克林顿总统1999年联邦国情咨文演说

1、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.De

2、nnisHastert.LynGibsonandWeiLingChestnutarethewidowsofthetwobraveCapitolHillpoliceofficerswhogavetheirlivestodefendfreedom''''shouse. Mr.Speaker,atyourswearinginyouaskedusalltoworktogetherinaspiritofcivilityandbipartisanship.Mr.Speaker,let''''sdoexactlythat. Tonight,Is

3、tandbeforeyoutoreportthatAmericahascreatedthelongestpeacetimeeconomicexpansioninourhistory.Withnearly18millionnewjobs,wagesrisingatmorethantwicetherateofinflation,thehighesthomeownershipinhistory,thesmallestwelfarerolesin30years,andthelowestpeacetimeunemploymentsince1957. Forthefirsttimeinthreedecad

4、es,thebudgetisbalanced.Fromadeficitof$290billionin1992,wehadasurplusof$70billionlastyear.Andnow,weareoncourseforbudgetsurplusesforthenext25years. Thankstothepioneeringleadershipofallofyou,wehavethelowestviolentcrimerateinaquartercenturyandthecleanestenvironmentinaquartercentury. Americaisastrongforc

5、eforpeacefromNorthernIrelandtoBosniatotheMiddleEast. ThankstotheleadershipofVicePresidentGore,wehaveagovernmentfortheInformationAge,onceagainagovernmentthatisaprogressiveinstrumentofthecommongood,rootedinouroldestvaluesofopportunity,responsibilityandcommunity,devotedtofiscalresponsibility,determined

6、togiveourpeoplethetoolstheyneedtomakethemostoftheirownlivesinthe21stcentury,a21stcenturygovernmentfor21stcenturyAmerica. MyfellowAmericans,Istandbeforeyoutonighttoreportthatthestateofourunionisstrong.Now,Americaisworkingagain.Thepromiseofourfutureislimitless.Butwecannotrealizethatpromiseifweallowthe

7、humofourprosperitytolullusintocomplacency.Howwefareasanationfarintothe21stcenturydependsuponwhatwedoasanationtoday. So,withourbudgetsurplusgrowing,oureconomyexpanding,ourconfidencerising,nowisthemomentforthisgenerationtomeetourhistoricresponsibilitytothe21stcentury. Ourfiscaldisciplinegivesusanunsur

8、passedopportunitytoaddressaremarkablenewchallenge,theagingofAmerica.WiththenumberofelderlyAmericanssettodoubleby2030,thebabyboomwillbecomeaseniorboom. Sofirstandaboveall,wemustsaveSocialSecurityforthe21stcentury. Earlyinthiscentury,beingoldmeantbeingpoor.WhenPresidentFranklinD.RooseveltcreatedSocial

9、Security,thousandswrotetothankhimforeliminatingwhatonewomancalled"thestarkterrorofpenniless,helplessoldage."Eventoday,withoutSocialSecurity,halfournation''''selderlywouldbeforcedintopoverty. Today,SocialSecurityisstrong,butby20xx,payrolltaxeswillnolongerbesufficienttocoverm

10、onthlypayments.By2032,thetrustfundwillbeexhaustedandSocialSecuritywillbeunabletopaythefullbenefitsolderAmericanshavebeenpromised. ThebestwaytokeepSocialSecurityarocksolidguaranteeisnottomakedrasticcutsinbenefits;nottoraisepayrolltaxrates;nottodrainresourcesfromSocialSecurityinthenameofsavingit.Inste

11、ad,IproposethatwemakethehistoricdecisiontoinvestthesurplustosaveSocialSecurity. Specifically,Iproposethatwecommit60percentofthebudgetsurplusforthenext15yearstoSocialSecurity,investingasmallportionintheprivatesectorjustasanyprivateorstategovernmentpensionwoulddo.ThiswillearnahigherreturnandkeepSocial

12、Securitysoundfor55years. Butwemustaimhigher.WeshouldputSocialSecurityonasoundfootingforthenext75years.Weshouldreducepovertyamongelderlywomen,whoarenearlytwiceaslikelytobepoorasareotherseniors.AndweshouldeliminatethelimitsonwhatseniorsonSocialSecuritycanearn. Now,thesechangeswillrequiredifficult,butf

13、ullyachievablechoicesoverandabovethededicationofthesurplus.Theymustbemadeonabipartisanbasis.Theyshouldbemadethisyear.Soletmesaytoyoutonight,IreachoutmyhandtoallofyouinbothhousesinbothpartiesandaskthatwejointogetherinsayingtotheAmericanpeople,wewillsaveSocialSecuritynow. Now,lastyear,wewiselyreserved

14、allofthesurplusuntilweknewwhatitwouldtaketosaveSocialSecurity.Again,Isay,weshouldn''''tspendanyofit,notanyofit,untilafterSocialSecurityistrulysaved.Firstthing''''sfirst. Second,oncewehavesavedSocialSecurity,wemustfulfillourobligationtosaveandimproveMedicare.Alreadyweh

15、aveextendedthelifeoftheMedicaretrustfundby10years,butweshouldextenditforatleastanotherdecade.Tonight,Iproposethatweuseoneoutofeverysixdollarsinthesurplusforthenext15yearstoguaranteethesoundnessofMedicareuntiltheyear20xx. But,againbut,again,weshouldaimhigher.Wemustbewillingtoworkinabipartisanwayandlo

16、okatnewideas,includingtheupcomingreportoftheBipartisanMedicareCommission.Ifweworktogether,wecansecureMedicareforthenexttwodecadesandcoverthegreatestgrowingneedofseniorsaffordableprescriptiondrugs. Third,wemusthelpallAmericansfromtheirfirstdayonthejobtosave,toinvest,tocreatewealth. Fromitsbeginnings,

17、AmericanshavesupplementedSocialSecuritywithprivatepensionsandsavings.YettodaymillionsofpeopleretirewithlittletoliveonotherthanSocialSecurity.Americanslivinglongerthaneversimplymustsavemorethanever. Therefore,inadditiontosavingSocialSecurityandMedicare,Iproposeanewpensioninitiativeforretirementsecuri

18、tyinthe21stcentury.Iproposethatweusealittleover11percentofthesurplustoestablishuniversalsavingsaccountsUSAaccountstogiveallAmericansthemeanstosave. Withthesenewaccounts,Americanscaninvestastheychooseandreceivefundstomatchaportionoftheirsavingswithextrahelpforthoseleastabletosave.USAaccountswillhelpa

19、llAmericanstoshareinournation''''swealthandtoenjoyamoresecureretirement.Iaskyoutosupportthem. Fourth,wemustinvestinlong-termcare. Iproposeataxcreditof$1,000fortheaged,ailingordisabledandthefamilieswhocareforthem.Long-termcarewillbecomeabiggerandbiggerchallengewiththeagingofAmericaand

20、wemustdomoretohelpourfamiliesdealwithit. Iwasbornin1946,thefirstyearofthebabyboom.Icantellyouthatoneofthegreatestconcernsofourgenerationisourabsolutedeterminationnottoletourgrowingoldplaceanintolerableburdenonourchildrenandtheirabilitytoraiseourgrandchildren. Oureconomicsuccessandourfiscaldiscipline

21、nowgiveustheopportunitytoliftthatburdenfromtheirshoulders,andweshouldtakeit. SavingSocialSecurity,Medicare,creatingU.S.accounts,thisistherightwaytousethesurplus.Ifwedoso,ifwedoso,wewillstillhaveresourcestomeetcriticalneedsandeducationanddefense. AndIwanttopointoutthatthisproposalisfiscallysound.List

22、entothis,ifwesetaside60percentofthesurplusforSocialSecurityand16percentforMedicareoverthenext15years,thatsavingswillachievethelowestlevelofpublicly-helddebtsincerightbeforeWorldWarIin1917. Sowiththesefourmeasures;savingSocialSecurity,strengtheningMedicare,establishingtheUSAaccounts,supportinglong-te

23、rmcare,wecanbegintomeetourgeneration''''shistoricresponsibilitytoestablishtruesecurityfor21stcenturyseniors. Now,therearemorechildren,frommorediversebackgrounds,inourpublicschoolsthatanytimeinourhistory.Theireducationmustprovidetheknowledgeandnurturethecreativitythatwillallowourentir

24、enationtothriveintheneweconomy. Todaywecansaysomethingwecouldn''''tsaysixyearsago.Withtaxcreditsandmoreaffordablestudentloans,withmorework-studygrantsandmorePellGrants,witheducationIRAs,thenewHOPEScholarshiptaxcutthatmorethanfivemillionAmericanswillreceivethisyear,wehavefinallyopened

25、thedoorsofcollegetoallAmericans. Withoursupport,nearlyeverystatehassethigheracademicstandardsforpublicschoolsandavoluntarynationaltestisbeingdevelopedtomeasuretheprogressofourstudents.Withover$1billionindiscountsavailablethisyear,wearewellonourwaytoourgoalofconnectingeveryclassroomandlibrarytotheInt

26、ernet. Lastfall,youpassedourproposaltostarthiring100,000newteacherstoreduceclasssizeintheearlygrades.NowIaskyoutofinishthejob. Youknowourchildrenaredoingbetter.SATscoresareup.Mathscoreshaveriseninnearlyallgrades.Butthere''''saproblem.Whileourfourth-gradersoutperformedtheirpeersinothe

27、rcountriesinmathandscience,oureighth-gradersarearoundaverage,andour12th-gradersranknearthebottom.Wemustdobetter. Noweachyearthenationalgovernmentinvestsmorethan$15billioninourpublicschools.Ibelievewemustchangethewayweinvestthatmoneytosupportwhatworksandtostopsupportingwhatdoesnotwork. First,laterthi

28、syearIwillsendtoCongressaplanthatforthefirsttimeholdsstatesandschooldistrictsaccountableforprogressandrewardsthemforresults.MyEducationAccountabilityActwillrequireeveryschooldistrictreceivingfederalhelptotakethefollowingfivesteps: First,allschoolsmustendsocialpromotion. Now,nochild,nochildshouldgrad

29、uatefromhighschoolwithadiplomaheorshecan''''tread.Wedoourchildrennofavorswhenweallowthemtopassfromgradetogradewithoutmasteringthematerial.Butwecan''''tjustholdstudentsbackbecausethesystemfailsthem. Somybalancedbudgettriplesthefundingforsummerschoolandafter-schoolprogr

30、amstokeepamillionchildrenlearning.Now,ififyoudoubtthiswillwork,justlookatChicago,whichendedsocialpromotionandmadesummerschoolmandatoryforthosewhodon''''tmasterthebasics.Mathandreadingscoresareupthreeyearsrunningwithsomeofthebiggestgainsinsomeofthepoorestneighborhoods.Itwillwork,andwe

31、shoulddoit. Second,allstatesandschooldistrictsmustturnaroundtheirworstperformingschoolsorshutthemdown.That''''sthepolicyestablishedinNorthCarolinabyGovernorJimHunt.NorthCarolinamadethebiggestgainsintestscoresinthenationlastyear.Ourbudgetincludes$200milliontohelpstatesturnaroundtheiro

32、wnfailingschools. Third,allstatesandschooldistrictsmustbeheldresponsibleforthequalityoftheirteachers.Thegreatmajorityofourteachersdoafinejob,butintoomanyschoolsteachersdon''''thavecollegemajorsorevenminorsinthesubjectstheyteach.Newteachersshouldberequiredtopassperformanceexams,andall

33、teachersshouldknowthesubjecttheirteaching. Thisyear''''sbalancedbudgetcontainsresourcestohelpthemreachhigherstandards.Andtoattracttalentedyoungteacherstothetoughestassignments,Irecommendasix-foldincreaseinourprogramforcollegescholarshipsforstudentswhocommittoteachintheinner-citiesand

34、isolatedruralareasandinIndiancommunities.LetusbringexcellencetoeverypartofAmerica. Fourth,wemustempowerparentswithmoreinformationandmorechoices.Intoomanycommunitiesit''''seasiertogetinformationonthequalityofthelocalrestaurantsthanonthequalityofthelocalschools. Everyschooldistrictshou

35、ldissuereportcardsoneveryschool.Andparentsshouldbegivenmorechoicesinselectingtheirpublicschools. WhenIbecamepresident,therewasjustoneindependentpubliccharterschoolinallAmerica.Withoursupportonabipartisanbasis,todaythereare1,100.Mybudgetassuresthatearlyinthenextcentury,therewillbe3,000. Fifth,toassur

36、ethatourclassroomsaretrulyplacesoflearning,andtorespondtowhatteachershavebeenaskingustodoforyears,weshouldsaythatallstatesandschooldistrictsmustbothadoptandimplementsensibledisciplinepolicies. Nowlet''''sdoonemorethingforourchildren.Today,toomanyschoolsaresooldthey''''

37、;refallingapart,orsoovercrowdedstudentsarelearningintrailers.Lastfall,Congressmissedtheopportunitytochangethat.Thisyear,with53millionchildreninourschools,Congressmustnotmissthatopportunityagain.Iaskyoutohelpourcommunitiesbuildormodernize5,000schools. Ifwedothesethingsendsocialpromotion,turnaroundfai

38、lingschools,buildmodernones,supportqualifiedteachers,promoteinnovation,competitionanddisciplinethenwewillbegintomeetourgeneration''''shistoricresponsibilitytocreateto21stcenturyschools. Now,wealsohavetodomoretosupportthemillionsofparentswhogivetheiralleverydayathomeandatwork. Themost

39、basictoolofallisadecentincome.Solet''''sraisetheminimumwagebyadollaranhouroverthenexttwoyears. Andlet''''smakesurethatwomenandmengetequalpayforequalworkbystrengtheningenforcementoftheequalpaylaws. (Applause,cheering) Thatwasencouraging,youknow?Therewasmorebalanceonthe

40、seesaw.Ilikethat.Let''''sgivethemahand.That''''sgreat. Workingparentsalsoneedqualitychildcare.So,againthisyear,IaskCongresstosupportourplanfortaxcreditsandsubsidiesforworkingfamilies,forimprovedsafetyandquality,forexpandedafter-schoolprogram.Andourplanalsoincludesanew

41、taxcreditforstay-at-homeparents,too.Theyneedsupportaswell. Parentsshouldneverhavetoworryaboutchoosingbetweentheirchildrenandtheirwork.Now,theFamilyandMedicalLeaveAct,theveryfirstbillIsignedintolaw,hasnow,since1993,helpedmillionsandmillionsofAmericanstocareforanewbornbabyoranailingrelativewithoutrisk

42、ingtheirjobs.Ithinkit''''stime,withalloftheevidencethatithasbeensolittleburdensometoemployers,toextendfamilyleaveto10millionmoreAmericansworkingforsmallercompanies,andIhopeyouwillsupportit. Finally,onthematterofwork,parentsshouldneverhavetofacediscriminationintheworkplace.SoIwanttoas

43、kCongresstoprohibitcompaniesfromrefusingtohireorpromoteworkerssimplybecausetheyhavechildren.Thatisnotright. America''''sfamiliesdeservetheworld''''sbestmedicalcare.Thankstobipartisanfederalsupportformedicalresearch,wearenotonthevergeofnewtreatmentstopreventordelaydise

44、asesfromParkinson''''stoAlzheimer''''stoarthritistocancer.Butaswecontinueouradvancesinmedicalscience,wecan''''tletourmedicalsystemlagbehind. ManagedcarehasliterallytransformedmedicineinAmerica,drivingdowncosts,butthreateningtodrivedownqualityaswell. It

45、hinkweoughttosaytoeveryAmerican,youshouldhavetherighttoknowallyoumedicaloptions,notjustthecheapest.Ifyouneedaspecialist,youshouldhavearighttoseeone.Youhavearighttothenearestemergencycareifyou''''reinanaccident.Thesearethingsthatweoughttosay.AndIthinkweoughttosayyoushouldhavearighttok

46、eepyourdoctorduringaperiodoftreatmentwhetherit''''sapregnancyorachemotherapytreatmentoranythingelse.Ibelievethis. NowI''''veorderedtheserightstobeextendedtothe85millionAmericansservedbyMedicare,Medicaidandotherfederalhealthprograms.ButonlyCongresscanpassaPatients'

47、'''BillofRightsforallAmericans. Lastyear,Congressmissedthatopportunity,andwemustnotmissthatopportunityagain.Forthesakeofourfamilies,IaskustojointogetheracrosspartylinesandpassastrongenforceablePatients''''BillofRights. Asmoreofourmedicalrecordsarestoredelectronically,thet

48、hreatstoallofourprivacyincrease.BecauseCongresshasgivenmetheauthoritytoactifitdoesnotdosobyAugust,onewayoranother,wecanallsaytotheAmericanpeople,wewillprotecttheprivacyofmedicalrecordsthisyear. Now,twoyearsago,weactedtoextendhealthcoveragetouptofivemillionchildren.Nowweshouldgobeyondthat.Weshouldmak

49、eiteasierforsmallbusinessestoofferhealthinsurance.Weshouldgivepeoplebetweentheagesof55and65wholosetheirhealthinsurancethechancetobuyintoMedicare. Andweshouldcontinuetoensureaccesstofamilyplanning.Nooneshouldhavetochoosebetweenkeepinghealthcareandtakingajob.Andtherefore,Iespeciallyaskyoutonighttojoin

50、handstopassthelandmarkbipartisanlegislationproposedbySens.EdwardM.Kennedy(D-Mass.)andJamesM.Jeffords(R-Vt.),WilliamV.RothJr.(R-Del.)andDanielPatrickMoynihan(D-N.Y.),toallowpeoplewithdisabilitiestokeeptheirhealthinsurancewhentheygotowork. Weneedtoenableourpublichospitals,ourcommunity,ouruniversityhea

51、lthcenterstoprovidebasic,affordablecareforallthemillionsofworkingfamilieswhodon''''thaveanyinsurance.Theydoalotofthattoday,butmuchmorecanbedone.Andmybalancedbudgetmakesagooddownpaymenttowardthatgoal.Ihopeyouwillthinkaboutthemandsupportthatprovision. Letmesaywemuststepupoureffortstotr

52、eatandpreventmentalillness.NoAmericanshouldeverbeableafraidevertoaddressthisdisease.ThisyearwewillhostaWhiteHouseConferenceonMentalHealth.Withsensitivity,commitmentandpassion,TipperGoreisleadingoureffortshere,andI''''dliketothankherforwhatshe''''sdone.Thankyou.Thankyo

53、u. Aseveryoneknows,ourchildrenaretargetsofamassivemediacampaigntohookthemoncigarettes.Now,IaskthisCongresstoresistthetobaccolobby,toreaffirmtheFDA''''sauthoritytoprotectourchildrenfromtobaccoandtoholdtobaccocompaniesaccountable,whileprotectingtobaccofarmers. Smokinghascosttaxpayershu

54、ndredsofbillionsofdollarsunderMedicareandotherprograms.Youknow,thestateshavebeenrightaboutthis.Taxpayersshouldn''''tpayforthecostoflungcancer,emphysema,andothersmoking-relatedillnesses,thetobaccocompaniesshould. SotonightIannouncethattheJusticeDepartmentispreparingalitigationplantota

55、kethetobaccocompaniestocourtandwiththefundswerecovertostrengthenMedicare. Now,ifweactintheseareasminimumwage,familyleave,childcare,healthcare,thesafetyofourchildrenthenwewillbegintomeetourgeneration''''shistoricresponsibilitiestostrengthenourfamiliesforthe21stcentury. Today,Americais

56、themostdynamic,competitive,job-creatingeconomyinhistory,butwecandoevenbetterinbuildinga21stcenturyeconomythatembracesallAmericans. Today''''sincomegapislargelyaskillsgap.Lastyear,theCongresspassedalawenablingworkerstogetaskillsgranttochoosethetrainingtheyneed.AndIapplaudallofyouherew

57、howerepartofthat. Thisyear,Irecommendafive-yearcommitmenttothenewsystem,sothatwecanprovideoverthenextfiveyearsappropriatetrainingopportunitiesforallAmericanswholosetheirjobsandexpandrapidresponseteamstohelpalltownswhichhavebeenreallyhurtwhenbusinessesclose.Ihopeyouwillsupportthis. Also,Iaskyoursuppo

58、rtforadramaticincreaseinfederalsupportforadultliteracytomountanationalcampaignaimedathelpingthemillionsandmillionsofworkingpeoplewhostillreadatlessthanafifth-gradelevel.Weneedtodothis. Here''''ssomegoodnews.Inthepastsixyears,wehavecutthewelfarerollsnearlyinhalf. Twoyearsago,fromthisp

59、odium,Iaskedfivecompaniestoleadanationalefforttohirepeopleoffwelfare.Tonightourwelfare-to-workpartnershipincludes10,000companieswhohavehiredhundredsofthousandsofpeople,andourbalancedbudgetwillhelpanother200,000peoplemovetothedignityandprideofwork.Ihopeyouwillsupportit. Wemustbringthesparkofprivateen

60、terprisetoeverycornerofAmerica,tobuildabridgefromWallStreettoAppalachiatotheMississippiDelta,toourNativeAmericancommunities,withmoresupportforcommunitydevelopmentbanksforempowermentzones,for100,000morevouchersforaffordablehousing. AndIaskCongresstosupportourboldnewplantohelpbusinessesraiseupto$15billioninprivatesectorcapital,tobringjobsandopportunitiesandinnercities,ruralareas,withtaxcredits,loanguarantees,includingthenewAmericanPrivateInv