克林顿总统2000年联邦国情咨文演说

本文格式为Word版，下载可任意编辑——克林顿总统2000年联邦国情咨文演说克林顿总统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--tobuildthemoreperfectunionofourfoundersdreams.

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.Wevehelpedparentstosucceedathomeandatwork,withfamilyleave,which20millionsAmericanshavenowusedtocareforanewbornchildorasicklovedone.Weveengaged150,000youngAmericansincitizenservicethroughAmeriCorps,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,youcantgaingroundifyourestandingstill.AndfortoolongthisCongresshasbeenstandingstillonsomeofourmostpressingnationalpriorities.Soletsbegintonightwiththem.

Again,Iaskyoutopassarealpatientsbillofrights.(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,whichyoullallrememberwonpassagesinbothHousesbyjustasinglevote.Yourformercolleague,myfirstSecretaryoftheTreasury,ledthateffortandsparkedourlongboom.Hesherewithustonight.LloydBentsen,youhaveservedAmericawell,andwethankyou.(Applause.)

Beyondpayingoffthedebt,wemustensurethatthebenefitsofdebtreductiongotopreservingtwoofthemostimportantguaranteeswemaketoeveryAmerican--SocialSecurityandMedicare.(Applause.)Tonight,IaskyoutoworkwithmetomakeabipartisandownpaymentonSocialSecurityreformbycreditingtheinterestsavingsfromdebtreductiontotheSocialSecurityTrustFundsothatitwillbestrongandsoundforthenext50years.(Applause.)

Butthisisjustthestartofourjourney.Wemustalsotaketherightstepstowardreachingourgreatgoals.Firstandforemost,weneeda21stcenturyrevolutionineducation,guidedbyourfaiththateverysinglechildcanlearn.(Applause.)Becauseeducationismoreimportantthanever,morethaneverthekeytoourchildrensfuture,wemustmakesureallourchildrenhavethatkey.Thatmeansqualitypre-schoolandafter-school,thebesttrainedteachersintheclassroom,andcollegeopportunitiesforallourchildren.(Applause.)

Forsevenyearsnow,weveworkedhardtoimproveourschools,withopportunityandresponsibility--investingmore,butdemandingmoreinturn.Reading,math,collegeentrancescoresareup.Someofthemostimpressivegainsareinschoolsinverypoorneighborhoods.

Butallsuccessfulschoolshavefollowedthesameprovenformula:higherstandards,moreaccountability,andextrahelpsochildrenwhoneeditcangetittoreachthosestandards.IhavesentCongressareformplanbasedonthatformula.Itholdsstatesandschooldistrictsaccountableforprogress,andrewardsthemforresults.Eachyear,ournationalgovernmentinvestsmorethan$15billioninourschools.Itistimetosupportwhatworksandstopsupportingwhatdoesnt.(Applause.)

Now,aswedemandmorefromourschools,weshouldalsoinvestmoreinourschools.(Applause.)Letsdoubleourinvestmenttohelpstatesanddistrictsturnaroundtheirworst-performingschools,orshutthemdown.Letsdoubleourinvestmentsinafter-schoolandsummerschoolprograms,whichboostachievementandkeeppeopleoffthestreetsandoutoftrouble.(Applause.)Ifwedothis,wecangiveeverysinglechildineveryfailingschoolinAmerica--everyone--thechancetomeethighstandards.

Since1993,wevenearlydoubledourinvestmentinHeadStartandimproveditsquality.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,andweregettingthere.In1994,only3percentofourclassroomswereconnected.Today,withthehelpoftheVicePresidentsE-rateprogram,morethanhalfofthemare.And90percentofourschoolshaveatleastoneInternetconnection.(Applause.)

Butwecannotfinishthejobwhenathirdofallourschoolsareinseriousdisrepair.Manyofthemhavewallsandwiressoold,theyretoooldfortheInternet.Sotonight,Iproposetohelp5,000schoolsayearmakeimmediateandurgentrepairs;andagain,tohelpbuildormodernize6,000more,togetstudentsoutoftrailersandintohigh-techclassrooms.(Applause.)

IaskallofyoutohelpmedoubleourbipartisanGear-Upprogram,whichprovidesmentorsfordisadvantagedyoungpeople.Ifwedoubleit,wecanprovidementorsfor1.4millionofthem.(Applause.)Letsalsoofferthesekidsfromdisadvantagedbackgroundsthesamechancetotakethesamecollegetest-prepcourseswealthierstudentsusetoboosttheirtestscores.(Applause.)

TomaketheAmericanDreamachievableforall,wemustmakecollegeaffordableforall.Forsevenyears,onabipartisanbasis,wehavetakenactiontowardthatgoal:largerPellgrants,moreaffordablestudentloans,educationIRAs,andourHOPEscholarships,whichhavealreadybenefitted5millionyoungpeople.

Now,67percentofhighschoolgraduatesaregoingontocollege.Thatsup10percentsince1993.Yetmillionsoffamiliesstillstraintopaycollegetuition.Theyneedhelp.(Applause.)SoIproposealandmark$30-billioncollegeopportunitytaxcut--amiddleclasstaxdeductionforupto$10,000incollegetuitioncosts.(Applause.)ThepreviousactionsofthisCongresshavealreadymadetwoyearsofcollegeaffordableforall.Itstimetomakefouryearsofcollegeaffordableforall.(Applause.)Ifwetakeallthesesteps,wellmovealongwaytowardmakingsureeverychildstartsschoolreadytolearnandgraduatesreadytosucceed.

Weneeda21stcenturyrevolutiontorewardworkandstrengthenfamilies,bygivingeveryparentthetoolstosucceedatworkandatthemostimportantworkofall--raisingchildren.Thatmeansmakingsureeveryfamilyhashealthcareandthesupporttocareforagingparents,thetoolstobringtheirchildrenupright,andthatnochildgrowsupinpoverty.

FrommyfirstdaysasPresident,weveworkedtogivefamiliesbetteraccesstobetterhealthcare.In1997,wepassedtheChildrensHealthInsuranceProgram--CHIP--sothatworkerswhodonthavecoveragethroughtheiremployersatleastcangetitfortheirchildren.Sofar,weveenrolled2millionchildren;werewellonourwaytoourgoalof5million.

Buttherearestillmorethan40millionofourfellowAmericanswithouthealthinsurance--morethantherewerein1993.TonightIproposethatwefollowVicePresidentGoressuggestiontomakelowincomeparentseligiblefortheinsurancethatcoverstheirchildren.(Applause.)Togetherwithourchildrensinitiative--thinkofthis--togetherwithourchildrensinitiative,thisactionwouldenableustocovernearlyaquarterofalltheuninsuredpeopleinAmerica.

Again,Iwanttoaskyoutoletpeoplebetweentheagesof55and65--thefastestgrowinggroupofuninsured--buyintoMedicare.(Applause.)AndthisyearIproposetogivethemataxcredittomakethatchoiceanaffordableone.Ihopeyouwillsupportthat,aswell.(Applause.)

Whenthebabyboomersretire,Medicarewillbefacedwithcaringfortwiceasmanyofourcitizens;yet,itisfarfromreadytodoso.Mygenerationmustnotaskourchildrensgenerationtoshoulderourburden.WesimplymustactnowtostrengthenandmodernizeMedicare.

MybudgetincludesacomprehensiveplantoreformMedicare,tomakeitmoreefficientandcompetitive.Anditdedicatesnearly$400billionofourbudgetsurplustokeepMedicaresolventpast2025.(Applause.)And,atlonglast,italsoprovidesfundstogiveeverysenioravoluntarychoiceofaffordablecoverageforprescriptiondrugs.(Applause.)

Lifesavingdrugsareanindispensablepartofmodernmedicine.NoonecreatingaMedicareprogramtodaywouldeventhinkofexcludingcoverageforprescriptiondrugs.Yetmorethanthreeinfiveofourseniorsnowlackdependabledrugcoveragewhichcanlengthenandenrichtheirlives.MillionsofolderAmericanswhoneedprescriptiondrugsthemostpaythehighestpricesforthem.Ingoodconscience,wecannotletanotheryearpasswithoutextendingtoallourseniorsthislifelineofaffordableprescriptiondrugs.(Applause.)

RecordnumbersofAmericansareprovidingforagingorailinglovedonesathome.Itsaloving,butadifficultandoftenveryexpensivechoice.Lastyear,Iproposeda$1,000taxcreditforlong-termcare.Frankly,itwasntenough.Thisyear,letstripleit,to$3,000.(Applause.)Butthisyear,letspassit.(Applause.)

Wealsohavetomakeneededinvestmentstoexpandaccesstomentalhealthcare.IwanttotakeamomenttothankthepersonwholedourfirstWhiteHouseConferenceonMentalHealthlastyear,andwhoforsevenyearshasledalloureffortstobreakdownthebarrierstodecenttreatmentofpeoplewithmentalillness.Thankyou,TipperGore.(Applause.)

Takentogether,theseproposalswouldmarkthelargestinvestmentinhealthcareinthe35yearssinceMedicarewascreated--thelargestinvestmentin35years.ThatwouldbeabigsteptowardassuringqualityhealthcareforallAmericans,youngandold.AndIaskyoutoembracethemandpassthem.(Applause.)

Wemustalsomakeinvestmentsthatrewardworkandsupportfamilies.NothingdoesthatbetterthantheEarnedIncomeTaxCredit--theEITC.(Applause.)TheEintheEITCisaboutearning,working,takingresponsibilityandbeingrewardedforit.Inmyveryfirstaddresstoyou,IaskedCongresstogreatlyexpandthiscredit;andyoudid.Asaresult,in1998alone,theEITChelpedmorethan4.3millionAmericansworktheirwayoutofpovertytowardthemiddleclass.Thatsdoublethenumberin1993.

Tonight,IproposeanothermajorexpansionoftheEITC:toreducethemarriagepenalty,tomakesureitrewardsmarriageasitrewardswork--(applause)--andalso,toexpandthetaxcreditforfamiliesthathavemorethantwochildren.Itpunishespeoplewithmorethantwochildrentoday.(Applause.)Ourproposalwouldallowfamilieswiththreeormorechildrentogetupto$1,100moreintaxrelief.Theseareworkingfamilies;theirchildrenshouldnotbeinpoverty.(Applause.)

Wealsocantrewardworkandfamilyunlessmenandwomengetequalpayforequalwork.(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,weallsaywerepro-workandpro-family.Passingthisproposalwouldproveit.(Applause.)

TensofmillionsofAmericanslivefrompaychecktopaycheck.Ashardastheywork,theystilldonthavetheopportunitytosave.ToofewcanmakeuseofIRAsand401-Kplans.Weshoulddomoretohelpallworkingfamiliessaveandaccumulatewealth.ThatstheideabehindtheIndividualDevelopmentAccounts,theIDAs.Iaskyoutotakethatideatoanewlevel,withnewRetirementSavingsAccountsthatenableeverylow-andmoderate-incomefamilyinAmericatosaveforretirement,afirsthome,amedicalemergency,oracollegeeducation.Iproposetomatchtheircontributions,howeversmall,dollarfordollar,everyyeartheysave.AndIproposetogiveamajornewtaxcredittoanysmallbusinessthatwillprovideameaningfulpensiontoitsworkers.Thosepeopleoughttohaveretirementaswellastherestofus.(Applause.)

NearlyoneinthreeAmericanchildrengrowsupwithoutafather.Thesechildrenarefivetimesmorelikelytoliveinpovertythanchildrenwithbothparentsathome.Clearly,demandingandsupportingresponsiblefatherhoodiscriticaltoliftingallchildrenoutofpoverty.Wevedoubledchildsupportcollectionssince1992.AndImproposingtoyoutoughnewmeasurestoholdstillmorefathersresponsible.

Butweshouldrecognizethatalotoffatherswanttodorightbytheirchildren,butneedhelptodoit.CarlosRosasofSt.Paul,Minnesota,wantedtodorightbyhisson,andhegotthehelptodoit.Nowhesgotagoodjobandhesupportshislittleboy.Mybudgetwillhelp40,000morefathersmakethesamechoicesCarlosRosasdid.Ithankhimforbeingheretonight.(Applause.)Standup,Carlos.Thankyou.(Applause.)

Ifthereisanysingleissueonwhichweshouldbeabletoreachacrosspartylines,itisinourcommoncommitmenttorewardworkandstrengthenfamilies,similartowhatwedidlastyear.Wecametogethertohelppeoplewithdisabilitieskeeptheirhealthinsurancewhentheygotowork.AndIthankyouforthat.ThankstooverwhelmingbipartisansupportfromthisCongress,wehaveimprovedfostercare.Wevehelpedthoseyoungpeoplewholeaveitwhentheyturn18,andwehavedramaticallyincreasedthenumberoffostercarechildrengoingintoadoptivehomes.Ithankallofyouforallofthat.(Applause.)

Ofcourse,Iamforevergratefultothepersonwhohasledoureffortsfromthebeginning,andwhosworkedsotirelesslyforchildrenandfamiliesfor30yearsnow:mywife,Hillary.AndIthankher.(Applause.)

IfwetakethestepsIvejustdiscussed,wecangoalong,longwaytowardempoweringparentstosucceedathomeandatwork,andensuringthatnochildisraisedinpoverty.Wecanmakethesevitalinvestmentsinhealthcare,education,supportforworkingfamilies,andstilloffertaxcutstohelppayforcollege,forretirement,tocareforagingparents,toreducethemarriagepenalty.Wecandothesethingswithoutforsakingthepathoffiscaldisciplinethatgotustothispointheretonight.

Indeed,wemustmaketheseinvestmentsandthesetaxcutsinthecontextofabalancedbudgetthatstreng