克林顿总统1997年联邦国情咨文演说.doc

克林顿总统1997年联邦国情咨文演说 名人演讲稿 THEPRESIDENT:Mr.eaker,Mr.VicePresident,membersofthe105thCongre,distinguishedguests,andmyfellowAmerica:IthinkIshouldstartbysaying,thanksforinvitingmeback.(Alause.)Iebeforeyoutonightwithachallengeasgreatasanyinourpeacetimehistory,andaplanofactiontomeetthatchallenge,toprepareourpeoplefortheboldnewworldofthe21stcentury. Wehavemuchtobethankfulfor.Withfouryearsofgrowth,wehavewonbackthebasicstrengthofoureconomy.Withcrimeandwelfarerollsdeclining,wearewiingbackouroptimism,theenduringfaiththatwecanmasteranydifficulty.WiththeColdWarrecedingandglobalmerceatrecordlevels,wearehelpingtowinunrivaledpeaceandproerityallacrotheworld. MyfellowAmerica,thestateofourunionisstrong.(Alause.)Butnowwemustrisetothedecisivemoment,tomakeanationandaworldbetterthananywehaveeverknown.Thenewpromiseoftheglobaleconomy,theInformationAge,unimaginednewwork,life-enhancingtechnology-alltheseareourstoseize.Thatisourhonorandourchallenge.Wemustbeshapersofevents,notoervers.Forifwedonotact,themomentwillpa-andwewilllosethebestpoibilitiesofourfuture. Wefacenoimminentthreat,butwedohaveanenemy-theenemyofourtimeisinaction.So,tonight,Iiueacalltoaction-actionbythisCongre,actionbyourstates,byourpeople,toprepareAmericaforthe21stcentury.Actiontokeepoureconomyandourdemocracystrongandworkingforallourpeople;actiontostrengtheneducationandharheforcesoftechnologyandscience;actiontobuildstrongerfamiliesandstrongermunitiesandasaferenvironment;actiontokeepAmericatheworldsstrongestforceforpeace,freedomandproerity.Andaboveall,actiontobuildamoreperfectunionhereathome. Theiritwebringtoourworkwillmakeallthedifference.WemustbemittedtothepursuitofoortunityforallAmerica,reoibilityfromallAmerica,inamunityofallAmerica.Andwemustbemittedtoanewkindofgovernment-nottosolveallourproblemsforus,buttogiveourpeople-allourpeople-thetoolstheyneedtomakethemostoftheirownlives. Andwemustworktogether.Thepeopleofthisnationelectedusall.Theywantustobepartners, First,wemustmovequicklytopletetheunfinishedbusineofourcountry-tobalanceourbudget,renewourdemocracy,andfinishthejobofwelfarereform. Overthelastfouryears,wehavebroughtneweconomicgrowthbyinvestinginourpeople,expandingourexports,cuttingourdeficits,creatingover11millionnewjo,afour-yearrecord.(Alause.)Nowwemustkeepoureconomythestrongestintheworld.Weheretonighthaveanhistoricoortunity.LetthisCongrebetheCongrethatfinallybalancesthebudget.(Alause.) Intwodays,Iwillproposeadetailedplantobalancethebudgetbyxx.ThisplanwillbalancethebudgetandinvestinourpeoplewhileprotectingMedicare,Medicaid,education,andtheenvironment.ItwillbalancethebudgetandbuildontheVicePresidentseffortstomakeourgovernmentworkbetter,evenasitcostsle.Itwillbalancethebudgetandprovidemiddleclataxrelieftopayforeducationandhealthcare,tohelptoraiseachild,tobuyandsellahome. Balancingthebudgetrequiresonlyyourvoteandmysignature.ItdoesnotrequireustorewriteourCotitution.(Alause.)Ibelieveitisbothuecearyandunwisetoadoptabalancedbudgetamendmentthatcouldcrileourcountryintimeofcrisis,andforceunwantedresults,suchasjudgeshaltingSocialSecuritychecksorincreasingtaxes.Letusatleastagree,weshouldnotpaanymeasure-nomeasureshouldbepaedthatthreateSocialSecurity.(Alause.)Whateveryourviewonthat,weallmustconcedewedontneedacotitutionalamendment,weneedaction.(Alause.) Whateverourdifferences,weshouldbalancethebudgetnow.Andthen,forthelong-termhealthofoursociety,wemustagreetoabipartisanprocetopreserveSocialSecurityandreformMedicareforthelongrun,sothatthesefundamentalprogramswillbeasstrongforourchildrenastheyareforourparents. Andletmesaysomethingthatsnotinmyscripttonight.Iknowthisisnotgoingtobeeasy.ButIreallybelieveoneofthereasotheAmericanpeoplegavemeasecondtermwastotakethetoughdecisiointhenextfouryearsthatwillcarryourcountrythroughthenext50years.Iknowitiseasierformethanforyoutosayordo.ButanotherreasonIwaselectedistosuortallofyou,withoutregardtoparty,togiveyouwhatisnecearytojoininthesedecisio.Weoweittoourcountryandtoourfuture.(Alause.) Oursecondpieceofunfinishedbusinerequiresustomitourselvestonight,beforetheeyesofAmerica,tofinallyenactingbipartisancampaignfinancereform.(Alause.) Now,SenatorsMcCainandFeingold,RepresentativesShaysandMeehan,havereachedacropartylinesheretocrafttoughandfairreform.Theirproposalwouldcurbending,reducetheroleofecialinterests,createalevelplayingfieldbetweenchallengersandincumbents,andbancontributiofromnoncitize,allcorporatesources,andtheotherlargesoftmoneycontributiothatbothpartiesreceive. YouknowandIknowthatthiscanbedelayed.AndyouknowandIknowthedelaywillmeanthedeathofreform.Soletssetourowndeadline.LetsworktogethertowritebipartisancampaignfinancereformintolawandpaMcCain-Feingoldbythedaywecelebratethebirthofourdemocracy-Julythe4th.(Alause.) Thereisathirdpieceofunfinishedbusine.Overthelastfouryears,wemovedarecord2.25millionpeopleoffthewelfarerolls.Thenlastyear,Congreenactedlandmarkwelfarereformlegislation,demandingthatallable-bodiedrecipientsaumethereoibilityofmovingfromwelfaretowork. Noweachandeveryoneofushastofulfillourreoibility-indeed,ourmoralobligation-tomakesurethatpeoplewhonowmustwork,canwork.(Alause.)Nowwemustacttomeetanewgoal:2millionmorepeopleoffthewelfarerollsbytheyear2000. Hereismyplan:Taxcreditsandotherincentivesforbusineesthathirepeopleoffwelfare;incentivesforjobplacementfirmsandstatestocreatemorejoforwelfarerecipienttraining,traortation,andchildcaretohelppeoplegotowork. NowIchallengeeverystate:Turnthosewelfarechecksintoprivatesectorpaychecks.Ichallengeeveryreligiouscongregation,everymunitynorofit,everybusiohiresomeoneoffwelfare.AndIdliketosayeeciallytoeveryemployerinourcountrywhoevercriticizedtheoldwelfaresystem,youcantblamethatoldsystemanymore,wehavetornitdown.Nowdoyourpart.Givesomeoneonwelfarethechancetogotowork.(Alause.) Tonight,Iampleasedtoaouncethatfivemajorcorporatio-rint,Moanto,U,BurgerKingandUnitedAirlines-willbethefirsttojoininanewnationalefforttomarshalAmericasbusinees,largeandsmall,tocreatejosothatpeoplecanmovefromwelfaretowork.(Alause.) Wepaedwelfarereform.AllofyouknowIbelievewewererighttodoit.Butnoonecanwalkoutofthischamberwithaclearcocienceunleyouarepreparedtofinishthejob.(Alause.) Andwemustjointogethertodosomethingelse,too-somethingbothRepublicanandDemocraticgovernorshaveaskedustodo-torestorebasichealthanddisabilitybenefitswhenmisfortunestrikesimmigrantswhocametothiscountrylegally,whoworkhard,paytaxesandobeythelaw.Todootherwiseissimplyunworthyofagreatnationofimmigrants.(Alause.) Now,lookingahead,thegreateststepofall-thehighthresholdofthefuturewenowmustcro-andmynumberonepriorityforthenextfouryearsistoeurethatallAmericahavethebesteducationintheworld.(Alause.) Letsworktogethertomeetthesethreegoals:Every8-year-oldmustbeabletoread;every12-year-oldmustbeabletologontotheInter;every18-year-oldmustbeabletogotocollege;andeveryadultAmericanmustbeabletokeeponlearningforalifetime.(Alause.) Mybalancedbudgetmakesanurecedentedmitmenttothesegoals-$51billionnextyear.Butfarmorethanmoneyisrequired.Ihaveaplan,aCalltoActionforAmericanEducation,basedonthese10principles. First,anationalcrusadeforeducationstandards-notfederalgovernmentstandards,butnationalstandards,representingwhatallourstudentsmustknowtosueedintheknowledgeeconomyofthe21stcentury.Everystateandschoolmustshapethecurriculumtoreflectthesestandards,andtrainteacherstoliftstudentsuptothem.Tohelpschoolsmeetthestandardsandmeasuretheirprogre,wewillleadaneffortoverthenexttwoyearstodevelopnationaltestsofstudentachievementinreadingandmath. Tonight,Iiueachallengetothenation:Everystateshouldadopthighnationalstandards,andby1999,everystateshouldtestevery4thgraderinreadingandevery8thgraderinmathtomakesurethesestandardsaremet.(Alause.) Raisingstandardswillnotbeeasy,andsomeofourchildrenwillnotbeabletomeetthematfirst.Thepointisnottoputourchildrendown,buttoliftthemup.Goodtestswillshowuswhoneedshelp,whatchangesinteachingtomake,andwhichschoolsneedtoimprove.Theycanhelpustoendsocialpromotion.Fornochildshouldmovefromgradeschooltojuniorhigh,orjuniorhightohighschooluntilheorsheisready. Lastmonth,ourSecretaryofEducationDickRileyandIvisitedNorthernIllinois,where8thgradestudentsfrom20schooldistricts,inaprojectaptlycalledFirstintheWorld,tooktheThirdInternationalMathandScienceStudy.Thatsatestthatreflectstheworld-clastandardsourchildrenmustmeetforthenewera.AndthosestudentsinIllinoistiedforfirstintheworldinscienceandcameinsecondinmath.Twoofthem,KristinTaerandChrisGetsla,areheretonight,alongwiththeirteacher,SueWiki;theyreuptherewiththeFirstLady.Andtheyprovethatwhenweaimhighandchallengeourstudents,theywillbethebestintheworld.Letsgivethemahand.Standup,please.(Alause.) Second,tohavethebestschools,wemusthavethebestteachers.Mostofusinthischamberwouldnotbeheretonightwithoutthehelpofthoseteachers.IknowthatIwouldntbehere.Foryears,manyofoureducators,ledbyNorthCarolinasGovernorJimHuntandtheNationalBoardforProfeionalTeachingStandards,haveworkedveryhardtoestablishnationallyaeptedcredentialsforexcellenceinteaching.Just500oftheseteachershavebeencertifiedsince1995.Mybudgetwillenable100,000moretoseeknationalcertificationasmasterteachers.Weshouldrewardandrecognizeourbestteachers.(Alause.)Andaswerewardthem,weshouldquicklyandfairlyremovethosefewwhodontmeasureup,andweshouldchallengemoreofourfinestyoungpeopletocoiderteachingasacareer. Third,wemustdomoretohelpallourchildrenread.Fortypercent-fortypercent-ofour8-year-oldscaotreadontheirown.ThatswhywehavejustlaunchedtheAmericaReadsinitiative-tobuildacitizenarmyofonemillionvolunteertutorstomakesureeverychildcanreadindependentlybytheendofthe3rdgrade.WewillusethousandsofAmeriCorvolunteerstomobilizethiscitizenarmy.Wewantatleast100,000collegestudentstohelp.AndtonightIampleasedthat60collegepresidentshaveaweredmycall,pledgingthatthousandsoftheirwork-studystudentswillserveforoneyearasreadingtutors.(Alause.) Thisisalsoachallengetoeveryteacherandeveryprincipal.Youmustusethesetutorstohelpstudentsread.Anditiseeciallyachallengetoourparents.Youmustreadwithyourchildreneverynight. Thisleadstothefourthprinciple:Learningbegiinthefirstdaysoflife.Scientistsarenowdiscoveringhowyoungchildrendevelopemotionallyandintellectuallyfromtheirveryfirstdays,andhowimportantitisforparentstobeginimmediatelytalking,singing,evenreadingtotheirinfants.TheFirstLadyhasentyearswritingaboutthisiue,studyingit.AndsheandIaregoingtoconveneaWhiteHouseConferenceonEarlyLearningandtheBrainthisring,toexplorehowparentsandeducatorscanbestusethesestartlingnewfindings. Wealreadyknowweshouldstartteachingchildrenbeforetheystartschool.ThatswhythisbalancedbudgetexpandsHeadStarttoonemillionchildrenbyxx.(Alause.)AndthatiswhytheVicePresidentandMrs.GorewillhosttheiraualfamilyconferencethisJuneonwhatwecandotomakesurethatparentsareanactivepartoftheirchildrenslearningallthewaythroughschool. Theyvedoneagreatdealtohighlighttheimportanceoffamilyinourlife,andnowtheyreturningtheirattentiontogettingmoreparentsinvolvedintheirchildrenslearningallthewaythroughschool.AndIthankyou,Mr.VicePresident,andIthankyoueecially,Tier,forwhatyoudo.(Alause.) Fifth,everystateshouldgiveparentsthepowertochoosetherightpublicschoolfortheirchildren.Theirrighttochoosewillfosterpetitionandiovationthatcanmakepublicschoolsbetter.Weshouldalsomakeitpoibleformoreparentsandteacherstostartcharterschools,schoolsthatsetandmeetthehigheststandards,andexistonlyaslongastheydo.OurplanwillhelpAmericatocreate3,000ofthesecharterschoolsbythenextcentury-nearlyseventimesasthereareinthecountrytoday-sothatparentswillhaveevenmorechoicesinsendingtheirchildrentothebestschools. Sixth:Charactereducationmustbetaughtinourschools.Wemustteachourchildrentobegoodcitize.(Alause.)Andwemustcontinuetopromoteorderanddiscipline,suortingmunitiesthatintroduceschooluniforms,imposecurfewsenforcetruancylaws,removedisruptivestudentsfromtheclaroom,andhavezerotoleranceforguanddrugsinschool.(Alause.) Seventh:Wecaotexpectourchildrentoraisethemselvesupinschoolsthatareliterallyfallingdown.Withthestudentpopulationatanall-timehigh,andrecordnumbersofschoolbuildingsfallingintodisrepair,thishasnowbeeaseriousnationalconcern.Therefore,mybudgetincludesanewinitiative-$5billiontohelpmunitiesfinance$20billioninschoolcotructionoverthenextfouryears.(Alause.) Eighth:Wemustmakethe13thand14thyearsofeducation-atleasttwoyearsofcollege-justasuniversalinAmericabythe21stcenturyasahighschooleducationistoday,andwemustopenthedoorsofcollegetoAmerica.(Alause.) Todothat,IproposeAmericasHOPEScholarship,basedonGeorgiaspioneeringprogram:twoyearsofa$1,500taxcreditforcollegetuition,enoughtopayforthetypicalmunitycollege.Ialsoproposeataxdeductionofupto$10,000ayearforalltuitionafterhighschool;anexpandedIRAyoucanwithdrawfromtaxfreeforeducatioandthelargestincreaseinPellGrantscholarshiin20years.(Alause.)Now,thisplanwillgivemostfamiliestheabilitytopaynotaxesonmoneytheysaveforcollegetuition.Iaskyoutopait-andgiveeveryAmericanwhoworkshardthechancetogotocollege. Ninth:Inthe21stcentury,wemustexpandthefrontiersoflearningacroalifetime.Allourpeople,ofwhateverage,musthaveachancetolearnnewskills.MostAmericalivenearamunitycollege.Theroadsthattakethemtherecanbepathstoabetterfuture.MyG.I.BillforAmericasWorkerswilltraformtheconfusingtangleoffederaltrainingprogramsintoasimpleskillgranttogodirectlyintoeligibleworkershands.Fortoolong,thisbillhasbeensittingonthatdesktherewithoutaction-Iaskyoutopaitnow.Letsgivemoreofourworkerstheabilitytolearnandtoearnforalifetime.(Alause.) Tenth:WemustbringthepoweroftheInformationAgeintoallourschools.Lastyear,IchallengedAmericatocoecteveryclaroomandlibrarytotheInterbytheyear2000,sothat,forthefirsttimeinourhistory,childreninthemostisolatedruraltow,themostfortablesubur,thepoorestiercityschools,willhavethesameaetothesameuniverseofknowledge.(Alause.)Thatismyplan-aCalltoActionforAmericanEducation.SomemaysaythatitisunusualforaPresidenttopaythiskindofattentiontoeducation.SomemaysayitissimplybecausethePresidentandhiswonderfulwifehavebeenoeedwiththissubjectformoreyearsthantheycanrecall.Thatisnotwhatisdrivingtheseproposals. Wemustunderstandthesignificanceofthisendeavor:OneofthegreatestsourcesofourstrengththroughouttheColdWarwasabipartisanforeignpolicy;becauseourfuturewasatstake,politicsstoedatthewatersedge.NowIaskyou-andIaskallournationsgovernorIaskparents,teachers,andcitizeallacroAmerica-foranewnoartisanmitmenttoeducation-becauseeducationisacriticalnationalsecurityiueforourfuture,andpoliticsmuststopattheschoolhousedoor.(Alause.) ToprepareAmericaforthe21stcenturywemustharhepowerfulforcesofscienceandtechnologytobenefitallAmerica.ThisisthefirstStateoftheUnioncarriedliveinvideoovertheInter.Butweveonlybeguntoreadthebenefitsofatechnologyrevolutionthatshouldbeethemodernbirthrightofeverycitizen. Ourefforttocoecteveryclaroomisjustthebegiing.Now,weshouldcoecteveryhoitaltotheInter,sothatdoctorscanitantlysharedataabouttheirpatientswiththebestecialistsinthefield.AndIchallengetheprivatesectortonighttostartbycoectingeverychildrenshoitalassoonaspoible,sothatachildinbedcanstayintouchwithschool,familyandfriends.Asickchildneednolongerbeachildalone.(Alause.) WemustbuildthesecondgenerationoftheIntersothatourleadinguniversitiesandnationallaboratoriescanmunicateineeds1,000timesfasterthantoday,todevelopnewmedicaltreatments,newsourcesofenergy,newwaysofworkingtogether. Butwecaotstopthere.AstheInterbeesournewtownsquare,aputerineveryhome-ateacherofallsubjects,acoectiontoallcultures-thiswillnolongerbeadream,butaneceity.Andoverthenextdecade,thatmustbeourgoal.(Alause.) Wemustcontinuetoexploretheheave-preingonwiththeMarsprobesandtheinternationalacestation,bothofwhichwillhavepracticalalicatioforoureverydayliving. Wemusteedtheremarkableadvancesinmedicalscience.Thehumangenomeprojectisnowdecodingthegeicmysteriesoflife.Americanscientistshavediscoveredgeneslinkedtobreastcancerandovariancancer,andmedicationthatstoastrokeinprogreandbegitoreverseitseffect,andtreatmentsthatdramaticallylengthenthelivesofpeoplewithHIVandAIDS. SinceItookoffice,fundingforAIDSresearchattheNationalItitutesofHealthhasincreaseddramatically-to$1.5billion.Withnewresources,NIHwillnowbeethemostpowerfuldiscoveryengineforanAIDSvaine,workingwithotherscientiststofinallyendthethreatofAIDS.(Alause.)Rememberthateveryyear-everyyearwemoveupthediscoveryofanAIDSvainewillsavemilliooflivesaroundtheworld.Wemustreinforceourmitmenttomedicalscience. ToprepareAmericaforthe21stcentury,wemustbuildstrongerfamilies.Overthepastfouryears,theFamilyandMedicalLeavelawhashelpedmillioofAmericatotaketimeofftobewiththeirfamilies.Withnewpreuresonpeopleinthewaytheyworkandlive,Ibelievewemustexpandfamilyleavesothatworkerscantaketimeoffforteacherconferencesandachildsmedicalcheckup.Weshouldpaflex-time,soworkerscanchoosetobepaidforovertimeinineortradeitinfortimeofftobewiththeirfamilies.(Alause.) Wemustcontinue-wemustcontinue,stepbystep,togivemorefamiliesaetoaffordable,qualityhealthcare.FortymillionAmericastilllackhealthiurance.Tenmillionchildrenstilllackhealthiurance-80percentofthemhaveworkingparentswhopaytaxes.Thatiswrong.(Alause.) Mybalancedbudgetwillextendhealthcoveragetoupto5millionofthosechildren.Sincenearlyhalfofallchildrenwholosetheiriurancedosobecausetheirparentsloseorchangeajob,mybudgetwillalsoeurethatpeoplewhotemporarilylosetheirjocanstillaffordtokeeptheirhealthiurance.Nochildshouldbewithoutadoctorjustbecauseaparentiswithoutajob.(Alause.) MyMedicareplanmodernizesMedicare,increasesthelifeofthetrustfundto10years,providessuortforreitecareforthemanyfamilieswithlovedonesafflictedwithAlzheimers.Andforthefirsttime,itwouldfullypayforaualmammograms.(Alause.) Justasweendeddrive-throughdeliveriesofbabieslastyear,wemustnowendthedangerousanddemeaningpracticeofforcingwomenhomefromthehoitalonlyhoursafteramastectomy.(Alause.)Iaskyoursuortforbipartisanlegislationtoguaranteethatawomancanstayinthehoitalfor48hoursafteramastectomy.WithustonightisDr.KristenZarfos,aCoecticutsurgeonwhoseoutrageatthispracticeurredan