克林顿总统1999年联邦国情咨文演说.doc

克林顿总统1999年联邦国情咨文演说 名人演讲稿 Mr.eaker,Mr.VicePresident,membersofCongre,honoredguests,myfellowAmerica.TonightIhavethehonorofreportingtoyouontheStateoftheUnion. LetmebeginbysalutingtheneweakeroftheHouseandthankinghimeeciallytonightforextendinganinvitationtotwoguestssittinginthegallerywithMrs.J.DeisHastert.LynGionandWeiLingChestnutarethewidowsofthetwobraveCapitolHillpoliceofficerswhogavetheirlivestodefendfreedomshouse. Mr.eaker,atyourswearinginyouaskedusalltoworktogetherinairitofcivilityandbipartisahip.Mr.eaker,letsdoexactlythat. Tonight,IstandbeforeyoutoreportthatAmericahascreatedthelongestpeacetimeeconomicexpaioninourhistory.Withnearly18millionnewjo,wagesrisingatmorethantwicetherateofinflation,thehighesthomeownershipinhistory,thesmallestwelfarerolesin30years,andthelowestpeacetimeunemploymentsince1957. Forthefirsttimeinthreedecades,thebudgetisbalanced.Fromadeficitof$290billionin1992,wehadasurplusof$70billionlastyear.Andnow,weareoncourseforbudgetsurplusesforthenext25years. Thankstothepioneeringleadershipofallofyou,wehavethelowestviolentcrimerateinaquartercenturyandthecleanestenvironmentinaquartercentury. AmericaisastrongforceforpeacefromNorthernIrelandtoBoiatotheMiddleEast. ThankstotheleadershipofVicePresidentGore,wehaveagovernmentfortheInformationAge,onceagainagovernmentthatisaprogreiveitrumentofthemongood,rootedinouroldestvaluesofoortunity,reoibilityandmunity,devotedtofiscalreoibility,determinedtogiveourpeoplethetoolstheyneedtomakethemostoftheirownlivesinthe21stcentury,a21stcenturygovernmentfor21stcenturyAmerica. MyfellowAmerica,Istandbeforeyoutonighttoreportthatthestateofourunionisstrong.Now,Americaisworkingagain.Thepromiseofourfutureislimitle.Butwecaotrealizethatpromiseifweallowthehumofourproeritytolullusintoplacency.Howwefareasanationfarintothe21stcenturydependsuponwhatwedoasanationtoday. So,withourbudgetsurplusgrowing,oureconomyexpanding,ourconfidencerising,nowisthemomentforthisge Ourfiscaldisciplinegivesusanuurpaedoortunitytoaddrearemarkablenewchallenge,theagingofAmerica.WiththenumberofelderlyAmericasettodoubleby2030,thebabyboomwillbeeaseniorboom. Sofirstandaboveall,wemustsaveSocialSecurityforthe21stcentury. Earlyinthiscentury,beingoldmeantbeingpoor.WhenPresidentFranklinD.RooseveltcreatedSocialSecurity,thousandswrotetothankhimforeliminatingwhatonewomancalledthestarkterrorofpeile,helpleoldage.Eventoday,withoutSocialSecurity,halfournationselderlywouldbeforcedintopoverty. Today,SocialSecurityisstrong,butbyxx,payrolltaxeswillnolongerbesufficienttocovermonthlypayments.By2032,thetrustfundwillbeexhaustedandSocialSecuritywillbeunabletopaythefullbenefitsolderAmericahavebeenpromised. ThebestwaytokeepSocialSecurityarocksolidguaranteeisnottomakedrastiutsinbenefitnottoraisepayrolltaxratenottodrainresourcesfromSocialSecurityinthenameofsavingit.Itead,IproposethatwemakethehistoricdecisiontoinvestthesurplustosaveSocialSecurity. ecifically,Iproposethatwemit60percentofthebudgetsurplusforthenext15yearstoSocialSecurity,investingasmallportionintheprivatesectorjustasanyprivateorstategovernmentpeionwoulddo.ThiswillearnahigherreturnandkeepSocialSecuritysoundfor55years. Butwemustaimhigher.WeshouldputSocialSecurityonasoundfootingforthenext75years.Weshouldreducepovertyamongelderlywomen,whoarenearlytwiceaslikelytobepoorasareotherseniors.AndweshouldeliminatethelimitsonwhatseniorsonSocialSecuritycanearn. Now,thesechangeswillrequiredifficult,butfullyachievablechoicesoverandabovethededicationofthesurplus.Theymustbemadeonabipartisanbasis.Theyshouldbemadethisyear.Soletmesaytoyoutonight,IreachoutmyhandtoallofyouinbothhousesinbothpartiesandaskthatwejointogetherinsayingtotheAmericanpeople,wewillsaveSocialSecuritynow. Now,lastyear,wewiselyreservedallofthesurplusuntilweknewwhatitwouldtaketosaveSocialSecurity.Again,Isay,weshouldntendanyofit,notanyofit,untilafterSocialSecurityistrulysaved.Firstthingsfirst. Second,oncewehavesavedSocialSecurity,wemustfulfillourobligationtosaveandimproveMedicare.AlreadywehaveextendedthelifeoftheMedicaretrustfundby10years,butweshouldextenditforatleastanotherdecade.Tonight,Iproposethatweuseoneoutofeverysixdollarsinthesurplusforthenext15yearstoguaranteethesoundneofMedicareuntiltheyear2020. But,againbut,again,weshouldaimhigher.Wemustbewillingtoworkinabipartisanwayandlookatnewideas,includingtheupingreportoftheBipartisanMedicareCommiion.Ifweworktogether,wecansecureMedicareforthenexttwodecadesandcoverthegreatestgrowingneedofseniorsaffordableprescriptiondrugs. Third,wemusthelpallAmericafromtheirfirstdayonthejobtosave,toinvest,tocreatewealth. Fromitsbegiings,AmericahavesulementedSocialSecuritywithprivatepeioandsavings.YettodaymillioofpeopleretirewithlittletoliveonotherthanSocialSecurity.Americalivinglongerthaneversimplymustsavemorethanever. Therefore,inadditiontosavingSocialSecurityandMedicare,Iproposeanewpeioninitiativeforretirementsecurityinthe21stcentury.Iproposethatweusealittleover11percentofthesurplustoestablishuniversalsavingsaountsUSAaountstogiveallAmericathemeatosave. Withthesenewaounts,Americacaninvestastheychooseandreceivefundstomatchaportionoftheirsavingswithextrahelpforthoseleastabletosave.USAaountswillhelpallAmericatoshareinournationswealthandtoenjoyamoresecureretirement.Iaskyoutosuortthem. Fourth,wemustinvestinlong-termcare. Iproposeataxcreditof$1,000fortheaged,ailingordisabledandthefamilieswhocareforthem.Long-termcarewillbeeabiggerandbiggerchallengewiththeagingofAmericaandwemustdomoretohelpourfamiliesdealwithit. Iwasbornin1946,thefirstyearofthebabyboom.Icantellyouthatoneofthegreatestconcerofourgenerationisouraolutedeterminationnottoletourgrowingoldplaceanintolerableburdenonourchildrenandtheirabilitytoraiseourgrandchildren. Oureconomicsueandourfiscaldisciplinenowgiveustheoortunitytoliftthatburdenfromtheirshoulders,andweshouldtakeit. SavingSocialSecurity,Medicare,creatingU.S.aounts,thisistherightwaytousethesurplus.Ifwedoso,ifwedoso,wewillstillhaveresourcestomeetcriticalneedsandeducationanddefee. AndIwanttopointoutthatthisproposalisfiscallysound.Listentothis,ifwesetaside60percentofthesurplusforSocialSecurityand16percentforMedicareoverthenext15years,thatsavingswillachievethelowestlevelofpublicly-helddebtsincerightbeforeWorldWarIin1917. SowiththesefourmeasuresavingSocialSecurity,strengtheningMedicare,establishingtheUSAaounts,suortinglong-termcare,wecanbegintomeetourgenerationshistoricreoibilitytoestablishtruesecurityfor21stcenturyseniors. Now,therearemorechildren,frommorediversebackgrounds,inourpublicschoolsthatanytimeinourhistory.Theireducationmustprovidetheknowledgeandnurturethecreativitythatwillallowourentirenationtothriveintheneweconomy. Todaywecansaysomethingwecouldntsaysixyearsago.Withtaxcreditsandmoreaffordablestudentloa,withmorework-studygrantsandmorePellGrants,witheducationIRAs,thenewHOPEScholarshiptaxcutthatmorethanfivemillionAmericawillreceivethisyear,wehavefinallyopenedthedoorsofcollegetoallAmerica. Withoursuort,nearlyeverystatehassethigheracademicstandardsforpublicschoolsandavoluntarynationaltestisbeingdevelopedtomeasuretheprogreofourstudents.Withover$1billionindiscountsavailablethisyear,wearewellonourwaytoourgoalofcoectingeveryclaroomandlibrarytotheInter. Lastfall,youpaedourproposaltostarthiring100,000newteacherstoreduceclasizeintheearlygrades.NowIaskyoutofinishthejob. Youknowourchildrenaredoingbetter.SATscoresareup.Mathscoreshaveriseninnearlyallgrades.Buttheresaproblem.Whileourfourth-gradersoutperformedtheirpeersinothercountriesinmathandscience,oureighth-gradersarearoundaverage,andour12th-gradersranknearthebottom.Wemustdobetter. Noweachyearthenationalgovernmentinvestsmorethan$15billioninourpublicschools.Ibelievewemustchangethewayweinvestthatmoneytosuortwhatworksandtostopsuortingwhatdoesnotwork. First,laterthisyearIwillsendtoCongreaplanthatforthefirsttimeholdsstatesandschooldistrictsaountableforprogreandrewardsthemforresults.MyEducationAountabilityActwillrequireeveryschooldistrictreceivingfederalhelptotakethefollowingfiveste: First,allschoolsmustendsocialpromotion. Now,nochild,nochildshouldgraduatefromhighschoolwithadiplomaheorshecantread.Wedoourchildrennofavorswhenweallowthemtopafromgradetogradewithoutmasteringthematerial.Butwecantjustholdstudentsbackbecausethesystemfailsthem. Somybalancedbudgettriplesthefundingforsummerschoolandafter-schoolprogramstokeepamillionchildrenlearning.Now,ififyoudoubtthiswillwork,justlookatChicago,whichendedsocialpromotionandmadesummerschoolmandatoryforthosewhodontmasterthebasics.Mathandreadingscoresareupthreeyearsruingwithsomeofthebiggestgaiinsomeofthepoorestneighborhoods.Itwillwork,andweshoulddoit. Second,allstatesandschooldistrictsmustturnaroundtheirworstperformingschoolsorshutthemdown.ThatsthepolicyestablishedinNorthCarolinabyGovernorJimHunt.NorthCarolinamadethebiggestgaiintestscoresinthenationlastyear.Ourbudgetincludes$200milliontohelpstatesturnaroundtheirownfailingschools. Third,allstatesandschooldistrictsmustbeheldreoibleforthequalityoftheirteachers.Thegreatmajorityofourteachersdoafinejob,butintoomanyschoolsteachersdonthavecollegemajorsorevenminorsinthesubjectstheyteach.Newteachersshouldberequiredtopaperformanceexams,andallteachersshouldknowthesubjecttheirteaching. Thisyearsbalancedbudgetcontairesourcestohelpthemreachhigherstandards.Andtoattracttalentedyoungteacherstothetoughestaignments,Iremendasix-foldincreaseinourprogramforcollegescholarshiforstudentswhomittoteachintheier-citiesandisolatedruralareasandinIndianmunities.LetusbringexcellencetoeverypartofAmerica. Fourth,wemustempowerparentswithmoreinformationandmorechoices.Intoomanymunitiesitseasiertogetinformationonthequalityofthelocalrestaurantsthanonthequalityofthelocalschools. Everyschooldistrictshouldiuereportcardsoneveryschool.Andparentsshouldbegivenmorechoicesinselectingtheirpublicschools. WhenIbecamepresident,therewasjustoneindependentpubliharterschoolinallAmerica.Withoursuortonabipartisanbasis,todaythereare1,100.Mybudgetauresthatearlyinthenextcentury,therewillbe3,000. Fifth,toaurethatourclaroomsaretrulyplacesoflearning,andtoreondtowhatteachershavebeenaskingustodoforyears,weshouldsaythatallstatesandschooldistrictsmustbothadoptandimplementseibledisciplinepolicies. Nowletsdoonemorethingforourchildren.Today,toomanyschoolsaresooldtheyrefallingapart,orsoovercrowdedstudentsarelearningintrailers.Lastfall,Congremiedtheoortunitytochangethat.Thisyear,with53millionchildreninourschools,Congremustnotmithatoortunityagain.Iaskyoutohelpourmunitiesbuildormodernize5,000schools. Ifwedothesethingsendsocialpromotion,turnaroundfailingschools,buildmodernones,suortqualifiedteachers,promoteiovation,petitionanddisciplinethenwewillbegintomeetourgenerationshistoricreoibilitytocreateto21stcenturyschools. Now,wealsohavetodomoretosuortthemillioofparentswhogivetheiralleverydayathomeandatwork. Themostbasictoolofallisadecentine.Soletsraisetheminimumwagebyadollaranhouroverthenexttwoyears. Andletsmakesurethatwomenandmengetequalpayforequalworkbystrengtheningenforcementoftheequalpaylaws. (Alause,cheering) Thatwasencouraging,youknow?Therewasmorebalanceontheseesaw.Ilikethat.Letsgivethemahand.Thatsgreat. Workingparentsalsoneedqualitychildcare.So,againthisyear,IaskCongretosuortourplanfortaxcreditsandsuidiesforworkingfamilies,forimprovedsafetyandquality,forexpandedafter-schoolprogram.Andourplanalsoincludesanewtaxcreditforstay-at-homeparents,too.Theyneedsuortaswell. Parentsshouldneverhavetoworryaboutchoosingbetweentheirchildrenandtheirwork.Now,theFamilyandMedicalLeaveAct,theveryfirstbillIsignedintolaw,hasnow,since1993,helpedmillioandmillioofAmericatocareforanewbornbabyoranailingrelativewithoutriskingtheirjo.Ithinkitstime,withalloftheevidencethatithasbeensolittleburdeometoemployers,toextendfamilyleaveto10millionmoreAmericaworkingforsmallerpanies,andIhopeyouwillsuortit. Finally,onthematterofwork,parentsshouldneverhavetofacediscriminationintheworkplace.SoIwanttoaskCongretoprohibitpaniesfromrefusingtohireorpromoteworkerssimplybecausetheyhavechildren.Thatisnotright. Americasfamiliesdeservetheworldsbestmedicalcare.Thankstobipartisanfederalsuortformedicalresearch,wearenotonthevergeofnewtreatmentstopreventordelaydiseasesfromParkionstoAlzheimerstoarthritistocancer.Butaswecontinueouradvancesinmedicalscience,wecantletourmedicalsystemlagbehind. ManagedcarehasliterallytraformedmedicineinAmerica,drivingdowncosts,butthreateningtodrivedownqualityaswell. IthinkweoughttosaytoeveryAmerican,youshouldhavetherighttoknowallyoumedicaloptio,notjustthecheapest.Ifyouneedaecialist,youshouldhavearighttoseeone.Youhavearighttothenearestemergencycareifyoureinanaident.Thesearethingsthatweoughttosay.AndIthinkweoughttosayyoushouldhavearighttokeepyourdoctorduringaperiodoftreatmentwhetheritsapregnancyorachemotherapytreatmentoranythingelse.Ibelievethis. NowIveorderedtheserightstobeextendedtothe85millionAmericaservedbyMedicare,Medicaidandotherfederalhealthprograms.ButonlyCongrecanpaaPatientsBillofRightsforallAmerica. Lastyear,Congremiedthatoortunity,andwemustnotmithatoortunityagain.Forthesakeofourfamilies,IaskustojointogetheracropartylinesandpaastrongenforceablePatientsBillofRights. Asmoreofourmedicalrecordsarestoredelectronically,thethreatstoallofourprivacyincrease.BecauseCongrehasgivenmetheauthoritytoactifitdoesnotdosobyAugust,onewayoranother,wecanallsaytotheAmericanpeople,wewillprotecttheprivacyofmedicalrecordsthisyear. Now,twoyearsago,weactedtoextendhealthcoveragetouptofivemillionchildren.Nowweshouldgobeyondthat.Weshouldmakeiteasierforsmallbusineestoofferhealthiurance.Weshouldgivepeoplebetweentheagesof55and65wholosetheirhealthiurancethechancetobuyintoMedicare. Andweshouldcontinuetoeureaetofamilyplaing.Nooneshouldhavetochoosebetweenkeepinghealthcareandtakingajob.Andtherefore,IeeciallyaskyoutonighttojoinhandstopathelandmarkbipartisanlegislationproposedbySe.EdwardM.Keedy(D-Ma.)andJamesM.Jeffords(R-Vt.),WilliamV.RothJr.(R-Del.)andDanielPatrickMoynihan(D-N.Y.),toallowpeoplewithdisabilitiestokeeptheirhealthiurancewhentheygotowork. Weneedtoenableourpublichoitals,ourmunity,ouruniversityhealthcenterstoprovidebasic,affordablecareforallthemillioofworkingfamilieswhodonthaveanyiurance.Theydoalotofthattoday,butmuchmorecanbedone.Andmybalancedbudgetmakesagooddownpaymenttowardthatgoal.Ihopeyouwillthinkaboutthemandsuortthatprovision. Letmesaywemuststepupoureffortstotreatandpreventmentalillne.NoAmericanshouldeverbeableafraidevertoaddrethisdisease.ThisyearwewillhostaWhiteHouseConferenceonMentalHealth.Withseitivity,mitmentandpaion,TierGoreisleadingoureffortshere,andIdliketothankherforwhatshesdone.Thankyou.Thankyou. Aseveryoneknows,ourchildrenaretargetsofamaivemediacampaigntohookthemoncigarettes.Now,IaskthisCongretoresistthetobaoloy,toreaffirmtheFDAsauthoritytoprotectourchildrenfromtobaoandtoholdtobaopaniesaountable,whileprotectingtobaofarmers. SmokinghascosttaxpayershundredsofbillioofdollarsunderMedicareandotherprograms.Youknow,thestateshavebeenrightaboutthis.Taxpayersshouldntpayforthecostoflungcancer,emphysema,andothersmoking-relatedillnees,thetobaopaniesshould. SotonightIaouncethattheJusticeDepartmentispreparingalitigationplantotakethetobaopaniestocourtandwiththefundswerecovertostrengthenMedicare. Now,ifweactintheseareasminimumwage,familyleave,childcare,healthcare,thesafetyofourchildrenthenwewillbegintomeetourgenerationshistoricreoibilitiestostrengthenourfamiliesforthe21stcentury. Today,Americaisthemostdynamic,petitive,job-creatingeconomyinhistory,butwecandoevenbetterinbuildinga21stcenturyeconomythatembracesallAmerica. Todaysinegapislargelyaskillsgap.Lastyear,theCongrepaedalawenablingworkerstogetaskillsgranttochoosethetrainingtheyneed.AndIalaudallofyouherewhowerepartofthat. Thisyear,Iremendafive-yearmitmenttothenewsystem,sothatwecanprovideoverthenextfiveyearsaropriatetrainingoortunitiesforallAmericawholosetheirjoandexpandrapidreoeteamstohelpalltowwhichhavebeenreallyhurtwhenbusineesclose.Ihopeyouwillsuortthis. Also,Iaskyoursuortforadramaticincreaseinfederalsuortforadultliteracytomountanationalcampaignaimedathelpingthemillioandmillioofworkingpeoplewhostillreadatlethanafifth-gradelevel.Weneedtodothis. Heressomegoodnews.Inthepastsixyears,wehavecutthewelfarerollsnearlyinhalf. Twoyearsago,fromthispodium,Iaskedfivepaniestoleadanationalefforttohirepeopleoffwelfare.Tonightourwelfare-to-workpartnershipincludes10,000panieswhohavehiredhundredsofthousandsofpeople,andourbalancedbudgetwillhelpanother200,000peoplemovetothedignityandprideofwork.Ihopeyouwillsuortit. WemustbringthearkofprivateenterprisetoeverycornerofAmerica,tobuildabridgefromWallStreettoAalachiatotheMiiiiDelta,toourNativeAmericanmunities,withmoresuortformunitydevelopmentbanksforempowermentzones,for100,000morevouchersforaffordablehousing. AndIaskCongretosuortourboldnewplantohelpbusineesraiseupto$15billioninprivatesectorcapital,tobringjoandoortunitiesandiercities,ruralareas,withtaxcredits,loanguarantees,includingthenewAmericanPrivateInvestmentCompanies,modeledontheOverseasPrivateInvestmentCompanies. Now,foryearsandyearswevehadthisOPIC,thisOverseasPrivateInvestmentCorporation,becauseweknewwehaduntaedmarketsoverseas.Butourgreatestuntaedmarketsarenotoverseastheyarerighthereathome.Andweshouldgoafterthem. Wemustworkhardtohelpbringproeritybacktothefamilyfarm. AsthisCongreknowsverywell,droingpricesandtheloofforeignmarketshavedevastatedtoomanyfamilyfarmers.Lastyear,theCongreprovidedsutantialaistancetohelpstaveoffadisasterinAmericanagriculture,andIamreadytoworkwithlawmakersofbothpartiestocreateafarmsafetythatwillincludecropiurancereformandfarmineaistance. Iaskyoutojoinwithmeanddothis.Thisshouldnotbeapoliticaliue.EveryoneknowswhataneconomicproblemisgoingonoutthereinruralAmericatoday,andweneedanaropriatemeatoaddreit. Wemuststrengthenou