克林顿总统2000年联邦国情咨文演说
名人演讲稿
Mr.Speaker,Mr.VicePresident,membersofCongress,honoredguests,myfellowAmericans:
Wearefortunatetobealiveatthismomentinhistory.(Applause.)Neverbeforehasournationenjoyed,atonce,somuchprosperityandsocialprogresswithsolittleinternalcrisisandsofewexternalthreats.Neverbeforehavewehadsuchablessedopportunity--and,therefore,suchaprofoundobligation--tobuildthemoreperfectunionofourfounders''''dreams.
Webeginthenewcenturywithover20millionnewjobs;thefastesteconomicgrowthinmorethan30years;thelowestunemploymentratesin30years;thelowestpovertyratesin20years;thelowestAfricanAmericanandHispanicunemploymentratesonrecord;thefirstback-to-backbudgetsurplusesin42years.Andnextmonth,Americawillachievethelongestperiodofeconomicgrowthinourentirehistory.(Applause.)
Wehavebuiltaneweconomy.
AndoureconomicrevolutionhasbeenmatchedbyarevivaloftheAmericanspirit:crimedownby20percent,toitslowestlevelin25years;teenbirthsdownsevenyearsinarow;adoptionsupby30percent;welfarerollscutinhalftotheirlowestlevelsin30years.
MyfellowAmericans,thestateofourunionisthestrongestithaseverbeen.(Applause.)
Asalways,therealcreditbelongstotheAmericanpeople.(Applause.)Mygratitudealsogoestothoseofyouinthischamberwhohaveworkedwithustoputprogressoverpartisanship.
Eightyearsago,itwasnotsocleartomostAmericanstherewouldbemuchtocelebrateintheyear2000.Thenournationwasgrippedbyeconomicdistress,socialdecline,politicalgridlock.Thetitleofabest-sellingbookasked:"America:WhatWentWrong?"
Inthebesttraditionsofournation,Americansdeterminedtosetthingsright.Werestoredthevitalcenter,replacingoutmodedideologieswithanewvisionanchoredinbasic,enduringvalues:opportunityforall,responsibilityfromall,acommunityofallAmericans.Wereinventedgovernment,transformingitintoacatalystfornewideasthatstressbothopportunityandresponsibility,andgiveourpeoplethetoolstheyneedtosolvetheirownproblems.
Withthesmallestfederalworkforcein40years,weturnedrecorddeficitsintorecordsurpluses,anddoubledourinvestmentineducation.Wecutcrime,with100,000communitypoliceandtheBradylaw,whichhaskeptgunsoutofthehandsofhalfamillioncriminals.(Applause.)
Weendedwelfareasweknewit--(applause)--requiringworkwhileprotectinghealthcareandnutritionforchildren,andinvestingmoreinchildcare,transportation,andhousingtohelptheirparentsgotowork.We''''vehelpedparentstosucceedathomeandatwork,withfamilyleave,which20millionsAmericanshavenowusedtocareforanewbornchildorasicklovedone.We''''veengaged150,000youngAmericansincitizenservicethroughAmeriCorps,whilehelpingthemearnmoneyforcollege.
In1992,wejusthadaroadmap;today,wehaveresults.(Applause.)
Butevenmoreimportant,Americaagainhastheconfidencetodreambigdreams.Butwemustnotletthisconfidencedriftintocomplacency.Forwe,allofus,willbejudgedbythedreamsanddeedswepassontoourchildren.Andonthatscore,wewillbeheldtoahighstandard,indeed,becauseourchancetodogoodissogreat.
MyfellowAmericans,wehavecrossedthebridgewebuilttothe21stcentury.Now,wemustshapea21stcenturyAmericanrevolution--ofopportunity,responsibilityandcommunity.Wemustbenow,aswewereinthebeginning,anewnation.
Atthedawnofthelastcentury,TheodoreRooseveltsaid,"theonecharacteristicmoreessentialthananyotherisforesight...itshouldbethegrowingnationwithafuturethattakesthelonglookahead."So,tonight,letustakeourlonglookahead--andsetgreatgoalsforournation.
To21stcenturyAmerica,letuspledgethesethings:Everychildwillbeginschoolreadytolearnandgraduatereadytosucceed.(Applause.)Everyfamilywillbeabletosucceedathomeandatwork,andnochildwillberaisedinpoverty.(Applause.)WewillmeetthechallengeoftheagingofAmerica.Wewillassurequality,affordablehealthcare,atlast,forallAmericans.(Applause.)
WewillmakeAmericathesafestbigcountryonEarth.(Applause.)Wewillpayoffournationaldebtforthefirsttimesince1835.(Applause.)WewillbringprosperitytoeveryAmericancommunity.Wewillreversethecourseofclimatechangeandleaveasafer,cleanerplanet.Americawillleadtheworldtowardsharedpeaceandprosperity,andthefarfrontiersofscienceandtechnology.Andwewillbecomeatlastwhatourfounderspledgedustobesolongago--onenation,underGod,indivisible,withlibertyandjusticeforall.(Applause.)
Thesearegreatgoals,worthyofagreatnation.Wewillnotreachthemallthisyear.Noteveninthisdecade.Butwewillreachthem.LetusrememberthatthefirstAmericanRevolutionwasnotwonwithasingleshot;thecontinentwasnotsettledinasingleyear.Thelessonofourhistory--andthelessonofthelastsevenyears--isthatgreatgoalsarereachedstepbystep,alwaysbuildingonourprogress,alwaysgainingground.
Ofcourse,youcan''''tgaingroundifyou''''restandingstill.AndfortoolongthisCongresshasbeenstandingstillonsomeofourmostpressingnationalpriorities.Solet''''sbegintonightwiththem.
Again,Iaskyoutopassarealpatients''''billofrights.(Applause.)Iaskyoutopasscommon-sensegunsafetylegislation.(Applause.)Iaskyoutopasscampaignfinancereform.(Applause.)Iaskyoutovoteupordownonjudicialnominationsandotherimportantappointees.(Applause.)And,againIaskyou--Iimploreyou--toraisetheminimumwage.(Applause.)
Now,twoyearsago--letmetrytobalancetheseesawhere--(laughter)--twoyearsago,aswereachedacrosspartylinestoreachourfirstbalancedbudget,Iaskedthatwemeetourresponsibilitytothenextgenerationbymaintainingourfiscaldiscipline.Becausewerefusedtostrayfromthatpath,wearedoingsomethingthatwouldhaveseemedunimaginablesevenyearsago.Weareactuallypayingdownthenationaldebt.(Applause.)
Now,ifwestayonthispath,wecanpaydownthedebtentirelyin13justyearsnowandmakeAmericadebt-freeforthefirsttimesinceAndrewJacksonwasPresidentin1835.(Applause.)
In1993,webegantoputourfiscalhouseinorderwiththeDeficitReductionAct,whichyou''''llallrememberwonpassagesinbothHousesbyjustasinglevote.Yourformercolleague,myfirstSecretaryoftheTreasury,ledthateffortandsparkedourlongboom.He''''sherewithustonight.LloydBentsen,youhaveservedAmericawell,andwethankyou.(Applause.)
Beyondpayingoffthedebt,wemustensurethatthebenefitsofdebtreductiongotopreservingtwoofthemostimportantguaranteeswemaketoeveryAmerican--SocialSecurityandMedicare.(Applause.)Tonight,IaskyoutoworkwithmetomakeabipartisandownpaymentonSocialSecurityreformbycreditingtheinterestsavingsfromdebtreductiontotheSocialSecurityTrustFundsothatitwillbestrongandsoundforthenext50years.(Applause.)
Butthisisjustthestartofourjourney.Wemustalsotaketherightstepstowardreachingourgreatgoals.Firstandforemost,weneeda21stcenturyrevolutionineducation,guidedbyourfaiththateverysinglechildcanlearn.(Applause.)Becauseeducationismoreimportantthanever,morethaneverthekeytoourchildren''''sfuture,wemustmakesureallourchildrenhavethatkey.Thatmeansqualitypre-schoolandafter-school,thebesttrainedteachersintheclassroom,andcollegeopportunitiesforallourchildren.(Applause.)
Forsevenyearsnow,we''''veworkedhardtoimproveourschools,withopportunityandresponsibility--investingmore,butdemandingmoreinturn.Reading,math,collegeentrancescoresareup.Someofthemostimpressivegainsareinschoolsinverypoorneighborhoods.
Butallsuccessfulschoolshavefollowedthesameprovenformula:higherstandards,moreaccountability,andextrahelpsochildrenwhoneeditcangetittoreachthosestandards.IhavesentCongressareformplanbasedonthatformula.Itholdsstatesandschooldistrictsaccountableforprogress,andrewardsthemforresults.Eachyear,ournationalgovernmentinvestsmorethan$15billioninourschools.Itistimetosupportwhatworksandstopsupportingwhatdoesn''''t.(Applause.)
Now,aswedemandmorefromourschools,weshouldalsoinvestmoreinourschools.(Applause.)Let''''sdoubleourinvestmenttohelpstatesanddistrictsturnaroundtheirworst-performingschools,orshutthemdown.Let''''sdoubleourinvestmentsinafter-schoolandsummerschoolprograms,whichboostachievementandkeeppeopleoffthestreetsandoutoftrouble.(Applause.)Ifwedothis,wecangiveeverysinglechildineveryfailingschoolinAmerica--everyone--thechancetomeethighstandards.
Since1993,we''''venearlydoubledourinvestmentinHeadStartandimproveditsquality.Tonight,Iaskyouforanother$1billionforHeadStart,thelargestincreaseinthehistoryoftheprogram.(Applause.)
Weknowthatchildrenlearnbestinsmallerclasseswithgoodteachers.Fortwoyearsinarow,Congresshassupportedmyplantohire100,000newqualifiedteacherstolowerclasssizeintheearlygrades.Ithankyouforthat,andIaskyoutomakeitthreeinarow.(Applause.)Andtomakesureallteachersknowthesubjectstheyteach,tonightIproposeanewteacherqualityinitiative--torecruitmoretalentedpeopleintotheclassroom,rewardgoodteachersforstayingthere,andgiveallteachersthetrainingtheyneed.(Applause.)
Weknowcharterschoolsproviderealpublicschoolchoice.WhenIbecamePresident,therewasjustoneindependentpubliccharterschoolinallAmerica.Today,thankstoyou,thereare1,700.Iaskyounowtohelpusmeetourgoalof3,000charterschoolsbynextyear.(Applause.)
WeknowwemustconnectallourclassroomstotheInternet,andwe''''regettingthere.In1994,only3percentofourclassroomswereconnected.Today,withthehelpoftheVicePresident''''sE-rateprogram,morethanhalfofthemare.And90percentofourschoolshaveatleastoneInternetconnection.(Applause.)
Butwecannotfinishthejobwhenathirdofallourschoolsareinseriousdisrepair.Manyofthemhavewallsandwiressoold,they''''retoooldfortheInternet.Sotonight,Iproposetohelp5,000schoolsayearmakeimmediateandurgentrepairs;andagain,tohelpbuildormodernize6,000more,togetstudentsoutoftrailersandintohigh-techclassrooms.(Applause.)
IaskallofyoutohelpmedoubleourbipartisanGear-Upprogram,whichprovidesmentorsfordisadvantagedyoungpeople.Ifwedoubleit,wecanprovidementorsfor1.4millionofthem.(Applause.)Let''''salsoofferthesekidsfromdisadvantagedbackgroundsthesamechancetotakethesamecollegetest-prepcourseswealthierstudentsusetoboosttheirtestscores.(Applause.)
TomaketheAmericanDreamachievableforall,wemustmakecollegeaffordableforall.Forsevenyears,onabipartisanbasis,wehavetakenactiontowardthatgoal:largerPellgrants,moreaffordablestudentloans,educationIRAs,andourHOPEscholarships,whichhavealreadybenefitted5millionyoungpeople.
Now,67percentofhighschoolgraduatesaregoingontocollege.That''''sup10percentsince1993.Yetmillionsoffamiliesstillstraintopaycollegetuition.Theyneedhelp.(Applause.)SoIproposealandmark$30-billioncollegeopportunitytaxcut--amiddleclasstaxdeductionforupto$10,000incollegetuitioncosts.(Applause.)ThepreviousactionsofthisCongresshavealreadymadetwoyearsofcollegeaffordableforall.It''''stimetomakefouryearsofcollegeaffordableforall.(Applause.)Ifwetakeallthesesteps,we''''llmovealongwaytowardmakingsureeverychildstartsschoolreadytolearnandgraduatesreadytosucceed.
Weneeda21stcenturyrevolutiontorewardworkandstrengthenfamilies,bygivingeveryparentthetoolstosucceedatworkandatthemostimportantworkofall--raisingchildren.Thatmeansmakingsureeveryfamilyhashealthcareandthesupporttocareforagingparents,thetoolstobringtheirchildrenupright,andthatnochildgrowsupinpoverty.
FrommyfirstdaysasPresident,we''''veworkedtogivefamiliesbetteraccesstobetterhealthcare.In1997,wepassedtheChildren''''sHealthInsuranceProgram--CHIP--sothatworkerswhodon''''thavecoveragethroughtheiremployersatleastcangetitfortheirchildren.Sofar,we''''veenrolled2millionchildren;we''''rewellonourwaytoourgoalof5million.
Buttherearestillmorethan40millionofourfellowAmericanswithouthealthinsurance--morethantherewerein1993.TonightIproposethatwefollowVicePresidentGore''''ssuggestiontomakelowincomeparentseligiblefortheinsurancethatcoverstheirchildren.(Applause.)Togetherwithourchildren''''sinitiative--thinkofthis--togetherwithourchildren''''sinitiative,thisactionwouldenableustocovernearlyaquarterofalltheuninsuredpeopleinAmerica.
Again,Iwanttoaskyoutoletpeoplebetweentheagesof55and65--thefastestgrowinggroupofuninsured--buyintoMedicare.(Applause.)AndthisyearIproposetogivethemataxcredittomakethatchoiceanaffordableone.Ihopeyouwillsupportthat,aswell.(Applause.)
Whenthebabyboomersretire,Medicarewillbefacedwithcaringfortwiceasmanyofourcitizens;yet,itisfarfromreadytodoso.Mygenerationmustnotaskourchildren''''sgenerationtoshoulderourburden.WesimplymustactnowtostrengthenandmodernizeMedicare.
MybudgetincludesacomprehensiveplantoreformMedicare,tomakeitmoreefficientandcompetitive.Anditdedicatesnearly$400billionofourbudgetsurplustokeepMedicaresolventpast2025.(Applause.)And,atlonglast,italsoprovidesfundstogiveeverysenioravoluntarychoiceofaffordablecoverageforprescriptiondrugs.(Applause.)
Lifesavingdrugsareanindispensablepartofmodernmedicine.NoonecreatingaMedicareprogramtodaywouldeventhinkofexcludingcoverageforprescriptiondrugs.Yetmorethanthreeinfiveofourseniorsnowlackdependabledrugcoveragewhichcanlengthenandenrichtheirlives.MillionsofolderAmericanswhoneedprescriptiondrugsthemostpaythehighestpricesforthem.Ingoodconscience,wecannotletanotheryearpasswithoutextendingtoallourseniorsthislifelineofaffordableprescriptiondrugs.(Applause.)
RecordnumbersofAmericansareprovidingforagingorailinglovedonesathome.It''''saloving,butadifficultandoftenveryexpensivechoice.Lastyear,Iproposeda$1,000taxcreditforlong-termcare.Frankly,itwasn''''tenough.Thisyear,let''''stripleit,to$3,000.(Applause.)Butthisyear,let''''spassit.(Applause.)
Wealsohavetomakeneededinvestmentstoexpandaccesstomentalhealthcare.IwanttotakeamomenttothankthepersonwholedourfirstWhiteHouseConferenceonMentalHealthlastyear,andwhoforsevenyearshasledalloureffortstobreakdownthebarrierstodecenttreatmentofpeoplewithmentalillness.Thankyou,TipperGore.(Applause.)
Takentogether,theseproposalswouldmarkthelargestinvestmentinhealthcareinthe35yearssinceMedicarewascreated--thelargestinvestmentin35years.ThatwouldbeabigsteptowardassuringqualityhealthcareforallAmericans,youngandold.AndIaskyoutoembracethemandpassthem.(Applause.)
Wemustalsomakeinvestmentsthatrewardworkandsupportfamilies.NothingdoesthatbetterthantheEarnedIncomeTaxCredit--theEITC.(Applause.)The"E"intheEITCisaboutearning,working,takingresponsibilityandbeingrewardedforit.Inmyveryfirstaddresstoyou,IaskedCongresstogreatlyexpandthiscredit;andyoudid.Asaresult,in1998alone,theEITChelpedmorethan4.3millionAmericansworktheirwayoutofpovertytowardthemiddleclass.That''''sdoublethenumberin1993.
Tonight,IproposeanothermajorexpansionoftheEITC:toreducethemarriagepenalty,tomakesureitrewardsmarriageasitrewardswork--(applause)--andalso,toexpandthetaxcreditforfamiliesthathavemorethantwochildren.Itpunishespeoplewithmorethantwochildrentoday.(Applause.)Ourproposalwouldallowfamilieswiththreeormorechildrentogetupto$1,100moreintaxrelief.Theseareworkingfamilies;theirchildrenshouldnotbeinpoverty.(Applause.)
Wealsocan''''trewardworkandfamilyunlessmenandwomengetequalpayforequalwork.(Applause.)Today,thefemaleunemploymentrateisthelowestithasbeenin46years.Yet,womenstillonlyearnabout75centsforeverydollarmenearn.Wemustdobetter,byprovidingtheresourcestoenforcepresentequalpaylaws;trainingmorewomenforhigh-paying,high-techjobs;andpassingthePaycheckFairnessAct.(Applause.)
Manyworkingparentsspenduptoaquarter--aquarter--oftheirincomeonchildcare.Lastyear,wehelpedparentsprovidechildcareforabout2millionchildren.Mychildcareinitiative,beforeyounow,alongwithfundsalreadysecuredinwelfarereform,wouldmakechildcarebetter,saferandmoreaffordableforanother400,000children.Iaskyoutopassthat.Theyneeditoutthere--(applause.)
Forhard-pressedmiddle-incomefamilies,weshouldalsoexpandthechildcaretaxcredit.AndIbelievestronglyweshouldtakethenextbigstepandmakethattaxcreditrefundableforlow-incomefamilies.(Applause.)Forpeoplemakingunder$30,000ayear,thatcouldmeanupto$2,400forchildcarecosts.Youknow,weallsaywe''''repro-workandpro-family.Passingthisproposalwouldproveit.(Applause.)
TensofmillionsofAmericanslivefrompaychecktopaycheck.Ashardastheywork,theystilldon''''thavetheopportunitytosave.ToofewcanmakeuseofIRAsand401-Kplans.Weshoulddomoretohelpallworkingfamiliessaveandaccumulatewealth.That''''stheideabehindtheIndividualDevelopmentAccounts,theIDAs.Iaskyoutotakethatideatoanewlevel,withnewRetirementSavingsAccountsthatenableeverylow-andmoderate-incomefamilyinAmericatosaveforretirement,afirsthome,amedicalemergency,oracollegeeducation.Iproposetomatchtheircontributions,howeversmall,dollarfordollar,everyyeartheysave.AndIproposetogiveamajornewtaxcredittoanysmallbusinessthatwillprovideameaningfulpensiontoitsworkers.Thosepeopleoughttohaveretirementaswellastherestofus.(Applause.)
NearlyoneinthreeAmericanchildrengrowsupwithoutafather.Thesechildrenarefivetimesmorelikelytoliveinpovertythanchildrenwithbothparentsathome.Clearly,demandingandsupportingresponsiblefatherhoodiscriticaltoliftingallchildrenoutofpoverty.We''''vedoubledchildsupportcollectionssince1992.AndI''''mproposingtoyoutoughnewmeasurestoholdstillmorefathersresponsible.
Butweshouldrecognizethatalotoffatherswanttodorightbytheirchildren,butneedhelptodoit.CarlosRosasofSt.Paul,Minnesota,wantedtodorightbyhisson,andhegotthehelptodoit.Nowhe''''sgotagoodjobandhesupportshislittleboy.Mybudgetwillhelp40,000morefathersmakethesamechoicesCarlosRosasdid.Ithankhimforbeingheretonight.(Applause.)Standup,Carlos.Thankyou.(Applause.)
Ifthereisanysingleissueonwhichweshouldbeabletoreachacrosspartylines,itisinourcommoncommitmenttorewardworkandstrengthenfamilies,similartowhatwedidlastyear.Wecametogethertohelppeoplewithdisabilitieskeeptheirhealthinsurancewhentheygotowork.AndIthankyouforthat.ThankstooverwhelmingbipartisansupportfromthisCongress,wehaveimprovedfostercare.We''''vehelpedthoseyoungpeoplewholeaveitwhentheyturn18,andwehavedramaticallyincreasedthenumberoffostercarechildrengoingintoadoptivehomes.Ithankallofyouforallofthat.(Applause.)
Ofcourse,Iamforevergratefultothepersonwhohasledoureffortsfromthebeginning,andwho''''sworkedsotirelesslyforchildrenandfamiliesfor30yearsnow:mywife,Hillary.AndIthankher.(Applause.)
IfwetakethestepsI''''vejustdiscussed,wecangoalong,longwaytowardempoweringparentstosucceedathomeandatwork,andensuringthatnochildisraisedinpoverty.Wecanmakethesevitalinvestmentsinhealthcare,education,supportforworkingfamilies,andstilloffertaxcutstohelppayforcollege,forretirement,tocareforagingparents,toreducethemarriagepenalty.Wecandothesethingswithoutforsakingthepathoffiscaldisciplinethatgotustothispointheretonight.
Indeed,wemustmaketheseinvestmentsandthesetaxcutsinthecontextofabalancedbudgetthatstrengthensandextendsthelifeofSocialSecurityandMedicareandpaysdownthenationaldebt.(Applause.)
CrimeinAmericahasdroppedforthepastsevenyears--that''''sthelongestdeclineonrecord--thankstoanationalconsensuswehelpedtoforgeoncommunitypolice,sensiblegunsafetylaws,andeffectiveprevention.Butnobody--nobodyhere,nobodyinAmerica--believeswe''''resafeenough.Soagain,Iaskyoutosetahighergoal.Let''''smakethiscountrythesafestbigcountryintheworld.(Applause.)
Lastfall,Congresssupportedmyplantohire,inadditiontothe100,000communitypolicewe''''vealreadyfunded,50,000more,concentratedinhigh-crimeneighborhoods.Iaskyourcontinuedsupportforthat.
SoonaftertheColumbinetragedy,Congressconsideredcommon-sensegunlegislation,torequireBradybackgroundchecksatthegunshows,childsafetylocksfornewhandguns,andabanontheimportationoflarge-capacityammunitionclips.Withcourage--andatie-breakingvotebytheVicePresident--(applause)--theSenatefaceddownthegunlobby,stoodupfortheAmericanpeople,andpassedthislegislation.ButtheHousefailedtofollowsuit.
Now,wehaveallseenwhathappenswhengunsfallintothewronghands.DanielMauserwasonly15yearsoldwhenhewasgunneddownatColumbine.Hewasanamazingkid--astraight-Astudent,agoodskier.Likeallparentswholosetheirchildren,hisfatherTomhasborneunimaginablegrief.Somehowhehasfoundthestrengthtohonorhissonbytransforminghisgriefintoaction.Earlierthismonth,hetookaleaveofabsencefromhisjobtofightfortoughergunsafetylaws.IpraythathiscourageandwisdomwillatlonglastmovethisCongresstomakecommon-sensegunlegislationtheverynextorderofbusiness.(Applause.)
TomMauser,standup.Wethankyouforbeingheretonight.(Applause.)Tom.Thankyou,Tom.(Applause.)
Wemuststrengthenourgunlawsandenforcethosealreadyonthebooksbetter.(Applause.)Federalguncrimeprosecutionsareup16percentsinceItookoffice.Butwemustdomore.IproposetohiremorefederalandlocalgunprosecutorsandmoreATFagentstocrackdownonillegalguntraffickersandbad-appledealers.Andwemustgivethemtheenforcementtoolsthattheyneed,toolstotraceeverygunandeverybulletusedineverygunc