges, we are helping to write international rules of the road for the +21st century, protecting those who join the family of nations and isolating +those who do not. + +Within days, I will ask the Senate for its advice and consent to make +Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic the newest members of NATO. For 50 +years, NATO contained communism and kept America and Europe secure. Now +these three formerly communist countries have said yes to democracy. I ask +the Senate to say yes to them, our new allies. + +By taking in new members and working closely with new partners, including +Russia and Ukraine, NATO can help to assure that Europe is a stronghold for +peace in the 21st century. + +Next, I will ask Congress to continue its support for our troops and their +mission in Bosnia. This Christmas, Hillary and I traveled to Sarajevo with +Senator and Mrs. Dole and a bipartisan congressional delegation. We saw +children playing in the streets where, two years ago, they were hiding from +snipers and shells. The shops were filled with food. The cafes were alive +with conversation. The progress there is unmistakable; but it is not yet +irreversible. + +To take firm root, Bosnia's fragile peace still needs the support of +American and allied troops when the current NATO mission ends in June. I +think Senator Dole actually said it best. He said: "This is like being +ahead in the fourth quarter of a football game; now is not the time to walk +off the field and forfeit the victory." + +I wish all of you could have seen our troops in Tuzla. They're very proud +of what they are doing in Bosnia, and we're all very proud of them. One of +those – one of those brave soldiers is sitting with the first lady tonight: +Army Sergeant Michael Tolbert. His father was a decorated Vietnam vet. +After college in Colorado, he joined the Army. Last year he led an infantry +unit that stopped a mob of extremists from taking over a radio station that +is a voice of democracy and tolerance in Bosnia. Thank you very much, +Sergeant, for what you represent. + +In Bosnia and around the world, our men and women in uniform always do +their mission well. Our mission must be to keep them well-trained and +ready, to improve their quality of life, and to provide the 21st century +weapons they need to defeat any enemy. + +I ask Congress to join me in pursuing an ambitious agenda to reduce the +serious threat of weapons of mass destruction. This year, four decades +after it was first proposed by President Eisenhower, a Comprehensive +Nuclear Test Ban is within reach. By ending nuclear testing, we can help to +prevent the development of new and more dangerous weapons, and make it more +difficult for non-nuclear states to build them. + +I am pleased to announce that four former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of +Staff-Generals John Shalikashvili, Colin Powell and David Jones, and +Admiral William Crowe-have endorsed this treaty, and I ask the Senate to +approve it this year. + +Together we must also confront the new hazards of chemical and biological +weapons, and the outlaw states, terrorists and organized criminals seeking +to acquire them. + +Saddam Hussein has spent the better part of this decade, and much of his +nation's wealth, not on providing for the Iraqi people, but on developing +nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the missiles to deliver them. + +The United Nations weapons inspectors have done a truly remarkable job, +finding and destroying more of Iraq's arsenal than was destroyed during the +entire gulf war. Now, Saddam Hussein wants to stop them from completing +their mission. + +I know I speak for everyone in this chamber, Republicans and Democrats, +when I say to Saddam Hussein, "You cannot defy the will of the world," and +when I say to him, "You have used weapons of mass destruction before; we +are determined to deny you the capacity to use them again." + +Last year, the Senate ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention to protect +our soldiers and citizens from poison gas. Now we must act to prevent the +use of disease as a weapon of war and terror. The Biological Weapons +Convention has been in effect for 23 years now. The rules are good, but the +enforcement is weak. We must strengthen it with a new international +inspection system to detect and deter cheating. In the months ahead, I will +pursue our security strategy with old allies in Asia and Europe, and new +partners from Africa to India and Pakistan, from South America to China. +And from Belfast to Korea to the Middle East, America will continue to +stand with those who stand for peace. + +Finally, it's long past time to make good on our debt to the United +Nations. + +More and more we are working with other nations to achieve common goals. If +we want America to lead, we've got to set a good example. As we see – as we +see so clearly in Bosnia, allies who share our goals can also share our +burdens. In this new era, our freedom and independence are actually +enriched, not weakened, by our increasing interdependence with other +nations. But we have to do our part. + +Our founders set America on a permanent course toward a more perfect union. +To all of you, I say, it is a journey we can only make together, living as +one community. + +First, we have to continue to reform our government, the instrument of our +national community. Everyone knows elections have become too expensive, +fueling a fund-raising arms race. + +This year, by March the 6th, at long last the Senate will actually vote on +bipartisan campaign finance reform proposed by senators McCain and +Feingold. Let's be clear; a vote against McCain-Feingold is a vote for soft +money and for the status quo. I ask you to strengthen our democracy and +pass campaign finance reform this year. + +But at least equally important, we have to address the real reason for the +explosion in campaign costs: the high cost of media advertising. I will – +for the folks watching at home, those were the groans of pain in the +audience – I will formally request that the Federal Communications +Commission act to provide free or reduced-cost television time – for +candidates who observe spending limits voluntarily. The airwaves are a +public trust, and broadcasters also have to help us in this effort to +strengthen our democracy. + +Under the leadership of Vice President Gore, we have reduced the federal +payroll by 300,000 workers, cut 16,000 pages of regulation, eliminated +hundreds of programs and improved the operations of virtually every +government agency. But we can do more. + +Like every taxpayer, I'm outraged by the reports of abuses by the IRS. We +need some changes there: new citizen advocacy panels, a stronger taxpayer +advocate, phone lines open 24 hours a day, relief for innocent taxpayers. + +Last year, by an overwhelming bipartisan margin, the House of +Representatives passed sweeping IRS reforms. This bill must not now +languish in the Senate. Tonight, I ask the Senate: Follow the House; pass +the bipartisan package as your first order of business. I hope to goodness +before I finish I can think of something to say 'Follow the Senate' on so +I'll be out of trouble! + +A nation that lives as a community must value all its communities. For the +past five years, we have worked to bring the spark of private enterprise to +inner city and poor rural areas with community development banks, more +commercial loans into poor neighborhoods, cleanup of polluted sites for +development. + +Under the continued leadership of the vice president, we propose to triple +the number of empowerment zones to give business incentives to invest in +those areas. We should. We should also give poor families more help to move +into homes of their own, and we should use tax cuts to spur the +construction of more low-income housing. + +Last year, this Congress took strong action to help the District of +Columbia. Let us renew our resolve to make our capital city a great city +for all who live and visit here. + +Our cities are the vibrant hubs of great metropolitan areas. They are still +the gateway for new immigrants from every continent who come here to work +for their own American dreams. Let's keep our cities going strong into the +21st Century. They're a very important part of our future. + +Our communities are only as healthy as the air our children breathe, the +water they drink, the Earth they will inherit. Last year we put in place +the toughest-ever controls on smog and soot. We moved to protect +Yellowstone, the Everglades, Lake Tahoe. We expanded every community's +right to know about toxics that threaten their children. + +Just yesterday, our food safety plan took effect, using new science to +protect consumers from dangers like e. coli and salmonella. + +Tonight, I ask you to join me in launching a new Clean Water initiative, a +far-reaching effort to clean our rivers, our lakes and our coastal waters +for our children. + +Our overriding environmental challenge tonight is the worldwide problem of +climate change, global warming, the gathering crisis that requires +worldwide action. The vast majority of scientists have concluded +unequivocally that if we don't reduce the emission of greenhouse gases at +some point in the next century, we'll disrupt our climate and put our +children and grandchildren at risk. + +This past December, America led the world to reach a historic agreement +committing our nation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through market +forces, new technologies, energy efficiency. + +We have it in our power to act right here, right now. I propose $6 billion +in tax cuts, in research and development, to encourage innovation, +renewable energy, fuel-efficient cars, energy-efficient homes. Every time +we have acted to heal our environment, pessimists have told us it would +hurt the economy. Well, today our economy is the strongest in a generation, +and our environment is the cleanest in a generation. We have always found a +way to clean the environment and grow the economy at the same time. And +when it comes to global warming, we'll do it again. + +Finally, community means living by the defining American value, the ideal +heard 'round the world: that we're all created equal. Throughout our +history, we haven't always honored that ideal, and we've never fully lived +up to it. Often it's easier to believe that our differences matter more +than what we have in common. It may be easier, but it's wrong. + +What we have to do in our day and generation to make sure that America +truly becomes one nation, what do we have to do? We're becoming more and +more and more diverse. Do you believe we can become one nation? The answer +cannot be to dwell on our differences, but to build on our shared values. + +And we all cherish family and faith, freedom and responsibility. We all +want our children to grow up in the world where their talents are matched +by their opportunities. + +I've launched this national initiative on race to help us recognize our +common interests and to bridge the opportunity gaps that are keeping us +from becoming one America. Let us begin by recognizing what we still must +overcome. + +Discrimination against any American is un-American. We must vigorously +enforce the laws that make it illegal. I ask your help to end the backlog +at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Sixty thousand of our +fellow citizens are waiting in line for justice, and we should act now to +end their wait. + +We should also recognize that the greatest progress we can make toward +building one America lies in the progress we make for all Americans, +without regard to race. When we open the doors of college to all Americans, +when we rid all our streets of crime, when there are jobs available to +people from all our neighborhoods, when we make sure all parents have the +child care they need, we're helping to build one nation. + +We in this chamber and in this government must do all we can to address the +continuing American challenge to build one America. But we'll only move +forward if all our fellow citizens, including every one of you at home +watching tonight, is also committed to this cause. + +We must work together, learn together, live together, serve together. On +the forge of common enterprise, Americans of all backgrounds can hammer out +a common identity. + +We see it today in the United States military, in the Peace Corps, in +AmeriCorps. Wherever people of all races and backgrounds come together in a +shared endeavor and get a fair chance, we do just fine. With shared values +and meaningful opportunities and honest communications and citizen service, +we can unite a diverse people in freedom and mutual respect. We are many. +We must be one. + +In that spirit, let us lift our eyes to the new millennium. How will we +mark that passage? It just happens once every thousand years. This year, +Hillary and I launched the White House Millennium Program to promote +America's creativity and innovation and to preserve our heritage and +culture into the 21st century. Our culture lives in every community, and +every community has places of historic value that tell our stories as +Americans. We should protect them. + +I am proposing a public-private partnership to advance our arts and +humanities and to celebrate the millennium by saving America's treasures +great and small. And while we honor the past, let us imagine the future. + +Now, think about this. The entire store of human knowledge now doubles +every five years. In the 1980s, scientists identified the gene causing +cystic fibrosis; it took nine years. Last year, scientists located the gene +that causes Parkinson's disease – in only nine days! Within a decade, gene +chips will offer a road map for prevention of illnesses throughout a +lifetime. Soon, we'll be able to carry all the phone calls on Mother's Day +on a single strand of fiber the width of a human hair. A child born in 1998 +may well live to see the 22nd century. + +Tonight, as part of our gift to the millennium, I propose a 21st Century +research fund for pathbreaking scientific inquiry, the largest funding +increase in history for the National Institutes of Health, the National +Science Foundation, and the National Cancer Institute. We have already +discovered we have already discovered genes for breast cancer and diabetes. +I ask you to support this initiative so ours will be the generation that +finally wins the war against cancer and begins a revolution in our fight +against all deadly diseases. + +As important as all this scientific progress is, we must continue to see +that science serves humanity, not the other way around. We must prevent the +misuse of genetic tests to discriminate against any American, and we must +ratify the ethical consensus of the scientific and religious communities, +and ban the cloning of human beings. + +We should enable all the world's people to explore the far reaches of +cyberspace. Think of this: the first time I made a State of the Union +speech to you, only a handful of physicists used the World Wide Web – +literally just a handful of people. + +Now in schools and libraries, homes and businesses, millions and millions +of Americans surf the Net every day. + +We must give parents the tools they need to help protect their children +from inappropriate material on the Net, but we also must make sure that we +protect the exploding, global commercial potential of the Internet. We can +do the kinds of things that we need to do and still protect our kids. For +one thing, I ask Congress to step up support for building the next +generation Internet. It's getting kind of clogged, you know. And the next +generation Internet will operate at speeds up to a thousand times faster +than today. + +Even as we explore this inner space, in the new millennium we're going to +open new frontiers in outer space. + +Throughout all history, human kind has had only one place to call home: our +planet Earth. Beginning this year, 1998, men and women from 16 countries +will build a foothold in the heavens-the International Space Station. With +its vast expanses, scientists and engineers will actually set sail on an +uncharted sea of limitless mystery and unlimited potential. + +And this October, a true American hero, a veteran pilot of 149 combat +missions and one five-hour space flight that changed the world, will return +to the heavens. Godspeed, John Glenn! + +John, you will carry with you America's hopes, and on your uniform once +again you will carry America's flag, marking the unbroken connection +between the deeds of America's past and the daring of America's future. + +Nearly 200 years ago, a tattered flag, its broad stripes and bright stars +still gleaming through the smoke of a fierce battle, moved Francis Scott +Key to scribble a few words on the back of an envelope, the words that +became our National Anthem. Today, that Star-Spangled Banner, along with +the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, +are on display just a short walk from here. They are America's treasures. +And we must also save them for the ages. + +I ask all Americans to support our project to restore all our treasures so +that the generations of the 21st century can see for themselves the images +and the words that are the old and continuing glory of America, an America +that has continued to rise through every age against every challenge, a +people of great works and greater possibilities, who have always, always +found the wisdom and strength to come together as one nation, to widen the +circle of opportunity, to deepen the meaning of our freedom, to form that +more perfect union. + +Let that be our gift to the 21st century. + +God bless you, and God bless the United States. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +William J. Clinton +January 19, 1999 + +Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, honored guests, my +fellow Americans: + +Tonight I have the honor of reporting to you on the State of the Union. + +Let me begin by saluting the new speaker of the House and thanking him +especially tonight for extending an invitation to two guests sitting in the +gallery with Mrs. Hastert. Lyn Gibson and Wei Ling Chestnut are the widows +of the two brave Capitol Hill police officers who gave their lives to +defend freedom's house. + +Mr. Speaker, at your swearing in you asked us all to work together in a +spirit of civility and bipartisanship. Mr. Speaker, let's do exactly that. + +Tonight, I stand before you to report that America has created the longest +peacetime economic expansion in our history. With nearly 18 million new +jobs, wages rising at more than twice the rate of inflation, the highest +homeownership in history, the smallest welfare roles in 30 years, and the +lowest peacetime unemployment since 1957. + +For the first time in three decades, the budget is balanced. From a deficit +of $290 billion in 1992, we had a surplus of $70 billion last year. And +now, we are on course for budget surpluses for the next 25 years. + +Thanks to the pioneering leadership of all of you, we have the lowest +violent crime rate in a quarter century and the cleanest environment in a +quarter century. + +America is a strong force for peace – from Northern Ireland to Bosnia to +the Middle East. + +Thanks to the leadership of Vice President Gore, we have a government for +the Information Age, once again a government that is a progressive +instrument of the common good, rooted in our oldest values of opportunity, +responsibility and community, devoted to fiscal responsibility, determined +to give our people the tools they need to make the most of their own lives +in the 21st century, a 21st century government for 21st century America. + +My fellow Americans, I stand before you tonight to report that the state of +our union is strong. Now, America is working again. The promise of our +future is limitless. But we cannot realize that promise if we allow the hum +of our prosperity to lull us into complacency. How we fare as a nation far +into the 21st century depends upon what we do as a nation today. + +So, with our budget surplus growing, our economy expanding, our confidence +rising, now is the moment for this generation to meet our historic +responsibility to the 21st century. + +Our fiscal discipline gives us an unsurpassed opportunity to address a +remarkable new challenge, the aging of America. With the number of elderly +Americans set to double by 2030, the baby boom will become a senior boom. + +So first and above all, we must save Social Security for the 21st century. + +Early in this century, being old meant being poor. When President Roosevelt +created Social Security, thousands wrote to thank him for eliminating what +one woman called "the stark terror of penniless, helpless old age." Even +today, without Social Security, half our nation's elderly would be forced +into poverty. + +Today, Social Security is strong, but by 2013, payroll taxes will no longer +be sufficient to cover monthly payments. By 2032, the trust fund will be +exhausted and Social Security will be unable to pay the full benefits older +Americans have been promised. + +The best way to keep Social Security a rock solid guarantee is not to make +drastic cuts in benefits; not to raise payroll tax rates; not to drain +resources from Social Security in the name of saving it. Instead, I propose +that we make the historic decision to invest the surplus to save Social +Security. + +Specifically, I propose that we commit 60 percent of the budget surplus for +the next 15 years to Social Security, investing a small portion in the +private sector just as any private or state government pension would do. +This will earn a higher return and keep Social Security sound for 55 +years. + +But we must aim higher. We should put Social Security on a sound footing +for the next 75 years. We should reduce poverty among elderly women, who +are nearly twice as likely to be poor as are other seniors. And we should +eliminate the limits on what seniors on Social Security can earn. + +Now, these changes will require difficult, but fully achievable choices +over and above the dedication of the surplus. They must be made on a +bipartisan basis. They should be made this year. So let me say to you +tonight, I reach out my hand to all of you in both houses in both parties +and ask that we join together in saying to the American people, we will +save Social Security now. + +Now, last year, we wisely reserved all of the surplus until we knew what it +would take to save Social Security. Again, I say, we shouldn't spend any of +it, not any of it, until after Social Security is truly saved. First +thing's first. + +Second, once we have saved Social Security, we must fulfill our obligation +to save and improve Medicare. Already we have extended the life of the +Medicare trust fund by 10 years, but we should extend it for at least +another decade. Tonight, I propose that we use one out of every six dollars +in the surplus for the next 15 years to guarantee the soundness of Medicare +until the year 2020. + +But, again – but, again, we should aim higher. We must be willing to work +in a bipartisan way and look at new ideas, including the upcoming report of +the Bipartisan Medicare Commission. If we work together, we can secure +Medicare for the next two decades and cover the greatest growing need of +seniors – affordable prescription drugs. + +Third, we must help all Americans from their first day on the job to save, +to invest, to create wealth. + +From its beginnings, Americans have supplemented Social Security with +private pensions and savings. Yet today millions of people retire with +little to live on other than Social Security. Americans living longer than +ever simply must save more than ever. + +Therefore, in addition to saving Social Security and Medicare, I propose a +new pension initiative for retirement security in the 21st century. I +propose that we use a little over 11 percent of the surplus to establish +universal savings accounts – USA accounts – to give all Americans the means +to save. + +With these new accounts, Americans can invest as they choose and receive +funds to match a portion of their savings with extra help for those least +able to save. USA accounts will help all Americans to share in our nation's +wealth and to enjoy a more secure retirement. I ask you to support them. + +Fourth, we must invest in long-term care. + +I propose a tax credit of $1,000 for the aged, ailing or disabled and the +families who care for them. Long-term care will become a bigger and bigger +challenge with the aging of America – and we must do more to help our +families deal with it. + +I was born in 1946, the first year of the baby boom. I can tell you that +one of the greatest concerns of our generation is our absolute +determination not to let our growing old place an intolerable burden on our +children and their ability to raise our grandchildren. + +Our economic success and our fiscal discipline now give us the opportunity +to lift that burden from their shoulders, and we should take it. + +Saving Social Security, Medicare, creating U.S. accounts, this is the right +way to use the surplus. If we do so, if we do so, we will still have +resources to meet critical needs and education and defense. + +And I want to point out that this proposal is fiscally sound. Listen to +this, if we set aside 60 percent of the surplus for Social Security and 16 +percent for Medicare over the next 15 years, that savings will achieve the +lowest level of publicly-held debt since right before World War I in 1917. + +So with these four measures; saving Social Security, strengthening +Medicare, establishing the USA accounts, supporting long-term care, we can +begin to meet our generation's historic responsibility to establish true +security for 21st century seniors. + +Now, there are more children, from more diverse backgrounds, in our public +schools that any time in our history. Their education must provide the +knowledge and nurture the creativity that will allow our entire nation to +thrive in the new economy. + +Today we can say something we couldn't say six years ago. With tax credits +and more affordable student loans, with more work-study grants and more +Pell Grants, with education IRAs, the new HOPE Scholarship tax cut that +more than five million Americans will receive this year, we have finally +opened the doors of college to all Americans. + +With our support, nearly every state has set higher academic standards for +public schools and a voluntary national test is being developed to measure +the progress of our students. With over $1 billion in discounts available +this year, we are well on our way to our goal of connecting every classroom +and library to the Internet. + +Last fall, you passed our proposal to start hiring 100,000 new teachers to +reduce class size in the early grades. Now I ask you to finish the job. + +You know our children are doing better. SAT scores are up. Math scores have +risen in nearly all grades. But there's a problem. While our fourth-graders +out performed their peers in other countries in math and science, our +eighth-graders are around average, and our 12th-graders rank near the +bottom. We must do better. + +Now each year the national government invests more than $15 billion in our +public schools. I believe we must change the way we invest that money to +support what works and to stop supporting what does not work. + +First, later this year I will send to Congress a plan that for the first +time holds states and school districts accountable for progress and rewards +them for results. My Education Accountability Act will require every school +district receiving federal help to take the following five steps: + +First, all schools must end social promotion. + +Now, no child, no child should graduate from high school with a diploma he +or she can't read. We do our children no favors when we allow them to pass +from grade to grade without mastering the material. But we can't just hold +students back because the system fails them. + +So my balanced budget triples the funding for summer school and +after-school programs to keep a million children learning. Now, if – if you +doubt this will work, just look at Chicago, which ended social promotion +and made summer school mandatory for those who don't master the basics. +Math and reading scores are up three years running with some of the biggest +gains in some of the poorest neighborhoods. It will work, and we should do +it. + +Second, all states and school districts must turn around their worst +performing schools or shut them down. That's the policy established in +North Carolina by Governor Jim Hunt. North Carolina made the biggest gains +in test scores in the nation last year. Our budget includes $200 million to +help states turn around their own failing schools. + +Third, all states and school districts must be held responsible for the +quality of their teachers. The great majority of our teachers do a fine +job, but in too many schools teachers don't have college majors or even +minors in the subjects they teach. New teachers should be required to pass +performance exams, and all teachers should know the subject their +teaching. + +This year's balanced budget contains resources to help them reach higher +standards. And to attract talented young teachers to the toughest +assignments, I recommend a six-fold increase in our program for college +scholarships for students who commit to teach in the inner-cities and +isolated rural areas and in Indian communities. Let us bring excellence to +every part of America. + +Fourth, we must empower parents with more information and more choices. In +too many communities it's easier to get information on the quality of the +local restaurants than on the quality of the local schools. + +Every school district should issue report cards on every school. And +parents should be given more choices in selecting their public schools. + +When I became president, there was just one independent public charter +school in all America. With our support on a bipartisan basis, today there +are 1,100. My budget assures that early in the next century, there will be +3,000. + +Fifth, to assure that our classrooms are truly places of learning, and to +respond to what teachers have been asking us to do for years, we should say +that all states and school districts must both adopt and implement sensible +discipline policies. + +Now let's do one more thing for our children. Today, too many schools are +so old they're falling apart, or so overcrowded students are learning in +trailers. Last fall, Congress missed the opportunity to change that. This +year, with 53 million children in our schools, Congress must not miss that +opportunity again. I ask you to help our communities build or modernize +5,000 schools. + +If we do these things – end social promotion, turn around failing schools, +build modern ones, support qualified teachers, promote innovation, +competition and discipline – then we will begin to meet our generation's +historic responsibility to create to 21st century schools. + +Now, we also have to do more to support the millions of parents who give +their all every day at home and at work. + +The most basic tool of all is a decent income. So let's raise the minimum +wage by a dollar an hour over the next two years. + +And let's make sure that women and men get equal pay for equal work by +strengthening enforcement of the equal pay laws. + +That was encouraging, you know? There was more balance on the seesaw. I +like that. Let's give them a hand. That's great. + +Working parents also need quality child care. So, again this year, I ask +Congress to support our plan for tax credits and subsidies for working +families, for improved safety and quality, for expanded after-school +program. And our plan also includes a new tax credit for stay-at-home +parents, too. They need support as well. + +Parents should never have to worry about choosing between their children +and their work. Now, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the very first bill +I signed into law, has now, since 1993, helped millions and millions of +Americans to care for a newborn baby or an ailing relative without risking +their jobs. I think it's time, with all of the evidence that it has been so +little burdensome to employers, to extend family leave to 10 million more +Americans working for smaller companies, and I hope you will support it. + +Finally, on the matter of work, parents should never have to face +discrimination in the workplace. So I want to ask Congress to prohibit +companies from refusing to hire or promote workers simply because they have +children. That is not right. + +America's families deserve the world's best medical care. Thanks to +bipartisan federal support for medical research, we are not on the verge of +new treatments to prevent or delay diseases from Parkinson's to Alzheimer's +to arthritis to cancer. But as we continue our advances in medical science, +we can't let our medical system lag behind. + +Managed care has literally transformed medicine in America, driving down +costs, but threatening to drive down quality as well. + +I think we ought to say to every American, you should have the right to +know all you medical options, not just the cheapest. If you need a +specialist, you should have a right to see one. You have a right to the +nearest emergency care if you're in an accident. These are things that we +ought to say. And I think we ought to say you should have a right to keep +your doctor during a period of treatment whether it's a pregnancy or a +chemotherapy treatment or anything else. I believe this. + +Now I've ordered these rights to be extended to the 85 million Americans +served by Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health programs. But only +Congress can pass a Patients' Bill of Rights for all Americans. + +Last year, Congress missed that opportunity, and we must not miss that +opportunity again. For the sake of our families, I ask us to join together +across party lines and pass a strong enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. + +As more of our medical records are stored electronically, the threats to +all of our privacy increase. Because Congress has given me the authority to +act if it does not do so by August, one way or another, we can all say to +the American people, we will protect the privacy of medical records this +year. + +Now, two years ago, we acted to extend health coverage to up to five +million children. Now we should go beyond that. We should make it easier +for small businesses to offer health insurance. We should give people +between the ages of 55 and 65 who lose their health insurance the chance to +buy into Medicare. + +And we should continue to ensure access to family planning. No one should +have to choose between keeping health care and taking a job. And therefore, +I especially ask you tonight to join hands to pass the landmark bipartisan +legislation proposed by Sens. Kennedy and Jeffords, Roth and Moynihan, to +allow people with disabilities to keep their health insurance when they go +to work. + +We need to enable our public hospitals, our community, our university +health centers to provide basic, affordable care for all the millions of +working families who don't have any insurance. They do a lot of that today, +but much more can be done. And my balanced budget makes a good down payment +toward that goal. I hope you will think about them and support that +provision. + +Let me say we must step up our efforts to treat and prevent mental illness. +No American should ever be able – afraid ever to address this disease. This +year we will host a White House Conference on Mental Health. With +sensitivity, commitment and passion, Tipper Gore is leading our efforts +here, and I'd like to thank her for what she's done. Thank you. Thank you. + +As everyone knows, our children are targets of a massive media campaign to +hook them on cigarettes. Now, I ask this Congress to resist the tobacco +lobby, to reaffirm the FDA's authority to protect our children from tobacco +and to hold tobacco companies accountable, while protecting tobacco +farmers. + +Smoking has cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars under Medicare +and other programs. You know, the states have been right about this. +Taxpayers shouldn't pay for the cost of lung cancer, emphysema, and other +smoking-related illnesses, the tobacco companies should. + +So tonight I announce that the Justice Department is preparing a litigation +plan to take the tobacco companies to court and with the funds we recover +to strengthen Medicare. + +Now, if we act in these areas – minimum wage, family leave, child care, +health care, the safety of our children – then we will begin to meet our +generation's historic responsibilities to strengthen our families for the +21st century. + +Today, America is the most dynamic, competitive, job-creating economy in +history, but we can do even better in building a 21st century economy that +embraces all Americans. + +Today's income gap is largely a skills gap. Last year, the Congress passed +a law enabling workers to get a skills grant to choose the training they +need. And I applaud all of you here who were part of that. + +This year, I recommend a five-year commitment to the new system, so that we +can provide over the next five years appropriate training opportunities for +all Americans who lose their jobs and expand rapid response teams to help +all towns which have been really hurt when businesses close. I hope you +will support this. + +Also, I ask your support for a dramatic increase in federal support for +adult literacy to mount a national campaign aimed at helping the millions +and millions of working people who still read at less than a fifth-grade +level. We need to do this. + +Here's some good news. In the past six years, we have cut the welfare rolls +nearly in half. + +Two years ago, from this podium, I asked five companies to lead a national +effort to hire people off welfare. Tonight our welfare-to-work partnership +includes 10,000 companies who have hired hundreds of thousands of people, +and our balanced budget will help another 200,000 people move to the +dignity and pride of work. I hope you will support it. + +We must bring the spark of private enterprise to every corner of America, +to build a bridge from Wall Street to Appalachia to the Mississippi Delta, +to our Native American communities, with more support for community +development banks for empowerment zones, for 100,000 more vouchers for +affordable housing. + +And I ask Congress to support our bold new plan to help businesses raise up +to $15 billion in private sector capital, to bring jobs and opportunities +and inner cities, rural areas, with tax credits, loan guarantees, including +the new American Private Investment Companies, modeled on the Overseas +Private Investment Companies. + +Now, for years and years we've had this OPIC, this Overseas Private +Investment Corporation, because we knew we had untapped markets overseas. +But our greatest untapped markets are not overseas – they are right here at +home. And we should go after them. + +We must work hard to help bring prosperity back to the family farm. + +As this Congress knows very well, dropping prices and the loss of foreign +markets have devastated too many family farmers. Last year, the Congress +provided substantial assistance to help stave off a disaster in American +agriculture, and I am ready to work with lawmakers of both parties to +create a farm safety net that will include crop insurance reform and farm +income assistance. + +I ask you to join with me and do this. This should not be a political +issue. Everyone knows what an economic problem is going on out there in +rural America today, and we need an appropriate means to address it. + +We must strengthen our lead in technology. It was government investment +that led to the creation of the Internet. I propose a 28-percent increase +in long-term computing research. + +We also must be ready for the 21st century from its very first moment by +solving the so-called Y2K computer problem. We had one member of Congress +stand up and applaud. And we may have about that ration out there +applauding at home in front of their television sets. But remember, this is +a big, big problem, and we've been working hard on it. Already we've made +sure that the Social Security checks will come on time. + +But I want all the folks at home listening to this to know that we need +every state and local government, every business large and small to work +with us to make sure that this Y2K computer bug will be remembered as the +last headache of the 20th century, not the first crisis of the 21st. + +For our own prosperity, we must support economic growth abroad. You know, +until recently a third of our economic growth came from exports. But over +the past year and a half, financial turmoil has put that growth at risk. +Today, much of the world is in recession, with Asia hit especially hard. +This is the most serious financial crisis in half a century. + +To meet it, the U.S. and other nations have reduced interest rates and +strengthened the International Monetary Fund and while the turmoil is not +over, we have worked very hard with other nations to contain it. + +At the same time, we will continue to work on the long-term project: +building a global financial system for the 21st century that promotes +prosperity and tames the cycle of boom and bust that has engulfed so much +of Asia. This June, I will meet with other world leaders to advance this +historic purpose and I ask all of you to support our endeavors. I also ask +you to support creating a freer and fairer trading system for 21st century +America. + +You know, I'd like to say something really serious to everyone in this +chamber in both parties. I think trade has divided us and divided Americans +outside this chamber for too long. Somehow, we have to find a common ground +on which business and workers and environmentalists and farmers and +government can stand together. I believe these are the things we ought to +all agree on. So, let me try. + +First, we ought to tear down barriers, open markets and expand trade, but +at the same time, we must ensure that ordinary citizens in all countries +actually benefit from trade; a trade that promotes the dignity of work and +the rights of workers and protects the environment. + +We must insist that international trade organizations be open to public +scrutiny instead of mysterious, secret things subject to wild criticism. + +When you come right down to it, now that the world economy is becoming more +and more integrated, we have to do in the world what we spent the better +part of this century doing here at home. We have got to put a human face on +the global economy. + +Now, we must enforce our trade laws when imports unlawfully flood our +nation. I have already informed the government of Japan if that nation's +sudden surge of steel imports into our country is not reversed, America +will respond. + +We must help all manufacturers hit hard by the present crisis with loan +guarantees, and other incentives to increase American exports by nearly $2 +billion. I'd like to believe we can achieve a new consensus on trade based +on these principles. And I ask the Congress to join me again in this common +approach and to give the president the trade authority long used and now +overdue and necessary to advance our prosperity in the 21st century. + +Tonight, I issue a call to the nations of the world to join the United +States in a new round of global trade negotiation to expand exports of +services, manufactures and farm products. + +Tonight, I say, we will work with the International Labor Organization on a +new initiative to raise labor standards around the world. And this year, we +will lead the international community to conclude a treaty to ban abusive +child labor everywhere in the world. + +If we do these things – invest in our people, our communities, our +technology – and lead in the global economy, then we will begin to meet our +historic responsibility to build a 21st century prosperity for America. + +You know, no nation in history has had the opportunity and the +responsibility we now have to shape a world that is more peaceful, more +secure, more free. + +All Americans can be proud that our leadership helped to bring peace in +Northern Ireland. + +All Americans can be proud that our leadership has put Bosnia on the path +to peace. And with our NATO allies we are pressing the Serbian government +to stop its brutal repression in Kosovo – to bring those responsible to +justice and to give the people of Kosovo the self-government they deserve. + +All Americans can be proud that our leadership renewed hope for lasting +peace in the Middle East. Some of you were with me last December as we +watched the Palestinian National Council completely renounce its call for +the destruction of Israel. + +Now, I ask Congress to provide resources so that all parties can implement +the Wye Agreement, to protect Israel's security, to stimulate the +Palestinian economy, to support our friends in Jordan. We must not, we dare +not, let them down. I hope you will help me. + +As we work for peace, we must also meet threats to our nation's security, +including increased danger from outlaw nations and terrorism. + +We will defend our security wherever we are threatened, as we did this +summer when we struck at Osama bin Laden's network of terror. The bombing +of our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania reminds us again of the risks faced +every day by those who represent America to the world. So let's give them +the support they need, the safest possible workplaces, and the resources +they must have so America can continue to lead. + +We must work to keep terrorists from disrupting computer networks. We must +work to prepare local communities for biological and chemical emergencies, +to support research into vaccines and treatments. We must increase our +efforts to restrain the spread of nuclear weapons and missiles, from Korea +to India and Pakistan. We must expand our work with Russia, Ukraine and +other former Soviet nations to safeguard nuclear materials and technology +so they never fall into the wrong hands. Our balanced budget will increase +funding for these critical efforts by almost two-thirds over the next five +years. + +With Russia we must continue to reduce our nuclear arsenals. The START II +Treaty and the framework we have already agreed to for START III could cut +them by 80 percent from their Cold War height. + +It's been two years since I signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. If we +don't do the right thing, other nations won't either. I ask the Senate to +take this vital step, approve the treaty now to make it harder for other +nations to develop nuclear arms, and to make sure we can end nuclear +testing for ever. + +For nearly a decade, Iraq has defied its obligations to destroy its weapons +of terror and the missiles to deliver them. + +America will continue to contain [Iraqi President] Saddam [Hussein] and we +will work for the day when Iraq has a government worthy of its people. Now, +last month, in our action over Iraq, our troops were superb. Their mission +was so flawlessly executed, that we risk taking for granted the bravery and +skill it required. Captain Jeff Taliaferro, a 10-year Air Force veteran of +the Air Force, flew a B-1B bomber over Iraq as we attacked Saddam's war +machine. He is here with us tonight. I would like to ask you to honor him +and all the 33,000 men and women of Operation Desert Fox. + +It is time to reverse the decline in defense spending that began in 1985. + +Since April, together we have added nearly $6 billion to maintain our +military readiness. My balanced budget calls for a sustained increase over +the next six years for readiness, for modernization, and for pay and +benefits for our troops and their families. + +You know, we are the heirs of a legacy of bravery represented in every +community in America by millions of our veterans. America's defenders today +still stand ready at a moments notice to go where comforts are few and +dangers are many, to do what needs to be done as no one else can. They +always come through for America. We must come through for them. + +The new century demands new partnerships for peace and security. The United +Nations plays a crucial role, with allies sharing burdens America might +otherwise bear alone. America needs a strong and effective U.N. I want to +work with this new Congress to pay our dues and our debts. + +We must continue to support security and stability in Europe and Asia – +expanding NATO and defining its new missions, maintaining our alliance with +Japan, with Korea, with our other Asian allies, and engaging China. + +In China last year, I said to the leaders and the people what I'd like to +say again tonight: Stability can no longer be bought at the expense of +liberty. + +But I'd also like to say again to the American people, it's important not +to isolate China. The more we bring China into the world, the more the +world will bring change and freedom to China. + +Last spring, with some of you, I traveled to Africa, where I saw democracy +and reform rising, but still held back by violence and disease. We must +fortify African democracy and peace by launching radio democracy for +Africa, supporting the transition to democracy now beginning to take place +in Nigeria, and passing the African Trade and Development Act. + +We must continue to deepen our ties to the Americas and the Caribbean, our +common work to educate children, fight drugs, strengthen democracy and +increase trade. In this hemisphere, every government but one is freely +chosen by its people. We are determined that Cuba, too, will know the +blessings of liberty. + +The American people have opened their arms and their hearts and their arms +to our Central American and Caribbean neighbors who have been so devastated +by the recent hurricanes. Working with Congress, I am committed to help +them rebuild. + +When the first lady and Tipper Gore visited the region, they saw thousands +of our troops and thousands of American volunteers. In the Dominican +Republic, Hillary helped to rededicate a hospital that had been rebuilt by +Dominicans and Americans working side by side. With her was some one else +who has been very important to the relief efforts. You know sports records +are made and sooner or later, they're broken. But making other people's +lives better and showing our children the true meaning of brotherhood, that +lasts forever. So for far more than baseball, Sammy Sosa, you're a hero in +two countries tonight. Thank you. + +So I say to all of you, if we do these things, if we pursue peace, fight +terrorism, increase our strength, renew our alliances, we will begin to +meet our generation's historic responsibility to build a stronger 21st +century America in a freer, more peaceful world. + +As the world has changed, so have our own communities. We must make the +safer, more livable, and more united. This year, we will reach our goal of +100,000 community police officers ahead of schedule and under budget. + +The Brady Bill has stopped a quarter million felons, fugitives, and +stalkers from buying handguns and now, the murder rate is the lowest in 30 +years, and the crime rate has dropped for six straight years. + +Tonight, I propose a 21st Century Crime Bill to deploy the latest +technologies and tactics to make our communities even safer. Our balanced +budget will help put up to 50,000 more police on the street in the areas +hardest hit by crime, and then to equip them with new tools from +crime-mapping computers to digital mug shots. We must break the deadly +cycle of drugs and crime. + +Our budget expands support for drug testing and treatment, saying to +prisoners, "If you stay on drugs, you have to stay behind bars." And to +those on parole, "If you want to keep your freedom, you must stay free of +drugs." + +I ask Congress to restore the five-day waiting period for buying a handgun +and extend the Brady Bill to prevent juveniles who commit violent crimes +from buying a gun. + +We must do more to keep our schools the safest places in our communities. +Last year, every American was horrified and heartbroken by the tragic +killings in Jonesboro, Paducah, Pearl, Edinboro, Springfield. We were +deeply moved by the courageous parents now working to keep guns out of the +hands of children and to make other efforts so that other parents don't +have to live through their loss. + +After she lost her daughter, Suzann Wilson of Jonesboro, Arkansas, came +here to the White House with a powerful plea. She said "Please, please for +the sake of your children, lock up your guns. Don't let what happened in +Jonesboro, happen in your town." + +It's a message she is passionately advocating every day. Suzann is here +with us tonight, with the first lady. I would like to thank her for her +courage and her commitment. + +In memory of all the children who lost their lives to school violence, I +ask you to strengthen the Safe And Drug Free School Act, to pass +legislation to require child trigger locks, to do everything possible to +keep our children safe. + +Today, we're – excuse me – a century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt +defined our great central task as leaving this land even a better land for +our descendants than it is for us. Today, we're restoring the Florida +Everglades, saving Yellowstone, preserving the red rock canyons of Utah, +protecting California's redwoods, and our precious coasts. + +But our most fateful new challenge is the threat of global warming. +Nineteen ninety-eight was the warmest year ever recorded. Last year's heat +waves, floods and storm are but a hint of what future generations may +endure if we do not act now. + +Tonight, I propose a new clean air fund to help communities reduce +greenhouse and other pollutions, and tax incentives and investment to spur +clean energy technologies. And I want to work with members of Congress in +both parties to reward companies that take early, voluntary action to +reduce greenhouse gases. + +Now, all our communities face a preservation challenge as they grow, and +green space shrinks. Seven thousand acres of farmland and open space are +lost every day. In response, I propose two major initiatives. First, a $1 +billion livability agenda to help communities save open space, ease traffic +congestion, and grow in ways that enhance every citizen's quality of life. +And second, a $1 billion lands legacy initiative to preserve places of +natural beauty all across America, from the most remote wilderness to the +nearest city park. + +These are truly landmark initiatives, which could not have been developed +without the visionary leadership of the vice president and I want to thank +him very much for his commitment here. Thank you. + +Now, to get the most out of your community, you have to give something +back. That's why we created AmeriCorps, our national service program that +gives today's generation a chance to serve their communities and earn money +for college. + +So far, in just four years, 100,000 young Americans have built low-income +homes with Habitat for Humanity, helped tutor children with churches, work +with FEMA to ease the burden of natural disasters and performed countless +other acts of service that has made America better. I ask Congress to give +more young Americans the chance to follow their lead and serve America in +AmeriCorps. + +Now, we must work to renew our national community as well for the 21st +century. Last year, the House passed the bipartisan campaign finance reform +legislation sponsored by Representatives [Christopher] Shays (R-Conn.) and +[Martin T.] Meehan )D-Mass.) and Sens. [John] McCain (R-Ariz.) and +[Russell] Feingold (D-Wis.). But a partisan minority in the Senate blocked +reform. So I would like to say to the House, pass it again – quickly. + +And I'd like to say to the Senate, I hope you will say yes to a stronger +American democracy in the year 2000. + +Since 1997, our Initiative on Race has sought to bridge the divides between +and among our people. In its report last fall, the Initiatives Advisory +Board found that Americans really do want to bring our people together +across racial lines. + +We know it's been a long journey. For some it goes back to before the +beginning of our republic. For others, back since the Civil War; for +others, throughout the 21st century. But for most of us alive today, in a +very real sense this journey began 43 years ago, when a woman named Rosa +Parks sat down on a bus in Alabama and wouldn't get up. + +She's sitting down with the first lady tonight, and she may get up or not +as she chooses. + +We know that our continuing racial problems are aggravated, as the +presidential initiative said, by opportunity gaps. + +The initiative I've outlined tonight will help to close them. But we know +that the discrimination gap has not been fully closed either. +Discrimination or violence because of race or religion, ancestry or gender, +disability or sexual orientation, is wrong and it ought to be illegal. +Therefore, I ask Congress to make the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and +the Hate Crimes Prevention Act the law of the land. + +You know, now since every person in America counts, every American ought to +be counted. We need a census that uses modern scientific methods to do +that. + +Our new immigrants must be part of our one America. After all, they're +revitalizing our cities, they're energizing our culture, they're building +up our economy. We have a responsibility to make them welcome here, and +they have a responsibility to enter the mainstream of American life. + +That means learning English and learning about our democratic system of +government. There are now long waiting lines of immigrants that are trying +to do just that. + +Therefore, our budget significantly expands our efforts to help them meet +their responsibility. I hope you will support it. + +Whether our ancestors came here on the Mayflower, on slave ships; whether +they came to Ellis Island or LAX in Los Angeles; whether they came +yesterday or walked this land 1,000 years ago, our great challenge for the +21st century is to find a way to be one America. We can meet all the other +challenges if we can go forward as one America. + +You know, barely more than 300 days from now we will cross that bridge into +the new millennium. This is a moment, as the first lady has said, to honor +the past and imagine the future. + +I'd like to take just a minute to honor her, for leading our Millennium +Project, for all she's done for our children. For all she has done in her +historic role to serve our nation and our best ideals at home and abroad, I +honor her. + +Last year – last year I called on Congress and every citizen to mark the +millennium by saving America's treasures. Hillary's traveled all across the +country to inspire recognition and support for saving places like Thomas +Edison's invention factory or Harriet Tubman's home. + +Now we have to preserve our treasures in every community. And tonight, +before I close, I want to invite every town, every city, every community to +become a nationally recognized millennium community by launching projects +that save our history, promote our arts and humanities, prepare our +children for the 21st century. + +Already the response has been remarkable. And I want to say a special word +of thanks to our private sector partners and to members in Congress of both +parties for their support. Just one example. Because of you, the Star +Spangled Banner will be preserved for the ages. + +In ways large and small, as we look to the millennium, we are keeping alive +what George Washington called the "sacred fire of liberty." + +Six years ago, I came to office in a time of doubt for America, with our +economy troubled, our deficit high, our people divided. Some even wondered +whether our best days were behind us. But across this nation, in a thousand +neighborhoods, I have seen, even amidst the pain and uncertainty of +recession, the real heart and character of America. + +I knew then we Americans could renew this country. + +Tonight, as I deliver the last State of the Union Address for the 20th +century, no one anywhere in the world can doubt the enduring resolve and +boundless capacity of the American people to work toward that "more perfect +union" of our founders' dreams. + +We are now, at the end of a century, when generation after generation of +Americans answered the call to greatness, overcoming Depression, lifting up +the dispossessed, bringing down barriers to racial prejudice, building the +largest middle class in history, winning two world wars and the "long +twilight struggle" of the Cold War. + +We must all be profoundly grateful for the magnificent achievements of our +forbearers in this century. + +Yet perhaps in the daily press of events, in the clash of controversy, we +don't see our own time for what it truly is – a new dawn for America. + +A hundred years from tonight, another American president will stand in this +place and report on the State of the Union. He – or she – will look back on +the 21st century shaped in so many ways by the decisions we make here and +now. + +So let it be said of us then that we were thinking not only of our time, +but of their time; that we reached as high as our ideals; that we put aside +our divisions and found a new hour of healing and hopefulness; that we +joined together to serve and strengthen the land we love. + +My fellow Americans, this is our moment. Let us lift our eyes as one +nation, and from the mountaintop of this American century, look ahead to +the next one – asking God's blessing on our endeavors and on our beloved +country. + +Thank you, and good evening. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +William J. Clinton +January 27, 2000 + +Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, honored guests, my +fellow Americans: + +We are fortunate to be alive at this moment in history. Never before has +our nation enjoyed, at once, so much prosperity and social progress with so +little internal crisis or 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 years; the lowest African-American +and Hispanic unemployment rates on record; the first back-to-back budget +surpluses in 42 years. + +Next month, America will achieve the longest period of economic growth in +our entire history. + +We have built a new economy. + +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 and adoptions up by 30 percent. Welfare +rolls cut in half to their lowest levels in 30 years. + +My fellow Americans, the state of our union is the strongest it has ever +been. + +As always, the credit belongs to the American people. + +My gratitude also goes to those of you in this chamber who have worked with +us to put progress above 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 of a 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 outdated ideologies with a +new vision anchored in basic, enduring values: opportunity for all, +responsibility from all, and a community of all Americans. + +We reinvented government, transforming it into a catalyst for new ideas +that stress both opportunity and responsibility, and give our people the +tools to solve their own problems. + +With the smallest federal workforce 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. + +We ended welfare as we knew it – 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 have +helped parents to succeed at work and at home – with family leave, which 20 +million Americans have used to care for a newborn child or a sick loved +one. We have engaged 150,000 young Americans in citizen service through +AmeriCorps – while also helping them earn their way through college. + +In 1992, we had a roadmap. Today, we have results. More important, America +again has the confidence to dream big dreams. But we must not let our +renewed confidence grow into complacency. We 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, 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 which takes the long look ahead." + +Tonight let us take our look long ahead – and set great goals for our +nation. + +To 21st Century America, let us pledge that: + +Every child will begin school ready to learn and graduate ready to succeed. +Every family will be able to succeed at home and at work – and no child +will be raised in poverty. We will meet the challenge of the aging of +America. We will assure quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans. +We will make America the safest big country on earth. We will bring +prosperity to every American community. We will reverse the course of +climate change and leave a cleaner, safer 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. + +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. For too long +this Congress has been standing still on some of our most pressing national +priorities. Let's begin with them. + +I ask you again to pass a real patient's bill of rights. Pass common-sense +gun-safety legislation. Pass campaign finance reform. Vote on long overdue +judicial nominations and other important appointees. And, again, I ask you +to raise the minimum wage. + +Two years ago, as we reached 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. If we stay on this path, we can pay +down the debt entirely in 13 years and make America debt-free for the first +time since Andrew Jackson was president in 1835. + +In 1993, we began to put our fiscal house in order with the Deficit +Reduction Act, winning passage in both houses by just one vote. Your former +colleague, my first Secretary of the Treasury, led that effort. He is here +tonight. Lloyd Bentsen, you have served America well. + +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. I ask you tonight 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 to ensure that it is strong and sound for the next 50 years. + +But this is just the start of our journey. Now we must take the right steps +toward reaching our great goals. + +Opportunity and Responsibility in Education + +First and foremost, we need a 21st Century revolution in education, guided +by our faith that every child can learn. Because education is more than +ever the key to our children's future, we must make sure all our children +have that key. That means quality preschool and afterschool, the best +trained teachers in every classroom, and college opportunities for all our +children. + +For seven years, we have worked hard to improve our schools, with +opportunity and responsibility: Investing more, but demanding more in +return. + +Reading, math, and college entrance scores are up. And some of the most +impressive gains are in schools in poor neighborhoods. + +All successful schools have followed the same proven formula: higher +standards, more accountability, so all children can 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, the national government invests more than $15 billion +in our schools. It's time to support what works and stop supporting what +doesn't. + +As we demand more than ever from our schools, we should invest more than +ever in our schools. + +Let's double our investment to help states and districts turn around their +worst-performing schools – or shut them down. + +Let's double our investment in afterschool and summer school programs – +boosting achievement, and keeping children off the street and out of +trouble. If we do, we can give every child in every failing school in +America the chance to meet high standards. + +Since 1993, we've nearly doubled our investment in Head Start and improved +its quality. Tonight, I ask for another $1 billion to Head Start, the +largest increase in the program's history. + +We know that children learn best in smaller classes with good teachers. For +two years in a row, Congress has supported my plan to hire 100,000 new, +qualified teachers, to lower class sizes in the early grades. This year, I +ask you to make it three in a row. + +And to make sure all teachers know the subjects they teach, tonight I +propose a new teacher quality initiative – to recruit more talented people +into the classroom, reward good teachers for staying there, and give all +teachers the training they need. + +We know charter schools provide real public school choice. When I became +President, there was just one independent public charter school in all +America. Today there are 1,700. I ask you to help us meet our goal of 3,000 +by next year. + +We know we must connect all our classrooms to the Internet. We're getting +there. In 1994, only three percent of our classrooms were connected. Today, +with the help of the Vice President's E-rate program, more than half of +them are; and 90 percent of our schools have at least one connection to the +Internet. + +But we can't finish the job when a third of all schools are in serious +disrepair, many with walls and wires too old for the Internet. Tonight, I +propose to help 5,000 schools a year make immediate, urgent repairs. And +again, to help build or modernize 6,000 schools, to get students out of +trailers and into high-tech classrooms. + +We should double our bipartisan GEAR UP program to mentor 1.4 million +disadvantaged young people for college. And let's offer these students a +chance to take the same college test-prep courses wealthier students use to +boost their test scores. + +To make the American Dream achievable for all, we must make college +affordable for all. For seven years, on a bipartisan basis, we have taken +action toward that goal: larger Pell grants, more-affordable student loans, +education IRAs, and our HOPE scholarships, which have already benefited 5 +million young people. 67 percent of high school graduates now go on to +college, up almost 10 percent since 1993. Yet millions of families still +strain to pay college tuition. They need help. + +I propose a landmark $30-billion college opportunity tax cut – a +middle-class tax deduction for up to $10,000 in college tuition costs. +We've already made two years of college affordable for all. Now let's make +four years of college affordable for all. + +If we take all these steps, we will move a long way toward making sure +every child starts school ready to learn and graduates ready to succeed. + +Rewarding Work and Strengthening Families + +We need a 21st Century revolution to reward work and strengthen families – +by giving every parent the tools to succeed at work and at the most +important work of all – raising their children. That means making sure that +every family has health care and the support to care for aging parents, the +tools to bring their children up right, and that no child grows up in +poverty;. + +From my first days as President, we have worked to give families better +access to better health care. In 1997, we passed the Children's Health +Insurance Program – CHIP – so that workers who don't have health care +coverage through their employers at least can get it for their children. So +far, we've enrolled 2 million children, and we're well on our way to our +goal of 5 million. + +But there are still more than 40 million 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 eligible for +the insurance that covers their kids. Together with our children's +initiative, we can cover nearly one quarter of the uninsured in America. + +Again, I ask you to let people between 55 and 65 – the fastest growing +group of uninsured – buy into Medicare. And let's give them a tax credit to +make that choice an affordable one. + +When the Baby Boomers retire, Medicare will be faced with caring for twice +as many of our citizens – and yet it is far from ready to do so. My +generation must not ask our children's generation to shoulder our burden. +We must strengthen and modernize Medicare now. + +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; and, at long last, to +give every senior a voluntary choice of affordable coverage for +prescription drugs. + +Lifesaving drugs are an indispensable part of modern medicine. No one +creating a Medicare program today would even consider excluding coverage +for prescription drugs. Yet more than three in five 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 seniors the lifeline of affordable prescription drugs. + +Record numbers of Americans are providing for aging or ailing loved ones at +home. Last year, I proposed a $1,000 tax credit for long-term care. +Frankly, that wasn't enough. This year, let's triple it to $3,000 – and +this year, let's pass it. + +And we must make needed investments to expand access to mental health care. +I want to thank the person who has led our efforts to break down the +barriers to the decent treatment of mental illness: Tipper Gore. + +Taken together, these proposals would mark the largest investment in health +care in the 35 years since the creation of Medicare – a big step toward +assuring health care for all Americans, young and old. + +We must also make investments that reward work and support families. +Nothing does that better than the Earned Income Tax Credit, the EITC. The +"E" in "EITC" is about earning; working; taking responsibility and being +rewarded for it. In my first Address to you, I asked Congress to greatly +expand this tax credit; and you did. As a result, in 1998 alone, the EITC +helped more than 4.3 million Americans work their way out of poverty and +toward the middle class – double the number in 1993. + +Tonight, I propose another major expansion. We should reduce the marriage +penalty for the EITC, making sure it rewards marriage just as it rewards +work. And we should expand the tax credit for families with more than two +children to provide up to $1,100 more in tax relief. + +We can't reward work and family unless men and women get equal pay for +equal work. The female unemployment rate is the lowest in 46 years. Yet +women still earn only about 75 cents for every dollar men 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. + +Two-thirds of new jobs are in the suburbs, far away from many low-income +families. In the past two years, I have proposed and Congress has approved +110,000 new housing vouchers – rent subsidies to help working families live +closer to the workplace. This year, let us more than double that number. If +we want people to go to work, they have to be able to get to work. + +Many working parents spend up to a quarter of their income on child care. +Last year, we helped parents provide child care for about two million +children. My child care initiative, along with funds already secured in +welfare reform, would make child care better, safer, and more affordable +for another 400,000 children. + +For hard-pressed middle-income families, we should also expand the child +care tax credit. And we should take the next big step. We should make that +tax credit refundable for low-income families. For those making under +$30,000 a year, that could mean up to $2,400 for child-care costs. We all +say we're pro-work and pro-family. Passing this proposal would prove it. + +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 of IRAs and 401-K retirement plans. We should do more to help working +families save and accumulate wealth. That's the idea behind so-called +Individual Development Accounts. Let's take that idea to a new level, with +Retirement Savings Accounts that enable every low- and moderate-income +family in America to save for retirement, a first home, a medical +emergency, or a college education. I propose to match their contributions, +however small, dollar for dollar, every year they save. And to give a major +new tax credit for any small business that provides a meaningful pension to +its workers. + +Nearly one in three American children grows up in a home 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 have doubled child support collections since 1992, and I am proposing +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 – and +need help to do it. Carlos Rosas of St. Paul, Minnesota, got that help. Now +he has a good job and he supports his son Ricardo. My budget will help +40,000 fathers make the choices Carlos did. And I thank him for being +here. + +If there is any issue on which we can reach across party lines it is in our +common commitment to reward work and strengthen families. Thanks to +overwhelming bipartisan support from this Congress, we have improved foster +care, supported those who leave it when they turn eighteen, and +dramatically increased the number of foster children going to adoptive +homes. I thank you for that. Of course, I am especially grateful to the +person who has led our efforts from the beginning, and who has worked +tirelessly for children and families for thirty years now: my wife, +Hillary. + +If we take all these steps, we will move a 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 +and support for working families--and still offer tax cuts to help pay for +college, for retirement, to care for aging parents and reduce the marriage +penalty – without forsaking the path of fiscal discipline that got us here. +Indeed, we must make these investments and 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. + +Responsibility and Crime + +Crime in America has dropped for the past seven years – 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 +believes America is safe enough. So let's set a higher goal: let's make +America the safest big country in the world. + +Last fall, Congress supported my plan to hire – in addition to the 100,000 +community police we have already funded – 50,000 more, concentrated in +high-crime neighborhoods. I ask your continued support. + +Soon after the Columbine tragedy, Congress considered common-sense gun +safety legislation to require Brady background checks at gun shows, child +safety locks for all new handguns, and a ban on the importation of +large-capacity ammunition clips. With courage – and a tie-breaking vote by +the Vice President – the Senate faced down the gun lobby, stood up for the +American people, and passed this legislation. But the House failed to +follow suit. + +We've 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 +Tom 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 +move this Congress to make common-sense gun safety legislation the very +next order of business. Tom, thank you for being here tonight. + +We must strengthen gun laws and better enforce laws already on the books. +Federal gun crime prosecutions are up 16 percent since I took office. But +again, we must do more. I propose to hire more federal and local gun +prosecutors, and more ATF agents to crack down on illegal gun traffickers +and bad-apple dealers. And we must give law enforcement the tools to trace +every gun – and every bullet – used in a crime in America. + +Listen to this: the accidental gun death rate of children under 15 in the +United States is nine times higher than in the other 25 industrialized +nations – combined. 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 +in Smart Gun technology. I also call on responsible leaders in the gun +industry to work with us on smart guns and other steps to keep guns out of +the wrong hands and keep our children safe. + +Every parent I know worries about the impact of violence in the media on +their children. I thank the entertainment industry for accepting my +challenge to put voluntary ratings on TV programs and video and Internet +games. But the ratings are too numerous, diverse, and confusing to be +really useful to parents. Therefore, I now ask the industry to accept the +First Lady's challenge – to develop a single, voluntary rating system for +all children's entertainment, one that is easier for parents to understand +and enforce. + +If we take all these steps, we will be well on our way to making America +the safest big country in the world. + +Opening New Markets + +To keep our historic economic expansion going, we need a 21st Century +revolution to open new markets, start new businesses, and hire new workers +right here in America – in our inner cities, poor rural areas, and on +Indian reservations. + +Our nation's prosperity has not yet reached these places. Over the last six +months, I have traveled to many of them – 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 Indian Reservation. Everywhere I've gone, I've met +talented people eager for opportunity, and able to work. Let's put them to +work. + +For business, it's the smart thing to do. For America, it's the right thing +to do. And if we don't do it now, when will we ever get around to it? + +I ask Congress to give businesses the same incentives to invest in +America's new markets that they now have to invest in foreign markets. +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 inner cities and rural areas. + +Empowerment Zones have been creating these opportunities for five years +now. We should also increase incentives to invest in them and create more +of them. + +This is not a Democratic or a Republican issue. It is an American issue. +Mr. Speaker, it was a powerful moment last November when you joined me and +the Reverend Jesse Jackson in your home state of Illinois, and committed to +working toward our common goal, by combining the best ideas from both sides +of the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with you. + +We must maintain our commitment to community development banks and keep the +community reinvestment act strong so all Americans have access to the +capital they need to buy homes and build businesses. + +We need to make special efforts to address the areas with the highest rates +of poverty. My budget includes a special $110 million initiative to promote +economic development in the Mississippi Delta; and $1 billion to increase +economic opportunity, health care, education and law enforcement for Native +American communities. In this new century, we should honor our historic +responsibility to empower the first Americans. I thank leaders and members +from both parties who have already expressed an interest in working with us +on these efforts. + +There's another part of our American community in trouble today – our +family farmers. When I signed the Farm Bill in 1996, I said there was a +great danger it would work well in good times but not in bad. Well, +droughts, floods, and historically low prices have made times very bad for +our farmers. We must work together to strengthen the farm safety net, +invest in land conservation, and create new markets by expanding our +program for bio-based fuels and products. + +Today, opportunity for all requires something new: having access to a +computer and knowing how to use it. That means we must close the digital +divide between those who have these tools and those who don't. + +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 creates technology centers in 1,000 communities to +serve adults. This spring, I will invite high-tech leaders to join me on +another New Markets tour – to close the digital divide and open opportunity +for all our people. I thank the high-tech companies that are already doing +so much in this area – and I hope the new tax incentives I have proposed +will encourage others to join us. + +If we take these steps, we will go a long way toward our goal of bringing +opportunity to every community. + +Global Change and American Leadership + +To realize the full possibilities of the new 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, economies and +cultures: globalization. + +It is the central reality of our time. Change this profound is both +liberating and threatening. But there is no turning back. And our open, +creative society stands to benefit more than any other – if we understand, +and act on, the new realities of interdependence. We must be at the center +of every vital global network, as a good neighbor and partner. We cannot +build our future without helping others to build theirs. + +First, we must forge a new consensus on trade. Those of us who believe +passionately in the power of open trade must ensure that it lifts both our +living standards and our values, never tolerating abusive child labor or a +race to the bottom on the environment and worker protection. Still, open +markets and rules-based trade are the best engines we know for raising +living standards, reducing global poverty and environmental destruction, +and assuring the free flow of ideas. There is only one direction for +America on trade: we must go forward. + +And we must make developing economies our partners in prosperity – which is +why I ask Congress to finalize our groundbreaking African and Caribbean +Basin trade initiatives. + +Globalization is about more than economics. Our purpose must be to bring +the world together around democracy, freedom, and peace, and to oppose +those who would tear it apart. + +Here are the fundamental challenges I believe America must meet to shape +the 21st Century world. + +First, we must continue to encourage our former adversaries, Russia and +China, to emerge as stable, prosperous, democratic nations. Both are being +held back from reaching their full potential: Russia by the legacy of +communism, economic 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: thousands of former +Soviet nuclear weapons eliminated; Russian soldiers serving with ours in +the Balkans; Russian people electing their leaders for the first time in a +thousand years. And in China, an economy more open to the world than ever +before. No one can know for sure what direction these great countries will +choose. But we must do everything in our power to increase the chance they +will choose wisely, to be constructive members of the global community. + +That is why we must support those Russians struggling for a democratic, +prosperous future; continue to reduce both our nuclear arsenals; and help +Russia safeguard weapons and materials that remain. + +That is why Congress should support the agreement we negotiated to bring +China into the WTO, by passing Permanent Normal Trade Relations as soon as +possible this year. Our markets are already open to China. This agreement +will open China's markets to us. And it will advance the cause of peace in +Asia and promote the cause of change in China. + +A second challenge is to protect our security from conflicts that pose the +risk of wider war and threaten our common humanity. America cannot prevent +every conflict or stop every outrage. But where our interests are at stake +and we can make a difference, we must be peacemakers. + +We should be proud of America's role in bringing the Middle East closer +than ever to a comprehensive 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 crises between +India and Pakistan; 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 innocent people to return to their homes. + +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 went 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 without losing a single American in combat. +Captain Cherrey, we honor you, and promise to finish the job you began. + +A third challenge is to keep the inexorable march of technology from giving +terrorists and potentially hostile nations the means to undermine our +defenses. The same 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; +increasing 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 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with Russia. + +I hope we can have a constructive bipartisan dialogue this year to build a +consensus which will lead eventually to the ratification of the +Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. + +A fourth challenge is to ensure that the stability of our planet is not +threatened by the huge gulf between rich and poor. We cannot accept a world +in which part of humanity lives on the cutting edge of a new economy, while +the rest live on the bare edge of survival. We must do our part, with +expanded trade, expanded aid, and the expansion of freedom. + +From Nigeria to Indonesia, more people won the right to choose their +leaders in 1999 than in 1989, the year the Berlin Wall fell. We must stand +by democracies – like Colombia, fighting narco-traffickers for its people's +lives, and our children's lives. I have proposed a strong two-year package +to help Colombia win this fight; and I ask for your support. And I will +propose tough new legislation to go after what drug barons value most – +their money. + +In a world where 1.2 billion people live on less than a dollar a day, we +must do our part in the global endeavor to reduce the debts of the poorest +countries so they can invest in education, health and economic growth – as +the Pope and other religious leaders have urged. Last year, Congress made a +down payment on America's share. And I ask for your continued support. + +And America must help more nations break the bonds of disease. Last year in +Africa, AIDS killed ten times as many people as war did. My budget invests +$150 million more in the fight against this and other infectious killers. +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 around the world to join us in embracing this cause. Together, we +can save millions of lives. + +Our final challenge is the most important: to pass a national security +budget that keeps our military the best trained and best equipped in the +world, with heightened readiness and 21st Century weapons; raises salaries +for our service men and women; protects our veterans; fully funds the +diplomacy that keeps our soldiers out of war; and makes good on our +commitment to pay our UN dues and arrears. I ask you to pass this budget +and I thank you for the extraordinary support you have given – Republicans +and Democrats alike – to our men and women in uniform. I especially want to +thank Secretary Cohen for symbolizing our bipartisan commitment to our +national security – and Janet Cohen, I thank you for tirelessly traveling +the world to show our support for the troops. + +If we meet all these challenges, America can lead the world toward peace +and freedom in an era of globalization. + +Responsibility, Opportunity, and the Environment + +I am grateful for the opportunities the Vice President and I have had to +work hard to protect the environment and finally to put to rest the notion +that you can't expand the economy while protecting the environment. As our +economy has grown, we have rid more than 500 neighborhoods of toxic waste +and ensured cleaner air and water for millions of families. In the past +three months alone, we have acted to preserve more than 40 million acres of +roadless lands in our National Forests and created three new National +Monuments. + +But as our communities grow, our commitment to conservation must grow as +well. Tonight, I propose creating a permanent conservation fund to restore +wildlife, protect coastlines, and save natural treasures from California +redwoods to the Everglades. This Lands Legacy endowment represents by far +the most enduring investment in land preservation ever proposed. + +Last year, the Vice President launched a new effort to help make +communities more livable – so children will grow up next to parks, not +parking lots, and parents can be home with their children instead of stuck +in traffic. Tonight, we propose new funding for advanced transit systems – +for saving precious open spaces – for helping major cities around the Great +Lakes protect their waterways and enhance their quality of life. + +The greatest environmental challenge of the new century is global warming. +Scientists tell us that the 1990s were the hottest decade of the entire +millennium. If we fail to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, deadly heat +waves and droughts will become more frequent, coastal areas will be +flooded, economies disrupted. + +Many people in the United States and around the world still believe we +can't cut greenhouse gas pollution without slowing economic growth. In the +Industrial Age that may have been true. In the digital economy, it isn't. +New technologies make it possible to cut harmful emissions and provide even +more growth. 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. Before you know it, efficient production +of biofuels will give us the equivalent of hundreds of miles from a gallon +of gas. + +To speed innovations in environmental technologies, I propose giving major +tax incentives to businesses 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 +call on the auto industry to use available technologies to make all new +cars more fuel efficient right away. And on Congress to make more of our +clean-energy technologies available to the developing world – creating +cleaner growth abroad and new jobs at home. + +The Opportunity and Responsibility of Science and Technology + +In the new century, innovations in science and technology will be the key +not only to the health of the 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 +Americans to recognize that your tax dollars have fueled 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 +Disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer – and they are designing +precision therapies that will block the harmful effects of these faulty +genes for good. Researchers are already 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 Disease. Scientists are also working on +an artificial retina to help many blind people to see and microchips that +would directly stimulate damaged spinal cords and allow people who are now +paralyzed to stand up and walk. + +Science and engineering innovations are also propelling our remarkable +prosperity. Information technology alone now accounts for a third of our +economic growth, with jobs that pay almost 80 percent above the private +sector average. Again, we should 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 speak; materials 10 times stronger than steel +at a fraction of the weight; and molecular computers the size of a teardrop +with the power of today's fastest supercomputers. + +To accelerate the march of discovery across all disciplines of science and +technology, my budget includes an unprecedented $3 billion increase in the +21st Century Research Fund, the largest increase in civilian research in a +generation. + +These new breakthroughs must be used in ways that reflect our most +cherished values. First and foremost, we must safeguard our citizens' +privacy. Last year, we proposed rules to protect every citizen's medical +records. This year, we will finalize those rules. We have also taken the +first steps to protect the privacy of bank and credit card statements and +other financial records. Soon I will send legislation to the Congress to +finish that job. We must also act to prevent any genetic discrimination by +employers or insurers. + +These steps will allow America to lead toward the far frontiers of science +and technology – enhancing our health, environment, and economy in ways we +cannot even imagine today. Community + +At a time when science, technology and the forces of globalization are +bringing so many changes into our lives, it is more important than ever +that we strengthen the bonds that root us in our local communities and in +our national communities. + +No tie binds different people together like citizen service. There is a new +spirit of service in America – a movement we have supported with +AmeriCorps, an expanded Peace Corps, and unprecedented new partnerships +with businesses, foundations, and community groups. Partnerships to enlist +12,000 companies in moving 650,000 of our fellow citizens from welfare to +work. To battle drug abuse and AIDS. To teach young people to read. To Save +America's Treasures. To strengthen the arts. To fight teen pregnancy. To +prevent youth violence. To promote racial healing. + +We can do even more to help Americans help each other. We should help +faith-based organizations do more to fight poverty and drug abuse and help +young people get back on the right track with initiatives like Second +Chance Homes to help unwed teen mothers. We should support Americans who +tithe and contribute to charities, but don't earn enough to claim a tax +deduction for it. Tonight, I propose new tax incentives to allow low- and +middle-income citizens to get that deduction. + +We should do more to help new immigrants fully participate in the American +community – investing more to teach them civics and English. And since +everyone in our community counts, we must make sure everyone is counted in +this year's census. + +Within ten years there will be no majority race in our largest state, +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. We have members from +virtually every racial, ethnic, and religious background. And America is +stronger for it. But as we have seen, these differences all too often spark +hatred and division, even here at home. + +We have seen a man dragged to death in Texas simply because he was black. A +young man murdered in Wyoming simply because he was gay. In the last year +alone, we've seen the shootings of African Americans, Asian Americans, and +Jewish children simply because of who they were. This is not the American +way. We must draw the line. Without delay, we must pass the Hate Crimes +Prevention Act and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. And we should +reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. + +No American should be subjected to discrimination in finding a home, +getting a job, going to school, or securing a loan. Tonight, I propose the +largest ever investment to enforce America's civil rights laws. Protections +in law must be protections in fact. + +Last February, I created the White House Office of One America to promote +racial reconciliation. That's what Hank Aaron, has done all his life. From +his days as baseball's all-time homerun king to his recent acts of healing, +he has always brought Americans together. We're pleased he's with us +tonight. + +This fall, at the White House, one of America's leading scientists said +something we should all remember. He said all human beings, genetically, +are 99.9 percent the same. So modern science affirms what ancient faith has +always taught: the most important fact of life is our common humanity. + +Therefore, we must do more than tolerate diversity – we must honor it and +celebrate it. + +My fellow Americans, each time I prepare for the State of the Union, I +approach it with great hope and expectations for our nation. But tonight is +special – because we stand on the mountaintop of a new millennium. Behind +us we see the great expanse of American achievement; before us, even +grander frontiers of possibility. + +We should be filled with gratitude and humility for our prosperity and +progress; with awe and joy at what lies ahead; and with absolute +determination to make the most of it. + +When the framers finished crafting our Constitution, Benjamin Franklin +stood in Independence Hall and reflected on a painting of the sun, low on +the horizon. He said, "I have often wondered whether that sun was rising or +setting. Today," Franklin said, " I have the happiness to know it is a +rising sun." Well, today, because each generation of Americans has kept the +fire of freedom burning brightly, lighting those frontiers of possibility, +we still bask in the warmth of Mr. Franklin's rising sun. + +After 224 years, the American Revolution continues. We remain a new nation. +As long as our dreams outweigh our memories, America will be forever young. +That is our destiny. And this is our moment. + +Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OF ADDRESSES BY WILLIAM J. CLINTON *** + +This file should be named sucli10.txt or sucli10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, sucli11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, sucli10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: State of the Union Addresses of William J. Clinton + +Author: William J. Clinton + +Release Date: February, 2004 [EBook #5048] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on April 11, 2002] +[Date last updated: December 16, 2004] + +Edition: 11 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OF ADDRESSES BY WILLIAM J. CLINTON *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by James Linden. + +The addresses are separated by three asterisks: *** + +Dates of addresses by William J. Clinton in this eBook: + January 25, 1994 + January 24, 1995 + January 23, 1996 + February 4, 1997 + January 27, 1998 + January 19, 1999 + January 27, 2000 + + + +*** + +State of the Union Address +William J. Clinton +January 25, 1994 + +Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, members of the 103rd Congress, my fellow +Americans: + +I am not sure what speech is in the TelePrompTer tonight, but I hope we can +talk about the State of the Union. + +I ask you to begin by recalling the memory of the giant who presided over +this chamber with such force and grace. Tip O'Neill liked to call himself +"A Man of the House" and he surely was that. But even more, he was a man of +the people, a bricklayer's son who helped to build the great American +middle class. Tip O'Neill never forgot who he was, where he came from, or +who sent him here. Tonight he's smiling down on us for the first time from +the Lord's gallery. But in his honor, may we too also remember who we are, +where we come from, and who sent us here. + +If we do that we will return over and over again to the principle that if +we simply give ordinary people equal opportunity, quality education, and a +fair shot at the American dream, they will do extraordinary things. + +We gather tonight in a world of changes so profound and rapid that all +nations are tested. Our American heritage has always been to master such +change, to use it to expand opportunity at home, and our leadership abroad. +But for too long and in too many ways, that heritage was abandoned, and our +country drifted. + +For 30 years family life in America has been breaking down. For 20 years +the wages of working people have been stagnant or declining. For the 12 +years of trickle down economics we built a false prosperity on a hollow +base as our national debt quadrupled. From 1989 to 1992 we experienced the +slowest growth in a half century. For too many families, even when both +parents were working, the American dream has been slipping away. + +In 1992 the American people demanded that we change. I year ago I asked all +of you to join me in accepting responsibility for the future of our +country. + +Well, we did. We replaced drift and deadlock with renewal and reform. And I +want to thank every one of you here who heard the American people, who +broke gridlock, who gave them the most successful teamwork between a +president and a Congress in 30 years. + +Accomplishments + +This Congress produced a budget that cut the deficit by half a trillion +dollars, cut spending and raised income taxes on only the wealthiest +Americans. This Congress produced tax relief for millions of low-income +workers to reward work over welfare. It produced NAFTA. It produced the +Brady bill, now the Brady law. + +And thank you, Jim Brady, for being here, and God bless you, Sarah. This +Congress produced tax cuts to reduce the taxes of nine out of 10 small +businesses who use the money to invest more and create more jobs. It +produced more research and treatment for AIDS, more childhood +immunizations, more support for women's health research, more affordable +college loans for the middle class, a new national service program for +those who want to give something back to their country and their +communities for higher education, a dramatic increase in high-tech +investments to move us from a defense to a domestic high-tech economy. This +Congress produced a new law--the motor voter bill--to help millions of +people register to vote. It produced family and medical leave--all passed, +all signed into law, with not one single veto. + +These accomplishments were all commitments I made when I sought this +office, and in fairness, they all had to be passed by you in this Congress. +But I am persuaded that the real credit belongs to the people who sent us +here, who pay our salaries, who hold our feet to the fire. But what we do +here is really beginning to change lives. Let me just give you one +example. + +Family And Medical Leave + +I will never forget what the family and medical leave law meant to just one +father I met early one Sunday morning in the White House. It was unusual to +see a family there touring early Sunday morning, but he had his wife and +his three children there, one of them in a wheelchair. And I came up, and +after we had our picture taken and had a little visit, I was walking off, +and that man grabbed me by the arm and he said, "Mr. President, let me tell +you something. My little girl here is desperately ill. She's probably not +going to make it. But because of the family leave law, I was able to take +time off to spend with her, the most important I ever spent in my life, +without losing my job and hurting the rest of my family. It means more to +me than I will ever be able to say. Don't you people up here ever think +what you do doesn't make a difference. It does." + +Though we are making a difference, our work has just begun. Many Americans +still haven't felt the impact of what we've done. The recovery still hasn't +touched every community or created enough jobs. Incomes are still stagnant. +There's still too much violence and not enough hope in too many places. + +Abroad, the young democracies we are strongly supporting still face very +difficult times and look to us for leadership. + +And so tonight, let us resolve to continue the journey of renewal, to +create more and better jobs, to guarantee health security for all, to +reward welfare--work over welfare, to promote democracy abroad and to +begin to reclaim our streets from violent crime and drugs and gangs to +renew our own American community. + +Deficit Reduction + +Last year, we began to put our house in order by tackling the budget +deficit that was driving us toward bankruptcy. We cut $255 billion in +spending, including entitlements, in over 340 separate budget items. We +froze domestic spending and used honest budget numbers. + +Led by the vice president, we've launched a campaign to reinvent +government. We've cut staff, cut perks, even trimmed the fleet of federal +limousines. After years of leaders whose rhetoric attacked bureaucracy but +whose actions expanded it, we will actually reduce it by 252,000 people +over the next five years. By the time we have finished, the federal +bureaucracy will be at its lowest point in 30 years. + +Because the deficit was so large and because they benefited from tax cuts +in the 1980s, we did ask the wealthiest Americans to pay more to reduce the +deficit. So on April the 15th, the American people will discover the truth +about what we did last year on taxes. Only the top one--the top 1.2 +percent of Americans, as I said all along, will face higher income tax +rates--let me repeat, only the wealthiest 1.2 percent of Americans will +face higher income tax rates and no one else will, and that is the truth. +Of course, there were, as there always are in politics, naysayers who said +this plan wouldn't work, but they were wrong. When I became president, the +experts predicted that next year's deficit would be $300 billion, but +because we acted, those same people now say the deficit's going to be under +$180 billion, 40 percent lower than was previously predicted. + +The Economy + +Our economic program has helped to produce the lowest core inflation rate +and the lowest interest rates in 20 years, and because those interest rates +are down, business investment and equipment is growing at seven times the +rate of the previous four years. Auto sales are way up, home sales at a +record high. Millions of Americans have refinanced their homes and our +economy has produced 1.6 million private-sector jobs in 1993, more than +were created in the previous four years combined. + +The people who supported this economic plan should be proud of its early +results--proud. But everyone in this chamber should know and acknowledge +that there is more to do. Next month I will send you one of the toughest +budgets ever presented to Congress. It will cut spending in more than 300 +programs, eliminate 100 domestic programs, and reforms the way in which +governments buy goods and services. + +This year we must again make the hard choices to live within the hard +spending ceilings we have set. We must do it. We have proved we can bring +the deficit down without choking off recovery, without punishing seniors or +the middle class, and without putting our national security at risk. If you +will stick with this plan, we will post three consecutive years of +declining deficits for the first time since Harry Truman lived in the White +House. And once again, the buck stops here. + +Trade + +Our economic plan also bolsters our strength and our credibility around the +world. Once we reduced the deficit and put the steel back into our +competitive edge, the world echoed with the sound of falling trade +barriers. In one year, with NAFTA, with GATT, with our efforts in Asia and +the national export strategy, we did more to open world markets to American +products than at any time in the last two generations. That means more jobs +and rising living standards for the American people, low deficits, low +inflation, low interest rates, low trade barriers and high investments. +These are the building blocks of our recovery. But if we want to take full +advantage of the opportunities before us in the global economy, you all +know we must do more. + +As we reduce defense spending, I ask Congress to invest more in the +technologies of tomorrow. Defense conversion will keep us strong militarily +and create jobs for our people here at home. + +As we protect our environment, we must invest in the environmental +technologies of the future which will create jobs. This year we will fight +for a revitalized Clean Water Act and a Safe Drinking Water Act and a +reformed Superfund program. + +And the vice president is right; we must also work with the private sector +to connect every classroom, every clinic, every library, every hospital in +America into a national information superhighway by the year 2000. Think of +it. Instant access to information will increase productivity. It will help +to educate our children. It will provide better medical care. It will +create jobs. And I call on the Congress to pass legislation to establish +that information superhighway this year. + +As we expand opportunity and create jobs, no one can be left out. We must +continue to enforce fair lending and fair housing and all civil rights +laws, because America will never be complete in its renewal until everyone +shares in its bounty. But we all know, too, we can do all these things-- +put our economic house in order, expand world trade, target the jobs of the +future, guarantee equal opportunity. + +But if we're honest, we'll all admit that this strategy still cannot work +unless we also give our people the education, training and skills they need +to seize the opportunities of tomorrow. We must set tough, world-class +academic and occupational standards for all our children and give our +teachers and students the tools they need to meet them. + +Education + +Our Goals 2000 proposal will empower individual school districts to +experiment with ideas like chartering their schools to be run by private +corporations or having more public school choice, to do whatever they wish +to do as long as we measure every school by one high standard: Are our +children learning what they need to know to compete and win in the global +economy? + +Goals 2000 links world-class standards to grassroots reforms and I hope +Congress will pass it without delay. Our school to work initiative will for +the first time link school to the world of work, providing at least one +year of apprenticeship beyond high school. After all, most of the people +we're counting on to build our economic future won't graduate from college. +It's time to stop ignoring them and start empowering them. We must +literally transform our outdated unemployment system into a new +reemployment system. The old unemployment system just sort of kept you +going while you waited for your old job to come back. We've got to have a +new system to move people into new and better jobs because most of those +old jobs just don't come back. And we know that the only way to have real +job security in the future, to get a good job with a growing income, is to +have real skills and the ability to learn new ones. So we've got to +streamline today's patchwork of training programs and make them a source of +new skill for our people who lose their jobs. Reemployment, not +unemployment, must become the centerpiece of our economic renewal. I urge +you to pass it in this session of Congress. + +Welfare + +And just as we must transform our unemployment system, so must we also +revolutionize our welfare system. It doesn't work; it defies our values as +a nation. If we value work, we can't justify a system that makes welfare +more attractive than work if people are worried about losing their health +care. + +If we value responsibility, we can't ignore the $34 billion in child +support absent parents out to be paying to millions of parents who are +taking care of their children--. If we value strong families, we can't +perpetuate a system that actually penalizes those who stay together. Can +you believe that a child who has a child gets more money from the +government for leaving home than for staying home with a parent or a +grandparent? That's not just bad policy, it's wrong and we ought to change +it. + +I worked on this problem for years before I became president, with other +governors and with members of Congress in both parties and with the +previous administration of another party. I worked on it with people who +were on welfare, lots of them. And I want to say something to everybody +here who cares about this issue. The people who most want to change this +system are the people who are dependent on it. They want to get off +welfare; they want to go back to work; they want to do right by their +kids. + +I once had a hearing when I was a governor and I brought in people on +welfare from all over America who had found their way to work and a woman +from my state who testified was asked this question. What's the best thing +about being off welfare and in a job. And without blinking an eye, she +looked at 40 governors and she said, when my boy goes to school and they +say "What does your mother do for a living?" he can give an answer. These +people want a better system and we ought to give it to them. + +Last year, we began this. We gave the states more power to innovate because +we know that a lot of great ideas come from outside Washington and many +states are already using it. Then this Congress took a dramatic step. +Instead of taxing people with modest incomes into poverty, we helped them +to work their way out of poverty by dramatically increasing the earned +income tax credit. It will lift 15 million working families out of poverty, +rewarding work over welfare, making it possible for people to be successful +workers and successful parents. Now that's real welfare reform. + +But there is more to be done. This spring I will send you a comprehensive +welfare reform bill that builds on the Family Support Act of 1988 and +restores the basic values of work and responsibility. We will say to +teenagers if you have a child out of wedlock, we'll no longer give you a +check to set up a separate household, we want families to stay together; +say to absent parents who aren't paying their child support if you're not +providing for your children we'll garnish your wages, suspend your license, +track you across state lines, and if necessary make some of you work off +what you owe. + +People who bring children into this world cannot and must not walk away +from them. + +But to all those who depend on welfare, we should offer ultimately a simple +compact. We will provide the support, the job training, the child care you +need for up to two years, but after that anyone who can work, must, in the +private sector wherever possible, in community service if necessary. That's +the only way we'll ever make welfare what it ought to be, a second chance, +not a way of life. + +I know it will be difficult to tackle welfare reform in 1994 at the same +time we tackle health care. But let me point out, I think it is inevitable +and imperative. It is estimated that one million people are on welfare +today because it's the only way they can get health care coverage for their +children. Those who choose to leave welfare for jobs without health +benefits, and many entry level jobs don't have health benefits, find +themselves in the incredible position of paying taxes that help to pay for +health care coverage for those who made the other choice, to stay on +welfare. No wonder people leave work and go back to welfare, to get health +care coverage. We've got to solve the health care problem to have real +welfare reform. + +Health Care Reform + +So this year we will make history by reforming the health care system. And +I would say to you, all of you my fellow public servants, this is another +issue where the people are way ahead of the politicians. + +That may not be popular with either party, but it happens to be the truth. + +You know, the first lady has received now almost a million letters from +people all across America and from all walks of life. I'd like to share +just one of them with you. Richard Anderson of Reno, Nevada, lost his job +and, with it, his health insurance. Two weeks later, his wife, Judy, +suffered a cerebral aneurysm. He rushed her to the hospital, where she +stayed in intensive care for 21 days. The Anderson's bills were over +$120,000. Although Judy recovered and Richard went back to work at $8 an +hour, the bills were too much for them and they were literally forced into +bankruptcy. + +"Mrs. Clinton," he wrote to Hillary, "no one in the United States of +America should have to lose everything they've worked for all their lives +because they were unfortunate enough to become ill." It was to help the +Richard and Judy Andersons of America that the first lady and so many +others have worked so hard and so long on this health care reform issue. We +owe them our thanks and our action. + +I know there are people here who say there's no health care crisis. Tell it +to Richard and Judy Anderson. Tell it to the 58 million Americans who have +no coverage at all for some time each year. Tell it to the 81 million +Americans with those preexisting conditions; those folks are paying more or +they can't get insurance at all or they can't ever change their jobs +because they or someone in their family has one of those preexisting +conditions. Tell it to the small businesses burdened by skyrocketing costs +of insurance. Most small businesses cover their employers, and they pay on +average 35 percent more in premiums than big businesses or government. Or +tell it to the 76 percent of insured Americans, three out of four whose +policies have lifetime limits, and that means they can find themselves +without any coverage at all just when they need it the most. + +So, if any of you believe there's no crisis, you tell it to those people, +because I can't. + +There are some people who literally do not understand the impact of this +problem on people's lives, but all you have to do is go out and listen to +them. Just go talk to them anywhere, in any congressional district in this +country. They're Republicans and Democrats and independents. It doesn't +have a lick to do with party. They think we don't get it, and it's time we +show that we do get it. + +From the day we began, our health care initiative has been designed to +strengthen what is good about our health care system--the world's best +health care professionals, cutting edge research, and wonderful research +institutions, Medicare for older Americans. None of this--none of it +should be put at risk. But we're paying more and more money for less and +less care. Every year, fewer and fewer Americans even get to choose their +doctors. Every year, doctors and nurses spend more time on paperwork and +less time with patients because of the absolute bureaucratic nightmare the +present system has become. + +This system is riddled with inefficiency, with abuse, with fraud, and +everybody knows it. In today's health care system, insurance companies call +the shots. They pick whom they cover and how they cover them. They can cut +off your benefits when you need your coverage the most. They are in +charge. + +What does it mean? It means every night millions of well-insured Americans +go to bed just an illness, an accident, or a pink slip away from having no +coverage or financial ruin. It means every morning millions of Americans go +to work without any health insurance at all--something the workers in no +other advanced country in the world do. It means that every year more and +more hard working people are told to pick a new doctor because their boss +has had to pick a new plan. And countless others turndown better jobs +because they know, if they take the better job, they'll lose their health +insurance. + +If we just let the health care system continue to drift, our country will +have people with less care, fewer choices, and higher bill. + +Now, our approach protects the quality of care and people's choices. It +builds on what works today in the private sector, to expand employer based +coverage, to guarantee private insurance for every American. And I might +say, employer based private insurance for every American was proposed 20 +years ago by President Richard Nixon to the United States Congress. It was +a good idea then, and it's a better idea today. + +Why do we want guaranteed private insurance? Because right now, nine out of +ten people who have insurance get it through their employers--and that +should continue. And if your employer is providing good benefits at +reasonable prices, that should continue too. And that ought to make the +Congress and the president feel better. Our goal is health insurance +everybody can depend on--comprehensive benefits that cover preventive care +and prescription drugs, health premiums that don't just explode when you +get sick or you get older, the power--no matter how small your business is +--to choose dependable insurance at the same competitive rates that +governments and big business get today, one simple form for people who are +sick, and most of all, the freedom to choose a plan and the right to choose +your own doctor. + +Our approach protects older Americans. Every plan before the Congress +proposes to slow the growth of Medicare. The difference is this. We believe +those savings should be used to improve health care for senior citizens. +Medicare must be protected, and it should cover prescription drugs, and we +should take the first steps in covering long-term care. + +To those who would cut Medicare without protecting seniors, I say the +solution to today's squeeze on middle class working people's health care is +not to put the squeeze on middle class retired people's health care. We can +do better than that. When it's all said and done, it's pretty simple to me. +Insurance ought to mean what it used to mean. You pay a fair price for +security, and when you get sick, health care is always there--no matter +what. + +Along with the guarantee of health security, we all have to admit, too, +there must be more responsibility on the part of all of us in how we use +this system. People have to take their kids to get immunized. We should all +take advantage of preventive care. We must all work together to stop the +violence that explodes our emergency rooms. We have to practice better +health habits, and we can't abuse the system. And those who don't have +insurance under our approach will get coverage, but they will have to pay +something for it, too. The minority of businesses that provide no insurance +at all, and in so doing, shift the cost of the care of their employees to +others, should contribute something. People who smoke should pay more for a +pack of cigarettes. Everybody can contribute something if we want to solve +the health care crisis. There can't be anymore something for nothing. It +will not be easy, but it can be done. Now in the coming months I hope very +much to work with both Democrats and Republicans to reform a health care +system by using the market to bring down costs and to achieve lasting +health security. But if you look at history, we see that for 60 years this +country has tried to reform health care. President Roosevelt tried, +President Truman tried, President Nixon tried, President Carter tried. +Every time the special interests were powerful enough to defeat them, but +not this time. + +Campaign Finance Reform + +I know that facing up to these interests will require courage. It will +raise critical questions about the way we finance our campaigns and how +lobbyists yield their influence. The work of change, frankly, will never +get any easier until we limit the influence of well financed interests who +profit from this current system. So I also must now call on you to finish +the job both houses began last year, by passing tough and meaningful +campaign finance reform and lobby reform legislation this year. + +You know, my fellow Americans, this is really a test for all of us. The +American people provide those of us in government service with terrific +health care benefits at reasonable costs. We have health care that's always +there. I think we need to give every hard working, taxpaying American the +same health care security they have already given to us. + +I want to make this very clear: I am open, as I have said repeatedly, to +the best ideas of concerned members of both parties. I have no special +brief for any specific approach, even in our own bill, except this: if you +send me legislation that does not guarantee every American private health +insurance that can never be taken away, you will force me to take this pen, +veto the legislation, and we'll come right back here and start all over +again. + +But I don't think that's going to happen. I think we're ready to act now. I +believe that you're ready to act now. And if you're ready to guarantee +every American the same health care that you have, health care that can +never be taken away--now, not next year or the year after, now is the time +to stand with the people who sent us here. Now. + +Foreign Policy + +As we take these steps together to renew our strength at home, we cannot +turn away from our obligations to renew our leadership abroad. This is a +promising moment. Because of the agreements we have reached this year, last +year, Russia's strategic nuclear missiles soon will no longer be pointed at +the United States. Nor will we point ours at them. + +Instead of building weapons in space, Russian scientists will help us to +build the international space station. + +And of course there are still dangers in the world: rampant arms +proliferation, bitter regional conflicts, ethnic and nationalist tensions +in many new democracies, severe environmental degradation the world over, +and fanatics who seek to cripple the world's cities with terror. As the +world's greatest power, we must therefore maintain our defenses and our +responsibilities. This year we secured indictments against terrorists and +sanctions against those harbor them. We worked to promote +environmentally-sustainable economic growth. We achieved agreements with +Ukraine, with Belarus, with Kazakhstan, to eliminate completely their +nuclear arsenals. We are working to achieve a Korean Peninsula free of +nuclear weapons. We will seek early ratification of the treaty to ban +chemical weapons worldwide. And earlier today we joined with over 30 +nations to begin negotiations on a comprehensive ban to stop all nuclear +testing. + +But nothing--nothing--is more important to our security than our nation's +armed forces. We honor their contributions, including those who are +carrying out the longest humanitarian airlift in history in Bosnia---- +those who will complete their mission in Somalia this year and their brave +comrades who gave their lives there. Our forces are the finest military our +nation has ever had, and I have pledged that as long as I am president they +will remain the best-equipped, the best-trained and the best-prepared +fighting force on the face of the earth. + +Defense + +Last year, I proposed a defense plan that maintains our post-Cold War +security at a lower cost. This year, many people urged me to cut our +defense spending further to pay for other government programs. I said no. +The budget I send to Congress draws the line against further defense cuts. +It protects the readiness and quality of our forces. Ultimately, the best +strategy is to do that. We must not cut defense further. I hope the +Congress without regard to party will support that position. + +Ultimately, the best strategy to ensure our security and to build a durable +peace is to support the advance of democracy elsewhere. Democracies don't +attack each other. They make better trading partners and partners in +diplomacy. That is why we have supported, you and I, the democratic +reformers in Russia and in the other states of the former Soviet bloc. I +applaud the bipartisan support this Congress provided last year for our +initiatives to help Russia, Ukraine and the other states through their epic +transformations. + +Our support of reform must combine patience for the enormity of the task +and vigilance for our fundamental interest and values. We will continue to +urge Russia and the other states to press ahead with economic reforms, and +we will seek to cooperate with Russia to solve regional problems while +insisting that, if Russian troops operate in neighboring states, they do so +only when those states agree to their presence and in strict accord with +international standards. + +But we must also remember as these nations chart their own futures, and +they must chart their own futures, how much more secure and more prosperous +our own people will be if democratic and market reform succeed all across +the former communist bloc. Our policy has been to support that move and +that has been the policy of the Congress. We should continue it. + +Europe + +That is why I went to Europe earlier this month, to work with our European +partners to help to integrate all the former communist countries into a +Europe that has the possibility of becoming unified for the first time in +its entire history, it's entire history, based on the simple commitments of +all nations in Europe to democracy, to free markets, and to respect for +existing borders. + +With our allies, we have created a partnership for peace that invites +states from the former Soviet bloc and other non-NATO members to work with +NATO in military cooperation. When I met with Central Europe's leaders, +including Lech Walesa and Vaclav Havel, men who put their lives on the line +for freedom, I told them that the security of their region is important to +our country's security. + +This year, we must also do more to support democratic renewal and human +rights and sustainable development all around the world. We will ask +Congress to ratify the new GATT accord, we will continue standing by South +Africa as it works its way through its bold and hopeful and difficult +transition to democracy. We will convene a summit of the Western +hemisphere's democratic leaders from Canada to the tip of South America. +And we will continue to press for the restoration of true democracy in +Haiti. + +And as we build a more constructive relationship with China, we must +continue to insist on clear signs of improvement in that nation's human +rights record. + +Middle East + +We will also work for new progress toward the Middle East peace. Last year +the world watched Yitzhak Rabin and Yasir Arafat at the White House when +they had their historic handshake of reconciliation. But there is a long, +hard road ahead. And on that road I am determined that I and our +administration will do all we can to achieve a comprehensive and lasting +peace for all the peoples of the region. + +Now, there are some in our country who argue that with the Cold War, +America should turn its back on the rest of the world. Many around the +world were afraid we would do just that. But I took this office on a pledge +that had no partisan tinge to keep our nation secure by remaining engaged +in the rest of the world. And this year, because of our work together, +enacting NAFTA, keeping our military strong and prepared, supporting +democracy abroad, we have reaffirmed America's leadership, America's +engagement, and as a result, the American people are more secure than they +were before. + +Crime + +But while Americans are more secure from threats abroad, I think we all now +that in many ways we are less secure from threats here at home. Everyday +the national peace is shattered by crime. + +In Petaluma, California, an innocent slumber party gives way to agonizing +tragedy for the family of Polly Klaas. An ordinary train ride on Long +Island ends in a hail of nine millimeter rounds. A tourist in Florida is +nearly burned alive by bigots simply because he is black. Right here in our +nation's capital, a brave young man named Jason White, a policeman, the son +and grandson of policemen, is ruthlessly gunned down. + +Violent crime and the fear it provokes are crippling our society, limiting +personal freedom, and fraying the ties that bind us. + +The crime bill before Congress gives you a chance to do something about it, +a chance to be tough and smart. What does that mean? Let me begin by saying +I care a lot about this issue. Many years ago, when I started out in public +life, I was the attorney general of my state. I served as a governor for a +dozen years. I know what it's like to sign laws increasing penalties, to +build more prison cells, to carry out the death penalty. I understand this +issue and it is not a simple thing. + +First, we must recognize that most violent crimes are committed by a small +percentage of criminals who too often break the laws even when they are on +parole. Now those who commit crimes should be punished, and those who +commit repeated violent crimes should be told when you commit a third +violent crime, you will be put away and put away for good, three strikes +and you are out. + +Second, we must take serious steps to reduce violence and prevent crime, +beginning with more police officers and more community policing. We know +right now that police who work the streets, know the folks, have the +respect of the neighborhood kids, focus on high crime areas, we know that +they are more likely to prevent crime as well as catch criminals. Look at +the experience of Houston, where the crime rate dropped 17 percent in one +year when that approach was taken. Here tonight is one of those community +policemen, a brave, young detective, Kevin Jett, whose beat is eight square +blocks in one of the toughest neighborhoods in New York. Every day he +restores some sanity and safety, and a sense of values and connection to +the people whose lives he protects. I'd like to ask him to stand up and be +recognized tonight. + +You will be given a chance to give the children of this country, the law +abiding working people of this country, and don't forget, in the toughest +neighborhoods in this country, in the highest crime neighborhoods in this +country the vast majority of people get up every day and obey the law, pay +their taxes, do their best to raise their kids. They deserve people like +Kevin Jett, and you're going to be given the chance to give the American +people another 100,000 of them, well trained, and I urge you to do it. + +You have before you crime legislation which also establishes a police corps +to encourage young people to get an education, and pay it off by serving as +police officers, which encourages retiring military personnel to move into +police forces--and enormous resources for our country, one which has a +safe schools provisions which will give our young people the chance to walk +to school in safety and to be in school in safety instead of dodging +bullets. These are important things. + +The third thing we have to do is to build on the Brady Bill--the Brady Law +to take further steps----to take further steps to keep guns out of the +hands of criminals. + +Now, I want to say something about this issue. Hunters must always be free +to hunt, law abiding adults should always be free to own guns and protect +their homes. I respect that part of our culture. I grew up in it. But I +want to ask the sportsmen and others who lawfully own guns to join us in +this campaign to reduce gun violence. I say to you, I know you didn't +create this problem, but we need your help to solve it. There is no +sporting purpose on earth that should stop the United States Congress from +banishing assault weapons that outgun police and cut down children. + +Fourth, we must remember that drugs are a factor in an enormous percentage +of crimes. Recent studies indicate, sadly, that drug use is on the rise +again among our young people. The Crime Bill contains--all the crime bills +contain--more money for drug treatment, for criminal addicts, and boot +camps for youthful offenders that include incentives to get off drugs and +to stay off drugs. Our administration's budget, with all its cuts, contains +a large increase in funding for drug treatment and drug education. You must +pass them both. We need then desperately. + +My fellow Americans, the problem of violence is an un-American problem. It +has no partisan or philosophical element. Therefore, I urge you find ways +as quickly as possible to set aside partisan differences and pass a strong, +smart, tough crime bill. + +But further, I urge you to consider this: As you demand tougher penalties +for those who choose violence, let us also remember how we came to this sad +point. In our toughest neighborhoods, on our meanest streets, in our +poorest rural areas, we have seen a stunning and simultaneous breakdown of +community, family, and work, the heart and soul of civilized society. This +has created a vast vacuum which has been filled by violence and drugs and +gangs. So I ask you to remember that even as we say no to crime, we must +give people, especially our young people something to say yes to. Many of +our initiatives, from job training to welfare reform to health care to +national service will help to rebuild distressed communities, to strengthen +families, to provide work, but more needs to be done. That's what our +community empowerment agenda is all about--challenging businesses to +provide more investment through empowerment zones, ensuring banks will make +loans in the same communities their deposits come from, passing legislation +to unleash the power of capital through community development banks to +create jobs, opportunity, and hope where they're needed most. + +But I think you know that to really solve this problem, we'll all have to +put our heads together, leave our ideological armor aside, and find some +new ideas to do even more. + +The Role Of Government + +And let's be honest, we all know something else, too. Our problems go way +beyond the reach of government. They're rooted in the loss of values and +the disappearance of work and the breakdown of our families and our +communities. My fellow Americans, we can cut the deficit, create jobs, +promote democracy around the world, pass welfare reform and health care, +pass the toughest crime bill in history and still leave too many of our +people behind. + +The American people have got to want to change from within if we're going +to bring back work and family and community. We cannot renew our country +when, within a decade, more than half of the children will be born into +families where there has been no marriage. We cannot renew this country +when 13-year-old boys get semi-automatic weapons to shoot 9 year olds for +kicks. We can't renew our country when children are having children and the +fathers walk away as if the kids don't amount to anything. We can't renew +the country when our businesses eagerly look for new investments and new +customers abroad but ignore those people right here at home who'd give +anything to have their jobs and would gladly buy their products if they had +the money to do it. + +We can't renew our country unless more of us--I mean all of us--are +willing to join the churches and the other good citizens, people like all +the black ministers I've worked with over the years or the priests and the +nuns I met at Our Lady of Help in East Los Angeles or my good friend Tony +Campolo in Philadelphia, unless we're willing to work with people like +that, people who are saving kids, adopting schools, making streets safer. +All of us can do that. + +We can't renew our country until we realize that governments don't raise +children; parents do. Parents who know their children's teachers and turn +off the television and help with the homework and teach their kids right +from wrong--those kind of parents can make all the difference. I know. I +had one. And I'm telling you we have got to stop pointing our fingers at +these kids who have no future and reach our hands out to them. Our country +needs it. We need it. And they deserve it. + +And so I say to you tonight let's give our children a future. Let us take +away their guns and give them books. Let us overcome their despair and +replace it with hope. Let us, by our example, teach them to obey the law, +respect our neighbors, and cherish our values. Let us weave these sturdy +threads into a new American community that once more stand strong against +the forces of despair and evil because everybody has a chance to walk into +a better tomorrow. + +Oh, there will be naysayers who fear that we won't be equal to the +challenges of this time, but they misread our history, our heritage, even +today's headlines. All those things tell us we can and we will overcome any +challenge. + +When the earth shook and fires raged in California; when I saw the +Mississippi deluge the farmlands of the Midwest in a 500 year flood; when +the century's bitterest cold swept from North Dakota to Newport News it +seemed as though the world itself was coming apart at the seams. But the +American people, they just came together. They rose to the occasion, +neighbor helping neighbor, strangers risking life and limb to stay total +strangers, showing the better angels of our nature. + +Let us not reserve the better angels only for natural disasters, leaving +our deepest and most profound problems to petty political fighting. + +Let us instead by true to our spirit, facing facts, coming together, +bringing hope and moving forward. + +Tonight, my fellow Americans, we are summoned to answer a question as old +as the republic itself, what is the state of our union? + +It is growing stronger but it must be stronger still. With your help and +God's help it will be. + +Thank you and God Bless America. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +William J. Clinton +January 24, 1995 + +Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, members of the 104th Congress, my fellow +Americans: + +Again we are here in the sanctuary of democracy. And once again, our +democracy has spoken. + +So let me begin by congratulating all of you here in the 104th Congress, +and congratulating you, Mr. Speaker. + +If we agree on nothing else tonight, we must agree that the American people +certainly voted for change in 1992 and in 1994. + +And as I look out at you, I know how some of you must have felt in 1992. + +I must say that in both years we didn't hear America singing, we heard +America shouting. And now all of us, Republicans and Democrats alike, must +say: We hear you. We will work together to earn the jobs you have given us. +For we are the keepers of the sacred trust and we must be faithful to it in +this new and very demanding era. + +Over 200 years ago, our founders changed the entire course of human history +by joining together to create a new country based on a single, powerful +idea. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created +equal, endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. Among +these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. + +It has fallen to every generation since then to preserve that idea--the +American idea--and to deepen and expand its meaning in new and different +times. To Lincoln and to his Congress, to preserve the Union and to end +slavery. To Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, to restrain the abuses +and excesses of the Industrial Revolution and to assert our leadership in +the world. To Franklin Roosevelt, to fight the failure and pain of the +Great Depression and to win our country's great struggle against fascism. + +And to all our Presidents since, to fight the cold war. Especially, I +recall two who struggled to fight that cold war in partnership with +Congresses where the majority was of a different party. To Harry Truman, +who summoned us to unparalleled prosperity at home and who built the +architecture of the cold war. And to Ronald Reagan, whom we wish well +tonight, and who exhorted us to carry on until the twilight struggle +against Communism was won. + +In another time of change and challenge, I had the honor to be the first +President to be elected in the post-cold-war era, an era marked by the +global economy, the information revolution, unparalleled change in +opportunity and in security for the American people. + +I came to this hallowed chamber two years ago on a mission: To restore the +American dream for all our people and to make sure that we move into the +21st century still the strongest force for freedom and democracy in the +entire world. + +I was determined then to tackle the tough problems too long ignored. In +this effort I am frank to say that I have made my mistakes. And I have +learned again the importance of humility in all human endeavor. + +But I am also proud to say tonight that our country is stronger than it was +two years ago. + +Accomplishments + +Record numbers, record numbers of Americans are succeeding in the new +global economy. We are at peace, and we are a force for peace and freedom +throughout the world. We have almost six million new jobs since I became +President, and we have the lowest combined rate of unemployment and +inflation in 25 years. + +Our businesses are more productive and here we have worked to bring the +deficit down, to expand trade, to put more police on our streets, to give +our citizens more of the tools they need to get an education and to rebuild +their own communities. But the rising tide is not lifting all the boats. + +While our nation is enjoying peace and prosperity, too many of our people +are still working harder and harder for less and less. While our businesses +are restructuring and growing more productive and competitive, too many of +our people still can't be sure of having a job next year or even next +month. And far more than our material riches are threatened, things far +more precious to us: our children, our families, our values. + +Our civil life is suffering in America today. Citizens are working together +less and shouting at each other more. The common bonds of community which +have been the great strength of our country from its very beginning are +badly frayed. + +What are we to do about it? + +More than 60 years ago at the dawn of another new era, President Roosevelt +told our nation new conditions impose new requirements on Government and +those who conduct Government. And from that simple proposition he shaped +the New Deal, which helped to restore our nation to prosperity and defined +the relationship between our people and their Government for half a +century. + +That approach worked in its time but today we face a very different time +and very different conditions. We are moving from an industrial age built +on gears and sweat to an information age demanding skills and learning and +flexibility. + +Our Government, once a champion of national purpose, is now seen by many as +simply a captive of narrow interests putting more burdens on our citizens +rather than equipping them to get ahead. The values that used to hold us +all together seem to be coming apart. + +So tonight we must forge a new social compact to meet the challenges of +this time. As we enter a new era, we need a new set of understandings not +just with Government but, even more important, with one another as +Americans. + +New Covenant + +That's what I want to talk with you about tonight. I call it the New +Covenant but it's grounded in a very, very old idea that all Americans have +not just a right but a solemn responsibility to rise as far as their +God-given talents and determination can take them. And to give something +back to their communities and their country in return. + +Opportunity and responsibility--they go hand in hand; we can't have one +without the other, and our national community can't hold together without +both. + +Our New Covenant is a new set of understandings for how we can equip our +people to meet the challenges of the new economy, how we can change the way +our Government works to fit a different time and, above all, how we can +repair the damaged bonds in our society and come together behind our common +purpose. We must have dramatic change in our economy, our Government and +ourselves. + +My fellow Americans, without regard to party, let us rise to the occasion. +Let us put aside partisanship and pettiness and pride. As we embark on this +course, let us put our country first, remembering that regardless of party +label we are all Americans. And let the final test of everything we do be a +simple one: Is it good for the American people? + +Let me begin by saying that we cannot ask Americans to be better citizens +if we are not better servants. You made a good start by passing that law +which applies to Congress all the laws you put on the private sector--and +I was proud to sign it yesterday. + +But we have a lot more to do before people really trust the way things work +around here. Three times as many lobbyists are in the streets and corridors +of Washington as were here 20 years ago. The American people look at their +capital and they see a city where the well-connected and the well-protected +can work the system, but the interests of ordinary citizens are often left +out. + +As the new Congress opened its doors, lobbyists were still doing business +as usual--the gifts, the trips--all the things that people are concerned +about haven't stopped. + +Twice this month you missed opportunities to stop these practices. I know +there were other considerations in those votes, but I want to use something +that I've heard my Republican friends say from time to time: There doesn't +have to be a law for everything. + +So tonight I ask you to just stop taking the lobbyists' perks, just stop. + +We don't have to wait for legislation to pass to send a strong signal to +the American people that things are really changing. But I also hope you +will send me the strongest possible lobby reform bill, and I'll sign that, +too. We should require lobbyists to tell the people for whom they work what +they're spending, what they want. We should also curb the role of big money +in elections by capping the cost of campaigns and limiting the influence of +PAC's. + +And as I have said for three years, we should work to open the air waves so +that they can be an instrument of democracy not a weapon of destruction by +giving free TV time to candidates for public office. + +When the last Congress killed political reform last year, it was reported +in the press that the lobbyists actually stood in the halls of this sacred +building and cheered. This year, let's give the folks at home something to +cheer about. + +More important, I think we all agree that we have to change the way the +Government works. Let's make it smaller, less costly and smarter. Leaner +not meaner. + +I just told the Speaker the equal time doctrine's alive and well. + +The Role Of Government + +The New Covenant approach to governing is as different from the old +bureaucratic way as the computer is from the manual typewriter. The old way +of governing around here protected organized interests; we should look out +for the interests of ordinary people. The old way divided us by interests, +constituency or class; the New Covenant way should unite us behind a common +vision of what's best for our country. + +The old way dispensed services through large, top-down, inflexible +bureaucracies. The New Covenant way should shift these resources and +decision making from bureaucrats to citizens, injecting choice and +competition and individual responsibility into national policy. + +The old way of governing around here actually seemed to reward failure. The +New Covenant way should have built-in incentives to reward success. + +The old way was centralized here in Washington. The New Covenant way must +take hold in the communities all across America, and we should help them to +do that. + +Our job here is to expand opportunity, not bureaucracy, to empower people +to make the most of their own lives and to enhance our security here at +home and abroad. + +We must not ask Government to do what we should do for ourselves. We should +rely on Government as a partner to help us to do more for ourselves and for +each other. + +I hope very much that as we debate these specific and exciting matters, we +can go beyond the sterile discussion between the illusion that there is +somehow a program for every problem, on the one hand, and the other +illusion that the Government is the source of every problem that we have. + +Our job is to get rid of yesterday's Government so that our own people can +meet today's and tomorrow's needs. + +And we ought to do it together. + +You know, for years before I became President, I heard others say they +would cut Government and how bad it was. But not much happened. + +We actually did it. We cut over a quarter of a trillion dollars in +spending, more than 300 domestic programs, more than 100,000 positions from +the Federal bureaucracy in the last two years alone. + +Based on decisions already made, we will have cut a total of more than a +quarter of a million positions from the Federal Government, making it the +smallest it has been since John Kennedy was president, by the time I come +here again next year. + +Under the leadership of Vice President Gore, our initiatives have already +saved taxpayers $ 63 billion. The age of the $ 500 hammer and the ashtray +you can break on David Letterman is gone. Deadwood programs like mohair +subsidies are gone. We've streamlined the Agriculture Department by +reducing it by more than 1,200 offices. We've slashed the small-business +loan form from an inch thick to a single page. We've thrown away the +Government's 10,000-page personnel manual. + +And the Government is working better in important ways. FEMA, the Federal +Emergency Management Agency, has gone from being a disaster to helping +people in disaster. + +You can ask the farmers in the Middle West who fought the flood there or +the people in California who've dealt with floods and earthquakes and fires +and they'll tell you that. + +Government workers, working hand-in-hand with private business, rebuilt +Southern California's fractured freeways in record time and under budget. + +And because the Federal Government moved fast, all but one of the 5,600 +schools damaged in the earthquake are back in business. + +Now, there are a lot of other things that I could talk about. I want to +just mention one because it'll be discussed here in the next few weeks. + +University administrators all over the country have told me that they are +saving weeks and weeks of bureaucratic time now because of our direct +college loan program, which makes college loans cheaper and more affordable +with better repayment terms for students, costs the Government less and +cuts out paperwork and bureaucracy for the Government and for the +universities. + +We shouldn't cap that program, we should give every college in America the +opportunity to be a part of it. + +Previous Government programs gather dust; the reinventing Government report +is getting results. And we're not through--there's going to be a second +round of reinventing Government. + +We propose to cut $ 130 billion in spending by shrinking departments, +extending our freeze on domestic spending, cutting 60 public housing +programs down to 3, getting rid of over a hundred programs we do not need +like the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Helium Reserve Program. + +And we're working on getting rid of unnecessary regulations and making them +more sensible. The programs and regulations that have outlived their +usefulness should go. We have to cut yesterday's Government to help solve +tomorrow's problems. + +And we need to get Government closer to the people it's meant to serve. We +need to help move programs down to the point where states and communities +and private citizens in the private sector can do a better job. If they can +do it, we ought to let them do it. We should get out of the way and let +them do what they can do better. + +Community Empowerment + +Taking power away from Federal bureaucracies and giving it back to +communities and individuals is something everyone should be able to be for. +It's time for Congress to stop passing onto the states the cost of +decisions we make here in Washington. + +I know there are still serious differences over the details of the unfunded +mandates legislation but I want to work with you to make sure we pass a +reasonable bill which will protect the national interest and give justified +relief where we need to give it. + +For years, Congress concealed in the budget scores of pet spending +projects. Last year was no different. There was a million dollars to study +stress in plants and $ 12 million for a tick removal program that didn't +work. It's hard to remove ticks; those of us who've had them know. + +But I'll tell you something, if you'll give me the line-item veto, I'll +remove some of that unnecessary spending. + +But, I think we should all remember, and almost all of us would agree, that +Government still has important responsibilities. + +Our young people--we should think of this when we cut--our young people +hold our future in their hands. We still owe a debt to our veterans. And +our senior citizens have made us what we are. + +Budget + +Now, my budget cuts a lot. But it protects education, veterans, Social +Security and Medicare, and I hope you will do the same thing. You should, +and I hope you will. + +And when we give more flexibility to the states, let us remember that there +are certain fundamental national needs that should be addressed in every +state, north and south, east and west. + +Immunization against childhood disease, school lunches in all our schools, +Head Start, medical care and nutrition for pregnant women and infants--all +these things are in the national interest. + +I applaud your desire to get rid of costly and unnecessary regulations, but +when we deregulate let's remember what national action in the national +interest has given us: safer food for our families, safer toys for our +children, safer nursing homes for our parents, safer cars and highways and +safer workplaces, cleaner air and cleaner water. Do we need common sense +and fairness in our regulations? You bet we do. But we can have common +sense and still provide for safe drinking water. We can have fairness and +still clean up toxic dumps and we ought to do it. + +Should we cut the deficit more? Well of course we should. Of course we +should. But we can bring it down in a way that still protects our economic +recovery and does not unduly punish people who should not be punished, but +instead should be helped. + +I know many of you in this chamber support the balanced-budget amendment. I +certainly want to balance the budget. Our Administration has done more to +bring the budget down and to save money than any in a very, very long +time. + +If you believe passing this amendment is the right thing to do, then you +have to be straight with the American people. They have a right to know +what you're going to cut, what taxes you're going to raise, how it's going +to affect them. + +And we should be doing things in the open around here. For example, +everybody ought to know if this proposal is going to endanger Social +Security. I would oppose that, and I think most Americans would. + +Welfare + +Nothing is done more to undermine our sense of common responsibility than +our failed welfare system. This is one of the problems we have to face here +in Washington in our New Covenant. It rewards welfare over work, it +undermines family values, it lets millions of parents get away without +paying their child support, it keeps a minority--but a significant +minority--of the people on welfare trapped on it for a very long time. + +I worked on this problem for a long time--nearly 15 years now. As a +Governor I had the honor of working with the Reagan Administration to write +the last welfare reform bill back in 1988. + +In the last two years we made a good start in continuing the work of +welfare reform. Our Administration gave two dozen states the right to slash +through Federal rules and regulations to reform their own welfare systems +and to try to promote work and responsibility over welfare and dependency. + +Last year, I introduced the most sweeping welfare reform plan ever +presented by an Administration. We have to make welfare what it was meant +to be--a second chance, not a way of life. + +We have to help those on welfare move to work as quickly as possible, to +provide child care and teach them skills, if that's what they need, for up +to two years. But after that, there ought to be a simple, hard rule. Anyone +who can work must go to work. + +If a parent isn't paying child support, they should be forced to pay. + +We should suspend driver's licenses, track them across state lines, make +them work off what they owe. That is what we should do. Governments do not +raise children, people do. And the parents must take responsibility for the +children they bring into this world. + +I want to work with you, with all of you, to pass welfare reform. But our +goal must be to liberate people and lift them from dependence to +independence, from welfare to work, from mere childbearing to responsible +parenting. Our goal should not be to punish them because they happen to be +poor. + +We should--we should require work and mutual responsibility. But we +shouldn't cut people off just because they're poor, they're young or even +because they're unmarried. We should promote responsibility by requiring +young mothers to live at home with their parents or in other supervised +settings, by requiring them to finish school. But we shouldn't put them and +their children out on the street. + +And I know all the arguments pro and con and I have read and thought about +this for a long time: I still don't think we can, in good conscience, +punish poor children for the mistakes of their parents. + +My fellow Americans, every single survey shows that all the American people +care about this, without regard to party or race or region. So let this be +the year we end welfare as we know it. + +But also let this be the year that we are all able to stop using this issue +to divide America. + +No one is more eager to end welfare. + +I may be the only President who's actually had the opportunity to sit in +the welfare office, who's actually spent hours and hours talking to people +on welfare, and I am telling you the people who are trapped on it know it +doesn't work. They also want to get off. + +So we can promote, together, education and work and good parenting. I have +no problem with punishing bad behavior or the refusal to be a worker or a +student or a responsible parent. I just don't want to punish poverty and +past mistakes. All of us have made our mistakes and none of us can change +our yesterdays, but every one of us can change our tomorrows. + +And America's best example of that may be Lynn Woolsey, who worked her way +off welfare to become a Congresswoman from the state of California. + +Crime + +I know the members of this Congress are concerned about crime, as are all +the citizens of our country. But I remind you that last year we passed a +very tough crime bill--longer sentences, three strikes and you're out, +almost 60 new capital punishment offenses, more prisons, more prevention, +100,000 more police--and we paid for it all by reducing the size of the +Federal bureaucracy and giving the money back to local communities to lower +the crime rate. + +There may be other things we can do to be tougher on crime, to be smarter +with crime, to help to lower that rate first. Well if there are, let's talk +about them and let's do them. But let's not go back on the things that we +did last year that we know work--that we know work because the local +law-enforcement officers tell us that we did the right thing. Because local +community leaders, who've worked for years and years to lower the crime +rate, tell us that they work. + +Let's look at the experience of our cities and our rural areas where the +crime rate has gone down and ask the people who did it how they did it and +if what we did last year supports the decline in the crime rate, and I am +convinced that it does, let us not go back on it, let's stick with it, +implement it--we've got four more hard years of work to do to do that. + +I don't want to destroy the good atmosphere in the room or in the country +tonight, but I have to mention one issue that divided this body greatly +last year. The last Congress also passed the Brady bill and in the crime +bill the ban on 19 assault weapons. + +I don't think it's a secret to anybody in this room that several members of +the last Congress who voted for that aren't here tonight because they voted +for it. And I know, therefore, that some of you that are here because they +voted for it are under enormous pressure to repeal it. I just have to tell +you how I feel about it. + +The members who voted for that bill and I would never do anything to +infringe on the right to keep and bear arms to hunt and to engage in other +appropriate sporting activities. I've done it since I was a boy, and I'm +going to keep right on doing it until I can't do it anymore. + +But a lot of people laid down their seats in Congress so that police +officers and kids wouldn't have to lay down their lives under a hail of +assault-weapon attacks, and I will not let that be repealed. I will not let +it be repealed. + +I'd like to talk about a couple of other issues we have to deal with. I +want us to cut more spending, but I hope we won't cut Government programs +that help to prepare us for the new economy, promote responsibility and are +organized from the grass roots up, not by Federal bureaucracy. + +The very best example of this is the National Service Corps--AmeriCorps. +It passed with strong bipartisan support and now there are 20,000 Americans +--more than ever served in one year in the Peace Corps--working all over +this country, helping person to person in local grass-roots volunteer +groups, solving problems and in the process earning some money for their +education. + +This is citizenship at its best. It's good for the AmeriCorps members, but +it's good for the rest of us, too. It's the essence of the New Covenant and +we shouldn't stop it. + +Illegal Immigration + +All Americans, not only in the states most heavily affected, but in every +place in this country are rightly disturbed by the large numbers of illegal +aliens entering our country. + +The jobs they hold might otherwise be held by citizens or legal immigrants. +The public services they use impose burdens on our taxpayers. That's why +our Administration has moved aggressively to secure our borders more, by +hiring a record number of new border guards, by deporting twice as many +criminal aliens as ever before, by cracking down on illegal hiring, by +barring welfare benefits to illegal aliens. + +In the budget I will present to you, we will try to do more to speed the +deportation of illegal aliens who are arrested for crimes, to better +identify illegal aliens in the workplace as recommended by the commission +headed by former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan. + +We are a nation of immigrants, but we are also a nation of laws. It is +wrong and ultimately self-defeating for a nation of immigrants to permit +the kind of abuse of our immigration laws we have seen in recent years, and +we must do more to stop it. + +The most important job of our Government in this new era is to empower the +American people to succeed in the global economy. America has always been a +land of opportunity, a land where, if you work hard, you can get ahead. +We've become a great middle-class country; middle-class values sustain us. +We must expand that middle class and shrink the underclass even as we do +everything we can to support the millions of Americans who are already +successful in the new economy. + +America is once again the world's strongest economic power: almost six +million new jobs in the last two years, exports booming, inflation down, +high-wage jobs are coming back. A record number of American entrepreneurs +are living the American dream. + +If we want it to stay that way, those who work and lift our nation must +have more of its benefits. + +Today, too many of those people are being left out. They're working harder +for less. They have less security, less income, less certainty that they +can even afford a vacation, much less college for their kids or retirement +for themselves. + +We cannot let this continue. If we don't act, our economy will probably +keep doing what it's been doing since about 1978, when the income growth +began to go to those at the very top of our economic scale. And the people +in the vast middle got very little growth and people who worked like crazy +but were on the bottom then, fell even further and further behind in the +years afterward, no matter how hard they worked. + +We've got to have a Government that can be a real partner in making this +new economy work for all of our people, a Government that helps each and +every one of us to get an education and to have the opportunity to renew +our skills. + +Education + +That's why we worked so hard to increase educational opportunities in the +last two years from Head Start to public schools to apprenticeships for +young people who don't go to college, to making college loans more +available and more affordable. + +That's the first thing we have to do: We've got to do something to empower +people to improve their skills. + +Taxes + +Second thing we ought to do is to help people raise their incomes +immediately by lowering their taxes. + +We took the first step in 1993 with a working family tax cut for 15 million +families with incomes under $ 27,000, a tax cut that this year will average +about $ 1,000 a family. + +And we also gave tax reductions to most small and new businesses. Before we +could do more than that, we first had to bring down the deficit we +inherited and we had to get economic growth up. Now we've done both, and +now we can cut taxes in a more comprehensive way. + +But tax cuts should reinforce and promote our first obligation: to empower +our citizens through education and training to make the most of their own +lives. The spotlight should shine on those who make the right choices for +themselves, their families and their communities. + +Middle Class Bill Of Rights + +I have proposed a middle-class bill of rights, which should properly be +called the bill of rights and responsibilities, because its provisions only +benefit those who are working to educate and raise their children and to +educate themselves. It will, therefore, give needed tax relief and raise +incomes, in both the short run and the long run, in a way that benefits all +of us. + +There are four provisions: + +First, a tax deduction for all education and training after high school. If +you think about it, we permit businesses to deduct their investment, we +permit individuals to deduct interest on their home mortgages, but today an +education is even more important to the economic well-being of our whole +country than even those things are. We should do everything we can to +encourage it, and I hope you will support it. + +Second, we ought to cut taxes $ 500 for families with children under 13. + +Third, we ought to foster more savings and personal responsibility by +permitting people to establish an individual retirement account and +withdraw from it tax free for the cost of education, health care, +first-time home buying or the care of a parent. + +And fourth, we should pass a G.I. bill for America's workers. We propose to +collapse nearly 70 Federal programs and not give the money to the states +but give the money directly to the American people, offer vouchers to them +so that they--if they're laid off or if they're working for a very low +wage--can get a voucher worth $ 2,600 a year for up to two years to go to +their local community colleges or wherever else they want to get the skills +they need to improve their lives. Let's empower people in this way. Move it +from the Government directly to the workers of America. + +Cutting The Deficit Now + +Any one of us can call for a tax cut, but I won't accept one that explodes +the deficit or puts our recovery at risk. We ought to pay for our tax cuts +fully and honestly. Just two years ago it was an open question whether we +would find the strength to cut the deficit. + +Thanks to the courage of the people who were here then, many of whom didn't +return, we did cut the deficit. We began to do what others said would not +be done: We cut the deficit by over $ 600 billion, about $ 10,000 for every +family in this country. It's coming down three years in a row for the first +time since Mr. Truman was President and I don't think anybody in America +wants us to let it explode again. + +In the budget I will send you, the middle-class bill of rights is fully +paid for by budget cuts in bureaucracy, cuts in programs, cuts in special +interest subsidies. And the spending cuts will more than double the tax +cuts. My budget pays for the middle-class bill of rights without any cuts +in Medicare, and I will oppose any attempts to pay for tax cuts with +Medicare cuts. That's not the right thing to do. + +I know that a lot of you have your own ideas about tax relief. And some of +them, I find quite interesting. I really want to work with all of you. + +My tests for our proposals will be: Will it create jobs and raise incomes? +Will it strengthen our families and support our children? Is it paid for? +Will it build the middle class and shrink the underclass? + +If it does, I'll support it. But if it doesn't, I won't. + +Minimum Wage + +The goal of building the middle class and shrinking the underclass is also +why I believe that you should raise the minimum wage. + +It rewards work--two and a half million Americans, often women with +children, are working out there today for four-and-a-quarter an hour. In +terms of real buying power, by next year, that minimum wage will be at a +40-year low. That's not my idea of how the new economy ought to work. + +Now I studied the arguments and the evidence for and against a minimum-wage +increase. I believe the weight of the evidence is that a modest increase +does not cost jobs and may even lure people back into the job market. But +the most important thing is you can't make a living on $ 4.25 an hour. Now +--especially if you have children, even with the working families tax cut +we passed last year. + +In the past, the minimum wage has been a bipartisan issue and I think it +should be again. So I want to challenge you to have honest hearings on +this, to get together to find a way to make the minimum wage a living +wage. + +Members of Congress have been here less than a month but by the end of the +week--28 days into the new year--every member of Congress will have +earned as much in congressional salary as a minimum-wage worker makes all +year long. + +Everybody else here, including the President, has something else that too +many Americans do without and that's health care. + +Health Care + +Now, last year we almost came to blows over health care, but we didn't do +anything. And the cold, hard fact is that since last year--since I was +here--another 1.1 million Americans in working families have lost their +health care. And the cold, hard fact is that many millions more--most of +them farmers and small business people and self-employed people--have +seen their premiums skyrocket, their co-pays and deductibles go up. + +There's a whole bunch of people in this country that in the statistics have +health insurance but really what they've got is a piece of paper that says +they won't lose their home if they get sick. + +Now I still believe our country has got to move toward providing health +security for every American family, but--but I know that last year, as the +evidence indicates, we bit off more than we could chew. + +So I'm asking you that we work together. Let's do it step by step. Let's do +whatever we have to do to get something done. Let's at least pass +meaningful insurance reform so that no American risks losing coverage for +facing skyrocketing prices but that nobody loses their coverage because +they face high prices or unavailable insurance when they change jobs or +lose a job or a family member gets sick. + +I want to work together with all of you who have an interest in this: with +the Democrats who worked on it last time, with the Republican leaders like +Senator Dole who has a longtime commitment to health care reform and made +some constructive proposals in this area last year. We ought to make sure +that self-employed people in small businesses can buy insurance at more +affordable rates through voluntary purchasing pools. We ought to help +families provide long-term care for a sick parent to a disabled child. We +can work to help workers who lose their jobs at least keep their health +insurance coverage for a year while they look for work, and we can find a +way--it may take some time, but we can find a way--to make sure that our +children have health care. + +You know, I think everybody in this room, without regard to party, can be +proud of the fact that our country was rated as having the world's most +productive economy for the first time in nearly a decade, but we can't be +proud of the fact that we're the only wealthy country in the world that has +a smaller percentage of the work force and their children with health +insurance today than we did 10 years ago--the last time we were the most +productive economy in the world. + +So let's work together on this. It is too important for politics as usual. + +Much of what the American people are thinking about tonight is what we've +already talked about. A lot of people think that the security concerns of +America today are entirely internal to our borders, they relate to the +security of our jobs and our homes and our incomes and our children, our +streets, our health and protecting those borders. + +Foreign Policy + +Now that the Cold War has passed, it's tempting to believe that all the +security issues, with the possible exception of trade, reside here at home. +But it's not so. Our security still depends on our continued world +leadership for peace and freedom and democracy. We still can't be strong at +home unless we're strong abroad. + +Mexico + +The financial crisis in Mexico is a case in point. I know it's not popular +to say it tonight but we have to act, not for the Mexican people but for +the sake of the millions of Americans whose livelihoods are tied to +Mexico's well-being. If we want to secure American jobs, preserve American +exports, safeguard America's borders then we must pass the stabilization +program and help to put Mexico back on track. + +Now let me repeat: it's not a loan, it's not foreign aid, it's not a +bail-out. We'll be given a guarantee like co-signing a note with good +collateral that will cover our risk. + +This legislation is the right thing for America. That's why the bipartisan +leadership has supported it. And I hope you in Congress will pass it +quickly. It is in our interest and we can explain it to the American +people, because we're going to do it in the right way. + +Russia + +You know, tonight this is the first State of the Union address ever +delivered since the beginning of the cold war when not a single Russian +missile is pointed at the children of America. + +And along with the Russians, we're on our way to destroying the missiles +and the bombers that carry 9,000 nuclear warheads. We've come so far so +fast in this post-cold-war world that it's easy to take the decline of the +nuclear threat for granted. But it's still there, and we aren't finished +yet. + +This year, I'll ask the Senate to approve START II to eliminate weapons +that carry 5,000 more warheads. The United States will lead the charge to +extend indefinitely the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, to enact a +comprehensive nuclear test ban, and to eliminate chemical weapons. + +North Korea + +To stop and roll back North Korea's potentially deadly nuclear program, +we'll continue to implement the agreement we have reached with that nation. +It's smart, it's tough, it's a deal based on continuing inspection with +safeguards for our allies and ourselves. + +This year, I'll submit to Congress comprehensive legislation to strengthen +our hand in combating terrorists, whether they strike at home or abroad. As +the cowards who bombed the World Trade Center found out, this country will +hunt down terrorists and bring them to justice. + +Middle East + +Just this week, another horrendous terrorist act in Israel killed 19 and +injured scores more. On behalf of the American people and all of you, I +send our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims. I know that in +the face of such evil, it is hard for the people in the Middle East to go +forward. But the terrorists represent the past, not the future. We must and +we will pursue a comprehensive peace between Israel and all her neighbors +in the Middle East. + +Accordingly, last night I signed an executive order that will block the +assets in the United States of terrorist organizations that threaten to +disrupt the peace process. It prohibits financial transactions with these +groups. + +And tonight I call on all our allies in peace-loving nations throughout the +world to join us with renewed fervor in a global effort to combat +terrorism, we cannot permit the future to be marred by terror and fear and +paralysis. + +Defense + +From the day I took the oath of office, I pledged that our nation would +maintain the best-equipped, best-trained and best-prepared military on +earth. We have and they are. They have managed the dramatic downsizing of +our forces after the cold war with remarkable skill and spirit. But to make +sure our military is ready for action and to provide the pay and the +quality of life the military and their families deserve, I'm asking the +Congress to add $ 25 billion in defense spending over the next six years. + +I have visited many bases at home and around the world since I became +President. Tonight I repeat that request with renewed conviction. We ask a +very great deal of our armed forces. Now that they are smaller in number, +we ask more of them. They go out more often to more different places and +stay longer. They are called to service in many, many ways, and we must +give them and their families what the times demand and what they have +earned. + +Just think about what our troops have done in the last year, showing +America at its best, helping to save hundreds of thousands of people in +Rwanda, moving with lightning speed to head off another threat to Kuwait, +giving freedom and democracy back to the people of Haiti. + +We have proudly supported peace and prosperity and freedom from South +Africa to Northern Ireland, from Central and Eastern Europe to Asia, from +Latin America to the Middle East. All these endeavors are good in those +places but they make our future more confident and more secure. + +Well, my fellow Americans, that's my agenda for America's future: expanding +opportunity not bureaucracy, enhancing security at home and abroad, +empowering our people to make the most of their own lives. + +It's ambitious and achievable. But it's not enough. + +We even need more than new ideas for changing the world or equipping +Americans to compete in the new economy, more than a Government that's +smaller, smarter and wiser, more than all the changes we can make in +Government and in the private sector from the outside in. + +Values And Voices + +Our fortunes and our prosperity also depend upon our ability to answer some +questions from within--from the values and voices that speak to our hearts +as well as our heads, voices that tell us we have to do more to accept +responsibility for ourselves and our families, for our communities, and +yes, for our fellow citizens. + +We see our families and our communities all over this country coming apart. +And we feel the common ground shifting from under us. The PTA, the town +hall meeting, the ball park--it's hard for a lot of overworked parents to +find the time and space for those things that strengthen the bonds of trust +and cooperation. + +Too many of our children don't even have parents and grandparents who can +give them those experiences that they need to build their own character and +their sense of identity. We all know that while we here in this chamber can +make a difference on those things, that the real differences will be made +by our fellow citizens where they work and where they live. + +And it'll be made almost without regard to party. When I used to go to the +softball park in Little Rock to watch my daughter's league and people would +come up to me--fathers and mothers--and talk to me, I can honestly say I +had no idea whether 90 percent of them were Republicans or Democrats. + +When I visited the relief centers after the floods in California, Northern +California, last week, a woman came up to me and did something that very +few of you would do. She hugged me and said, "Mr. President, I'm a +Republican, but I'm glad you're here." + +Now, why? We can't wait for disasters to act the way we used to act every +day. Because as we move into this next century, everybody matters. We don't +have a person to waste. And a lot of people are losing a lot of chances to +do better. + +That means that we need a New Covenant for everybody--for our corporate +and business leaders, we're going to work here to keep bringing the deficit +down, to expand markets, to support their success in every possible way. +But they have an obligation: when they're doing well, to keep jobs in our +communities and give their workers a fair share of the prosperity they +generate. + +For people in the entertainment industry in this country, we applaud your +creativity and your worldwide success and we support your freedom of +expression but you do have a responsibility to assess the impact of your +work and to understand the damage that comes from the incessant, +repetitive, mindless violence and irresponsible conduct that permeates our +media all the time. + +We've got to ask our community leaders and all kinds of organizations to +help us stop our most serious social problem: the epidemic of teen +pregnancies and births where there is no marriage. I have sent to Congress +a plan to target schools all over this country with anti-pregnancy programs +that work. But government can only do so much. Tonight, I call on parents +and leaders all across this country to join together in a national campaign +against teen pregnancy to make a difference. We can do this and we must. + +And I would like to say a special word to our religious leaders. You know, +I'm proud of the fact that the United States has more house of worship per +capita than any country in the world. These people, who lead our houses of +worship, can ignite their congregations to carry their faith into action, +can reach out to all of our children, to all of the people in distress, to +those who have been savaged by the breakdown of all we hold dear, because +so much of what must be done must come from the inside out. And our +religious leaders and their congregations can make all the difference. They +have a role in the New Covenant as well. + +There must be more responsibility for all of our citizens. You know it +takes a lot of people to help all the kids in trouble stay off the streets +and in school. It takes a lot of people to build the Habitat for Humanity +houses that the Speaker celebrates on his lapel pin. It takes a lot of +people to provide the people power for all the civic organizations in this +country that made our communities mean so much to most of us when we were +kids. It takes every parent to teach the children the difference between +right and wrong and to encourage them to learn and grow and to say no to +the wrong things but also to believe that they can be whatever they want to +be. + +I know it's hard when you're working harder for less, when you're under +great stress, to do these things. A lot of our people don't have the time +or the emotional stress they think to do the work of citizenship. Most of +us in politics haven't helped very much. For years, we've mostly treated +citizens like they were consumers or spectators, sort of political couch +potatoes who were supposed to watch the TV ads--either promise them +something for nothing or play on their fears and frustrations. And more and +more of our citizens now get most of their information in very negative and +aggressive ways that is hardly conducive to honest and open conversations. +But the truth is we have got to stop seeing each other as enemies just +because we have different views. + +If you go back to the beginning of this country, the great strength of +America, as de Tocqueville pointed out when he came here a long time ago, +has always been our ability to associate with people who were different +from ourselves and to work together to find common ground. And in this day +everybody has a responsibility to do more of that. We simply cannot wait +for a tornado, a fire or a flood to behave like Americans ought to behave +in dealing with one another. + +I want to finish up here by pointing out some folks that are up with the +First Lady that represent what I'm trying to talk about. Citizens. I have +no idea what their party affiliation is or who they voted for in the last +election, but they represent what we ought to be doing. + +Cindy Perry teaches second-graders to read in AmeriCorps in rural Kentucky. +She gains when she gives. She's a mother of four. + +She says that her service inspired her to get her high school equivalency +last year. She was married when she was a teen-ager. Stand up, Cindy. She +married when she was a teen-ager. She had four children, but she had time +to serve other people, to get her high school equivalency and she's going +to use her AmeriCorps money to go back to college. + +Steven Bishop is the police chief of Kansas City. He's been a national +leader--stand up Steve. He's been a national leader in using more police +in community policing and he's worked with AmeriCorps to do it, and the +crime rate in Kansas City has gone down as a result of what he did. + +Cpl. Gregory Depestre went to Haiti as part of his adopted country's force +to help secure democracy in his native land. And I might add we must be the +only country in the world that could have gone to Haiti and taken +Haitian-Americans there who could speak the language and talk to the +people, and he was one of them and we're proud of him. + +The next two folks I've had the honor of meeting and getting to know a +little bit. The Rev. John and the Rev. Diana Cherry of the A.M.E. Zion +Church in Temple Hills, Md. I'd like to ask them to stand. I want to tell +you about them. In the early 80's they left Government service and formed a +church in a small living room in a small house in the early 80's. Today +that church has 17,000 members. It is one of the three or four biggest +churches in the entire United States. It grows by 200 a month. + +They do it together. And the special focus of their ministry is keeping +families together. They are--Two things they did make a big impression on +me. I visited their church once and I learned they were building a new +sanctuary closer to the Washington, D.C., line, in a higher-crime, +higher-drug-rate area because they thought it was part of their ministry to +change the lives of the people who needed them. Second thing I want to say +is that once Reverend Cherry was at a meeting at the White House with some +other religious leaders and he left early to go back to his church to +minister to 150 couples that he had brought back to his church from all +over America to convince them to come back together to save their marriages +and to raise their kids. This is the kind of work that citizens are doing +in America. We need more of it and it ought to be lifted up and supported. + +The last person I want to introduce is Jack Lucas from Hattiesburg, +Mississippi. Jack, would you stand up. Fifty years ago in the sands of Iwo +Jima, Jack Lucas taught and learned the lessons of citizenship. On February +the 20th, 1945, he and three of his buddies encountered the enemy and two +grenades at their feet. Jack Lucas threw himself on both of them. In that +moment he saved the lives of his companions and miraculously in the next +instant a medic saved his life. He gained a foothold for freedom and at the +age of 17, just a year older than his grandson, who's up there with him +today, and his son, who is a West Point graduate and a veteran, at 17, Jack +Lucas became the youngest marine in history and the youngest soldier in +this century to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. All these years +later, yesterday, here's what he said about that day: Didn't matter where +you were from or who you were. You relied on one another. You did it for +your country. We all gain when we give and we reap what we sow. That's at +the heart of this New Covenant. Responsibility, opportunity and +citizenship. + +More than stale chapters in some remote civic book they're still the virtue +by which we can fulfill ourselves and reach our God-given potential and be +like them. And also to fulfill the eternal promise of this country, the +enduring dream from that first and most-sacred covenant. I believe every +person in this country still believes that we are created equal and given +by our creator the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. + +This is a very, very great country and our best days are still to come. +Thank you and God bless you all. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +William J. Clinton +January 23, 1996 + +Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of the 104th Congress, +distinguished guests, my fellow Americans all across our land: + +Let me begin tonight by saying to our men and women in uniform around the +world, and especially those helping peace take root in Bosnia and to their +families, I thank you. America is very, very proud of you. + +My duty tonight is to report on the state of the Union--not the state of +our government, but of our American community; and to set forth our +responsibilities, in the words of our Founders, to form a more perfect +union. + +The state of the Union is strong. Our economy is the healthiest it has been +in three decades. We have the lowest combined rates of unemployment and +inflation in 27 years. We have created nearly 8 million new jobs, over a +million of them in basic industries, like construction and automobiles. +America is selling more cars than Japan for the first time since the 1970s. +And for three years in a row, we have had a record number of new businesses +started in our country. + +Our leadership in the world is also strong, bringing hope for new peace. +And perhaps most important, we are gaining ground in restoring our +fundamental values. The crime rate, the welfare and food stamp rolls, the +poverty rate and the teen pregnancy rate are all down. And as they go down, +prospects for America's future go up. + +We live in an age of possibility. A hundred years ago we moved from farm to +factory. Now we move to an age of technology, information, and global +competition. These changes have opened vast new opportunities for our +people, but they have also presented them with stiff challenges. While more +Americans are living better, too many of our fellow citizens are working +harder just to keep up, and they are rightly concerned about the security +of their families. + +The Role Of Government + +We must answer here three fundamental questions: First, how do we make the +American Dream of opportunity for all a reality for all Americans who are +willing to work for it? Second, how do we preserve our old and enduring +values as we move into the future? And, third, how do we meet these +challenges together, as one America? + +We know big government does not have all the answers. We know there's not a +program for every problem. We have worked to give the American people a +smaller, less bureaucratic government in Washington. And we have to give +the American people one that lives within its means. + +The era of big government is over. But we cannot go back to the time when +our citizens were left to fend for themselves. Instead, we must go forward +as one America, one nation working together to meet the challenges we face +together. Self-reliance and teamwork are not opposing virtues; we must have +both. + +I believe our new, smaller government must work in an old-fashioned +American way, together with all of our citizens through state and local +governments, in the workplace, in religious, charitable and civic +associations. Our goal must be to enable all our people to make the most of +their own lives--with stronger families, more educational opportunity, +economic security, safer streets, a cleaner environment in a safer world. + +To improve the state of our Union, we must ask more of ourselves, we must +expect more of each other, and we must face our challenges together. + +Here, in this place, our responsibility begins with balancing the budget in +a way that is fair to all Americans. There is now broad bipartisan +agreement that permanent deficit spending must come to an end. + +I compliment the Republican leadership and the membership for the energy +and determination you have brought to this task of balancing the budget. +And I thank the Democrats for passing the largest deficit reduction plan in +history in 1993, which has already cut the deficit nearly in half in three +years. + +Deficit + +Since 1993, we have all begun to see the benefits of deficit reduction. +Lower interest rates have made it easier for businesses to borrow and to +invest and to create new jobs. Lower interest rates have brought down the +cost of home mortgages, car payments and credit card rates to ordinary +citizens. Now, it is time to finish the job and balance the budget. + +Though differences remain among us which are significant, the combined +total of the proposed savings that are common to both plans is more than +enough, using the numbers from your Congressional Budget Office to balance +the budget in seven years and to provide a modest tax cut. + +These cuts are real. They will require sacrifice from everyone. But these +cuts do not undermine our fundamental obligations to our parents, our +children, and our future, by endangering Medicare, or Medicaid, or +education, or the environment, or by raising taxes on working families. + +I have said before, and let me say again, many good ideas have come out of +our negotiations. I have learned a lot about the way both Republicans and +Democrats view the debate before us. I have learned a lot about the good +ideas that we could all embrace. + +We ought to resolve our remaining differences. I am willing to work to +resolve them. I am ready to meet tomorrow. But I ask you to consider that +we should at least enact these savings that both plans have in common and +give the American people their balanced budget, a tax cut, lower interest +rates, and a brighter future. We should do that now, and make permanent +deficits yesterday's legacy. + +Now it is time for us to look also to the challenges of today and tomorrow, +beyond the burdens of yesterday. The challenges are significant. But +America was built on challenges, not promises. And when we work together to +meet them, we never fail. That is the key to a more perfect Union. Our +individual dreams must be realized by our common efforts. + +Tonight I want to speak to you about the challenges we all face as a +people. + +Strengthening Families + +Our first challenge is to cherish our children and strengthen America's +families. Family is the foundation of American life. If we have stronger +families, we will have a stronger America. + +Before I go on, I would like to take just a moment to thank my own family, +and to thank the person who has taught me more than anyone else over 25 +years about the importance of families and children--a wonderful wife, a +magnificent mother and a great First Lady. Thank you, Hillary. + +All strong families begin with taking more responsibility for our children. +I have heard Mrs. Gore say that it's hard to be a parent today, but it's +even harder to be a child. So all of us, not just as parents, but all of us +in our other roles--our media, our schools, our teachers, our communities, +our churches and synagogues, our businesses, our governments--all of us +have a responsibility to help our children to make it and to make the most +of their lives and their God-given capacities. + +To the media, I say you should create movies and CDs and television shows +you'd want your own children and grandchildren to enjoy. + +I call on Congress to pass the requirement for a V-chip in TV sets so that +parents can screen out programs they believe are inappropriate for their +children. When parents control what their young children see, that is not +censorship; that is enabling parents to assume more personal responsibility +for their children's upbringing. And I urge them to do it. The V-chip +requirement is part of the important telecommunications bill now pending in +this Congress. It has bipartisan support, and I urge you to pass it now. + +To make the V-chip work, I challenge the broadcast industry to do what +movies have done--to identify your programming in ways that help parents +to protect their children. And I invite the leaders of major media +corporations in the entertainment industry to come to the White House next +month to work with us in a positive way on concrete ways to improve what +our children see on television. I am ready to work with you. + +I say to those who make and market cigarettes: every year a million +children take up smoking, even though it is against the law. Three hundred +thousand of them will have their lives shortened as a result. Our +administration has taken steps to stop the massive marketing campaigns that +appeal to our children. We are simply saying: Market your products to +adults, if you wish, but draw the line on children. + +I say to those who are on welfare, and especially to those who have been +trapped on welfare for a long time: For too long our welfare system has +undermined the values of family and work, instead of supporting them. The +Congress and I are near agreement on sweeping welfare reform. We agree on +time limits, tough work requirements, and the toughest possible child +support enforcement. But I believe we must also provide child care so that +mothers who are required to go to work can do so without worrying about +what is happening to their children. + +I challenge this Congress to send me a bipartisan welfare reform bill that +will really move people from welfare to work and do the right thing by our +children. I will sign it immediately. + +Let us be candid about this difficult problem. Passing a law, even the best +possible law, is only a first step. The next step is to make it work. I +challenge people on welfare to make the most of this opportunity for +independence. I challenge American businesses to give people on welfare the +chance to move into the work force. I applaud the work of religious groups +and others who care for the poor. More than anyone else in our society, +they know the true difficulty of the task before us, and they are in a +position to help. Every one of us should join them. That is the only way we +can make real welfare reform a reality in the lives of the American +people. + +To strengthen the family we must do everything we can to keep the teen +pregnancy rate going down. I am gratified, as I'm sure all Americans are, +that it has dropped for two years in a row. But we all know it is still far +too high. + +Tonight I am pleased to announce that a group of prominent Americans is +responding to that challenge by forming an organization that will support +grass-roots community efforts all across our country in a national campaign +against teen pregnancy. And I challenge all of us and every American to +join their efforts. + +I call on American men and women in families to give greater respect to one +another. We must end the deadly scourge of domestic violence in our +country. And I challenge America's families to work harder to stay +together. For families who stay together not only do better economically, +their children do better as well. + +In particular, I challenge the fathers of this country to love and care for +their children. If your family has separated, you must pay your child +support. We're doing more than ever to make sure you do, and we're going to +do more, but let's all admit something about that, too: A check will not +substitute for a parent's love and guidance. And only you--only you can +make the decision to help raise your children. No matter who you are, how +low or high your station in life, it is the most basic human duty of every +American to do that job to the best of his or her ability. + +Education + +Our second challenge is to provide Americans with the educational +opportunities we will all need for this new century. In our schools, every +classroom in America must be connected to the information superhighway, +with computers and good software, and well-trained teachers. We are working +with the telecommunications industry, educators and parents to connect 20 +percent of California's classrooms by this spring, and every classroom and +every library in the entire United States by the year 2000. I ask Congress +to support this education technology initiative so that we can make sure +this national partnership succeeds. + +Every diploma ought to mean something. I challenge every community, every +school and every state to adopt national standards of excellence; to +measure whether schools are meeting those standards; to cut bureaucratic +red tape so that schools and teachers have more flexibility for grass-roots +reform; and to hold them accountable for results. That's what our Goals +2000 initiative is all about. + +I challenge every state to give all parents the right to choose which +public school their children will attend; and to let teachers form new +schools with a charter they can keep only if they do a good job. + +I challenge all our schools to teach character education, to teach good +values and good citizenship. And if it means that teenagers will stop +killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be +able to require their students to wear school uniforms. + +I challenge our parents to become their children's first teachers. Turn off +the TV. See that the homework is done. And visit your children's classroom. +No program, no teacher, no one else can do that for you. + +My fellow Americans, higher education is more important today than ever +before. We've created a new student loan program that's made it easier to +borrow and repay those loans, and we have dramatically cut the student loan +default rate. That's something we should all be proud of, because it was +unconscionably high just a few years ago. Through AmeriCorps, our national +service program, this year 25,000 young people will earn college money by +serving their local communities to improve the lives of their friends and +neighbors. These initiatives are right for America and we should keep them +going. + +And we should also work hard to open the doors of college even wider. I +challenge Congress to expand work-study and help one million young +Americans work their way through college by the year 2000; to provide a +$1000 merit scholarship for the top five percent of graduates in every high +school in the United States; to expand Pell Grant scholarships for +deserving and needy students; and to make up to $10,000 a year of college +tuition tax deductible. It's a good idea for America. + +Our third challenge is to help every American who is willing to work for +it, achieve economic security in this new age. People who work hard still +need support to get ahead in the new economy. They need education and +training for a lifetime. They need more support for families raising +children. They need retirement security. They need access to health care. +More and more Americans are finding that the education of their childhood +simply doesn't last a lifetime. + +G.I. Bill For Workers + +So I challenge Congress to consolidate 70 overlapping, antiquated +job-training programs into a simple voucher worth $2,600 for unemployed or +underemployed workers to use as they please for community college tuition +or other training. This is a G.I. Bill for America's workers we should all +be able to agree on. + +More and more Americans are working hard without a raise. Congress sets the +minimum wage. Within a year, the minimum wage will fall to a 40-year low in +purchasing power. Four dollars and 25 cents an hour is no longer a living +wage, but millions of Americans and their children are trying to live on +it. I challenge you to raise their minimum wage. + +In 1993, Congress cut the taxes of 15 million hard-pressed working families +to make sure that no parents who work full-time would have to raise their +children in poverty, and to encourage people to move from welfare to work. +This expanded earned income tax credit is now worth about $1,800 a year to +a family of four living on $20,000. The budget bill I vetoed would have +reversed this achievement and raised taxes on nearly 8 million of these +people. We should not do that. + +I also agree that the people who are helped under this initiative are not +all those in our country who are working hard to do a good job raising +their children and at work. I agree that we need a tax credit for working +families with children. That's one of the things most of us in this +Chamber, I hope, can agree on. I know it is strongly supported by the +Republican majority. And it should be part of any final budget agreement. + +I want to challenge every business that can possibly afford it to provide +pensions for your employees. And I challenge Congress to pass a proposal +recommended by the White House Conference on Small Business that would make +it easier for small businesses and farmers to establish their own pension +plans. That is something we should all agree on. + +We should also protect existing pension plans. Two years ago, with +bipartisan support that was almost unanimous on both sides of the aisle, we +moved to protect the pensions of 8 million working people and to stabilize +the pensions of 32 million more. Congress should not now let companies +endanger those workers' pension funds. I know the proposal to liberalize +the ability of employers to take money out of pension funds for other +purposes would raise money for the treasury. But I believe it is false +economy. I vetoed that proposal last year, and I would have to do so +again. + +Health Care + +Finally, if our working families are going to succeed in the new economy, +they must be able to buy health insurance policies that they do not lose +when they change jobs or when someone in their family gets sick. Over the +past two years, over one million Americans in working families have lost +their health insurance. We have to do more to make health care available to +every American. And Congress should start by passing the bipartisan bill +sponsored by Senator Kennedy and Senator Kassebaum that would require +insurance companies to stop dropping people when they switch jobs, and stop +denying coverage for preexisting conditions. Let's all do that. + +And even as we enact savings in these programs, we must have a common +commitment to preserve the basic protections of Medicare and Medicaid--not +just to the poor, but to people in working families, including children, +people with disabilities, people with AIDS, and senior citizens in nursing +homes. + +In the past three years, we've saved $15 billion just by fighting health +care fraud and abuse. We have all agreed to save much more. We have all +agreed to stabilize the Medicare Trust Fund. But we must not abandon our +fundamental obligations to the people who need Medicare and Medicaid. +America cannot become stronger if they become weaker. + +The G.I. Bill for workers, tax relief for education and child rearing, +pension availability and protection, access to health care, preservation of +Medicare and Medicaid--these things, along with the Family and Medical +Leave Act passed in 1993--these things will help responsible, hard-working +American families to make the most of their own lives. + +But employers and employees must do their part, as well, as they are doing +in so many of our finest companies--working together, putting the +long-term prosperity ahead of the short-term gain. As workers increase +their hours and their productivity, employers should make sure they get the +skills they need and share the benefits of the good years, as well as the +burdens of the bad ones. When companies and workers work as a team they do +better, and so does America. + +Crime + +Our fourth great challenge is to take our streets back from crime and gangs +and drugs. At last we have begun to find a way to reduce crime, forming +community partnerships with local police forces to catch criminals and +prevent crime. This strategy, called community policing, is clearly +working. Violent crime is coming down all across America. In New York City +murders are down 25 percent; in St. Louis, 18 percent; in Seattle, 32 +percent. But we still have a long way to go before our streets are safe and +our people are free from fear. + +The Crime Bill of 1994 is critical to the success of community policing. It +provides funds for 100,000 new police in communities of all sizes. We're +already a third of the way there. And I challenge the Congress to finish +the job. Let us stick with a strategy that's working and keep the crime +rate coming down. + +Community policing also requires bonds of trust between citizens and +police. I ask all Americans to respect and support our law enforcement +officers. And to our police, I say, our children need you as role models +and heroes. Don't let them down. + +The Brady Bill has already stopped 44,000 people with criminal records from +buying guns. The assault weapons ban is keeping 19 kinds of assault weapons +out of the hands of violent gangs. I challenge the Congress to keep those +laws on the books. + +Our next step in the fight against crime is to take on gangs the way we +once took on the mob. I'm directing the FBI and other investigative +agencies to target gangs that involve juveniles in violent crime, and to +seek authority to prosecute as adults teenagers who maim and kill like +adults. + +And I challenge local housing authorities and tenant associations: Criminal +gang members and drug dealers are destroying the lives of decent tenants. +From now on, the rule for residents who commit crime and peddle drugs +should be one strike and you're out. + +I challenge every state to match federal policy to assure that serious +violent criminals serve at least 85 percent of their sentence. + +More police and punishment are important, but they're not enough. We have +got to keep more of our young people out of trouble, with prevention +strategies not dictated by Washington, but developed in communities. I +challenge all of our communities, all of our adults, to give our children +futures to say yes to. And I challenge Congress not to abandon the Crime +Bill's support of these grass-roots prevention efforts. + +Finally, to reduce crime and violence we have to reduce the drug problem. +The challenge begins in our homes, with parents talking to their children +openly and firmly. It embraces our churches and synagogues, our youth +groups and our schools. + +I challenge Congress not to cut our support for drug-free schools. People +like the D.A.R.E. officers are making a real impression on grade +schoolchildren that will give them the strength to say no when the time +comes. + +Meanwhile, we continue our efforts to cut the flow of drugs into America. +For the last two years, one man in particular has been on the front lines +of that effort. Tonight I am nominating him--a hero of the Persian Gulf +War and the Commander in Chief of the United States Military Southern +Command--General Barry McCaffrey, as America's new Drug Czar. + +General McCaffrey has earned three Purple Hearts and two Silver Stars +fighting for this country. Tonight I ask that he lead our nation's battle +against drugs at home and abroad. To succeed, he needs a force far larger +than he has ever commanded before. He needs all of us. Every one of us has +a role to play on this team. + +Thank you, General McCaffrey, for agreeing to serve your country one more +time. + +Environment + +Our fifth challenge: to leave our environment safe and clean for the next +generation. Because of a generation of bipartisan effort we do have cleaner +water and air, lead levels in children's blood has been cut by 70 percent, +toxic emissions from factories cut in half. Lake Erie was dead, and now +it's a thriving resource. But 10 million children under 12 still live +within four miles of a toxic waste dump. A third of us breathe air that +endangers our health. And in too many communities, the water is not safe to +drink. We still have much to do. + +Yet Congress has voted to cut environmental enforcement by 25 percent. That +means more toxic chemicals in our water, more smog in our air, more +pesticides in our food. Lobbyists for polluters have been allowed to write +their own loopholes into bills to weaken laws that protect the health and +safety of our children. Some say that the taxpayer should pick up the tab +for toxic waste and let polluters who can afford to fix it off the hook. I +challenge Congress to reexamine those policies and to reverse them. + +This issue has not been a partisan issue. The most significant +environmental gains in the last 30 years were made under a Democratic +Congress and President Richard Nixon. We can work together. We have to +believe some basic things. Do you believe we can expand the economy without +hurting the environment? I do. Do you believe we can create more jobs over +the long run by cleaning the environment up? I know we can. That should be +our commitment. + +We must challenge businesses and communities to take more initiative in +protecting the environment, and we have to make it easier for them to do +it. To businesses this administration is saying: If you can find a cheaper, +more efficient way than government regulations require to meet tough +pollution standards, do it--as long as you do it right. To communities we +say: We must strengthen community right-to-know laws requiring polluters to +disclose their emissions, but you have to use the information to work with +business to cut pollution. People do have a right to know that their air +and their water are safe. + +Foreign Policy + +Our sixth challenge is to maintain America's leadership in the fight for +freedom and peace throughout the world. Because of American leadership, +more people than ever before live free and at peace. And Americans have +known 50 years of prosperity and security. + +We owe thanks especially to our veterans of World War II. I would like to +say to Senator Bob Dole and to all others in this Chamber who fought in +World War II, and to all others on both sides of the aisle who have fought +bravely in all our conflicts since: I salute your service, and so do the +American people. + +All over the world, even after the Cold War, people still look to us and +trust us to help them seek the blessings of peace and freedom. But as the +Cold War fades into memory, voices of isolation say America should retreat +from its responsibilities. I say they are wrong. + +The threats we face today as Americans respect no nation's borders. Think +of them: terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, organized +crime, drug trafficking, ethnic and religious hatred, aggression by rogue +states, environmental degradation. If we fail to address these threats +today, we will suffer the consequences in all our tomorrows. + +Of course, we can't be everywhere. Of course, we can't do everything. But +where our interests and our values are at stake, and where we can make a +difference, America must lead. We must not be isolationist. + +We must not be the world's policeman. But we can and should be the world's +very best peacemaker. By keeping our military strong, by using diplomacy +where we can and force where we must, by working with others to share the +risk and the cost of our efforts, America is making a difference for people +here and around the world. For the first time since the dawn of the nuclear +age, there is not a single Russian missile pointed at America's children. + +North Korea + +North Korea has now frozen its dangerous nuclear weapons program. In Haiti, +the dictators are gone, democracy has a new day, the flow of desperate +refugees to our shores has subsided. Through tougher trade deals for +America--over 80 of them--we have opened markets abroad, and now exports +are at an all-time high, growing faster than imports and creating good +American jobs. + +Northern Ireland + +We stood with those taking risks for peace: In Northern Ireland, where +Catholic and Protestant children now tell their parents, violence must +never return. In the Middle East, where Arabs and Jews who once seemed +destined to fight forever now share knowledge and resources, and even +dreams. + +Bosnia + +And we stood up for peace in Bosnia. Remember the skeletal prisoners, the +mass graves, the campaign to rape and torture, the endless lines of +refugees, the threat of a spreading war. All these threats, all these +horrors have now begun to give way to the promise of peace. Now, our troops +and a strong NATO, together with our new partners from Central Europe and +elsewhere, are helping that peace to take hold. + +As all of you know, I was just there with a bipartisan congressional group, +and I was so proud not only of what our troops were doing, but of the pride +they evidenced in what they were doing. They knew what America's mission in +this world is, and they were proud to be carrying it out. + +Through these efforts, we have enhanced the security of the American +people. But make no mistake about it: important challenges remain. + +Russia + +The START II Treaty with Russia will cut our nuclear stockpiles by another +25 percent. I urge the Senate to ratify it--now. We must end the race to +create new nuclear weapons by signing a truly comprehensive nuclear test +ban treaty--this year. + +As we remember what happened in the Japanese subway, we can outlaw poison +gas forever if the Senate ratifies the Chemical Weapons Convention--this +year. We can intensify the fight against terrorists and organized criminals +at home and abroad if Congress passes the anti-terrorism legislation I +proposed after the Oklahoma City bombing--now. We can help more people +move from hatred to hope all across the world in our own interest if +Congress gives us the means to remain the world's leader for peace. + +My fellow Americans, the six challenges I have just discussed are for all +of us. Our seventh challenge is really America's challenge to those of us +in this hallowed hall tonight: to reinvent our government and make our +democracy work for them. + +Reform + +Last year this Congress applied to itself the laws it applies to everyone +else. This Congress banned gifts and meals from lobbyists. This Congress +forced lobbyists to disclose who pays them and what legislation they are +trying to pass or kill. This Congress did that, and I applaud you for it. + +Now I challenge Congress to go further--to curb special interest influence +in politics by passing the first truly bipartisan campaign reform bill in a +generation. You, Republicans and Democrats alike, can show the American +people that we can limit spending and open the airwaves to all candidates. + +I also appeal to Congress to pass the line-item veto you promised the +American people. + +Our administration is working hard to give the American people a government +that works better and costs less. Thanks to the work of Vice President +Gore, we are eliminating 16,000 pages of unnecessary rules and regulations, +shifting more decision-making out of Washington, back to states and local +communities. + +As we move into the era of balanced budgets and smaller government, we must +work in new ways to enable people to make the most of their own lives. We +are helping America's communities, not with more bureaucracy, but with more +opportunities. Through our successful Empowerment Zones and Community +Development Banks, we are helping people to find jobs, to start businesses. +And with tax incentives for companies that clean up abandoned industrial +property, we can bring jobs back to places that desperately, desperately +need them. + +But there are some areas that the federal government should not leave and +should address and address strongly. One of these areas is the problem of +illegal immigration. After years of neglect, this administration has taken +a strong stand to stiffen the protection of our borders. We are increasing +border controls by 50 percent. We are increasing inspections to prevent the +hiring of illegal immigrants. And tonight, I announce I will sign an +executive order to deny federal contracts to businesses that hire illegal +immigrants. + +Let me be very clear about this: We are still a nation of immigrants; we +should be proud of it. We should honor every legal immigrant here, working +hard to become a new citizen. But we are also a nation of laws. + +I want to say a special word now to those who work for our federal +government. Today our federal government is 200,000 employees smaller than +it was the day I took office as President. + +Our federal government today is the smallest it has been in 30 years, and +it's getting smaller every day. Most of our fellow Americans probably don't +know that. And there is a good reason: The remaining federal work force is +composed of Americans who are now working harder and working smarter than +ever before, to make sure the quality of our services does not decline. + +I'd like to give you one example. His name is Richard Dean. He is a 49 +year-old Vietnam veteran who's worked for the Social Security +Administration for 22 years now. Last year he was hard at work in the +Federal Building in Oklahoma City when the blast killed 169 people and +brought the rubble down all around him. He reentered that building four +times. He saved the lives of three women. He's here with us this evening, +and I want to recognize Richard and applaud both his public service and his +extraordinary personal heroism. + +But Richard Dean's story doesn't end there. This last November, he was +forced out of his office when the government shut down. And the second time +the government shut down he continued helping Social Security recipients, +but he was working without pay. + +On behalf of Richard Dean and his family, and all the other people who are +out there working every day doing a good job for the American people, I +challenge all of you in this Chamber: Never, ever shut the federal +government down again. + +On behalf of all Americans, especially those who need their Social Security +payments at the beginning of March, I also challenge the Congress to +preserve the full faith and credit of the United States--to honor the +obligations of this great nation as we have for 220 years; to rise above +partisanship and pass a straightforward extension of the debt limit and +show people America keeps its word. + +I know that this evening I have asked a lot of Congress, and even more from +America. But I am confident: When Americans work together in their homes, +their schools, their churches, their synagogues, their civic groups, their +workplace, they can meet any challenge. + +I say again, the era of big government is over. But we can't go back to the +era of fending for yourself. We have to go forward to the era of working +together as a community, as a team, as one America, with all of us reaching +across these lines that divide us--the division, the discrimination, the +rancor--we have to reach across it to find common ground. We have got to +work together if we want America to work. + +I want you to meet two more people tonight who do just that. Lucius Wright +is a teacher in the Jackson, Mississippi, public school system. A Vietnam +veteran, he has created groups to help inner-city children turn away from +gangs and build futures they can believe in. Sergeant Jennifer Rodgers is a +police officer in Oklahoma City. Like Richard Dean, she helped to pull her +fellow citizens out of the rubble and deal with that awful tragedy. She +reminds us that in their response to that atrocity the people of Oklahoma +City lifted all of us with their basic sense of decency and community. + +Lucius Wright and Jennifer Rodgers are special Americans. And I have the +honor to announce tonight that they are the very first of several thousand +Americans who will be chosen to carry the Olympic torch on its long journey +from Los Angeles to the centennial of the modern Olympics in Atlanta this +summer--not because they are star athletes, but because they are star +citizens, community heroes meeting America's challenges. They are our real +champions. + +Now, each of us must hold high the torch of citizenship in our own lives. +None of us can finish the race alone. We can only achieve our destiny +together--one hand, one generation, one American connecting to another. + +There have always been things we could do together--dreams we could make +real--which we could never have done on our own. We Americans have forged +our identity, our very union, from every point of view and every point on +the planet, every different opinion. But we must be bound together by a +faith more powerful than any doctrine that divides us--by our belief in +progress, our love of liberty, and our relentless search for common +ground. + +America has always sought and always risen to every challenge. Who would +say that, having come so far together, we will not go forward from here? +Who would say that this age of possibility is not for all Americans? + +Our country is and always has been a great and good nation. But the best is +yet to come, if we all do our part. + +Thank you, God bless you and God bless the United States of America. Thank +you. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +William J. Clinton +February 4, 1997 + +Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of the 105th Congress, +distinguished guests, my fellow Americans: + +I think I should start by saying thanks for inviting me back. + +I come before you tonight with a challenge as great as any in our peacetime +history--and a plan of action to meet that challenge, to prepare our +people for the bold new world of the 21st century. + +We have much to be thankful for. With four years of growth, we have won +back the basic strength of our economy. With crime and welfare rolls +declining, we are winning back our optimism, the enduring faith that we can +master any difficulty. With the Cold War receding and global commerce at +record levels, we are helping to win an unrivaled peace and prosperity all +across the world. + +My fellow Americans, the state of our union is strong, but now we must rise +to the decisive moment, to make a nation and a world better than any we +have ever known. + +The new promise of the global economy, the Information Age, unimagined new +work, life-enhancing technology--all these are ours to seize. That is our +honor and our challenge. We must be shapers of events, not observers, for +if we do not act, the moment will pass and we will lose the best +possibilities of our future. + +We face no imminent threat, but we do have an enemy. The enemy of our time +is inaction. + +So tonight I issue a call to action--action by this Congress, action by +our states, by our people to prepare America for the 21st century; action +to keep our economy and our democracy strong and working for all our +people; action to strengthen education and harness the forces of technology +and science; action to build stronger families and stronger communities and +a safer environment; action to keep America the world's strongest force for +peace, freedom and prosperity; and above all, action to build a more +perfect union here at home. + +The spirit we bring to our work will make all the difference. + +We must be committed to the pursuit of opportunity for all Americans, +responsibility from all Americans in a community of all Americans. And we +must be committed to a new kind of government: not to solve all our +problems for us, but to give our people--all our people--the tools they +need to make the most of their own lives. And we must work together. + +The people of this nation elected us all. They want us to be partners, not +partisans. They put us all right here in the same boat. They gave us all +oars, and they told us to row. Now, here is the direction I believe we +should take. + +First, we must move quickly to complete the unfinished business of our +country: to balance the budget, renew our democracy, and finish the job of +welfare reform. + +Over the last four years we have brought new economic growth by investing +in our people, expanding our exports, cutting our deficits, creating over +11 million new jobs, a four-year record. + +Now we must keep our economy the strongest in the world. We here tonight +have an historic opportunity. Let this Congress be the Congress that +finally balances the budget. Thank you. + +In two days I will propose a detailed plan to balance the budget by 2002. +This plan will balance the budget and invest in our people while protecting +Medicare, Medicaid, education and the environment. It will balance the +budget and build on the vice president's efforts to make our government +work better--even as it costs less. + +It will balance the budget and provide middle-class tax relief to pay for +education and health care, to help to raise a child, to buy and sell a +home. + +Balancing the budget requires only your vote and my signature. It does not +require us to rewrite our Constitution. I believe, I believe it is both +unnecessary, unwise to adopt a balanced budget amendment that could cripple +our country in time of economic crisis and force unwanted results such as +judges halting Social Security checks or increasing taxes. + +Let us at least agree we should not pass any measure, no measure should be +passed that threatens Social Security. We don't need, whatever your view on +that, we all must concede we don't need a constitutional amendment, we need +action. Whatever our differences, we should balance the budget now, and +then, for the long-term health of our society, we must agree to a +bipartisan process to preserve Social Security and reform Medicare for the +long run, so that these fundamental programs will be as strong for our +children as they are for our parents. + +And let me say something that's not in my script tonight. I know this is +not going to be easy. But I really believe one of the reasons the American +people gave me a second term was to take the tough decisions in the next +four years that will carry our country through the next 50 years. I know it +is easier for me than for you to say or do. But another reason I was +elected is to support all of you, without regard to party, to give you what +is necessary to join in these decisions. We owe it to our country and to +our future. + +Our second piece of unfinished business requires us to commit ourselves +tonight, before the eyes of America, to finally enacting bipartisan +campaign finance reform. + +Now, Senators McCain and Feingold, Representatives Shays and Meehan have +reached across party lines here to craft tough and fair reform. Their +proposal would curb spending, reduce the role of special interests, create +a level playing field between challengers and incumbents, and ban +contributions from non-citizens, all corporate sources, and the other large +soft-money contributions that both parties receive. + +You know and I know that this can be delayed, and you know and I know that +delay will mean the death of reform. + +So let's set our own deadline. Let's work together to write bipartisan +campaign finance reform into law and pass McCain-Feingold by the day we +celebrate the birth of our democracy, July the 4th. + +There is a third piece of unfinished business. Over the last four years we +moved a record two and a quarter million people off the welfare roles. Then +last year Congress enacted landmark welfare reform legislation demanding +that all able-bodied recipients assume the responsibility of moving from +welfare to work. Now each and every one of us has to fulfill our +responsibility, indeed our moral obligation, to make sure that people who +now must work can work. And now we must act to meet a new goal: two million +more people off the welfare rolls by the year 2000. + +Here is my plan: Tax credits and other incentives for businesses that hire +people off welfare; Incentives for job placement firms in states to create +more jobs for welfare recipients; Training, transportation and child care +to help people go to work. Now I challenge every state--turn those welfare +checks into private sector paychecks. I challenge every religious +congregation, every community nonprofit, every business to hire someone off +welfare. And I'd like to say especially to every employer in our country +who ever criticized the old welfare system, you can't blame that old system +anymore; we have torn it down. Now, do your part. Give someone on welfare +the chance to go to work. + +Tonight I am pleased to announce that five major corporations--Sprint, +Monsanto, UPS, Burger King and United Airlines--will be the first to join +in a new national effort to marshal America's businesses large and small to +create jobs so that people can move from welfare to work. + +We passed welfare reform. All of you know I believe we were right to do it. +But no one can walk out of this chamber with a clear conscience unless you +are prepared to finish the job. + +And we must join together to do something else, too, something both +Republican and Democratic governors have asked us to do: to restore basic +health and disability benefits when misfortune strikes immigrants who came +to this country legally, who work hard, pay taxes, and obey the law. To do +otherwise is simply unworthy of a great nation of immigrants. + +Now, looking ahead, the greatest step of all, the high threshold to the +future we must now cross, and my number one priority for the next four +years, is to ensure that all Americans have the best education in the +world. Thank you. + +Let's work together to meet these three goals: every eight-year-old must be +able to read, every 12-year-old must be able to log on to the Internet, +every 18-year-old must be able to go to college, and every adult American +must be able to keep on learning for a lifetime. + +My balanced budget makes an unprecedented commitment to these goals--$51 +billion next year--but far more than money is required. I have a plan, a +call to action for American education based on these 10 principles: + +First, a national crusade for education standards--not federal government +standards, but national standards, representing what all our students must +know to succeed in the knowledge economy of the 21st century. Every state +and school must shape the curriculum to reflect these standards and train +teachers to lift students up to them. To help schools meet the standards +and measure their progress, we will lead an effort over the next two years +to develop national tests of student achievement in reading and math. + +Tonight I issue a challenge to the nation. Every state should adopt high +national standards, and by 1999, every state should test every 4th grader +in reading and every 8th grader in math to make sure these standards are +met. + +Raising standards will not be easy, and some of our children will not be +able to meet them at first. The point is not to put our children down, but +to lift them up. Good tests will show us who needs help, what changes in +teaching to make, and which schools need to improve. They can help us end +social promotion, for no child should move from grade school to junior high +or junior high to high school until he or she is ready. + +Last month our secretary of education, Dick Riley, and I visited northern +Illinois, where 8th grade students from 20 school districts, in a project +aptly called First in the World, took the third International Math and +Science Study. + +That's a test that reflects the world-class standards our children must +meet for the new era. And those students in Illinois tied for first in the +world in science and came in second in math. Two of them, Kristen Tanner +and Chris Getsla, are here tonight along with their teacher, Sue Winski. +They're up there with the first lady, and they prove that when we aim high +and challenge our students, they will be the best in the world. Let's give +them a hand. Stand up, please. + +Second, to have the best schools, we must have the best teachers. Most of +us in this chamber would not be here tonight without the help of those +teachers. I know that I wouldn't be here. + +For years many of our educators, led by North Carolina's governor, Jim +Hunt, and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, have +worked very hard to establish nationally accepted credentials for +excellence in teaching. + +Just 500 of these teachers have been certified since 1995. My budget will +enable 100,000 more to seek national certification as master teachers. We +should reward and recognize our best teachers. And as we reward them, we +should quickly and fairly remove those few who don't measure up, and we +should challenge more of our finest young people to consider teaching as a +career. + +Third, we must do more to help all our children read. Forty percent--40 +percent--of our 8-year-olds cannot read on their own. That's why we have +just launched the America Reads initiative, to build a citizen army of one +million volunteer tutors to make sure every child can read independently by +the end of the 3rd grade. We will use thousands of AmeriCorps volunteers to +mobilize this citizen army. We want at least 100,000 college students to +help. + +And tonight I'm pleased that 60 college presidents have answered my call, +pledging that thousands of their work-study students will serve for one +year as reading tutors. + +This is also a challenge to every teacher and every principal. + +You must use these tutors to help your students read. And it is especially +a challenge to our parents. You must read with your children every night. + +This leads to the fourth principle: Learning begins in the first days of +life. Scientists are now discovering how young children develop emotionally +and intellectually from their very first days and how important it is for +parents to begin immediately talking, singing, even reading to their +infants. The first lady has spent years writing about this issue, studying +it. And she and I are going to convene a White House conference on early +learning and the brain this spring to explore how parents and educators can +best use these startling new findings. + +We already know we should start teaching children before they start school. +That's why this balanced budget expands Head Start to one million children +by 2002. And that is why the vice president and Mrs. Gore will host their +annual family conference this June on what we can do to make sure that +parents are an active part of their children's learning all the way through +school. + +They've done a great deal to highlight the importance of family in our +life, and now they're turning their attention to getting more parents +involved in their children's learning all the way through school. I thank +you, Mr. Vice President, and I thank you especially, Tipper, for what +you're doing. + +Fifth, every state should give parents the power to choose the right public +school for their children. Their right to choose will foster competition +and innovation that can make public schools better. We should also make it +possible for more parents and teachers to start charter schools, schools +that set and meet the highest standards and exist only as long as they do. + +Our plan will help America to create 3,000 of these charter schools by the +next century, nearly seven times as there are in the country today, so that +parents will have even more choices in sending their children to the best +schools. + +Sixth, character education must be taught in our schools. We must teach our +children to be good citizens. And we must continue to promote order and +discipline; supporting communities that introduce school uniforms, impose +curfews, enforce truancy laws, remove disruptive students from the +classroom, and have zero tolerance for guns and drugs in schools. + +Seventh, we cannot expect our children to raise themselves up in schools +that are literally falling down. With the student population at an all-time +high, and record numbers of school buildings falling into disrepair, this +has now become a serious national concern. Therefore, my budget includes a +new initiative: $5 billion to help communities finance $20 billion in +school construction over the next four years. + +Eighth, we must make the 13th and 14th years of education--at least two +years of college--just as universal in America by the 21st century as a +high school education is today, and we must open the doors of college to +all Americans. + +To do that, I propose America's Hope Scholarship, based on Georgia's +pioneering program--two years of a $1,500 tax credit for college tuition, +enough to pay for the typical community college. I also propose a tax +deduction of up to $10,000 a year for all tuition after high school, an +expanded IRA you can withdraw from tax free for education, and the largest +increase in Pell Grant scholarship in 20 years. + +Now this plan will give most families the ability to pay no taxes on money +they save for college tuition. I ask you to pass it and give every American +who works hard the chance to go to college. + +Ninth, in the 21st century we must expand the frontiers of learning across +a lifetime. All our people, of whatever age, must have the chance to learn +new skills. + +Most Americans live near a community college. The roads that take them +there can be paths to a better future. My GI bill for America's workers +will transform the confusing tangle of federal training programs into a +simple skill grant to go directly into eligible workers' hands. + +For too long this bill has been sitting on that desk there, without action. +I ask you to pass it now. Let's give more of our workers the ability to +learn and to earn for a lifetime. + +Tenth, we must bring the power of the Information Age into all our +schools. + +Last year I challenged America to connect every classroom and library to +the Internet by the year 2000, so that for the first time in our history, +children in the most isolated rural town, the most comfortable suburbs, the +poorest inner-city schools will have the same access to the same universe +of knowledge. + +That is my plan--a call to action for American education. Some may say +that it is unusual for a president to pay this kind of attention to +education. Some may say it is simply because the president and his +wonderful wife have been obsessed with this subject for more years than +they can recall. That is not what is driving these proposals. We must +understand the significance of this endeavor. + +One of the greatest sources of our strength throughout the Cold War was a +bipartisan foreign policy. Because our future was at stake, politics +stopped at the water's edge. Now I ask you, and I ask all our nation's +governors, I ask parents, teachers and citizens all across America, for a +new nonpartisan commitment to education, because education is a critical +national security issue for our future and politics must stop at the +schoolhouse door. + +To prepare America for the 21st century, we must harness the powerful +forces of science and technology to benefit all Americans. This is the +first State of the Union carried live in video over the Internet, but we've +only begun to spread the benefits of a technology revolution that should +become the modern birthright of every citizen. + +Our effort to connect every classroom is just the beginning. Now we should +connect every hospital to the Internet so that doctors can instantly share +data about their patients with the best specialists in the field. + +And I challenge the private sector tonight to start by connecting every +children's hospital as soon as possible so that a child in bed can stay in +touch with school, family and friends. A sick child need no longer be a +child alone. + +We must build the second generation of the Internet so that our leading +universities and national laboratories can communicate in speeds a thousand +times faster than today to develop new medical treatments, new sources of +energy, new ways of working together. But we cannot stop there. + +As the Internet becomes our new town square, a computer in every home: a +teacher of all subjects, a connection to all cultures. This will no longer +be a dream, but a necessity. And over the next decade, that must be our +goal. + +We must continue to explore the heavens, pressing on with the Mars probes +and the International Space Station, both of which will have practical +applications for our everyday living. + +We must speed the remarkable advances in medical science. The human genome +project is now decoding the genetic mysteries of life. American scientists +have discovered genes linked to breast cancer and ovarian cancer and +medication that stops a stroke in progress and begins to reverse its +effects, and treatments that dramatically lengthen the lives of people with +HIV and AIDS. + +Since I took office, funding for AIDS research at the National Institutes +of Health has increased dramatically to $1.5 billion. With new resources, +NIH will now become the most powerful discovery engine for an AIDS vaccine, +working with other scientists, to finally end the threat of AIDS. Thank +you. Remember that every year, every year we move up the discovery of an +AIDS vaccine we'll save millions of lives around the world. We must +reinforce our commitment to medical science. + +To prepare America for the 21st century we must build stronger families. +Over the past four years the Family and Medical Leave Law has helped +millions of Americans to take time off to be with their families. + +With new pressures on people and the way they work and live, I believe we +must expand family leave so that workers can take time off for teacher +conferences and a child's medical checkup. We should pass flex time so +workers can choose to be paid for overtime in income or trade it in for +time off to be with their families. + +We must continue--we must continue, step by step, to give more families +access to affordable quality health care. Forty million Americans still +lack health insurance. Ten million children still lack health insurance. +Eighty percent of them have working parents who pay taxes. That is wrong. + +My--my balanced budget will extend health coverage to up to 5 million of +those children. Since nearly half of all children who lose their insurance +do so because their parents lose or change a job, my budget will also +ensure that people who temporarily lose their jobs can still afford to keep +their health insurance. No child should be without a doctor just because a +parent is without a job. + +My Medicare plan modernizes Medicare, increases the life of the trust fund +to 10 years, provides support for respite care for the many families with +loved ones afflicted with Alzheimer's, and, for the first time, it would +fully pay for annual mammograms. + +Just as we ended drive-through deliveries of babies last year, we must now +end the dangerous and demeaning practice of forcing women home from the +hospital only hours after a mastectomy. + +I ask your support for bipartisan legislation to guarantee that a woman can +stay in the hospital for 48 hours after a mastectomy. With us tonight is +Dr. Kristen Zarfos, a Connecticut surgeon whose outrage at this practice +spurred a national movement and inspired this legislation. I'd like her to +stand so we can thank her for her efforts. Dr. Zarfos, thank you. + +In the last four years, we have increased child support collections by 50 +percent. Now we should go further and do better by making it a felony for +any parent to cross a state line in an attempt to flee from this, his or +her most sacred obligation. + +Finally, we must also protect our children by standing firm in our +determination to ban the advertising and marketing of cigarettes that +endanger their lives. + +To prepare America for the 21st century, we must build stronger +communities. We should start with safe streets. Serious crime has dropped +five years in a row. The key has been community policing. We must finish +the job of putting 100,000 community police on the streets of the United +States. + +We should pass the Victims' Rights Amendment to the Constitution, and I ask +you to mount a full-scale assault on juvenile crime, with legislation that +declares war on gangs with new prosecutors and tougher penalties, extends +the Brady bill so violent teen criminals will not be able to buy handguns, +requires child safety locks on handguns to prevent unauthorized use, and +helps to keep our schools open after hours, on weekends and in the summer +so our young people will have someplace to go and something to say yes to. + +This balanced budget includes the largest anti-drug effort ever--to stop +drugs at their source; punish those who push them; and teach our young +people that drugs are wrong, drugs are illegal, and drugs will kill them. I +hope you will support it. + +Our growing economy has helped to revive poor urban and rural +neighborhoods, but we must do more to empower them to create the conditions +in which all families can flourish and to create jobs through investment by +business and loans by banks. + +We should double the number of empowerment zones. They've already brought +so much hope to communities like Detroit, where the unemployment rate has +been cut in half in four years. We should restore contaminated urban land +and buildings to constructive use. We should expand the network of +community development banks. + +And together, we must pledge tonight that we will use this empowerment +approach, including private sector tax incentives, to renew our capital +city so that Washington is a great place to work and live--and once again +the proud face America shows the world! + +We must protect our environment in every community. In the last four years, +we cleaned up 250 toxic waste sites, as many as in the previous 12. Now we +should clean up 500 more so that our children grow up next to parks, not +poison. I urge to pass my proposal to make big polluters live by a simple +rule: If you pollute our environment, you should pay to clean it up. + +In the last four years, we strengthened our nation's safe food and clean +drinking water laws; we protected some of America's rarest, most beautiful +land in Utah's Red Rocks region; created three new national parks in the +California desert; and began to restore the Florida Everglades. + +Now we must be as vigilant with our rivers as we are with our lands. +Tonight I announce that this year I will designate 10 American Heritage +Rivers to help communities alongside them revitalize their waterfronts and +clean up pollution in the rivers, proving once again that we can grow the +economy as we protect the environment. + +We must also protect our global environment, working to ban the worst toxic +chemicals and to reduce the greenhouse gases that challenge our health even +as they change our climate. + +Now, we all know that in all of our communities some of our children simply +don't have what they need to grow and learn in their own homes or schools +or neighborhoods. And that means the rest of us must do more, for they are +our children, too. That's why President Bush, General Colin Powell, former +Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros will join the vice president and me to +lead the President's Summit of Service in Philadelphia in April. + +Our national service program, AmeriCorps, has already helped 70,000 young +people to work their way through college as they serve America. Now we +intend to mobilize millions of Americans to serve in thousands of ways. +Citizen service is an American responsibility which all Americans should +embrace. And I ask your support for that endeavor. + +I'd like to make just one last point about our national community. Our +economy is measured in numbers and statistics. And it's very important. But +the enduring worth of our nation lies in our shared values and our soaring +spirit. So instead of cutting back on our modest efforts to support the +arts and humanities I believe we should stand by them and challenge our +artists, musicians, and writers, challenge our museums, libraries, and +theaters. + +We should challenge all Americans in the arts and humanities to join with +their fellow citizens to make the year 2000 a national celebration of the +American spirit in every community, a celebration of our common culture in +the century that is past and in the new one to come in a new millennium so +that we can remain the world's beacon not only of liberty but of creativity +long after the fireworks have faded. + +To prepare America for the 21st century we must master the forces of change +in the world and keep American leadership strong and sure for an uncharted +time. + +Fifty years ago, a farsighted America led in creating the institutions that +secured victory in the Cold War and built a growing world economy. As a +result, today more people than ever embrace our ideals and share our +interests. Already we have dismantled many of the blocks and barriers that +divided our parents' world. For the first time, more people live under +democracy than dictatorship including every nation in our own hemisphere +but one, and its day, too, will come. + +Now we stand at another moment of change and choice, and another time to be +farsighted, to bring America 50 more years of security and prosperity. + +In this endeavor, our first task is to help to build for the very first +time an undivided, democratic Europe. When Europe is stable, prosperous, +and at peace, America is more secure. + +To that end, we must expand NATO by 1999, so that countries that were once +our adversaries can become our allies. At the special NATO summit this +summer, that is what we will begin to do. We must strengthen NATO's +Partnership for Peace with non-member allies. And we must build a stable +partnership between NATO and a democratic Russia. + +An expanded NATO is good for America, and a Europe in which all democracies +define their future not in terms of what they can do to each other, but in +terms of what they can do together for the good of all--that kind of +Europe is good for America. + +Second, America must look to the East no less than to the West. + +Our security demands it. Americans fought three wars in Asia in this +century. + +Our prosperity requires it. More than 2 million American jobs depend upon +trade with Asia. There, too, we are helping to shape an Asia Pacific +community of cooperation, not conflict. + +Let our--let our progress there not mask the peril that remains. Together +with South Korea, we must advance peace talks with North Korea and bridge +the Cold War's last divide. And I call on Congress to fund our share of the +agreement under which North Korea must continue to freeze and then +dismantle its nuclear weapons program. + +We must pursue a deeper dialogue with China for the sake of our interests +and our ideals. An isolated China is not good for America. A China playing +its proper role in the world is. I will go to China, and I have invited +China's president to come here, not because we agree on everything, but +because engaging China is the best way to work on our common challenges, +like ending nuclear testing, and to deal frankly with our fundamental +differences, like human rights. + +The American people must prosper in the global economy. We've worked hard +to tear down trade barriers abroad so that we can create good jobs at home. +I'm proud to say that today America is once again the most competitive +nation and the No. 1 exporter in the world. + +Now we must act to expand our exports, especially to Asia and Latin +America, two of the fastest-growing regions on earth, or be left behind as +these emerging economies forge new ties with other nations. That is why we +need the authority now to conclude new trade agreements that open markets +to our goods and services even as we preserve our values. + +We need not shrink from the challenge of the global economy. After all, we +have the best workers and the best products. In a truly open market, we can +out-compete anyone, anywhere on earth. + +But this is about more than economics. By expanding trade, we can advance +the cause of freedom and democracy around the world. There is no better +example of this truth than Latin America where democracy and open markets +are on the march together. That is why I will visit there in the spring to +reinforce our important ties. + +We should all be proud that America led the effort to rescue our neighbor, +Mexico, from its economic crisis. And we should all be proud that last +month Mexico repaid the United States, three full years ahead of schedule, +with half a billion dollar profit to us. + +America must continue to be an unrelenting force for peace. From the Middle +East to Haiti, from Northern Ireland to Africa, taking reasonable risks for +peace keeps us from being drawn into far more costly conflicts later. With +American leadership, the killing has stopped in Bosnia. Now the habits of +peace must take hold. + +The new NATO force will allow reconstruction and reconciliation to +accelerate. Tonight I ask Congress to continue its strong support of our +troops. They are doing a remarkable job there for America, and America must +do right by them. + +Fifth, we must move strongly against new threats to our security. In the +past four years, we agreed to ban--we led the way to a worldwide agreement +to ban nuclear testing. + +With Russia, we dramatically cut nuclear arsenals and we stopped targeting +each other's citizens. We are acting to prevent nuclear materials from +falling into the wrong hands, and to rid the world of land mines. + +We are working with other nations with renewed intensity to fight drug +traffickers and to stop terrorists before they act and hold them fully +accountable if they do. + +Now we must rise to a new test of leadership--ratifying the Chemical +Weapons Convention. Make no mistake about it, it will make our troops safer +from chemical attack. It will help us to fight terrorism. We have no more +important obligations, especially in the wake of what we now know about the +Gulf War. + +This treaty has been bipartisan from the beginning, supported by Republican +and Democratic administrations, and Republican and Democratic members of +Congress, and already approved by 68 nations. But if we do not act by April +the 29th, when this convention goes into force--with or without us--we +will lose the chance to have Americans leading and enforcing this effort. +Together we must make the Chemical Weapons Convention law so that at last +we can begin to outlaw poisoned gas from the earth. + +Finally, we must have the tools to meet all these challenges. We must +maintain a strong and ready military. We must increase funding for weapons +modernization by the year 2000. And we must take good care of our men and +women in uniform. They are the world's finest. + +We must also renew our commitment to America's diplomacy and pay our debts +and dues to international financial institutions like the World Bank--and +to a reforming United Nations. Every dollar--every dollar we devote to +preventing conflicts, to promoting democracy, to stopping the spread of +disease and starvation brings a sure return in security and savings. Yet +international affairs spending today is just 1 percent of the federal +budget, a small fraction of what America invested in diplomacy to choose +leadership over escapism at the start of the cold war. + +If America is to continue to lead the world, we here who lead America +simply must find the will to pay our way. A farsighted America moved the +world to a better place over these last 50 years. And so it can be for +another 50 years. But a shortsighted America will soon find its words +falling on deaf ears all around the world. + +Almost exactly 50 years ago in the first winter of the Cold War President +Truman stood before a Republican Congress and called upon our country to +meet its responsibilities of leadership. This was his warning. He said, "If +we falter, we may endanger the peace of the world, and we shall surely +endanger the welfare of this nation." + +That Congress, led by Republicans like Senator Arthur Vandenburg, answered +President Truman's call. Together, they made the commitments that +strengthened our country for 50 years. Now let us do the same. Let us do +what it takes to remain the indispensable nation, to keep America strong, +secure and prosperous for another 50 years. + +In the end, more than anything else, our world leadership grows out of the +power of our example here at home, out of our ability to remain strong as +one America. + +All over the world people are being torn asunder by racial, ethnic and +religious conflicts that fuel fanaticism and terror. We are the world's +most diverse democracy, and the world looks to us to show that it is +possible to live and advance together across those kinds of differences. +America has always been a nation of immigrants. + +From the start, a steady stream of people in search of freedom and +opportunity have left their own lands to make this land their home. We +started as an experiment in democracy fueled by Europeans. We have grown +into an experiment in democratic diversity fueled by openness and promise. + +My fellow Americans, we must never, ever believe that our diversity is a +weakness; it is our greatest strength. + +Americans speak every language, know every country. People on every +continent can look to us and see the reflection of their own great +potential, and they always will, as long as we strive to give all our +citizens, whatever their background, an opportunity to achieve their own +greatness. + +We're not there yet. We still see evidence of a biting bigotry and +intolerance in ugly words and awful violence, in burned churches and bombed +buildings. We must fight against this in our country and in our hearts. + +Just a few days before my second inauguration, one of our country's +best-known pastors, Reverend Robert Schuller, suggested that I read Isaiah +58:12. Here's what it says: "Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many +generations, and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, the +restorer of paths to dwell in." + +I placed my hand on that verse when I took the oath of office, on behalf of +all Americans, for no matter what our differences in our faiths, our +backgrounds, our politics, we must all be repairers of the breach. + +I want to say a word about two other Americans who show us how. Congressman +Frank Tejeda was buried yesterday, a proud American whose family came from +Mexico. He was only 51 years old. He was awarded the Silver Star, the +Bronze Star and the Purple Heart fighting for his country in Vietnam. And +he went on to serve Texas and America fighting for our future here in this +chamber. + +We are grateful for his service and honored that his mother, Lillie Tejeda, +and his sister, Mary Alice, have come from Texas to be with us here +tonight. And we welcome you. Thank you. + +Gary Locke, the newly-elected governor of Washington state, is the first +Chinese-American governor in the history of our country. He's the proud son +of two of the millions of Asian American immigrants who strengthened +America with their hard work, family values and good citizenship. + +He represents the future we can all achieve. Thank you, governor, for being +here. Please stand up. + +Reverend Schuller, Congressman Tejeda, Governor Locke, along with Kristen +Tanner and Chris Getsla, Sue Winski and Dr. Kristen Zarfos--they're all +Americans from different roots whose lives reflect the best of what we can +become when we are one America. + +We may not share a common past, but we surely do share a common future. +Building one America is our most important mission, the foundation for many +generations of every other strength we must build for this new century. +Money cannot buy it, power cannot compel it, technology cannot create it. +It can only come from the human spirit. + +America is far more than a place; it is an idea--the most powerful idea in +the history of nations, and all of us in this chamber, we are now the +bearers of that idea, leading a great people into a new world. + +A child born tonight will have almost no memory of the 20th century. +Everything that child will know about America will be because of what we do +now to build a new century. We don't have a moment to waste. + +Tomorrow there will be just over 1,000 days until the year 2000. One +thousand days to prepare our people. One thousand days to work together. +One thousand days to build a bridge to a land of new promise. + +My fellow Americans, we have work to do. Let us seize those days and the +century. + +Thank you. God bless you. And God bless America. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +William J. Clinton +January 27, 1998 + +Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of the 105th Congress, +distinguished guests, my fellow Americans: + +Since the last time we met in this chamber, America has lost two patriots +and fine public servants. Though they sat on opposite sides of the aisle, +Representatives Walter Capps and Sonny Bono shared a deep love for this +House and an unshakable commitment to improving the lives of all our +people. + +In the past few weeks, they have both been eulogized. Tonight, I think we +should begin by sending a message to their families and their friends that +we celebrate their lives, and give thanks for their service to our nation. + +For 209 years, it has been the president's duty to report to you on the +state of the union. Because of the hard work and high purpose of the +American people, these are good times for America. We have more than 14 +million new jobs, the lowest unemployment in 24 years, the lowest core +inflation in 30 years, incomes are rising and we have the highest home +ownership in history. Crime has dropped for a record five years in a row, +and the welfare rolls are at their lowest levels in 27 years. Our +leadership in the world is unrivaled. Ladies and gentlemen, the state of +our union is strong. + +But with barely 700 days left in the 20th century, this is not a time to +rest. It is a time to build--to build the America within reach, an America +where everybody has a chance to get ahead, with hard work; where every +citizen can live in a safe community; where families are strong, schools +are good, and all our young people can go on to college; an America where +scientists find cures for diseases from diabetes to Alzheimer's to AIDS; an +America where every child can stretch a hand across a keyboard and reach +every book ever written, every painting ever painted, every symphony ever +composed; where government provides opportunity and citizens honor the +responsibility to give something back to their communities; an America +which leads the world to new heights of peace and prosperity. + +This is the America we have begun to build. This is the America we can +leave to our children--if we join together to finish the work at hand. Let +us strengthen our nation for the 21st century. + +Rarely have Americans lived through so much change in so many ways in so +short a time. Quietly, but with gathering force, the ground has shifted +beneath our feet as we have moved into an information age, a global +economy, a truly new world. + +For five years now, we have met the challenge of these changes as Americans +have at every turning point in our history, by renewing the very idea of +America, widening the circle of opportunity, deepening the meaning of our +freedom, forging a more perfect union. We shaped a new kind of government +for the information age. I thank the vice president for his leadership, and +the Congress for its support, in building a government that is leaner, more +flexible, a catalyst for new ideas, and most of all, a government that +gives the American people the tools they need to make the most of their own +lives. + +We have moved past the sterile debate between those who say government is +the enemy and those who say government is the answer. My fellow Americans, +we have found a third way. We have the smallest government in 35 years, but +a more progressive one. We have a smaller government but a stronger +nation. + +We are moving steadily toward a an even stronger America in the 21st +century--an economy that offers opportunity, a society rooted in +responsibility, and a nation that lives as a community. + +First, Americans in this chamber and across this nation have pursued a new +strategy for prosperity: fiscal discipline to cut interest rates and spur +growth; investments in education and skills, in science and technology and +transportation, to prepare our people for the new economy; new markets for +American products and American workers. + +When I took office, the deficit for 1998 was projected to be $357 billion, +and heading higher. This year, our deficit is projected to be $10 billion, +and heading lower. + +For three decades, six presidents have come before you to warn of the +damage deficits pose to our nation. Tonight, I come before you to announce +that the federal deficit, once so incomprehensively large that it had 11 +zeros, will be simply zero. + +I will submit to Congress, for 1999, the first balanced budget in 30 +years. + +And if we hold fast to fiscal discipline, we may balance the budget this +year--four years ahead of schedule. + +You can all be proud of that, because turning a sea of red ink into black +is no miracle. It is the product of hard work by the American people, and +of two visionary actions in Congress: The courageous vote in 1993 that led +to a cut in the deficit of 90 percent and the truly historic bipartisan +balanced budget agreement passed by this Congress. + +Here's the really good news: If we maintain our resolve, we will produce +balanced budgets as far as the eye can see. + +We must not go back to unwise spending or untargeted tax cuts that risk +reopening the deficit. Last year, together, we enacted targeted tax cuts so +that the typical middle class family will now have the lowest tax rates in +20 years. + +My plan to balance the budget next year includes both new investments and +new tax cuts targeted to the needs of working families: for education, for +child care, for the environment. + +But whether the issue is tax cuts or spending, I ask all of you to meet +this test: approve only those priorities that can actually be accomplished +without adding a dime to the deficit. + +Now, if we balance the budget for next year, it is projected that we'll +then have a sizeable surplus in the years that immediately follow. What +should we do with this projected surplus? + +I have a simple four-word answer: Save Social Security first. + +Tonight, I propose that we reserve 100 percent of the surplus--that's +every penny of any surplus--until we have taken all the necessary measures +to strengthen the Social Security system for the 21st century. + +Let us say--let us say to all Americans watching tonight, whether you're +70 or 50, or whether you just started paying into the system, Social +Security will be there when you need it. Let us make this commitment: +Social Security first. Let's do that--together. + +I also want to say that all the American people who are watching us tonight +should be invited to join in this discussion, in facing these issues +squarely and forming a true consensus on how we should proceed. We'll start +by conducting nonpartisan forums in every region of the country, and I hope +that lawmakers of both parties will participate. We'll hold a White House +conference on Social Security in December. And one year from now, I will +convene the leaders of Congress to craft historic bipartisan legislation to +achieve a landmark for our generation, a Social Security system that is +strong in the 21st century. + +In an economy that honors opportunity, all Americans must be able to reap +the rewards of prosperity. Because these times are good, we can afford to +take one simple, sensible step to help millions of workers struggling to +provide for their families. We should raise the minimum wage. + +The information age is first and foremost an education age, in which +education will start at birth and continue throughout a lifetime. Last +year, from this podium, I said that education has to be our highest +priority. I laid out a 10-point plan to move us forward, and urged all of +us to let politics stop at the schoolhouse door. + +Since then, this Congress--across party lines--and the American people +have responded, in the most important year for education in a generation-- +expanding public school choice, opening the way to 3,000 charter schools, +working to connect every classroom in the country to the information +superhighway, committing to expand Head Start to a million children, +launching America Reads, sending literally thousands of college students +into our elementary schools to make sure all our 8-year-olds can read. + +Last year I proposed--and you passed--220,000 new Pell Grant scholarships +for deserving students. Student loans, already less expensive and easier to +repay--now you get to deduct the interest. Families all over America now can +put their savings into new, tax-free education IRAs. + +And this year, for the first two years of college, families will get a +$1500 tax credit--a Hope Scholarship that will cover the cost of most +community college tuition. And for junior and senior year, graduate school, +and job training, there is a lifetime learning credit. You did that, and +you should be very proud of it. + +And because of these actions, I have something to say to every family +listening to us tonight: your children can go on to college. If you know a +child from a poor family, tell her not to give up, she can go on to +college. If you know a young couple struggling with bills, worried they +won't be able to send their children to college, tell them not to give up, +their children can go on to college. If you know somebody who's caught in a +dead-end job and afraid he can't afford the classes necessary to get better +jobs for the rest of his life, tell him not to give up, he can go on to +college. + +Because of the things that have been done, we can make college as universal +in the 21st century as high school is today. And, my friends, that will +change the face and future of America. + +We have opened wide the doors of the world's best system of higher +education. Now we must make our public elementary and secondary schools the +world's best as well--by raising standards, raising expectations and raising +accountability. + +Thanks to the actions of this Congress last year, we will soon have, for +the very first time, a voluntary national test based on national standards +in fourth grade reading and eighth grade math. + +Parents have a right to know whether their children are mastering the +basics. And every parent already knows the key; good teachers and small +classes. + +Tonight, I propose the first ever national effort to reduce class size in +the early grades. My balanced budget will help to hire a hundred thousand +new teachers who have passed the state competency tests. Now with these +teachers--listen--with these teachers, we will actually be able to reduce +class size in the first, second and third grades to an average of 18 +students a class all across America. + +Now, if I've got the math right, more teachers teaching smaller classes +requires more classrooms. So I also propose a school construction tax cut +to help communities modernize or build 5,000 schools. + +We must also demand greater accountability. When we promote a child from +grade to grade who hasn't mastered the work, we don't do that child any +favors. It is time to end social promotion in America's schools. + +Last year, in Chicago, they made that decision--not to hold our children +back, but to lift them up. Chicago stopped social promotion and started +mandatory summer school to help students who are behind to catch up. + +I propose to help other communities follow Chicago's lead. Let's say to +them stop promoting children who don't learn, and we will give you the +tools to make sure they do. + +I also ask this Congress to support our efforts to enlist colleges and +universities to reach out to disadvantaged children starting in the sixth +grade so that they can get the guidance and hope they need so they can know +that they, too, will be able to go on to college. + +As we enter the 21st century, the global economy requires us to seek +opportunity not just at home, but in all the markets of the world. We must +shape this global economy, not shrink from it. + +In the last five years, we have led the way in opening new markets, with +240 trade agreements that remove foreign barriers to products bearing the +proud stamp, "Made in the USA." Today, record high exports account for +fully one-third of our economic growth. I want to keep them going, because +that's the way to keep America growing and to advance a safer, more stable +world. + +Now, all of you know, whatever your views are, that I think this is a great +opportunity for America. I know there is opposition to more comprehensive +trade agreements. I have listened carefully, and I believe that the +opposition is rooted in two fears: first, that our trading partners will +have lower environmental and labor standards, which will give them an +unfair advantage in our market and do their own people no favors, even if +there's more business; and second, that if we have more trade, more of our +workers will lose their jobs and have to start over. + +I think we should seek to advance worker and environmental standards around +the world. It should--I have made it abundantly clear that it should be a +part of our trade agenda, but we cannot influence other countries' +decisions if we send them a message that we're backing away from trade with +them. + +This year I will send legislation to Congress, and ask other nations to +join us, to fight the most intolerable labor practice of all-abusive child +labor. + +We should also offer help and hope to those Americans temporarily left +behind with the global marketplace or by the march of technology, which may +have nothing to do with trade. That's why we have more than doubled funding +for training dislocated workers since 1993. And if my new budget is +adopted, we will triple funding. That's why we must do more, and more +quickly, to help workers who lose their jobs for whatever reason. + +You know, we help communities in a special way when their military base +closes. We ought to help them in the same way if their factory closes. +Again, I ask the Congress to continue its bipartisan work to consolidate +the tangle of training programs we have today into one single GI Bill for +Workers, a simple skills grant so people can, on their own, move quickly to +new jobs, to higher incomes and brighter futures. + +Now, we all know in every way in life change is not always easy, but we +have to decide whether we're going to try to hold it back and hide from it, +or reap its benefits. And remember the big picture here: while we've been +entering into hundreds of new trade agreements, we've been creating +millions of new jobs. So this year we will forge new partnerships with +Latin America, Asia and Europe, and we should pass the new African Trade +Act. It has bipartisan support. + +I will also renew my request for the fast-track negotiating authority +necessary to open more new markets, created more new jobs, which every +president has had for two decades. + +You know, whether we like it or not, in ways that are mostly positive, the +world's economies are more and more interconnected and interdependent. +Today, an economic crisis anywhere can affect economies everywhere. Recent +months have brought serious financial problems to Thailand, Indonesia, +South Korea and beyond. + +Now why should Americans be concerned about this? + +First, these countries are our customers. If they sink into recession, they +won't be able to buy the goods we'd like to sell them. + +Second, they're also our competitors, so if their currencies lose their +value and go down, then the price of their goods will drop, flooding our +market and others with much cheaper goods, which makes it a lot tougher for +our people to compete. + +And finally, they are our strategic partners. Their stability bolsters our +security. + +The American economy remains sound and strong, and I want to keep it that +way. But because the turmoil in Asia will have an impact on all the world's +economies, including ours, making that negative impact as small as possible +is the right thing to do for America, and the right thing to do for a safer +world. + +Our policy is clear: no nation can recover if it does not reform itself, +but when nations are willing to undertake serious economic reform, we +should help them do it. So I call on Congress to renew America's commitment +to the International Monetary Fund. + +And I think we should say to all the people we're trying to represent here, +that preparing for a far off storm that may reach our shores is far wiser +than ignoring the thunder 'til the clouds are just overhead. + +A strong nation rests on the rock of responsibility. A society rooted in +responsibility must first promote the value of work, not welfare. We could +be proud that after decades of finger-pointing and failure, together we +ended the old welfare system. And we're now replacing welfare checks with +paychecks. + +Last year, after a record four-year decline in welfare rolls I challenged +our nation to move two million more Americans off welfare by the year 2000. +I'm pleased to report we have also met that goal two full years ahead of +schedule. + +This is a grand achievement, the sum of many acts of individual courage, +persistence and hope. + +For 13 years, Elaine Kinslow of Indianapolis, Indiana was on and off +welfare. Today she's a dispatcher with a van company. She's saved enough +money to move her family into a good neighborhood. And she's helping other +welfare recipients go to work. + +Elaine Kinslow and all those like her are the real heroes of the welfare +revolution. There are millions like her all across America, and I am happy +she could join the first lady tonight. Elaine, we're very proud of you. +Please stand up. + +We still have a lot more to do, all of us, to make welfare reform a +success; providing child care, helping families move closer to available +jobs, challenging more companies to join our Welfare to Work Partnership, +increasing child-support collections from deadbeat parents who have a duty +to support their own children. I also want to thank Congress for restoring +some of the benefits to immigrants who are here legally and working hard. +And I hope you will finish that job this year. + +We have to make it possible for all hard-working families to meet their +most important responsibilities. Two years ago, we helped guarantee that +Americans can keep their health insurance when they changed jobs. Last +year, we extended health care to up to 5 million children. This year, I +challenge Congress to take the next historic steps. A hundred and sixty +million of our fellow citizens are in managed care plans. These plans save +money, and they can improve care. But medical decisions ought to be made by +medical doctors, not insurance company accountants. + +I urge this Congress to reach across the aisle and write into law a +consumer bill of rights that says this: You have the right to know all your +medical options, not just the cheapest. You have the right to choose the +doctor you want for the care you need. You have the right to emergency room +care wherever and whenever you need it. You have the right to keep your +medical records confidential. + +Now, traditional care or managed care, every American deserves quality +care. Millions of Americans between the ages of 55 and 65 have lost their +health insurance. Some are retired. Some are laid off. Some lose their +coverage when their spouses retire. After a lifetime of work, they're left +with nowhere to turn. + +So I ask the Congress, let these hard-working Americans buy into the +Medicare system. It won't add a dime to the deficit, but the peace of mind +it will provide will be priceless. + +Next, we must help parents protect their children from the gravest health +threat that they face: an epidemic of teen smoking spread by multimillion +dollar marketing campaigns. I challenge Congress. Let's pass bipartisan, +comprehensive legislation that will improve public health, protect our +tobacco farmers, and change the way tobacco companies do business forever. + +Let's do what it takes to bring teen smoking down. Let's raise the price of +cigarettes by up to $1.50 a pack over the next 10 years, with penalties on +the tobacco industry if it keeps marketing to our children. + +Now tomorrow, like every day, 3,000 children will start smoking, and a +thousand will die early as a result. Let this Congress be remembered as the +Congress that saved their lives. + +In the new economy, most parents work harder than ever. They face a +constant struggle to balance their obligations to be good workers, and +their even more important obligations to be good parents. + +The Family and Medical Leave Act was the very first bill I was privileged +to sign into law as president in 1993. Since then, about 15 million people +have taken advantage of it, and I've met a lot of them all across this +country. I ask you to extend the law to cover 10 million more workers, and +to give parents time off when they have to go see their children's teachers +or take them to the doctor. + +Child care is the next frontier we must face to enable people to succeed at +home and at work. Last year, I co-hosted the very first White House +conference on child care with one of our foremost experts, America's first +lady. From all corners of America, we heard the same message--without regard +to region or income or political affiliation--we've got to raise the quality +of child care, we've got to make it safer, we've got to make it more +affordable. + +So here's my plan: Help families to pay for child care for a million more +children; scholarships and background checks for child-care workers, and a +new emphasis on early learning; tax credits for businesses that provide +child care for their employees; and a larger child-care tax credit for +working families. + +Now, if you pass my plan, what this means is that a family of four with an +income of $35,000 and high child-care costs will no longer pay a single +penny of federal income tax. + +You know, I think this is such a big issue with me because of my own +personal experience. I have often wondered how my mother, when she was a +young widow, would have been able to go away to school and get an education +and come back and support me, if my grandparents hadn't been able to take +care of me. She and I were really very lucky. + +How many other families have never had that same opportunity? The truth is, +we don't know the answer to that question, but we do know what the answer +should be. Not a single American family should ever have to choose between +the job they need and the child they love. + +A society rooted in responsibility must provide safe streets, safe schools, +and safe neighborhoods. We pursued a strategy of more police, tougher +punishment, smarter prevention with crime-fighting partnerships, with local +law enforcement and citizen groups, where the rubber hits the road. + +I can report to you tonight that it's working. Violent crime is down, +robbery is down, assault is down, burglary is down for five years in a row +all across America. Now, we need to finish the job of putting 100,000 more +police on our streets. + +Again, I ask Congress to pass a juvenile crime bill that provides more +prosecutors and probation officers to crack down on gangs and guns and +drugs and bar violent juveniles from buying guns for life. And I ask you to +dramatically expand our support for after-school programs. I think every +American should know that most juvenile crime is committed between the +hours of 3:00 in the afternoon and 8:00 at night. We can keep so many of +our children out of trouble in the first place if we give them some place +to go other than the streets, and we ought to do it. + +Drug use is on the decline. I thank General McCaffrey for his leadership, +and I thank this Congress for passing the largest anti-drug budget in +history. Now I ask you to join me in a ground-breaking effort to hire a +thousand new Border Patrol agents and to deploy the most sophisticated +available new technologies to help close the door on drugs at our borders. + +Police, prosecutors, and prevention programs, good as they are, they can't +work if our court system doesn't work. Today, there are large numbers of +vacancies in our federal courts. Here is what the chief justice of the +United States wrote: "Judicial vacancies cannot remain at such high levels +indefinitely without eroding the quality of justice." + +I simply ask the United States Senate to heed this plea and vote on the +highly qualified nominees before you, up or down. + +We must exercise responsibility not just at home but around the world. On +the eve of a new century, we have the power and the duty to build a new era +of peace and security. But make no mistake about it; today's possibilities +are not tomorrow's guarantees. America must stand against the poisoned +appeals of extreme nationalism. We must combat an unholy access of new +threats from terrorists, international criminals and drug traffickers. + +These 21st century predators feed on technology and the free flow of +information and ideas and people, and they will be all the more lethal if +weapons of mass destruction fall into their hands. To meet these +challenges, we are helping to write international rules of the road for the +21st century, protecting those who join the family of nations and isolating +those who do not. + +Within days, I will ask the Senate for its advice and consent to make +Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic the newest members of NATO. For 50 +years, NATO contained communism and kept America and Europe secure. Now +these three formerly communist countries have said yes to democracy. I ask +the Senate to say yes to them, our new allies. + +By taking in new members and working closely with new partners, including +Russia and Ukraine, NATO can help to assure that Europe is a stronghold for +peace in the 21st century. + +Next, I will ask Congress to continue its support for our troops and their +mission in Bosnia. This Christmas, Hillary and I traveled to Sarajevo with +Senator and Mrs. Dole and a bipartisan congressional delegation. We saw +children playing in the streets where, two years ago, they were hiding from +snipers and shells. The shops were filled with food. The cafes were alive +with conversation. The progress there is unmistakable; but it is not yet +irreversible. + +To take firm root, Bosnia's fragile peace still needs the support of +American and allied troops when the current NATO mission ends in June. I +think Senator Dole actually said it best. He said: "This is like being +ahead in the fourth quarter of a football game; now is not the time to walk +off the field and forfeit the victory." + +I wish all of you could have seen our troops in Tuzla. They're very proud +of what they are doing in Bosnia, and we're all very proud of them. One of +those--one of those brave soldiers is sitting with the first lady tonight: +Army Sergeant Michael Tolbert. His father was a decorated Vietnam vet. +After college in Colorado, he joined the Army. Last year he led an infantry +unit that stopped a mob of extremists from taking over a radio station that +is a voice of democracy and tolerance in Bosnia. Thank you very much, +Sergeant, for what you represent. + +In Bosnia and around the world, our men and women in uniform always do +their mission well. Our mission must be to keep them well-trained and +ready, to improve their quality of life, and to provide the 21st century +weapons they need to defeat any enemy. + +I ask Congress to join me in pursuing an ambitious agenda to reduce the +serious threat of weapons of mass destruction. This year, four decades +after it was first proposed by President Eisenhower, a Comprehensive +Nuclear Test Ban is within reach. By ending nuclear testing, we can help to +prevent the development of new and more dangerous weapons, and make it more +difficult for non-nuclear states to build them. + +I am pleased to announce that four former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of +Staff--Generals John Shalikashvili, Colin Powell and David Jones, and +Admiral William Crowe--have endorsed this treaty, and I ask the Senate to +approve it this year. + +Together we must also confront the new hazards of chemical and biological +weapons, and the outlaw states, terrorists and organized criminals seeking +to acquire them. + +Saddam Hussein has spent the better part of this decade, and much of his +nation's wealth, not on providing for the Iraqi people, but on developing +nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the missiles to deliver them. + +The United Nations weapons inspectors have done a truly remarkable job, +finding and destroying more of Iraq's arsenal than was destroyed during the +entire gulf war. Now, Saddam Hussein wants to stop them from completing +their mission. + +I know I speak for everyone in this chamber, Republicans and Democrats, +when I say to Saddam Hussein, "You cannot defy the will of the world," and +when I say to him, "You have used weapons of mass destruction before; we +are determined to deny you the capacity to use them again." + +Last year, the Senate ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention to protect +our soldiers and citizens from poison gas. Now we must act to prevent the +use of disease as a weapon of war and terror. The Biological Weapons +Convention has been in effect for 23 years now. The rules are good, but the +enforcement is weak. We must strengthen it with a new international +inspection system to detect and deter cheating. In the months ahead, I will +pursue our security strategy with old allies in Asia and Europe, and new +partners from Africa to India and Pakistan, from South America to China. +And from Belfast to Korea to the Middle East, America will continue to +stand with those who stand for peace. + +Finally, it's long past time to make good on our debt to the United +Nations. + +More and more we are working with other nations to achieve common goals. If +we want America to lead, we've got to set a good example. As we see--as we +see so clearly in Bosnia, allies who share our goals can also share our +burdens. In this new era, our freedom and independence are actually +enriched, not weakened, by our increasing interdependence with other +nations. But we have to do our part. + +Our founders set America on a permanent course toward a more perfect union. +To all of you, I say, it is a journey we can only make together, living as +one community. + +First, we have to continue to reform our government, the instrument of our +national community. Everyone knows elections have become too expensive, +fueling a fund-raising arms race. + +This year, by March the 6th, at long last the Senate will actually vote on +bipartisan campaign finance reform proposed by senators McCain and +Feingold. Let's be clear; a vote against McCain-Feingold is a vote for soft +money and for the status quo. I ask you to strengthen our democracy and +pass campaign finance reform this year. + +But at least equally important, we have to address the real reason for the +explosion in campaign costs: the high cost of media advertising. I will-- +for the folks watching at home, those were the groans of pain in the +audience--I will formally request that the Federal Communications +Commission act to provide free or reduced-cost television time--for +candidates who observe spending limits voluntarily. The airwaves are a +public trust, and broadcasters also have to help us in this effort to +strengthen our democracy. + +Under the leadership of Vice President Gore, we have reduced the federal +payroll by 300,000 workers, cut 16,000 pages of regulation, eliminated +hundreds of programs and improved the operations of virtually every +government agency. But we can do more. + +Like every taxpayer, I'm outraged by the reports of abuses by the IRS. We +need some changes there: new citizen advocacy panels, a stronger taxpayer +advocate, phone lines open 24 hours a day, relief for innocent taxpayers. + +Last year, by an overwhelming bipartisan margin, the House of +Representatives passed sweeping IRS reforms. This bill must not now +languish in the Senate. Tonight, I ask the Senate: Follow the House; pass +the bipartisan package as your first order of business. I hope to goodness +before I finish I can think of something to say 'Follow the Senate' on so +I'll be out of trouble! + +A nation that lives as a community must value all its communities. For the +past five years, we have worked to bring the spark of private enterprise to +inner city and poor rural areas with community development banks, more +commercial loans into poor neighborhoods, cleanup of polluted sites for +development. + +Under the continued leadership of the vice president, we propose to triple +the number of empowerment zones to give business incentives to invest in +those areas. We should. We should also give poor families more help to move +into homes of their own, and we should use tax cuts to spur the +construction of more low-income housing. + +Last year, this Congress took strong action to help the District of +Columbia. Let us renew our resolve to make our capital city a great city +for all who live and visit here. + +Our cities are the vibrant hubs of great metropolitan areas. They are still +the gateway for new immigrants from every continent who come here to work +for their own American dreams. Let's keep our cities going strong into the +21st Century. They're a very important part of our future. + +Our communities are only as healthy as the air our children breathe, the +water they drink, the Earth they will inherit. Last year we put in place +the toughest-ever controls on smog and soot. We moved to protect +Yellowstone, the Everglades, Lake Tahoe. We expanded every community's +right to know about toxics that threaten their children. + +Just yesterday, our food safety plan took effect, using new science to +protect consumers from dangers like e. coli and salmonella. + +Tonight, I ask you to join me in launching a new Clean Water initiative, a +far-reaching effort to clean our rivers, our lakes and our coastal waters +for our children. + +Our overriding environmental challenge tonight is the worldwide problem of +climate change, global warming, the gathering crisis that requires +worldwide action. The vast majority of scientists have concluded +unequivocally that if we don't reduce the emission of greenhouse gases at +some point in the next century, we'll disrupt our climate and put our +children and grandchildren at risk. + +This past December, America led the world to reach a historic agreement +committing our nation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through market +forces, new technologies, energy efficiency. + +We have it in our power to act right here, right now. I propose $6 billion +in tax cuts, in research and development, to encourage innovation, +renewable energy, fuel-efficient cars, energy-efficient homes. Every time +we have acted to heal our environment, pessimists have told us it would +hurt the economy. Well, today our economy is the strongest in a generation, +and our environment is the cleanest in a generation. We have always found a +way to clean the environment and grow the economy at the same time. And +when it comes to global warming, we'll do it again. + +Finally, community means living by the defining American value, the ideal +heard 'round the world: that we're all created equal. Throughout our +history, we haven't always honored that ideal, and we've never fully lived +up to it. Often it's easier to believe that our differences matter more +than what we have in common. It may be easier, but it's wrong. + +What we have to do in our day and generation to make sure that America +truly becomes one nation, what do we have to do? We're becoming more and +more and more diverse. Do you believe we can become one nation? The answer +cannot be to dwell on our differences, but to build on our shared values. + +And we all cherish family and faith, freedom and responsibility. We all +want our children to grow up in the world where their talents are matched +by their opportunities. + +I've launched this national initiative on race to help us recognize our +common interests and to bridge the opportunity gaps that are keeping us +from becoming one America. Let us begin by recognizing what we still must +overcome. + +Discrimination against any American is un-American. We must vigorously +enforce the laws that make it illegal. I ask your help to end the backlog +at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Sixty thousand of our +fellow citizens are waiting in line for justice, and we should act now to +end their wait. + +We should also recognize that the greatest progress we can make toward +building one America lies in the progress we make for all Americans, +without regard to race. When we open the doors of college to all Americans, +when we rid all our streets of crime, when there are jobs available to +people from all our neighborhoods, when we make sure all parents have the +child care they need, we're helping to build one nation. + +We in this chamber and in this government must do all we can to address the +continuing American challenge to build one America. But we'll only move +forward if all our fellow citizens, including every one of you at home +watching tonight, is also committed to this cause. + +We must work together, learn together, live together, serve together. On +the forge of common enterprise, Americans of all backgrounds can hammer out +a common identity. + +We see it today in the United States military, in the Peace Corps, in +AmeriCorps. Wherever people of all races and backgrounds come together in a +shared endeavor and get a fair chance, we do just fine. With shared values +and meaningful opportunities and honest communications and citizen service, +we can unite a diverse people in freedom and mutual respect. We are many. +We must be one. + +In that spirit, let us lift our eyes to the new millennium. How will we +mark that passage? It just happens once every thousand years. This year, +Hillary and I launched the White House Millennium Program to promote +America's creativity and innovation and to preserve our heritage and +culture into the 21st century. Our culture lives in every community, and +every community has places of historic value that tell our stories as +Americans. We should protect them. + +I am proposing a public-private partnership to advance our arts and +humanities and to celebrate the millennium by saving America's treasures +great and small. And while we honor the past, let us imagine the future. + +Now, think about this. The entire store of human knowledge now doubles +every five years. In the 1980s, scientists identified the gene causing +cystic fibrosis; it took nine years. Last year, scientists located the gene +that causes Parkinson's disease--in only nine days! Within a decade, gene +chips will offer a road map for prevention of illnesses throughout a +lifetime. Soon, we'll be able to carry all the phone calls on Mother's Day +on a single strand of fiber the width of a human hair. A child born in 1998 +may well live to see the 22nd century. + +Tonight, as part of our gift to the millennium, I propose a 21st Century +research fund for pathbreaking scientific inquiry, the largest funding +increase in history for the National Institutes of Health, the National +Science Foundation, and the National Cancer Institute. We have already +discovered we have already discovered genes for breast cancer and diabetes. +I ask you to support this initiative so ours will be the generation that +finally wins the war against cancer and begins a revolution in our fight +against all deadly diseases. + +As important as all this scientific progress is, we must continue to see +that science serves humanity, not the other way around. We must prevent the +misuse of genetic tests to discriminate against any American, and we must +ratify the ethical consensus of the scientific and religious communities, +and ban the cloning of human beings. + +We should enable all the world's people to explore the far reaches of +cyberspace. Think of this: the first time I made a State of the Union +speech to you, only a handful of physicists used the World Wide Web-- +literally just a handful of people. + +Now in schools and libraries, homes and businesses, millions and millions +of Americans surf the Net every day. + +We must give parents the tools they need to help protect their children +from inappropriate material on the Net, but we also must make sure that we +protect the exploding, global commercial potential of the Internet. We can +do the kinds of things that we need to do and still protect our kids. For +one thing, I ask Congress to step up support for building the next +generation Internet. It's getting kind of clogged, you know. And the next +generation Internet will operate at speeds up to a thousand times faster +than today. + +Even as we explore this inner space, in the new millennium we're going to +open new frontiers in outer space. + +Throughout all history, human kind has had only one place to call home: our +planet Earth. Beginning this year, 1998, men and women from 16 countries +will build a foothold in the heavens--the International Space Station. With +its vast expanses, scientists and engineers will actually set sail on an +uncharted sea of limitless mystery and unlimited potential. + +And this October, a true American hero, a veteran pilot of 149 combat +missions and one five-hour space flight that changed the world, will return +to the heavens. Godspeed, John Glenn! + +John, you will carry with you America's hopes, and on your uniform once +again you will carry America's flag, marking the unbroken connection +between the deeds of America's past and the daring of America's future. + +Nearly 200 years ago, a tattered flag, its broad stripes and bright stars +still gleaming through the smoke of a fierce battle, moved Francis Scott +Key to scribble a few words on the back of an envelope, the words that +became our National Anthem. Today, that Star-Spangled Banner, along with +the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, +are on display just a short walk from here. They are America's treasures. +And we must also save them for the ages. + +I ask all Americans to support our project to restore all our treasures so +that the generations of the 21st century can see for themselves the images +and the words that are the old and continuing glory of America, an America +that has continued to rise through every age against every challenge, a +people of great works and greater possibilities, who have always, always +found the wisdom and strength to come together as one nation, to widen the +circle of opportunity, to deepen the meaning of our freedom, to form that +more perfect union. + +Let that be our gift to the 21st century. + +God bless you, and God bless the United States. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +William J. Clinton +January 19, 1999 + +Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, honored guests, my +fellow Americans: + +Tonight I have the honor of reporting to you on the State of the Union. + +Let me begin by saluting the new speaker of the House and thanking him +especially tonight for extending an invitation to two guests sitting in the +gallery with Mrs. Hastert. Lyn Gibson and Wei Ling Chestnut are the widows +of the two brave Capitol Hill police officers who gave their lives to +defend freedom's house. + +Mr. Speaker, at your swearing in you asked us all to work together in a +spirit of civility and bipartisanship. Mr. Speaker, let's do exactly that. + +Tonight, I stand before you to report that America has created the longest +peacetime economic expansion in our history. With nearly 18 million new +jobs, wages rising at more than twice the rate of inflation, the highest +homeownership in history, the smallest welfare roles in 30 years, and the +lowest peacetime unemployment since 1957. + +For the first time in three decades, the budget is balanced. From a deficit +of $290 billion in 1992, we had a surplus of $70 billion last year. And +now, we are on course for budget surpluses for the next 25 years. + +Thanks to the pioneering leadership of all of you, we have the lowest +violent crime rate in a quarter century and the cleanest environment in a +quarter century. + +America is a strong force for peace--from Northern Ireland to Bosnia to +the Middle East. + +Thanks to the leadership of Vice President Gore, we have a government for +the Information Age, once again a government that is a progressive +instrument of the common good, rooted in our oldest values of opportunity, +responsibility and community, devoted to fiscal responsibility, determined +to give our people the tools they need to make the most of their own lives +in the 21st century, a 21st century government for 21st century America. + +My fellow Americans, I stand before you tonight to report that the state of +our union is strong. Now, America is working again. The promise of our +future is limitless. But we cannot realize that promise if we allow the hum +of our prosperity to lull us into complacency. How we fare as a nation far +into the 21st century depends upon what we do as a nation today. + +So, with our budget surplus growing, our economy expanding, our confidence +rising, now is the moment for this generation to meet our historic +responsibility to the 21st century. + +Our fiscal discipline gives us an unsurpassed opportunity to address a +remarkable new challenge, the aging of America. With the number of elderly +Americans set to double by 2030, the baby boom will become a senior boom. + +So first and above all, we must save Social Security for the 21st century. + +Early in this century, being old meant being poor. When President Roosevelt +created Social Security, thousands wrote to thank him for eliminating what +one woman called "the stark terror of penniless, helpless old age." Even +today, without Social Security, half our nation's elderly would be forced +into poverty. + +Today, Social Security is strong, but by 2013, payroll taxes will no longer +be sufficient to cover monthly payments. By 2032, the trust fund will be +exhausted and Social Security will be unable to pay the full benefits older +Americans have been promised. + +The best way to keep Social Security a rock solid guarantee is not to make +drastic cuts in benefits; not to raise payroll tax rates; not to drain +resources from Social Security in the name of saving it. Instead, I propose +that we make the historic decision to invest the surplus to save Social +Security. + +Specifically, I propose that we commit 60 percent of the budget surplus for +the next 15 years to Social Security, investing a small portion in the +private sector just as any private or state government pension would do. +This will earn a higher return and keep Social Security sound for 55 +years. + +But we must aim higher. We should put Social Security on a sound footing +for the next 75 years. We should reduce poverty among elderly women, who +are nearly twice as likely to be poor as are other seniors. And we should +eliminate the limits on what seniors on Social Security can earn. + +Now, these changes will require difficult, but fully achievable choices +over and above the dedication of the surplus. They must be made on a +bipartisan basis. They should be made this year. So let me say to you +tonight, I reach out my hand to all of you in both houses in both parties +and ask that we join together in saying to the American people, we will +save Social Security now. + +Now, last year, we wisely reserved all of the surplus until we knew what it +would take to save Social Security. Again, I say, we shouldn't spend any of +it, not any of it, until after Social Security is truly saved. First +thing's first. + +Second, once we have saved Social Security, we must fulfill our obligation +to save and improve Medicare. Already we have extended the life of the +Medicare trust fund by 10 years, but we should extend it for at least +another decade. Tonight, I propose that we use one out of every six dollars +in the surplus for the next 15 years to guarantee the soundness of Medicare +until the year 2020. + +But, again--but, again, we should aim higher. We must be willing to work +in a bipartisan way and look at new ideas, including the upcoming report of +the Bipartisan Medicare Commission. If we work together, we can secure +Medicare for the next two decades and cover the greatest growing need of +seniors--affordable prescription drugs. + +Third, we must help all Americans from their first day on the job to save, +to invest, to create wealth. + +From its beginnings, Americans have supplemented Social Security with +private pensions and savings. Yet today millions of people retire with +little to live on other than Social Security. Americans living longer than +ever simply must save more than ever. + +Therefore, in addition to saving Social Security and Medicare, I propose a +new pension initiative for retirement security in the 21st century. I +propose that we use a little over 11 percent of the surplus to establish +universal savings accounts--USA accounts--to give all Americans the means +to save. + +With these new accounts, Americans can invest as they choose and receive +funds to match a portion of their savings with extra help for those least +able to save. USA accounts will help all Americans to share in our nation's +wealth and to enjoy a more secure retirement. I ask you to support them. + +Fourth, we must invest in long-term care. + +I propose a tax credit of $1,000 for the aged, ailing or disabled and the +families who care for them. Long-term care will become a bigger and bigger +challenge with the aging of America--and we must do more to help our +families deal with it. + +I was born in 1946, the first year of the baby boom. I can tell you that +one of the greatest concerns of our generation is our absolute +determination not to let our growing old place an intolerable burden on our +children and their ability to raise our grandchildren. + +Our economic success and our fiscal discipline now give us the opportunity +to lift that burden from their shoulders, and we should take it. + +Saving Social Security, Medicare, creating U.S. accounts, this is the right +way to use the surplus. If we do so, if we do so, we will still have +resources to meet critical needs and education and defense. + +And I want to point out that this proposal is fiscally sound. Listen to +this, if we set aside 60 percent of the surplus for Social Security and 16 +percent for Medicare over the next 15 years, that savings will achieve the +lowest level of publicly-held debt since right before World War I in 1917. + +So with these four measures; saving Social Security, strengthening +Medicare, establishing the USA accounts, supporting long-term care, we can +begin to meet our generation's historic responsibility to establish true +security for 21st century seniors. + +Now, there are more children, from more diverse backgrounds, in our public +schools that any time in our history. Their education must provide the +knowledge and nurture the creativity that will allow our entire nation to +thrive in the new economy. + +Today we can say something we couldn't say six years ago. With tax credits +and more affordable student loans, with more work-study grants and more +Pell Grants, with education IRAs, the new HOPE Scholarship tax cut that +more than five million Americans will receive this year, we have finally +opened the doors of college to all Americans. + +With our support, nearly every state has set higher academic standards for +public schools and a voluntary national test is being developed to measure +the progress of our students. With over $1 billion in discounts available +this year, we are well on our way to our goal of connecting every classroom +and library to the Internet. + +Last fall, you passed our proposal to start hiring 100,000 new teachers to +reduce class size in the early grades. Now I ask you to finish the job. + +You know our children are doing better. SAT scores are up. Math scores have +risen in nearly all grades. But there's a problem. While our fourth-graders +out performed their peers in other countries in math and science, our +eighth-graders are around average, and our 12th-graders rank near the +bottom. We must do better. + +Now each year the national government invests more than $15 billion in our +public schools. I believe we must change the way we invest that money to +support what works and to stop supporting what does not work. + +First, later this year I will send to Congress a plan that for the first +time holds states and school districts accountable for progress and rewards +them for results. My Education Accountability Act will require every school +district receiving federal help to take the following five steps: + +First, all schools must end social promotion. + +Now, no child, no child should graduate from high school with a diploma he +or she can't read. We do our children no favors when we allow them to pass +from grade to grade without mastering the material. But we can't just hold +students back because the system fails them. + +So my balanced budget triples the funding for summer school and +after-school programs to keep a million children learning. Now, if--if you +doubt this will work, just look at Chicago, which ended social promotion +and made summer school mandatory for those who don't master the basics. +Math and reading scores are up three years running with some of the biggest +gains in some of the poorest neighborhoods. It will work, and we should do +it. + +Second, all states and school districts must turn around their worst +performing schools or shut them down. That's the policy established in +North Carolina by Governor Jim Hunt. North Carolina made the biggest gains +in test scores in the nation last year. Our budget includes $200 million to +help states turn around their own failing schools. + +Third, all states and school districts must be held responsible for the +quality of their teachers. The great majority of our teachers do a fine +job, but in too many schools teachers don't have college majors or even +minors in the subjects they teach. New teachers should be required to pass +performance exams, and all teachers should know the subject their +teaching. + +This year's balanced budget contains resources to help them reach higher +standards. And to attract talented young teachers to the toughest +assignments, I recommend a six-fold increase in our program for college +scholarships for students who commit to teach in the inner-cities and +isolated rural areas and in Indian communities. Let us bring excellence to +every part of America. + +Fourth, we must empower parents with more information and more choices. In +too many communities it's easier to get information on the quality of the +local restaurants than on the quality of the local schools. + +Every school district should issue report cards on every school. And +parents should be given more choices in selecting their public schools. + +When I became president, there was just one independent public charter +school in all America. With our support on a bipartisan basis, today there +are 1,100. My budget assures that early in the next century, there will be +3,000. + +Fifth, to assure that our classrooms are truly places of learning, and to +respond to what teachers have been asking us to do for years, we should say +that all states and school districts must both adopt and implement sensible +discipline policies. + +Now let's do one more thing for our children. Today, too many schools are +so old they're falling apart, or so overcrowded students are learning in +trailers. Last fall, Congress missed the opportunity to change that. This +year, with 53 million children in our schools, Congress must not miss that +opportunity again. I ask you to help our communities build or modernize +5,000 schools. + +If we do these things--end social promotion, turn around failing schools, +build modern ones, support qualified teachers, promote innovation, +competition and discipline--then we will begin to meet our generation's +historic responsibility to create to 21st century schools. + +Now, we also have to do more to support the millions of parents who give +their all every day at home and at work. + +The most basic tool of all is a decent income. So let's raise the minimum +wage by a dollar an hour over the next two years. + +And let's make sure that women and men get equal pay for equal work by +strengthening enforcement of the equal pay laws. + +That was encouraging, you know? There was more balance on the seesaw. I +like that. Let's give them a hand. That's great. + +Working parents also need quality child care. So, again this year, I ask +Congress to support our plan for tax credits and subsidies for working +families, for improved safety and quality, for expanded after-school +program. And our plan also includes a new tax credit for stay-at-home +parents, too. They need support as well. + +Parents should never have to worry about choosing between their children +and their work. Now, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the very first bill +I signed into law, has now, since 1993, helped millions and millions of +Americans to care for a newborn baby or an ailing relative without risking +their jobs. I think it's time, with all of the evidence that it has been so +little burdensome to employers, to extend family leave to 10 million more +Americans working for smaller companies, and I hope you will support it. + +Finally, on the matter of work, parents should never have to face +discrimination in the workplace. So I want to ask Congress to prohibit +companies from refusing to hire or promote workers simply because they have +children. That is not right. + +America's families deserve the world's best medical care. Thanks to +bipartisan federal support for medical research, we are not on the verge of +new treatments to prevent or delay diseases from Parkinson's to Alzheimer's +to arthritis to cancer. But as we continue our advances in medical science, +we can't let our medical system lag behind. + +Managed care has literally transformed medicine in America, driving down +costs, but threatening to drive down quality as well. + +I think we ought to say to every American, you should have the right to +know all you medical options, not just the cheapest. If you need a +specialist, you should have a right to see one. You have a right to the +nearest emergency care if you're in an accident. These are things that we +ought to say. And I think we ought to say you should have a right to keep +your doctor during a period of treatment whether it's a pregnancy or a +chemotherapy treatment or anything else. I believe this. + +Now I've ordered these rights to be extended to the 85 million Americans +served by Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health programs. But only +Congress can pass a Patients' Bill of Rights for all Americans. + +Last year, Congress missed that opportunity, and we must not miss that +opportunity again. For the sake of our families, I ask us to join together +across party lines and pass a strong enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. + +As more of our medical records are stored electronically, the threats to +all of our privacy increase. Because Congress has given me the authority to +act if it does not do so by August, one way or another, we can all say to +the American people, we will protect the privacy of medical records this +year. + +Now, two years ago, we acted to extend health coverage to up to five +million children. Now we should go beyond that. We should make it easier +for small businesses to offer health insurance. We should give people +between the ages of 55 and 65 who lose their health insurance the chance to +buy into Medicare. + +And we should continue to ensure access to family planning. No one should +have to choose between keeping health care and taking a job. And therefore, +I especially ask you tonight to join hands to pass the landmark bipartisan +legislation proposed by Sens. Kennedy and Jeffords, Roth and Moynihan, to +allow people with disabilities to keep their health insurance when they go +to work. + +We need to enable our public hospitals, our community, our university +health centers to provide basic, affordable care for all the millions of +working families who don't have any insurance. They do a lot of that today, +but much more can be done. And my balanced budget makes a good down payment +toward that goal. I hope you will think about them and support that +provision. + +Let me say we must step up our efforts to treat and prevent mental illness. +No American should ever be able--afraid ever to address this disease. This +year we will host a White House Conference on Mental Health. With +sensitivity, commitment and passion, Tipper Gore is leading our efforts +here, and I'd like to thank her for what she's done. Thank you. Thank you. + +As everyone knows, our children are targets of a massive media campaign to +hook them on cigarettes. Now, I ask this Congress to resist the tobacco +lobby, to reaffirm the FDA's authority to protect our children from tobacco +and to hold tobacco companies accountable, while protecting tobacco +farmers. + +Smoking has cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars under Medicare +and other programs. You know, the states have been right about this. +Taxpayers shouldn't pay for the cost of lung cancer, emphysema, and other +smoking-related illnesses, the tobacco companies should. + +So tonight I announce that the Justice Department is preparing a litigation +plan to take the tobacco companies to court and with the funds we recover +to strengthen Medicare. + +Now, if we act in these areas--minimum wage, family leave, child care, +health care, the safety of our children--then we will begin to meet our +generation's historic responsibilities to strengthen our families for the +21st century. + +Today, America is the most dynamic, competitive, job-creating economy in +history, but we can do even better in building a 21st century economy that +embraces all Americans. + +Today's income gap is largely a skills gap. Last year, the Congress passed +a law enabling workers to get a skills grant to choose the training they +need. And I applaud all of you here who were part of that. + +This year, I recommend a five-year commitment to the new system, so that we +can provide over the next five years appropriate training opportunities for +all Americans who lose their jobs and expand rapid response teams to help +all towns which have been really hurt when businesses close. I hope you +will support this. + +Also, I ask your support for a dramatic increase in federal support for +adult literacy to mount a national campaign aimed at helping the millions +and millions of working people who still read at less than a fifth-grade +level. We need to do this. + +Here's some good news. In the past six years, we have cut the welfare rolls +nearly in half. + +Two years ago, from this podium, I asked five companies to lead a national +effort to hire people off welfare. Tonight our welfare-to-work partnership +includes 10,000 companies who have hired hundreds of thousands of people, +and our balanced budget will help another 200,000 people move to the +dignity and pride of work. I hope you will support it. + +We must bring the spark of private enterprise to every corner of America, +to build a bridge from Wall Street to Appalachia to the Mississippi Delta, +to our Native American communities, with more support for community +development banks for empowerment zones, for 100,000 more vouchers for +affordable housing. + +And I ask Congress to support our bold new plan to help businesses raise up +to $15 billion in private sector capital, to bring jobs and opportunities +and inner cities, rural areas, with tax credits, loan guarantees, including +the new American Private Investment Companies, modeled on the Overseas +Private Investment Companies. + +Now, for years and years we've had this OPIC, this Overseas Private +Investment Corporation, because we knew we had untapped markets overseas. +But our greatest untapped markets are not overseas--they are right here at +home. And we should go after them. + +We must work hard to help bring prosperity back to the family farm. + +As this Congress knows very well, dropping prices and the loss of foreign +markets have devastated too many family farmers. Last year, the Congress +provided substantial assistance to help stave off a disaster in American +agriculture, and I am ready to work with lawmakers of both parties to +create a farm safety net that will include crop insurance reform and farm +income assistance. + +I ask you to join with me and do this. This should not be a political +issue. Everyone knows what an economic problem is going on out there in +rural America today, and we need an appropriate means to address it. + +We must strengthen our lead in technology. It was government investment +that led to the creation of the Internet. I propose a 28-percent increase +in long-term computing research. + +We also must be ready for the 21st century from its very first moment by +solving the so-called Y2K computer problem. We had one member of Congress +stand up and applaud. And we may have about that ration out there +applauding at home in front of their television sets. But remember, this is +a big, big problem, and we've been working hard on it. Already we've made +sure that the Social Security checks will come on time. + +But I want all the folks at home listening to this to know that we need +every state and local government, every business large and small to work +with us to make sure that this Y2K computer bug will be remembered as the +last headache of the 20th century, not the first crisis of the 21st. + +For our own prosperity, we must support economic growth abroad. You know, +until recently a third of our economic growth came from exports. But over +the past year and a half, financial turmoil has put that growth at risk. +Today, much of the world is in recession, with Asia hit especially hard. +This is the most serious financial crisis in half a century. + +To meet it, the U.S. and other nations have reduced interest rates and +strengthened the International Monetary Fund and while the turmoil is not +over, we have worked very hard with other nations to contain it. + +At the same time, we will continue to work on the long-term project: +building a global financial system for the 21st century that promotes +prosperity and tames the cycle of boom and bust that has engulfed so much +of Asia. This June, I will meet with other world leaders to advance this +historic purpose and I ask all of you to support our endeavors. I also ask +you to support creating a freer and fairer trading system for 21st century +America. + +You know, I'd like to say something really serious to everyone in this +chamber in both parties. I think trade has divided us and divided Americans +outside this chamber for too long. Somehow, we have to find a common ground +on which business and workers and environmentalists and farmers and +government can stand together. I believe these are the things we ought to +all agree on. So, let me try. + +First, we ought to tear down barriers, open markets and expand trade, but +at the same time, we must ensure that ordinary citizens in all countries +actually benefit from trade; a trade that promotes the dignity of work and +the rights of workers and protects the environment. + +We must insist that international trade organizations be open to public +scrutiny instead of mysterious, secret things subject to wild criticism. + +When you come right down to it, now that the world economy is becoming more +and more integrated, we have to do in the world what we spent the better +part of this century doing here at home. We have got to put a human face on +the global economy. + +Now, we must enforce our trade laws when imports unlawfully flood our +nation. I have already informed the government of Japan if that nation's +sudden surge of steel imports into our country is not reversed, America +will respond. + +We must help all manufacturers hit hard by the present crisis with loan +guarantees, and other incentives to increase American exports by nearly $2 +billion. I'd like to believe we can achieve a new consensus on trade based +on these principles. And I ask the Congress to join me again in this common +approach and to give the president the trade authority long used and now +overdue and necessary to advance our prosperity in the 21st century. + +Tonight, I issue a call to the nations of the world to join the United +States in a new round of global trade negotiation to expand exports of +services, manufactures and farm products. + +Tonight, I say, we will work with the International Labor Organization on a +new initiative to raise labor standards around the world. And this year, we +will lead the international community to conclude a treaty to ban abusive +child labor everywhere in the world. + +If we do these things--invest in our people, our communities, our +technology--and lead in the global economy, then we will begin to meet our +historic responsibility to build a 21st century prosperity for America. + +You know, no nation in history has had the opportunity and the +responsibility we now have to shape a world that is more peaceful, more +secure, more free. + +All Americans can be proud that our leadership helped to bring peace in +Northern Ireland. + +All Americans can be proud that our leadership has put Bosnia on the path +to peace. And with our NATO allies we are pressing the Serbian government +to stop its brutal repression in Kosovo--to bring those responsible to +justice and to give the people of Kosovo the self-government they deserve. + +All Americans can be proud that our leadership renewed hope for lasting +peace in the Middle East. Some of you were with me last December as we +watched the Palestinian National Council completely renounce its call for +the destruction of Israel. + +Now, I ask Congress to provide resources so that all parties can implement +the Wye Agreement, to protect Israel's security, to stimulate the +Palestinian economy, to support our friends in Jordan. We must not, we dare +not, let them down. I hope you will help me. + +As we work for peace, we must also meet threats to our nation's security, +including increased danger from outlaw nations and terrorism. + +We will defend our security wherever we are threatened, as we did this +summer when we struck at Osama bin Laden's network of terror. The bombing +of our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania reminds us again of the risks faced +every day by those who represent America to the world. So let's give them +the support they need, the safest possible workplaces, and the resources +they must have so America can continue to lead. + +We must work to keep terrorists from disrupting computer networks. We must +work to prepare local communities for biological and chemical emergencies, +to support research into vaccines and treatments. We must increase our +efforts to restrain the spread of nuclear weapons and missiles, from Korea +to India and Pakistan. We must expand our work with Russia, Ukraine and +other former Soviet nations to safeguard nuclear materials and technology +so they never fall into the wrong hands. Our balanced budget will increase +funding for these critical efforts by almost two-thirds over the next five +years. + +With Russia we must continue to reduce our nuclear arsenals. The START II +Treaty and the framework we have already agreed to for START III could cut +them by 80 percent from their Cold War height. + +It's been two years since I signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. If we +don't do the right thing, other nations won't either. I ask the Senate to +take this vital step, approve the treaty now to make it harder for other +nations to develop nuclear arms, and to make sure we can end nuclear +testing for ever. + +For nearly a decade, Iraq has defied its obligations to destroy its weapons +of terror and the missiles to deliver them. + +America will continue to contain [Iraqi President] Saddam [Hussein] and we +will work for the day when Iraq has a government worthy of its people. Now, +last month, in our action over Iraq, our troops were superb. Their mission +was so flawlessly executed, that we risk taking for granted the bravery and +skill it required. Captain Jeff Taliaferro, a 10-year Air Force veteran of +the Air Force, flew a B-1B bomber over Iraq as we attacked Saddam's war +machine. He is here with us tonight. I would like to ask you to honor him +and all the 33,000 men and women of Operation Desert Fox. + +It is time to reverse the decline in defense spending that began in 1985. + +Since April, together we have added nearly $6 billion to maintain our +military readiness. My balanced budget calls for a sustained increase over +the next six years for readiness, for modernization, and for pay and +benefits for our troops and their families. + +You know, we are the heirs of a legacy of bravery represented in every +community in America by millions of our veterans. America's defenders today +still stand ready at a moments notice to go where comforts are few and +dangers are many, to do what needs to be done as no one else can. They +always come through for America. We must come through for them. + +The new century demands new partnerships for peace and security. The United +Nations plays a crucial role, with allies sharing burdens America might +otherwise bear alone. America needs a strong and effective U.N. I want to +work with this new Congress to pay our dues and our debts. + +We must continue to support security and stability in Europe and Asia-- +expanding NATO and defining its new missions, maintaining our alliance with +Japan, with Korea, with our other Asian allies, and engaging China. + +In China last year, I said to the leaders and the people what I'd like to +say again tonight: Stability can no longer be bought at the expense of +liberty. + +But I'd also like to say again to the American people, it's important not +to isolate China. The more we bring China into the world, the more the +world will bring change and freedom to China. + +Last spring, with some of you, I traveled to Africa, where I saw democracy +and reform rising, but still held back by violence and disease. We must +fortify African democracy and peace by launching radio democracy for +Africa, supporting the transition to democracy now beginning to take place +in Nigeria, and passing the African Trade and Development Act. + +We must continue to deepen our ties to the Americas and the Caribbean, our +common work to educate children, fight drugs, strengthen democracy and +increase trade. In this hemisphere, every government but one is freely +chosen by its people. We are determined that Cuba, too, will know the +blessings of liberty. + +The American people have opened their arms and their hearts and their arms +to our Central American and Caribbean neighbors who have been so devastated +by the recent hurricanes. Working with Congress, I am committed to help +them rebuild. + +When the first lady and Tipper Gore visited the region, they saw thousands +of our troops and thousands of American volunteers. In the Dominican +Republic, Hillary helped to rededicate a hospital that had been rebuilt by +Dominicans and Americans working side by side. With her was some one else +who has been very important to the relief efforts. You know sports records +are made and sooner or later, they're broken. But making other people's +lives better and showing our children the true meaning of brotherhood, that +lasts forever. So for far more than baseball, Sammy Sosa, you're a hero in +two countries tonight. Thank you. + +So I say to all of you, if we do these things, if we pursue peace, fight +terrorism, increase our strength, renew our alliances, we will begin to +meet our generation's historic responsibility to build a stronger 21st +century America in a freer, more peaceful world. + +As the world has changed, so have our own communities. We must make the +safer, more livable, and more united. This year, we will reach our goal of +100,000 community police officers ahead of schedule and under budget. + +The Brady Bill has stopped a quarter million felons, fugitives, and +stalkers from buying handguns and now, the murder rate is the lowest in 30 +years, and the crime rate has dropped for six straight years. + +Tonight, I propose a 21st Century Crime Bill to deploy the latest +technologies and tactics to make our communities even safer. Our balanced +budget will help put up to 50,000 more police on the street in the areas +hardest hit by crime, and then to equip them with new tools from +crime-mapping computers to digital mug shots. We must break the deadly +cycle of drugs and crime. + +Our budget expands support for drug testing and treatment, saying to +prisoners, "If you stay on drugs, you have to stay behind bars." And to +those on parole, "If you want to keep your freedom, you must stay free of +drugs." + +I ask Congress to restore the five-day waiting period for buying a handgun +and extend the Brady Bill to prevent juveniles who commit violent crimes +from buying a gun. + +We must do more to keep our schools the safest places in our communities. +Last year, every American was horrified and heartbroken by the tragic +killings in Jonesboro, Paducah, Pearl, Edinboro, Springfield. We were +deeply moved by the courageous parents now working to keep guns out of the +hands of children and to make other efforts so that other parents don't +have to live through their loss. + +After she lost her daughter, Suzann Wilson of Jonesboro, Arkansas, came +here to the White House with a powerful plea. She said "Please, please for +the sake of your children, lock up your guns. Don't let what happened in +Jonesboro, happen in your town." + +It's a message she is passionately advocating every day. Suzann is here +with us tonight, with the first lady. I would like to thank her for her +courage and her commitment. + +In memory of all the children who lost their lives to school violence, I +ask you to strengthen the Safe And Drug Free School Act, to pass +legislation to require child trigger locks, to do everything possible to +keep our children safe. + +Today, we're--excuse me--a century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt +defined our great central task as leaving this land even a better land for +our descendants than it is for us. Today, we're restoring the Florida +Everglades, saving Yellowstone, preserving the red rock canyons of Utah, +protecting California's redwoods, and our precious coasts. + +But our most fateful new challenge is the threat of global warming. +Nineteen ninety-eight was the warmest year ever recorded. Last year's heat +waves, floods and storm are but a hint of what future generations may +endure if we do not act now. + +Tonight, I propose a new clean air fund to help communities reduce +greenhouse and other pollutions, and tax incentives and investment to spur +clean energy technologies. And I want to work with members of Congress in +both parties to reward companies that take early, voluntary action to +reduce greenhouse gases. + +Now, all our communities face a preservation challenge as they grow, and +green space shrinks. Seven thousand acres of farmland and open space are +lost every day. In response, I propose two major initiatives. First, a $1 +billion livability agenda to help communities save open space, ease traffic +congestion, and grow in ways that enhance every citizen's quality of life. +And second, a $1 billion lands legacy initiative to preserve places of +natural beauty all across America, from the most remote wilderness to the +nearest city park. + +These are truly landmark initiatives, which could not have been developed +without the visionary leadership of the vice president and I want to thank +him very much for his commitment here. Thank you. + +Now, to get the most out of your community, you have to give something +back. That's why we created AmeriCorps, our national service program that +gives today's generation a chance to serve their communities and earn money +for college. + +So far, in just four years, 100,000 young Americans have built low-income +homes with Habitat for Humanity, helped tutor children with churches, work +with FEMA to ease the burden of natural disasters and performed countless +other acts of service that has made America better. I ask Congress to give +more young Americans the chance to follow their lead and serve America in +AmeriCorps. + +Now, we must work to renew our national community as well for the 21st +century. Last year, the House passed the bipartisan campaign finance reform +legislation sponsored by Representatives [Christopher] Shays (R-Conn.) and +[Martin T.] Meehan (D-Mass.) and Sens. [John] McCain (R-Ariz.) and +[Russell] Feingold (D-Wis.). But a partisan minority in the Senate blocked +reform. So I would like to say to the House, pass it again--quickly. + +And I'd like to say to the Senate, I hope you will say yes to a stronger +American democracy in the year 2000. + +Since 1997, our Initiative on Race has sought to bridge the divides between +and among our people. In its report last fall, the Initiatives Advisory +Board found that Americans really do want to bring our people together +across racial lines. + +We know it's been a long journey. For some it goes back to before the +beginning of our republic. For others, back since the Civil War; for +others, throughout the 21st century. But for most of us alive today, in a +very real sense this journey began 43 years ago, when a woman named Rosa +Parks sat down on a bus in Alabama and wouldn't get up. + +She's sitting down with the first lady tonight, and she may get up or not +as she chooses. + +We know that our continuing racial problems are aggravated, as the +presidential initiative said, by opportunity gaps. + +The initiative I've outlined tonight will help to close them. But we know +that the discrimination gap has not been fully closed either. +Discrimination or violence because of race or religion, ancestry or gender, +disability or sexual orientation, is wrong and it ought to be illegal. +Therefore, I ask Congress to make the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and +the Hate Crimes Prevention Act the law of the land. + +You know, now since every person in America counts, every American ought to +be counted. We need a census that uses modern scientific methods to do +that. + +Our new immigrants must be part of our one America. After all, they're +revitalizing our cities, they're energizing our culture, they're building +up our economy. We have a responsibility to make them welcome here, and +they have a responsibility to enter the mainstream of American life. + +That means learning English and learning about our democratic system of +government. There are now long waiting lines of immigrants that are trying +to do just that. + +Therefore, our budget significantly expands our efforts to help them meet +their responsibility. I hope you will support it. + +Whether our ancestors came here on the Mayflower, on slave ships; whether +they came to Ellis Island or LAX in Los Angeles; whether they came +yesterday or walked this land 1,000 years ago, our great challenge for the +21st century is to find a way to be one America. We can meet all the other +challenges if we can go forward as one America. + +You know, barely more than 300 days from now we will cross that bridge into +the new millennium. This is a moment, as the first lady has said, to honor +the past and imagine the future. + +I'd like to take just a minute to honor her, for leading our Millennium +Project, for all she's done for our children. For all she has done in her +historic role to serve our nation and our best ideals at home and abroad, I +honor her. + +Last year--last year I called on Congress and every citizen to mark the +millennium by saving America's treasures. Hillary's traveled all across the +country to inspire recognition and support for saving places like Thomas +Edison's invention factory or Harriet Tubman's home. + +Now we have to preserve our treasures in every community. And tonight, +before I close, I want to invite every town, every city, every community to +become a nationally recognized millennium community by launching projects +that save our history, promote our arts and humanities, prepare our +children for the 21st century. + +Already the response has been remarkable. And I want to say a special word +of thanks to our private sector partners and to members in Congress of both +parties for their support. Just one example. Because of you, the Star +Spangled Banner will be preserved for the ages. + +In ways large and small, as we look to the millennium, we are keeping alive +what George Washington called the "sacred fire of liberty." + +Six years ago, I came to office in a time of doubt for America, with our +economy troubled, our deficit high, our people divided. Some even wondered +whether our best days were behind us. But across this nation, in a thousand +neighborhoods, I have seen, even amidst the pain and uncertainty of +recession, the real heart and character of America. + +I knew then we Americans could renew this country. + +Tonight, as I deliver the last State of the Union Address for the 20th +century, no one anywhere in the world can doubt the enduring resolve and +boundless capacity of the American people to work toward that "more perfect +union" of our founders' dreams. + +We are now, at the end of a century, when generation after generation of +Americans answered the call to greatness, overcoming Depression, lifting up +the dispossessed, bringing down barriers to racial prejudice, building the +largest middle class in history, winning two world wars and the "long +twilight struggle" of the Cold War. + +We must all be profoundly grateful for the magnificent achievements of our +forbearers in this century. + +Yet perhaps in the daily press of events, in the clash of controversy, we +don't see our own time for what it truly is--a new dawn for America. + +A hundred years from tonight, another American president will stand in this +place and report on the State of the Union. He--or she--will look back on +the 21st century shaped in so many ways by the decisions we make here and +now. + +So let it be said of us then that we were thinking not only of our time, +but of their time; that we reached as high as our ideals; that we put aside +our divisions and found a new hour of healing and hopefulness; that we +joined together to serve and strengthen the land we love. + +My fellow Americans, this is our moment. Let us lift our eyes as one +nation, and from the mountaintop of this American century, look ahead to +the next one--asking God's blessing on our endeavors and on our beloved +country. + +Thank you, and good evening. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +William J. Clinton +January 27, 2000 + +Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, honored guests, my +fellow Americans: + +We are fortunate to be alive at this moment in history. Never before has +our nation enjoyed, at once, so much prosperity and social progress with so +little internal crisis or 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 years; the lowest African-American +and Hispanic unemployment rates on record; the first back-to-back budget +surpluses in 42 years. + +Next month, America will achieve the longest period of economic growth in +our entire history. + +We have built a new economy. + +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 and adoptions up by 30 percent. Welfare +rolls cut in half to their lowest levels in 30 years. + +My fellow Americans, the state of our union is the strongest it has ever +been. + +As always, the credit belongs to the American people. + +My gratitude also goes to those of you in this chamber who have worked with +us to put progress above 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 of a 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 outdated ideologies with a +new vision anchored in basic, enduring values: opportunity for all, +responsibility from all, and a community of all Americans. + +We reinvented government, transforming it into a catalyst for new ideas +that stress both opportunity and responsibility, and give our people the +tools to solve their own problems. + +With the smallest federal workforce 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. + +We ended welfare as we knew it--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 have +helped parents to succeed at work and at home--with family leave, which 20 +million Americans have used to care for a newborn child or a sick loved +one. We have engaged 150,000 young Americans in citizen service through +AmeriCorps--while also helping them earn their way through college. + +In 1992, we had a roadmap. Today, we have results. More important, America +again has the confidence to dream big dreams. But we must not let our +renewed confidence grow into complacency. We 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, 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 which takes the long look ahead." + +Tonight let us take our look long ahead--and set great goals for our +nation. + +To 21st Century America, let us pledge that: + +Every child will begin school ready to learn and graduate ready to succeed. +Every family will be able to succeed at home and at work--and no child +will be raised in poverty. We will meet the challenge of the aging of +America. We will assure quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans. +We will make America the safest big country on earth. We will bring +prosperity to every American community. We will reverse the course of +climate change and leave a cleaner, safer 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. + +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. For too long +this Congress has been standing still on some of our most pressing national +priorities. Let's begin with them. + +I ask you again to pass a real patient's bill of rights. Pass common-sense +gun-safety legislation. Pass campaign finance reform. Vote on long overdue +judicial nominations and other important appointees. And, again, I ask you +to raise the minimum wage. + +Two years ago, as we reached 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. If we stay on this path, we can pay +down the debt entirely in 13 years and make America debt-free for the first +time since Andrew Jackson was president in 1835. + +In 1993, we began to put our fiscal house in order with the Deficit +Reduction Act, winning passage in both houses by just one vote. Your former +colleague, my first Secretary of the Treasury, led that effort. He is here +tonight. Lloyd Bentsen, you have served America well. + +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. I ask you tonight 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 to ensure that it is strong and sound for the next 50 years. + +But this is just the start of our journey. Now we must take the right steps +toward reaching our great goals. + +Opportunity and Responsibility in Education + +First and foremost, we need a 21st Century revolution in education, guided +by our faith that every child can learn. Because education is more than +ever the key to our children's future, we must make sure all our children +have that key. That means quality preschool and afterschool, the best +trained teachers in every classroom, and college opportunities for all our +children. + +For seven years, we have worked hard to improve our schools, with +opportunity and responsibility: Investing more, but demanding more in +return. + +Reading, math, and college entrance scores are up. And some of the most +impressive gains are in schools in poor neighborhoods. + +All successful schools have followed the same proven formula: higher +standards, more accountability, so all children can 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, the national government invests more than $15 billion +in our schools. It's time to support what works and stop supporting what +doesn't. + +As we demand more than ever from our schools, we should invest more than +ever in our schools. + +Let's double our investment to help states and districts turn around their +worst-performing schools--or shut them down. + +Let's double our investment in afterschool and summer school programs-- +boosting achievement, and keeping children off the street and out of +trouble. If we do, we can give every child in every failing school in +America the chance to meet high standards. + +Since 1993, we've nearly doubled our investment in Head Start and improved +its quality. Tonight, I ask for another $1 billion to Head Start, the +largest increase in the program's history. + +We know that children learn best in smaller classes with good teachers. For +two years in a row, Congress has supported my plan to hire 100,000 new, +qualified teachers, to lower class sizes in the early grades. This year, I +ask you to make it three in a row. + +And to make sure all teachers know the subjects they teach, tonight I +propose a new teacher quality initiative--to recruit more talented people +into the classroom, reward good teachers for staying there, and give all +teachers the training they need. + +We know charter schools provide real public school choice. When I became +President, there was just one independent public charter school in all +America. Today there are 1,700. I ask you to help us meet our goal of 3,000 +by next year. + +We know we must connect all our classrooms to the Internet. We're getting +there. In 1994, only three percent of our classrooms were connected. Today, +with the help of the Vice President's E-rate program, more than half of +them are; and 90 percent of our schools have at least one connection to the +Internet. + +But we can't finish the job when a third of all schools are in serious +disrepair, many with walls and wires too old for the Internet. Tonight, I +propose to help 5,000 schools a year make immediate, urgent repairs. And +again, to help build or modernize 6,000 schools, to get students out of +trailers and into high-tech classrooms. + +We should double our bipartisan GEAR UP program to mentor 1.4 million +disadvantaged young people for college. And let's offer these students a +chance to take the same college test-prep courses wealthier students use to +boost their test scores. + +To make the American Dream achievable for all, we must make college +affordable for all. For seven years, on a bipartisan basis, we have taken +action toward that goal: larger Pell grants, more-affordable student loans, +education IRAs, and our HOPE scholarships, which have already benefited 5 +million young people. 67 percent of high school graduates now go on to +college, up almost 10 percent since 1993. Yet millions of families still +strain to pay college tuition. They need help. + +I propose a landmark $30-billion college opportunity tax cut--a +middle-class tax deduction for up to $10,000 in college tuition costs. +We've already made two years of college affordable for all. Now let's make +four years of college affordable for all. + +If we take all these steps, we will move a long way toward making sure +every child starts school ready to learn and graduates ready to succeed. + +Rewarding Work and Strengthening Families + +We need a 21st Century revolution to reward work and strengthen families-- +by giving every parent the tools to succeed at work and at the most +important work of all--raising their children. That means making sure that +every family has health care and the support to care for aging parents, the +tools to bring their children up right, and that no child grows up in +poverty. + +From my first days as President, we have worked to give families better +access to better health care. In 1997, we passed the Children's Health +Insurance Program--CHIP--so that workers who don't have health care +coverage through their employers at least can get it for their children. So +far, we've enrolled 2 million children, and we're well on our way to our +goal of 5 million. + +But there are still more than 40 million 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 eligible for +the insurance that covers their kids. Together with our children's +initiative, we can cover nearly one quarter of the uninsured in America. + +Again, I ask you to let people between 55 and 65--the fastest growing +group of uninsured--buy into Medicare. And let's give them a tax credit to +make that choice an affordable one. + +When the Baby Boomers retire, Medicare will be faced with caring for twice +as many of our citizens--and yet it is far from ready to do so. My +generation must not ask our children's generation to shoulder our burden. +We must strengthen and modernize Medicare now. + +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; and, at long last, to +give every senior a voluntary choice of affordable coverage for +prescription drugs. + +Lifesaving drugs are an indispensable part of modern medicine. No one +creating a Medicare program today would even consider excluding coverage +for prescription drugs. Yet more than three in five 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 seniors the lifeline of affordable prescription drugs. + +Record numbers of Americans are providing for aging or ailing loved ones at +home. Last year, I proposed a $1,000 tax credit for long-term care. +Frankly, that wasn't enough. This year, let's triple it to $3,000--and +this year, let's pass it. + +And we must make needed investments to expand access to mental health care. +I want to thank the person who has led our efforts to break down the +barriers to the decent treatment of mental illness: Tipper Gore. + +Taken together, these proposals would mark the largest investment in health +care in the 35 years since the creation of Medicare--a big step toward +assuring health care for all Americans, young and old. + +We must also make investments that reward work and support families. +Nothing does that better than the Earned Income Tax Credit, the EITC. The +"E" in "EITC" is about earning; working; taking responsibility and being +rewarded for it. In my first Address to you, I asked Congress to greatly +expand this tax credit; and you did. As a result, in 1998 alone, the EITC +helped more than 4.3 million Americans work their way out of poverty and +toward the middle class--double the number in 1993. + +Tonight, I propose another major expansion. We should reduce the marriage +penalty for the EITC, making sure it rewards marriage just as it rewards +work. And we should expand the tax credit for families with more than two +children to provide up to $1,100 more in tax relief. + +We can't reward work and family unless men and women get equal pay for +equal work. The female unemployment rate is the lowest in 46 years. Yet +women still earn only about 75 cents for every dollar men 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. + +Two-thirds of new jobs are in the suburbs, far away from many low-income +families. In the past two years, I have proposed and Congress has approved +110,000 new housing vouchers--rent subsidies to help working families live +closer to the workplace. This year, let us more than double that number. If +we want people to go to work, they have to be able to get to work. + +Many working parents spend up to a quarter of their income on child care. +Last year, we helped parents provide child care for about two million +children. My child care initiative, along with funds already secured in +welfare reform, would make child care better, safer, and more affordable +for another 400,000 children. + +For hard-pressed middle-income families, we should also expand the child +care tax credit. And we should take the next big step. We should make that +tax credit refundable for low-income families. For those making under +$30,000 a year, that could mean up to $2,400 for child-care costs. We all +say we're pro-work and pro-family. Passing this proposal would prove it. + +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 of IRAs and 401-K retirement plans. We should do more to help working +families save and accumulate wealth. That's the idea behind so-called +Individual Development Accounts. Let's take that idea to a new level, with +Retirement Savings Accounts that enable every low- and moderate-income +family in America to save for retirement, a first home, a medical +emergency, or a college education. I propose to match their contributions, +however small, dollar for dollar, every year they save. And to give a major +new tax credit for any small business that provides a meaningful pension to +its workers. + +Nearly one in three American children grows up in a home 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 have doubled child support collections since 1992, and I am proposing +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--and +need help to do it. Carlos Rosas of St. Paul, Minnesota, got that help. Now +he has a good job and he supports his son Ricardo. My budget will help +40,000 fathers make the choices Carlos did. And I thank him for being +here. + +If there is any issue on which we can reach across party lines it is in our +common commitment to reward work and strengthen families. Thanks to +overwhelming bipartisan support from this Congress, we have improved foster +care, supported those who leave it when they turn eighteen, and +dramatically increased the number of foster children going to adoptive +homes. I thank you for that. Of course, I am especially grateful to the +person who has led our efforts from the beginning, and who has worked +tirelessly for children and families for thirty years now: my wife, +Hillary. + +If we take all these steps, we will move a 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 +and support for working families--and still offer tax cuts to help pay for +college, for retirement, to care for aging parents and reduce the marriage +penalty--without forsaking the path of fiscal discipline that got us here. +Indeed, we must make these investments and 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. + +Responsibility and Crime + +Crime in America has dropped for the past seven years--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 +believes America is safe enough. So let's set a higher goal: let's make +America the safest big country in the world. + +Last fall, Congress supported my plan to hire--in addition to the 100,000 +community police we have already funded--50,000 more, concentrated in +high-crime neighborhoods. I ask your continued support. + +Soon after the Columbine tragedy, Congress considered common-sense gun +safety legislation to require Brady background checks at gun shows, child +safety locks for all new handguns, and a ban on the importation of +large-capacity ammunition clips. With courage--and a tie-breaking vote by +the Vice President--the Senate faced down the gun lobby, stood up for the +American people, and passed this legislation. But the House failed to +follow suit. + +We've 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 +Tom 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 +move this Congress to make common-sense gun safety legislation the very +next order of business. Tom, thank you for being here tonight. + +We must strengthen gun laws and better enforce laws already on the books. +Federal gun crime prosecutions are up 16 percent since I took office. But +again, we must do more. I propose to hire more federal and local gun +prosecutors, and more ATF agents to crack down on illegal gun traffickers +and bad-apple dealers. And we must give law enforcement the tools to trace +every gun--and every bullet--used in a crime in America. + +Listen to this: the accidental gun death rate of children under 15 in the +United States is nine times higher than in the other 25 industrialized +nations--combined. 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 +in Smart Gun technology. I also call on responsible leaders in the gun +industry to work with us on smart guns and other steps to keep guns out of +the wrong hands and keep our children safe. + +Every parent I know worries about the impact of violence in the media on +their children. I thank the entertainment industry for accepting my +challenge to put voluntary ratings on TV programs and video and Internet +games. But the ratings are too numerous, diverse, and confusing to be +really useful to parents. Therefore, I now ask the industry to accept the +First Lady's challenge--to develop a single, voluntary rating system for +all children's entertainment, one that is easier for parents to understand +and enforce. + +If we take all these steps, we will be well on our way to making America +the safest big country in the world. + +Opening New Markets + +To keep our historic economic expansion going, we need a 21st Century +revolution to open new markets, start new businesses, and hire new workers +right here in America--in our inner cities, poor rural areas, and on +Indian reservations. + +Our nation's prosperity has not yet reached these places. Over the last six +months, I have traveled to many of them--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 Indian Reservation. Everywhere I've gone, I've met +talented people eager for opportunity, and able to work. Let's put them to +work. + +For business, it's the smart thing to do. For America, it's the right thing +to do. And if we don't do it now, when will we ever get around to it? + +I ask Congress to give businesses the same incentives to invest in +America's new markets that they now have to invest in foreign markets. +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 inner cities and rural areas. + +Empowerment Zones have been creating these opportunities for five years +now. We should also increase incentives to invest in them and create more +of them. + +This is not a Democratic or a Republican issue. It is an American issue. +Mr. Speaker, it was a powerful moment last November when you joined me and +the Reverend Jesse Jackson in your home state of Illinois, and committed to +working toward our common goal, by combining the best ideas from both sides +of the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with you. + +We must maintain our commitment to community development banks and keep the +community reinvestment act strong so all Americans have access to the +capital they need to buy homes and build businesses. + +We need to make special efforts to address the areas with the highest rates +of poverty. My budget includes a special $110 million initiative to promote +economic development in the Mississippi Delta; and $1 billion to increase +economic opportunity, health care, education and law enforcement for Native +American communities. In this new century, we should honor our historic +responsibility to empower the first Americans. I thank leaders and members +from both parties who have already expressed an interest in working with us +on these efforts. + +There's another part of our American community in trouble today--our +family farmers. When I signed the Farm Bill in 1996, I said there was a +great danger it would work well in good times but not in bad. Well, +droughts, floods, and historically low prices have made times very bad for +our farmers. We must work together to strengthen the farm safety net, +invest in land conservation, and create new markets by expanding our +program for bio-based fuels and products. + +Today, opportunity for all requires something new: having access to a +computer and knowing how to use it. That means we must close the digital +divide between those who have these tools and those who don't. + +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 creates technology centers in 1,000 communities to +serve adults. This spring, I will invite high-tech leaders to join me on +another New Markets tour--to close the digital divide and open opportunity +for all our people. I thank the high-tech companies that are already doing +so much in this area--and I hope the new tax incentives I have proposed +will encourage others to join us. + +If we take these steps, we will go a long way toward our goal of bringing +opportunity to every community. + +Global Change and American Leadership + +To realize the full possibilities of the new 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, economies and +cultures: globalization. + +It is the central reality of our time. Change this profound is both +liberating and threatening. But there is no turning back. And our open, +creative society stands to benefit more than any other--if we understand, +and act on, the new realities of interdependence. We must be at the center +of every vital global network, as a good neighbor and partner. We cannot +build our future without helping others to build theirs. + +First, we must forge a new consensus on trade. Those of us who believe +passionately in the power of open trade must ensure that it lifts both our +living standards and our values, never tolerating abusive child labor or a +race to the bottom on the environment and worker protection. Still, open +markets and rules-based trade are the best engines we know for raising +living standards, reducing global poverty and environmental destruction, +and assuring the free flow of ideas. There is only one direction for +America on trade: we must go forward. + +And we must make developing economies our partners in prosperity--which is +why I ask Congress to finalize our groundbreaking African and Caribbean +Basin trade initiatives. + +Globalization is about more than economics. Our purpose must be to bring +the world together around democracy, freedom, and peace, and to oppose +those who would tear it apart. + +Here are the fundamental challenges I believe America must meet to shape +the 21st Century world. + +First, we must continue to encourage our former adversaries, Russia and +China, to emerge as stable, prosperous, democratic nations. Both are being +held back from reaching their full potential: Russia by the legacy of +communism, economic 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: thousands of former +Soviet nuclear weapons eliminated; Russian soldiers serving with ours in +the Balkans; Russian people electing their leaders for the first time in a +thousand years. And in China, an economy more open to the world than ever +before. No one can know for sure what direction these great countries will +choose. But we must do everything in our power to increase the chance they +will choose wisely, to be constructive members of the global community. + +That is why we must support those Russians struggling for a democratic, +prosperous future; continue to reduce both our nuclear arsenals; and help +Russia safeguard weapons and materials that remain. + +That is why Congress should support the agreement we negotiated to bring +China into the WTO, by passing Permanent Normal Trade Relations as soon as +possible this year. Our markets are already open to China. This agreement +will open China's markets to us. And it will advance the cause of peace in +Asia and promote the cause of change in China. + +A second challenge is to protect our security from conflicts that pose the +risk of wider war and threaten our common humanity. America cannot prevent +every conflict or stop every outrage. But where our interests are at stake +and we can make a difference, we must be peacemakers. + +We should be proud of America's role in bringing the Middle East closer +than ever to a comprehensive 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 crises between +India and Pakistan; 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 innocent people to return to their homes. + +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 went 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 without losing a single American in combat. +Captain Cherrey, we honor you, and promise to finish the job you began. + +A third challenge is to keep the inexorable march of technology from giving +terrorists and potentially hostile nations the means to undermine our +defenses. The same 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; +increasing 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 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with Russia. + +I hope we can have a constructive bipartisan dialogue this year to build a +consensus which will lead eventually to the ratification of the +Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. + +A fourth challenge is to ensure that the stability of our planet is not +threatened by the huge gulf between rich and poor. We cannot accept a world +in which part of humanity lives on the cutting edge of a new economy, while +the rest live on the bare edge of survival. We must do our part, with +expanded trade, expanded aid, and the expansion of freedom. + +From Nigeria to Indonesia, more people won the right to choose their +leaders in 1999 than in 1989, the year the Berlin Wall fell. We must stand +by democracies--like Colombia, fighting narco-traffickers for its people's +lives, and our children's lives. I have proposed a strong two-year package +to help Colombia win this fight; and I ask for your support. And I will +propose tough new legislation to go after what drug barons value most-- +their money. + +In a world where 1.2 billion people live on less than a dollar a day, we +must do our part in the global endeavor to reduce the debts of the poorest +countries so they can invest in education, health and economic growth--as +the Pope and other religious leaders have urged. Last year, Congress made a +down payment on America's share. And I ask for your continued support. + +And America must help more nations break the bonds of disease. Last year in +Africa, AIDS killed ten times as many people as war did. My budget invests +$150 million more in the fight against this and other infectious killers. +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 around the world to join us in embracing this cause. Together, we +can save millions of lives. + +Our final challenge is the most important: to pass a national security +budget that keeps our military the best trained and best equipped in the +world, with heightened readiness and 21st Century weapons; raises salaries +for our service men and women; protects our veterans; fully funds the +diplomacy that keeps our soldiers out of war; and makes good on our +commitment to pay our UN dues and arrears. I ask you to pass this budget +and I thank you for the extraordinary support you have given--Republicans +and Democrats alike--to our men and women in uniform. I especially want to +thank Secretary Cohen for symbolizing our bipartisan commitment to our +national security--and Janet Cohen, I thank you for tirelessly traveling +the world to show our support for the troops. + +If we meet all these challenges, America can lead the world toward peace +and freedom in an era of globalization. + +Responsibility, Opportunity, and the Environment + +I am grateful for the opportunities the Vice President and I have had to +work hard to protect the environment and finally to put to rest the notion +that you can't expand the economy while protecting the environment. As our +economy has grown, we have rid more than 500 neighborhoods of toxic waste +and ensured cleaner air and water for millions of families. In the past +three months alone, we have acted to preserve more than 40 million acres of +roadless lands in our National Forests and created three new National +Monuments. + +But as our communities grow, our commitment to conservation must grow as +well. Tonight, I propose creating a permanent conservation fund to restore +wildlife, protect coastlines, and save natural treasures from California +redwoods to the Everglades. This Lands Legacy endowment represents by far +the most enduring investment in land preservation ever proposed. + +Last year, the Vice President launched a new effort to help make +communities more livable--so children will grow up next to parks, not +parking lots, and parents can be home with their children instead of stuck +in traffic. Tonight, we propose new funding for advanced transit systems-- +for saving precious open spaces--for helping major cities around the Great +Lakes protect their waterways and enhance their quality of life. + +The greatest environmental challenge of the new century is global warming. +Scientists tell us that the 1990s were the hottest decade of the entire +millennium. If we fail to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, deadly heat +waves and droughts will become more frequent, coastal areas will be +flooded, economies disrupted. + +Many people in the United States and around the world still believe we +can't cut greenhouse gas pollution without slowing economic growth. In the +Industrial Age that may have been true. In the digital economy, it isn't. +New technologies make it possible to cut harmful emissions and provide even +more growth. 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. Before you know it, efficient production +of biofuels will give us the equivalent of hundreds of miles from a gallon +of gas. + +To speed innovations in environmental technologies, I propose giving major +tax incentives to businesses 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 +call on the auto industry to use available technologies to make all new +cars more fuel efficient right away. And on Congress to make more of our +clean-energy technologies available to the developing world--creating +cleaner growth abroad and new jobs at home. + +The Opportunity and Responsibility of Science and Technology + +In the new century, innovations in science and technology will be the key +not only to the health of the 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 +Americans to recognize that your tax dollars have fueled 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 +Disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer--and they are designing +precision therapies that will block the harmful effects of these faulty +genes for good. Researchers are already 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 Disease. Scientists are also working on +an artificial retina to help many blind people to see and microchips that +would directly stimulate damaged spinal cords and allow people who are now +paralyzed to stand up and walk. + +Science and engineering innovations are also propelling our remarkable +prosperity. Information technology alone now accounts for a third of our +economic growth, with jobs that pay almost 80 percent above the private +sector average. Again, we should 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 speak; materials 10 times stronger than steel +at a fraction of the weight; and molecular computers the size of a teardrop +with the power of today's fastest supercomputers. + +To accelerate the march of discovery across all disciplines of science and +technology, my budget includes an unprecedented $3 billion increase in the +21st Century Research Fund, the largest increase in civilian research in a +generation. + +These new breakthroughs must be used in ways that reflect our most +cherished values. First and foremost, we must safeguard our citizens' +privacy. Last year, we proposed rules to protect every citizen's medical +records. This year, we will finalize those rules. We have also taken the +first steps to protect the privacy of bank and credit card statements and +other financial records. Soon I will send legislation to the Congress to +finish that job. We must also act to prevent any genetic discrimination by +employers or insurers. + +These steps will allow America to lead toward the far frontiers of science +and technology--enhancing our health, environment, and economy in ways we +cannot even imagine today. + +Community + +At a time when science, technology and the forces of globalization are +bringing so many changes into our lives, it is more important than ever +that we strengthen the bonds that root us in our local communities and in +our national communities. + +No tie binds different people together like citizen service. There is a new +spirit of service in America--a movement we have supported with +AmeriCorps, an expanded Peace Corps, and unprecedented new partnerships +with businesses, foundations, and community groups. Partnerships to enlist +12,000 companies in moving 650,000 of our fellow citizens from welfare to +work. To battle drug abuse and AIDS. To teach young people to read. To Save +America's Treasures. To strengthen the arts. To fight teen pregnancy. To +prevent youth violence. To promote racial healing. + +We can do even more to help Americans help each other. We should help +faith-based organizations do more to fight poverty and drug abuse and help +young people get back on the right track with initiatives like Second +Chance Homes to help unwed teen mothers. We should support Americans who +tithe and contribute to charities, but don't earn enough to claim a tax +deduction for it. Tonight, I propose new tax incentives to allow low- and +middle-income citizens to get that deduction. + +We should do more to help new immigrants fully participate in the American +community--investing more to teach them civics and English. And since +everyone in our community counts, we must make sure everyone is counted in +this year's census. + +Within ten years there will be no majority race in our largest state, +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. We have members from +virtually every racial, ethnic, and religious background. And America is +stronger for it. But as we have seen, these differences all too often spark +hatred and division, even here at home. + +We have seen a man dragged to death in Texas simply because he was black. A +young man murdered in Wyoming simply because he was gay. In the last year +alone, we've seen the shootings of African Americans, Asian Americans, and +Jewish children simply because of who they were. This is not the American +way. We must draw the line. Without delay, we must pass the Hate Crimes +Prevention Act and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. And we should +reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. + +No American should be subjected to discrimination in finding a home, +getting a job, going to school, or securing a loan. Tonight, I propose the +largest ever investment to enforce America's civil rights laws. Protections +in law must be protections in fact. + +Last February, I created the White House Office of One America to promote +racial reconciliation. That's what Hank Aaron, has done all his life. From +his days as baseball's all-time homerun king to his recent acts of healing, +he has always brought Americans together. We're pleased he's with us +tonight. + +This fall, at the White House, one of America's leading scientists said +something we should all remember. He said all human beings, genetically, +are 99.9 percent the same. So modern science affirms what ancient faith has +always taught: the most important fact of life is our common humanity. + +Therefore, we must do more than tolerate diversity--we must honor it and +celebrate it. + +My fellow Americans, each time I prepare for the State of the Union, I +approach it with great hope and expectations for our nation. But tonight is +special--because we stand on the mountaintop of a new millennium. Behind +us we see the great expanse of American achievement; before us, even +grander frontiers of possibility. + +We should be filled with gratitude and humility for our prosperity and +progress; with awe and joy at what lies ahead; and with absolute +determination to make the most of it. + +When the framers finished crafting our Constitution, Benjamin Franklin +stood in Independence Hall and reflected on a painting of the sun, low on +the horizon. He said, "I have often wondered whether that sun was rising or +setting. Today," Franklin said, "I have the happiness to know it is a +rising sun." Well, today, because each generation of Americans has kept the +fire of freedom burning brightly, lighting those frontiers of possibility, +we still bask in the warmth of Mr. Franklin's rising sun. + +After 224 years, the American Revolution continues. We remain a new nation. +As long as our dreams outweigh our memories, America will be forever young. +That is our destiny. And this is our moment. + +Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OF ADDRESSES BY WILLIAM J. CLINTON *** + +This file should be named sucli11.txt or sucli11.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, sucli12.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, sucli10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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