克林顿国情咨文 [克林顿总统1999年联邦国情咨文演说]

克林顿总统1999年联邦国情咨文演说

　 名人演讲稿

　 Mr.Speaker,Mr.VicePresident,membersofCongress,honoredguests,myfellowAmericans.TonightIhavethehonorofreportingtoyouontheStateoftheUnion.

　 LetmebeginbysalutingthenewspeakeroftheHouseandthankinghimespeciallytonightforextendinganinvitationtotwoguestssittinginthegallerywithMrs.[J.Dennis]Hastert.LynGibsonandWeiLingChestnutarethewidowsofthetwobraveCapitolHillpoliceofficerswhogavetheirlivestodefendfreedom''''shouse.

　 Mr.Speaker,atyourswearinginyouaskedusalltoworktogetherinaspiritofcivilityandbipartisanship.Mr.Speaker,let''''sdoexactlythat.

　 Tonight,IstandbeforeyoutoreportthatAmericahascreatedthelongestpeacetimeeconomicexpansioninourhistory.Withnearly18millionnewjobs,wagesrisingatmorethantwicetherateofinflation,thehighesthomeownershipinhistory,thesmallestwelfarerolesin30years,andthelowestpeacetimeunemploymentsince1957.

　 Forthefirsttimeinthreedecades,thebudgetisbalanced.Fromadeficitof$290billionin1992,wehadasurplusof$70billionlastyear.Andnow,weareoncourseforbudgetsurplusesforthenext25years.

　 Thankstothepioneeringleadershipofallofyou,wehavethelowestviolentcrimerateinaquartercenturyandthecleanestenvironmentinaquartercentury.

　 Americaisastrongforceforpeace?CfromNorthernIrelandtoBosniatotheMiddleEast.

　 ThankstotheleadershipofVicePresidentGore,wehaveagovernmentfortheInformationAge,onceagainagovernmentthatisaprogressiveinstrumentofthecommongood,rootedinouroldestvaluesofopportunity,responsibilityandcommunity,devotedtofiscalresponsibility,determinedtogiveourpeoplethetoolstheyneedtomakethemostoftheirownlivesinthe21stcentury,a21stcenturygovernmentfor21stcenturyAmerica.

　 MyfellowAmericans,Istandbeforeyoutonighttoreportthatthestateofourunionisstrong.Now,Americaisworkingagain.Thepromiseofourfutureislimitless.Butwecannotrealizethatpromiseifweallowthehumofourprosperitytolullusintocomplacency.Howwefareasanationfarintothe21stcenturydependsuponwhatwedoasanationtoday.

　 So,withourbudgetsurplusgrowing,oureconomyexpanding,ourconfidencerising,nowisthemomentforthisgenerationtomeetourhistoricresponsibilitytothe21stcentury.

　 Ourfiscaldisciplinegivesusanunsurpassedopportunitytoaddressaremarkablenewchallenge,theagingofAmerica.WiththenumberofelderlyAmericanssettodoubleby2030,thebabyboomwillbecomeaseniorboom.

　 Sofirstandaboveall,wemustsaveSocialSecurityforthe21stcentury.

　 Earlyinthiscentury,beingoldmeantbeingpoor.WhenPresident[FranklinD.]RooseveltcreatedSocialSecurity,thousandswrotetothankhimforeliminatingwhatonewomancalled"thestarkterrorofpenniless,helplessoldage."Eventoday,withoutSocialSecurity,halfournation''''selderlywouldbeforcedintopoverty.

　 Today,SocialSecurityisstrong,butby2020,payrolltaxeswillnolongerbesufficienttocovermonthlypayments.By2032,thetrustfundwillbeexhaustedandSocialSecuritywillbeunabletopaythefullbenefitsolderAmericanshavebeenpromised.

　 ThebestwaytokeepSocialSecurityarocksolidguaranteeisnottomakedrasticcutsinbenefits;nottoraisepayrolltaxrates;nottodrainresourcesfromSocialSecurityinthenameofsavingit.Instead,IproposethatwemakethehistoricdecisiontoinvestthesurplustosaveSocialSecurity.

　 Specifically,Iproposethatwecommit60percentofthebudgetsurplusforthenext15yearstoSocialSecurity,investingasmallportionintheprivatesectorjustasanyprivateorstategovernmentpensionwoulddo.ThiswillearnahigherreturnandkeepSocialSecuritysoundfor55years.

　 Butwemustaimhigher.WeshouldputSocialSecurityonasoundfootingforthenext75years.Weshouldreducepovertyamongelderlywomen,whoarenearlytwiceaslikelytobepoorasareotherseniors.AndweshouldeliminatethelimitsonwhatseniorsonSocialSecuritycanearn.

　 Now,thesechangeswillrequiredifficult,butfullyachievablechoicesoverandabovethededicationofthesurplus.Theymustbemadeonabipartisanbasis.Theyshouldbemadethisyear.Soletmesaytoyoutonight,IreachoutmyhandtoallofyouinbothhousesinbothpartiesandaskthatwejointogetherinsayingtotheAmericanpeople,wewillsaveSocialSecuritynow.

　 Now,lastyear,wewiselyreservedallofthesurplusuntilweknewwhatitwouldtaketosaveSocialSecurity.Again,Isay,weshouldn''''tspendanyofit,notanyofit,untilafterSocialSecurityistrulysaved.Firstthing''''sfirst.

　 Second,oncewehavesavedSocialSecurity,wemustfulfillourobligationtosaveandimproveMedicare.AlreadywehaveextendedthelifeoftheMedicaretrustfundby10years,butweshouldextenditforatleastanotherdecade.Tonight,Iproposethatweuseoneoutofeverysixdollarsinthesurplusforthenext15yearstoguaranteethesoundnessofMedicareuntiltheyear2020.

　 But,again?Cbut,again,weshouldaimhigher.Wemustbewillingtoworkinabipartisanwayandlookatnewideas,includingtheupcomingreportoftheBipartisanMedicareCommission.Ifweworktogether,wecansecureMedicareforthenexttwodecadesandcoverthegreatestgrowingneedofseniors?Caffordableprescriptiondrugs.

　 Third,wemusthelpallAmericansfromtheirfirstdayonthejobtosave,toinvest,tocreatewealth.

　 Fromitsbeginnings,AmericanshavesupplementedSocialSecuritywithprivatepensionsandsavings.YettodaymillionsofpeopleretirewithlittletoliveonotherthanSocialSecurity.Americanslivinglongerthaneversimplymustsavemorethanever.

　 Therefore,inadditiontosavingSocialSecurityandMedicare,Iproposeanewpensioninitiativeforretirementsecurityinthe21stcentury.Iproposethatweusealittleover11percentofthesurplustoestablishuniversalsavingsaccounts?CUSAaccounts?CtogiveallAmericansthemeanstosave.

　 Withthesenewaccounts,Americanscaninvestastheychooseandreceivefundstomatchaportionoftheirsavingswithextrahelpforthoseleastabletosave.USAaccountswillhelpallAmericanstoshareinournation''''swealthandtoenjoyamoresecureretirement.Iaskyoutosupportthem.

　 Fourth,wemustinvestinlong-termcare.

　 Iproposeataxcreditof$1,000fortheaged,ailingordisabledandthefamilieswhocareforthem.Long-termcarewillbecomeabiggerandbiggerchallengewiththeagingofAmerica?Candwemustdomoretohelpourfamiliesdealwithit.

　 Iwasbornin1946,thefirstyearofthebabyboom.Icantellyouthatoneofthegreatestconcernsofourgenerationisourabsolutedeterminationnottoletourgrowingoldplaceanintolerableburdenonourchildrenandtheirabilitytoraiseourgrandchildren.

　 Oureconomicsuccessandourfiscaldisciplinenowgiveustheopportunitytoliftthatburdenfromtheirshoulders,andweshouldtakeit.

　 SavingSocialSecurity,Medicare,creatingU.S.accounts,thisistherightwaytousethesurplus.Ifwedoso,ifwedoso,wewillstillhaveresourcestomeetcriticalneedsandeducationanddefense.

　 AndIwanttopointoutthatthisproposalisfiscallysound.Listentothis,ifwesetaside60percentofthesurplusforSocialSecurityand16percentforMedicareoverthenext15years,thatsavingswillachievethelowestlevelofpublicly-helddebtsincerightbeforeWorldWarIin1917.

　 Sowiththesefourmeasures;savingSocialSecurity,strengtheningMedicare,establishingtheUSAaccounts,supportinglong-termcare,wecanbegintomeetourgeneration''''shistoricresponsibilitytoestablishtruesecurityfor21stcenturyseniors.

　 Now,therearemorechildren,frommorediversebackgrounds,inourpublicschoolsthatanytimeinourhistory.Theireducationmustprovidetheknowledgeandnurturethecreativitythatwillallowourentirenationtothriveintheneweconomy.

　 Todaywecansaysomethingwecouldn''''tsaysixyearsago.Withtaxcreditsandmoreaffordablestudentloans,withmorework-studygrantsandmorePellGrants,witheducationIRAs,thenewHOPEScholarshiptaxcutthatmorethanfivemillionAmericanswillreceivethisyear,wehavefinallyopenedthedoorsofcollegetoallAmericans.

　 Withoursupport,nearlyeverystatehassethigheracademicstandardsforpublicschoolsandavoluntarynationaltestisbeingdevelopedtomeasuretheprogressofourstudents.Withover$1billionindiscountsavailablethisyear,wearewellonourwaytoourgoalofconnectingeveryclassroomandlibrarytotheInternet.

　 Lastfall,youpassedourproposaltostarthiring100,000newteacherstoreduceclasssizeintheearlygrades.NowIaskyoutofinishthejob.

　 Youknowourchildrenaredoingbetter.SATscoresareup.Mathscoreshaveriseninnearlyallgrades.Butthere''''saproblem.Whileourfourth-gradersoutperformedtheirpeersinothercountriesinmathandscience,oureighth-gradersarearoundaverage,andour12th-gradersranknearthebottom.Wemustdobetter.

　 Noweachyearthenationalgovernmentinvestsmorethan$15billioninourpublicschools.Ibelievewemustchangethewayweinvestthatmoneytosupportwhatworksandtostopsupportingwhatdoesnotwork.

　 First,laterthisyearIwillsendtoCongressaplanthatforthefirsttimeholdsstatesandschooldistrictsaccountableforprogressandrewardsthemforresults.MyEducationAccountabilityActwillrequireeveryschooldistrictreceivingfederalhelptotakethefollowingfivesteps:

　 First,allschoolsmustendsocialpromotion.

　 Now,nochild,nochildshouldgraduatefromhighschoolwithadiplomaheorshecan''''tread.Wedoourchildrennofavorswhenweallowthemtopassfromgradetogradewithoutmasteringthematerial.Butwecan''''tjustholdstudentsbackbecausethesystemfailsthem.

　 Somybalancedbudgettriplesthefundingforsummerschoolandafter-schoolprogramstokeepamillionchildrenlearning.Now,if?Cifyoudoubtthiswillwork,justlookatChicago,whichendedsocialpromotionandmadesummerschoolmandatoryforthosewhodon''''tmasterthebasics.Mathandreadingscoresareupthreeyearsrunningwithsomeofthebiggestgainsinsomeofthepoorestneighborhoods.Itwillwork,andweshoulddoit.

　 Second,allstatesandschooldistrictsmustturnaroundtheirworstperformingschoolsorshutthemdown.That''''sthepolicyestablishedinNorthCarolinabyGovernorJimHunt.NorthCarolinamadethebiggestgainsintestscoresinthenationlastyear.Ourbudgetincludes$200milliontohelpstatesturnaroundtheirownfailingschools.

　 Third,allstatesandschooldistrictsmustbeheldresponsibleforthequalityoftheirteachers.Thegreatmajorityofourteachersdoafinejob,butintoomanyschoolsteachersdon''''thavecollegemajorsorevenminorsinthesubjectstheyteach.Newteachersshouldberequiredtopassperformanceexams,andallteachersshouldknowthesubjecttheirteaching.

　 Thisyear''''sbalancedbudgetcontainsresourcestohelpthemreachhigherstandards.Andtoattracttalentedyoungteacherstothetoughestassignments,Irecommendasix-foldincreaseinourprogramforcollegescholarshipsforstudentswhocommittoteachintheinner-citiesandisolatedruralareasandinIndiancommunities.LetusbringexcellencetoeverypartofAmerica.

　 Fourth,wemustempowerparentswithmoreinformationandmorechoices.Intoomanycommunitiesit''''seasiertogetinformationonthequalityofthelocalrestaurantsthanonthequalityofthelocalschools.

　 Everyschooldistrictshouldissuereportcardsoneveryschool.Andparentsshouldbegivenmorechoicesinselectingtheirpublicschools.

　 WhenIbecamepresident,therewasjustoneindependentpubliccharterschoolinallAmerica.Withoursupportonabipartisanbasis,todaythereare1,100.Mybudgetassuresthatearlyinthenextcentury,therewillbe3,000.

　 Fifth,toassurethatourclassroomsaretrulyplacesoflearning,andtorespondtowhatteachershavebeenaskingustodoforyears,weshouldsaythatallstatesandschooldistrictsmustbothadoptandimplementsensibledisciplinepolicies.

　 Nowlet''''sdoonemorethingforourchildren.Today,toomanyschoolsaresooldthey''''refallingapart,orsoovercrowdedstudentsarelearningintrailers.Lastfall,Congressmissedtheopportunitytochangethat.Thisyear,with53millionchildreninourschools,Congressmustnotmissthatopportunityagain.Iaskyoutohelpourcommunitiesbuildormodernize5,000schools.

　 Ifwedothesethings?Cendsocialpromotion,turnaroundfailingschools,buildmodernones,supportqualifiedteachers,promoteinnovation,competitionanddiscipline?Cthenwewillbegintomeetourgeneration''''shistoricresponsibilitytocreateto21stcenturyschools.

　 Now,wealsohavetodomoretosupportthemillionsofparentswhogivetheiralleverydayathomeandatwork.

　 Themostbasictoolofallisadecentincome.Solet''''sraisetheminimumwagebyadollaranhouroverthenexttwoyears.

　 Andlet''''smakesurethatwomenandmengetequalpayforequalworkbystrengtheningenforcementoftheequalpaylaws.

　 (Applause,cheering)

　 Thatwasencouraging,youknow?Therewasmorebalanceontheseesaw.Ilikethat.Let''''sgivethemahand.That''''sgreat.

　 Workingparentsalsoneedqualitychildcare.So,againthisyear,IaskCongresstosupportourplanfortaxcreditsandsubsidiesforworkingfamilies,forimprovedsafetyandquality,forexpandedafter-schoolprogram.Andourplanalsoincludesanewtaxcreditforstay-at-homeparents,too.Theyneedsupportaswell.

　 Parentsshouldneverhavetoworryaboutchoosingbetweentheirchildrenandtheirwork.Now,theFamilyandMedicalLeaveAct,theveryfirstbillIsignedintolaw,hasnow,since1993,helpedmillionsandmillionsofAmericanstocareforanewbornbabyoranailingrelativewithoutriskingtheirjobs.Ithinkit''''stime,withalloftheevidencethatithasbeensolittleburdensometoemployers,toextendfamilyleaveto10millionmoreAmericansworkingforsmallercompanies,andIhopeyouwillsupportit.

　 Finally,onthematterofwork,parentsshouldneverhavetofacediscriminationintheworkplace.SoIwanttoaskCongresstoprohibitcompaniesfromrefusingtohireorpromoteworkerssimplybecausetheyhavechildren.Thatisnotright.

　 America''''sfamiliesdeservetheworld''''sbestmedicalcare.Thankstobipartisanfederalsupportformedicalresearch,wearenotonthevergeofnewtreatmentstopreventordelaydiseasesfromParkinson''''stoAlzheimer''''stoarthritistocancer.Butaswecontinueouradvancesinmedicalscience,wecan''''tletourmedicalsystemlagbehind.

　 ManagedcarehasliterallytransformedmedicineinAmerica,drivingdowncosts,butthreateningtodrivedownqualityaswell.

　 IthinkweoughttosaytoeveryAmerican,youshouldhavetherighttoknowallyoumedicaloptions,notjustthecheapest.Ifyouneedaspecialist,youshouldhavearighttoseeone.Youhavearighttothenearestemergencycareifyou''''reinanaccident.Thesearethingsthatweoughttosay.AndIthinkweoughttosayyoushouldhavearighttokeepyourdoctorduringaperiodoftreatmentwhetherit''''sapregnancyorachemotherapytreatmentoranythingelse.Ibelievethis.

　 NowI''''veorderedtheserightstobeextendedtothe85millionAmericansservedbyMedicare,Medicaidandotherfederalhealthprograms.ButonlyCongresscanpassaPatients''''BillofRightsforallAmericans.

　 Lastyear,Congressmissedthatopportunity,andwemustnotmissthatopportunityagain.Forthesakeofourfamilies,IaskustojointogetheracrosspartylinesandpassastrongenforceablePatients''''BillofRights.

　 Asmoreofourmedicalrecordsarestoredelectronically,thethreatstoallofourprivacyincrease.BecauseCongresshasgivenmetheauthoritytoactifitdoesnotdosobyAugust,onewayoranother,wecanallsaytotheAmericanpeople,wewillprotecttheprivacyofmedicalrecordsthisyear.

　 Now,twoyearsago,weactedtoextendhealthcoveragetouptofivemillionchildren.Nowweshouldgobeyondthat.Weshouldmakeiteasierforsmallbusinessestoofferhealthinsurance.Weshouldgivepeoplebetweentheagesof55and65wholosetheirhealthinsurancethechancetobuyintoMedicare.

　 Andweshouldcontinuetoensureaccesstofamilyplanning.Nooneshouldhavetochoosebetweenkeepinghealthcareandtakingajob.Andtherefore,IespeciallyaskyoutonighttojoinhandstopassthelandmarkbipartisanlegislationproposedbySens.[EdwardM.]Kennedy(D-Mass.)and[JamesM.]Jeffords(R-Vt.),[WilliamV.]Roth[Jr.](R-Del.)and[DanielPatrick]Moynihan(D-N.Y.),toallowpeoplewithdisabilitiestokeeptheirhealthinsurancewhentheygotowork.

　 Weneedtoenableourpublichospitals,ourcommunity,ouruniversityhealthcenterstoprovidebasic,affordablecareforallthemillionsofworkingfamilieswhodon''''thaveanyinsurance.Theydoalotofthattoday,butmuchmorecanbedone.Andmybalancedbudgetmakesagooddownpaymenttowardthatgoal.Ihopeyouwillthinkaboutthemandsupportthatprovision.

　 Letmesaywemuststepupoureffortstotreatandpreventmentalillness.NoAmericanshouldeverbeable?Cafraidevertoaddressthisdisease.ThisyearwewillhostaWhiteHouseConferenceonMentalHealth.Withsensitivity,commitmentandpassion,TipperGoreisleadingoureffortshere,andI''''dliketothankherforwhatshe''''sdone.Thankyou.Thankyou.

　 Aseveryoneknows,ourchildrenaretargetsofamassivemediacampaigntohookthemoncigarettes.Now,IaskthisCongresstoresistthetobaccolobby,toreaffirmtheFDA''''sauthoritytoprotectourchildrenfromtobaccoandtoholdtobaccocompaniesaccountable,whileprotectingtobaccofarmers.

　 SmokinghascosttaxpayershundredsofbillionsofdollarsunderMedicareandotherprograms.Youknow,thestateshavebeenrightaboutthis.Taxpayersshouldn''''tpayforthecostoflungcancer,emphysema,andothersmoking-relatedillnesses,thetobaccocompaniesshould.

　 SotonightIannouncethattheJusticeDepartmentispreparingalitigationplantotakethetobaccocompaniestocourtandwiththefundswerecovertostrengthenMedicare.

　 Now,ifweactintheseareas?Cminimumwage,familyleave,childcare,healthcare,thesafetyofourchildren?Cthenwewillbegintomeetourgeneration''''shistoricresponsibilitiestostrengthenourfamiliesforthe21stcentury.

　 Today,Americaisthemostdynamic,competitive,job-creatingeconomyinhistory,butwecandoevenbetterinbuildinga21stcenturyeconomythatembracesallAmericans.

　 Today''''sincomegapislargelyaskillsgap.Lastyear,theCongresspassedalawenablingworkerstogetaskillsgranttochoosethetrainingtheyneed.AndIapplaudallofyouherewhowerepartofthat.

　 Thisyear,Irecommendafive-yearcommitmenttothenewsystem,sothatwecanprovideoverthenextfiveyearsappropriatetrainingopportunitiesforallAmericanswholosetheirjobsandexpandrapidresponseteamstohelpalltownswhichhavebeenreallyhurtwhenbusinessesclose.Ihopeyouwillsupportthis.

　 Also,Iaskyoursupportforadramaticincreaseinfederalsupportforadultliteracytomountanationalcampaignaimedathelpingthemillionsandmillionsofworkingpeoplewhostillreadatlessthanafifth-gradelevel.Weneedtodothis.

　 Here''''ssomegoodnews.Inthepastsixyears,wehavecutthewelfarerollsnearlyinhalf.

　 Twoyearsago,fromthispodium,Iaskedfivecompaniestoleadanationalefforttohirepeopleoffwelfare.Tonightourwelfare-to-workpartnershipincludes10,000companieswhohavehiredhundredsofthousandsofpeople,andourbalancedbudgetwillhelpanother200,000peoplemovetothedignityandprideofwork.Ihopeyouwillsupportit.

　 WemustbringthesparkofprivateenterprisetoeverycornerofAmerica,tobuildabridgefromWallStreettoAppalachiatotheMississippiDelta,toourNativeAmericancommunities,withmoresupportforcommunitydevelopmentbanksforempowermentzones,for100,000morevouchersforaffordablehousing.

　 AndIaskCongresstosupportourboldnewplantohelpbusinessesraiseupto$15billioninprivatesectorcapital,tobringjobsandopportunitiesandinnercities,ruralareas,withtaxcredits,loanguarantees,includingthenewAmericanPrivateInvestmentCompanies,modeledontheOverseasPrivateInvestmentCompanies.

　 Now,foryearsandyearswe''''vehadthisOPIC,thisOverseasPrivateInvestmentCorporation,becauseweknewwehaduntappedmarketsoverseas.Butourgreatestuntappedmarketsarenotoverseas?Ctheyarerighthereathome.Andweshouldgoafterthem.

　 Wemustworkhardtohelpbringprosperitybacktothefamilyfarm.

　 AsthisCongressknowsverywell,droppingpricesandthelossofforeignmarketshavedevastatedtoomanyfamilyfarmers.Lastyear,theCongressprovidedsubstantialassistancetohelpstaveoffadisasterinAmericanagriculture,andIamreadytoworkwithlawmakersofbothpartiestocreateafarmsafetynetthatwillincludecropinsurancereformandfarmincomeassistance.

　 Iaskyoutojoinwithmeanddothis.Thisshouldnotbeapoliticalissue.EveryoneknowswhataneconomicproblemisgoingonoutthereinruralAmericatoday,andweneedanappropriatemeanstoaddressit.

　 Wemuststrengthenourleadintechnology.ItwasgovernmentinvestmentthatledtothecreationoftheInternet.Iproposea28-percentincreaseinlong-termcomputingresearch.

　 Wealsomustbereadyforthe21stcenturyfromitsveryfirstmomentbysolvingtheso-calledY2Kcomputerproblem.WehadonememberofCongressstandupandapplaud.Andwemayhaveaboutthatrationoutthereapplaudingathomeinfrontoftheirtelevisionsets.Butremember,thisisabig,bigproblem,andwe''''vebeenworkinghardonit.Alreadywe''''vemadesurethattheSocialSecuritycheckswillcomeontime.

　 ButIwantallthefolksathomelisteningtothistoknowthatweneedeverystateandlocalgovernment,everybusinesslargeandsmalltoworkwithustomakesurethatthisY2Kcomputerbugwillberememberedasthelastheadacheofthe20thcentury,notthefirstcrisisofthe21st.

　 Forourownprosperity,wemustsupporteconomicgrowthabroad.Youknow,untilrecentlyathirdofoureconomicgrowthcamefromexports.Butoverthepastyearandahalf,financialturmoilhasputthatgrowthatrisk.Today,muchoftheworldisinrecession,withAsiahitespeciallyhard.Thisisthemostseriousfinancialcrisisinhalfacentury.

　 Tomeetit,theU.S.andothernationshavereducedinterestratesandstrengthenedtheInternationalMonetaryFundandwhiletheturmoilisnotover,wehaveworkedveryhardwithothernationstocontainit.

　 Atthesametime,wewillcontinuetoworkonthelong-termproject:buildingaglobalfinancialsystemforthe21stcentur

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