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: 20th Century |
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HISTORY : 20th Century |
The Accomplishments of the Clinton Administration
Economic
.Under President Clinton's leadership, almost 6 million new jobs were
created in the first two years of his Administration -- an average of 250,000
new jobs every month.
.In 1994, the economy had the lowest combination of unemployment and
inflation in 25 years.
.As part of the 1993 Economic Plan, President Clinton cut taxes on 15
million low-income families and made tax cuts available to 90 percent of
small businesses, while raising taxes on just 1.2 percent of the wealthiest
taxpayers.
.President Clinton signed into law the largest deficit reduction plan
in history, resulting in over $600 billion in deficit reduction. The deficit
is going down for 3 years in a row for the first time since Harry Truman
was president.
.Signed the Economic Package, August 10, 1993.
.The economy created 7.7 million new jobs in the first 34 months of
this Administration.
.Passed the largest deficit-cutting plan in history -- saving more than
__BODY__ trillion over seven years.
.On track for three consecutive years of deficit reduction -- for the
first time since Harry Truman.
.Cut federal spending by $255 billion over 5 years.
.Made new tax cuts available to over 90% of small businesses.
.Unemployment has fallen from 7% when President Clinton took office
to its current rate of 5.6%
.Lowest combined rate of unemployment and inflation since 1968.
.1994 real GDP growth was the highest in a decade.
.Proposed a plan to balance the budget while protecting critical investments
in education.
.The Clinton Administration forged a bipartisan coalition to pass NAFTA,
after concluding tough negotiations on side agreements covering workers'
rights, the environment, and import surges. Exports to Mexico rose 23 percent
in the first 11 months of 1994.
.President Clinton led the fight to pass GATT, which lowers tariffs
worldwide by $744 billion over ten years -- the largest international tax
cut in history. GATT cuts tariffs on manufactured goods by more than one-third
overall and eliminates tariffs in major markets in a number of sectors
in which the U.S. is particularly competitive.
Crime Fighting: Restoring Our Communities
.The President signed into law the Brady Bill, which imposes a five-day
waiting period on handgun purchases so that background checks can be done
to help keep handguns away from criminals.
.The President's Crime Bill will put 100,000 new police officers on
the street. More than 1,200 communities have already received grants to
hire 27,000 additional officers.
.The Crime Bill also punishes criminals by expanding the number of offenses
eligible for the death penalty and implementing the "three-strikes-and-you're-out"
provision.
.And, the Bill banned the manufacture of 19 specific types of deadly
assault weapons, while simultaneously protecting hunters' rights by exempting
over 650 hunting rifles.
.Passed the toughest most comprehensive Crime Bill ever, September 13,
1994 .Signed the Brady Bill, November 30, 1993.
.Enacted the Assault Weapons Ban as part of the Crime Bill. .Put 100,000
new police on the street -- nearly 31,000 more officers have been funded.
.Signed the Violence Against Women Act as part of the Crime Bill.
.Signed the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act, October 20, 1994.
.Issued Presidential Directive enforcing a "Zero Tolerance" gun policy
in schools, October 22, 1994
.Submitted and fought for the most comprehensive Drug Control budget
ever.
Strengthening Our Families: Security and Opportunity
.President Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act. The law,
which covers over 42 million Americans, offers workers up to 12 weeks of
unpaid, job-guaranteed leave for child birth, adoption, or personal or
family illness.
.President Clinton expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit to cut the
taxes of 15 million working families with incomes of $27,000 or less.
.President Clinton granted waivers to 25 states -- half the nation --
providing for comprehensive welfare reform demonstrations.
.President Clinton ordered the U.S. Justice Department to conduct the
first-ever crackdown on deadbeat parents who refuse to accept financial
responsibility for their own children.
.Signed an Executive Order cracking down on federal employees who owe
child support.
.Increased Head Start funding by almost $760 million.
.Passed the Student Loan Reform Act, August 10, 1993.
.Implemented the National Service Act, September 21, 1993.
.Signed the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, March 31, 1994.
.Enacted the School-to-Work Opportunities Act on May 4, 1994.
.Signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization
.Expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit providing tax relief for 15 million
working families.
.Introduced the Work and Responsibility Act - comprehensive welfare
reform.
.Passed the Family Support and Preservation Program. .Passed major funding
increases for homeless programs in both Houses.
.Approved 35 waivers to states permitting comprehensive welfare reform
demonstrations.
.Collected a record $10 billion in child support through enforcement
in 1994.
.Signed the Social Security Independent Agency Act.
.Increased adoption and foster care funds by almost $600 million from
1994-1995.
Community and Housing
.Created nine Economic Empowerment Zones and 95 Enterprise Communities.
.Signed the Community Development Banking Financial Institutions Act,
Sept. 23, 1994.
.Signed the Interstate Banking Bill, September 29, 1994.
.Instituted the Defense Reinvestment and Conversion Initiative.
.Reformed the Community Reinvestment Act to focus on performance rather
than paperwork.
.Made the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and Mortgage Revenue Bond Program
permanent.
Cutting Bureaucracy
.President Clinton has already cut the federal bureaucracy by more than
100,000 positions. Under the recommendations of the National Performance
Review, the federal bureaucracy will be reduced by 272,000 -- its lowest
level since the Kennedy Administration.
.And, he reduced the White House staff by 25 percent.
.Already cut the Federal Workforce by over 200,000 -- on the way to
lowest level in 30 years.
.Abolishing 16,000 pages of obsolete regulations and rewriting 31,000
more pages.
.$58 billion in savings are already in the bank. $46 billion in savings
are still to come.
.Over 180 new recommendations will save $70 billion. Eliminated 284
federal advisory committees. .Developed government-wide Customer Service
Standards for Cabinet and Administration in history.
.Signed the most important federal procurement act ever to streamline
government purchasing.
.Reformed Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation to protect 8.5 million
pensions.
.Signed the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, March 22, 1995.
Education As A Priority
.Under the President's Direct Student Loan program, students can borrow
money directly from the government at a lower interest rate and with many
flexible repayment options, including the option to repay with a percentage
of their after-graduation salary. Taxpayers will save at least $4.3 billion
over five years.
.In 1994, over 20,000 AmeriCorps members tutored students, immunized
children, reclaimed urban parks, and patrolled neighborhoods. In return,
they earned $4,725 per year of service towards college tuition or job training.
.President Clinton signed into law Goals 2000, a national standard of
excellence for our public schools. Already, 41 states and territories have
received federal grants to raise academic standards and improve schools.
.President Clinton's Safe and Drug Free Schools and Community Act and
the Safe Schools Act provide funding to schools to fight violence and drug
abuse. Schools can use up to 25 percent of their funds to purchase metal
detectors, develop safe zones, and hire school security personnel.
.The President's School-to-Work program provides venture capital to
spark a nationwide system for moving America's young people from high school
to a job with a future. In 1994, all states received planning funds for
their school-to-work program.
.Charter School legislation signed by President Clinton encourages states
and localities to set up public school choice.
Trust in Government
.Signed the National Voter Registration Act (Motor-Voter), May 20, 1993.
.Eliminated the tax deduction for lobbying expenses.
.Imposed strictest Administration ethics guidelines in history.
.Barred top officials from becoming foreign lobbyists after leaving
government.
.Signed the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 -- the first overhaul of
lobbying rules in 50 years.
.Fought for passage of and signed into law the Congressional Accountability
Act, January 22, 1995.
.Fought for passage of line-item veto and campaign finance.
Protecting Our Environment
.Under President Clinton, the EPA launched its "Common Sense Initiative"
to make health protection cheaper and smarter by focusing on results rather
than one-size-fits-all regulations.
.The President's Northwest Forest Plan is putting communities in the
Northwest back to work, while conserving ancient forests.
.After decades of conflict, the Clinton Administration negotiated a
consensus plan to protect California's most valuable natural resource --
its water. The San Francisco and Delta estuary supplies drinking water
to two-thirds of the state's people, provides irrigation for 45 percent
of the nation's fruits and vegetables, and sustains 300 aquatic species.
.Issued a new executive order to require polluters to disclose information
to the public and expanded the public's right-to-know about toxic releases.
.Launched "reinventing environmental regulation" to cut red tape and
better protect public health. .Issued a new standard to cut pollution from
chemical plants 90% by 1997.
.Signed executive orders to increase recycling and cut pollution in
federal buildings.
.Signed the California Desert Protection Act, October 31, 1994.
.Issued a new standard to cut pollution from incinerators 95%.
.Introduced comprehensive Safe Drinking Water and Superfund reforms.
.Developed a plan to restore Florida's Everglades.
.Ended decades of conflict over the allocation of California Bay-Delta
water.
Health Care
.Passed the Family and Medical Leave Act, February 5, 1993.
.Signed a comprehensive Child Immunization Plan.
.Revoked the Reagan/Bush restrictions on abortion counseling ("the gag
rule"), abortions in military hospitals, "Mexico City" policy and RU-486
imports.
.Increased Ryan White CARE Act funding for outpatient AIDS care over
100% in first 3 budgets.
.Put the Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) on a full-funding
path.
.Increased funding 65% for breast cancer research.
.As part of the balanced budget plan, introduced health care reform
initiative which strengthens Medicare and expands coverage.
.Proposed a __BODY__.3 billion increase in veterans' benefits -- of which
__BODY__ billion will be directed to the VA health system to provide treatment
for 43,000 more veterans.
Foreign Policy
.Signed NAFTA into law, December 8, 1993, which will create hundreds
of thousands of US jobs.
.Signed GATT into law, December 8, 1994, the largest trade agreement
in history.
.Secured free-trade commitments from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) leaders.
.Hosted Summit of the Americas and agreed to negotiate a Free Trade
Area of the Americas by 2005 .Developed National Export Strategy, eliminating
outdated export controls on $35 billion in exports. .Opened 15 different
market sectors in Japan ranging from telecommunications procurement to
rice. .Reached historic agreement with Japan on opening its automotive
market to billions of dollars worth of American cars and parts.
.Reached agreement with China to provide intellectual property rights
protection for billions of dollars worth of U.S. exports.
Promoting Security and Freedom Abroad
.President Clinton hosted the signing of the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration
of Principles in September, 1993, and the signing of the Israeli-Jordan
Washington Principles in July, 1994 -- historic agreements between the
leaders of Israel and her Arab neighbors to settle differences by peaceful
means.
.To enhance European security and stability, the Clinton Administration
proposed the Partnership for Peace program, offering former Soviet republics
and Central/East European states closer ties with NATO. Already, 22 nations
have signed on, since NATO's adoption of the program in January, 1994.
.As of May, 1994, nuclear missiles in Russia and the United States are
no longer targeted against any country. And, as a result of other Clinton
Administration efforts, the Ukraine is ahead of schedule in reaching the
goal of transferring 1,500 nuclear warheads to Russia for dismantlement.
.President Clinton peacefully restored democracy to Haiti, curbing the
violence that threatened tens of thousands of Haitians, securing our borders,
and upholding our commitments and the commitments made to us in the process.
.Helped Israel and Jordan achieve an historic peace treaty and Israel
and the Palestinians fulfill their historic accord.
.Contributed to an historic cease-fire in Northern Ireland.
.d Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan to give up the nuclear weapons left
on their land when the Soviet Union collapsed.
.Agreed to framework with North Korea that freezes and leads to the
eventual elimination of North Korea s dangerous nuclear program.
.Led the international effort to secure the indefinite and unconditional
extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) further reducing
the danger of nuclear proliferation around the world.
.Working to prevent nuclear weapons from ending up in the hands of terrorists
or international criminals.
.Air-lifted more than half a ton of vulnerable, highly enriched uranium,
enough to make dozens of nuclear bombs, from Kazakhstan to safe storage.
.Assisted South Africa's transition to democracy, providing support
for elections and development. .Bringing the nations of Europe closer:
-- Modernizing NATO;
-- Working with Russia;
-- Reforming the former Soviet Union economies
.Waging a tough counter-terrorism campaign with stronger laws and more
training for law enforcement. .Maintaining strong sanctions against states
that sponsor terrorism and defy the rule of rule, such as Iran, Iraq, Libya
and Sudan. .Sent our planes, ships and troops to turn back a new Iraqi
threat to the Persian Gulf.
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