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PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Minnesota

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PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE'S

PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE'S

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Minnesota

 

EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL

  • Unemployment Down to 3.1%: Since 1993, the unemployment rate in Minnesota has declined from 5.3% to 3.1%.
  • 454,400 New Jobs: 454,400 new jobs have been created in Minnesota since 1993 -- an average of 58,009 per year, compared to an average of just 38,625 jobs per year during the previous administration.
  • 411,400 New Private Sector Jobs: Since 1993, 411,400 new private sector jobs have been created in Minnesota — an average of 52,519 jobs per year, compared to an average of just 32,525 private sector jobs per year in the previous administration.
  • 36,300 New Manufacturing Jobs: 36,300 manufacturing jobs have been created in Minnesota since 1993 -- an average of 4,634 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of only 1,075 manufacturing jobs were created each year during the previous administration.
  • 38,200 New Construction Jobs: 38,200 construction jobs have been created in Minnesota since 1993 -- an average of 4,929 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of 25 construction jobs were lost each year during the previous administration.
  • 117,000 Have Received a Raise: Approximately 60,000 Minnesota workers benefited from an increase in the minimum wage—from $4.25 to $4.75 -- on October 1, 1996. They, along with about 57,000 others received an additional raise—from $4.75 to $5.15 -- on September 1, 1997. President Clinton and Vice President Gore have called on Congress to raise the minimum wage by an additional $1.00 over two years.
  • Poverty Has Fallen: Nationally, the poverty rate has fallen from 15.1% in 1993 to 11.8% in 1999, the lowest level since 1979. In Minnesota, the poverty rate has fallen from 11.6% in 1993 to 8.8% in 1999. [Census Bureau]
  • A $500 Child Tax Credit to Help Families Raising Children: To help make it easier for families to raise their children, the balanced budget included a $500 per-child tax credit for children under 17. Thanks to President Clinton, the Balanced Budget delivers a child tax credit to 519,000 families in Minnesota.
  • Homeownership Has Increased In Minnesota: Homeownership in Minnesota has increased from 66.2% to 76.1% since 1993.
  • Home Building Up 2.9%: Home building in Minnesota has increased by an average of 2.9% per year since 1993, after falling by nearly 2% per year during the previous administration.
  • Minnesota's Families Reap Benefits of Deficit Reduction: Public debt is on track to be $2.4 trillion lower in 2000 than was projected in 1993. Debt reduction brings real benefits for the American people -- a family in Minnesota with a home mortgage of $100,000 might expect to save roughly $2,000 per year in mortgage payments. Reduced debt also means lower interest rates and reduced payments on car loans and student loans.
  • 14.5% Growth in Total Bank Loans and Leases: Minnesota has seen a 14.5% average growth rate in total bank loans and leases per year since 1993. In contrast total bank loans and leases grew by an annual average of only 0.7% during the previous administration.
  • 17.3% Growth in Commercial and Industrial Loans and Leases: Since 1993, Minnesota has experienced a 17.3% annual growth rate in commercial and industrial loans and leases. In contrast, commercial and industrial loans and leases fell by an annual average of 9.2% during the previous administration.

EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION

  • Over 9,600 Children in Head Start: 9,630 Minnesota children were enrolled in Head Start in 1999. In FY00, Minnesota will receive $57.6 million in Head Start funding, an increase of $27 million over 1993.
  • More High-Quality Teachers With Smaller Classes for Minnesota's Schools: Thanks to the Class Size Reduction Initiative, Minnesota received $16.6 million in 1999 to hire about 428 new, well-prepared public school teachers and reduce class size in the early grades. President Clinton secured funding for a second and third installment of the plan, giving Minnesota $18 million in 2000 and $22.5 million in 2001.
  • $12.1 Million for School Repairs: President Clinton fought for and won a new initiative to repair America's schools, providing $1.2 billion in the FY 2001 budget for urgent school renovation. Minnesota will receive $12.1 million in school renovation grants.
  • $4.3 Million for Technology Literacy: This year [FY01], Minnesota receives $4.3 million for the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund which helps communities and the private sector ensure that every student is equipped with the computer literacy skills needed for the 21st century.
  • $89.5 Million for Students Most in Need: Minnesota receives $89.5 million in Title I Grants (to Local Educational Agencies) providing extra help in the basics for students most in need, particularly communities and schools with high concentrations of children in low-income families [FY01].
  • Turning Around Failing Schools: Minnesota will receive $2.4 million in Title I Accountability Grants in 2001. President Clinton created the accountability fund to help turn around the worst performing schools through such measures as overhauling curriculum, improving staffing, or even closing schools and reopening them as charter schools.
  • $130.3 Million in Pell Grants: This year [FY01], Minnesota will receive $130.3 million in Pell Grants for low-income students going to college.
  • Expanded Work-Study To Help More Students Work Their Way Through College: Minnesota will receive $19.3 million in Work-Study funding in 2001 to help Minnesota students work their way through college.
  • Nearly 3,300 Have Served in Minnesota through AmeriCorps: Since the National Service program began in 1993, 3,286 AmeriCorps participants have earned money for college while working in Minnesota's schools, hospitals, neighborhoods or parks. [through 2/00]
  • Tuition Tax Credits in Balanced Budget Open the Doors of College and Promote Lifelong Learning: The balanced budget included the largest investment in higher education since the G.I. Bill in 1945 -- delivering a major victory for parents trying to pay for their children's college and for working people trying to upgrade their skills. It includes both President Clinton's $1,500 HOPE Scholarship to help make the first two years of college as universal as a high school diploma and a Lifetime Learning Tax Credit for college juniors, seniors, graduate students and working Americans pursuing lifelong learning to upgrade their skills. This 20% tax credit will be applied to the first $5,000 of tuition and fees through 2002 and to the first $10,000 thereafter. 116,000 students in Minnesota will receive a HOPE Scholarship tax credit of up to $1,500. 142,000 students in Minnesota will receive the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. [fully phased-in FY2000 estimate]
  • Expanded Job Training to Minnesota's Dislocated Workers: President Clinton's FY 2001 budget would triple funding for the dislocated workers program over 1992 levels. Minnesota received $9 million in 1999 to help 5,340 dislocated workers get the training and reemployment services they need to return to work as quickly as possible. In FY 2000 Minnesota will receive over $8 million to provide job training for dislocated workers.

FIGHTING CRIME AND VIOLENCE

  • Murder Rate Falls in St. Paul: Under the Clinton-Gore Administration, America has experienced the longest continuous drop in crime on record. Between 1992 and 1997, murder in the city of St. Paul has declined 27%.[1992 and 1997 UCR]
  • Juvenile Arrests Down in Minnesota: Minnesota's juvenile murder arrests have decreased 29% between 1992 and 1997. [FBI, Uniform Crime Report, 1992 and 1997]
  • 1,259 More Police: The President's 1994 Crime Bill has funded 1,259 new police officers to date in communities across Minnesota. [through 1/01]
  • $34.2 Million to Combat Domestic Violence: Through the Violence Against Women Act, Minnesota has received approximately $34.2 million in federal funds to establish more women's shelters and bolster law enforcement, prosecution and victims' services. And in October 1999, the University of Minnesota was awarded over $380,000 to help address sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking on campus. [through 9/2000]
  • Reducing Crime with Drug Courts: Working to reduce drug-related crime in Minnesota, the Clinton Administration has awarded a Drug Court grant to the community of Minneapolis. Drug courts use the coercive power of the criminal justice system to combine drug testing, sanctions, supervision and treatment to push nonviolent, drug-abusing offenders to stop using drugs and committing crimes.
  • Over $1 Million in Grants for Battered Women: In FY99, Minnesota received over $1 million in HHS's Family Violence Prevention Program grants to assist women and children fleeing domestic abuse.
  • $5.9 Million to Keep Drugs & Violence Out of Minnesota's Schools: Minnesota receives $5.9 million in FY01 for the Safe & Drug Free Schools Program, which invests in school security and drug prevention programs.

MOVING MINNESOTANS FROM WELFARE TO WORK

  • 56,324 Fewer People on Welfare: There are 56,324 fewer people on welfare in Minnesota now than there were at the beginning of 1993 -- a 29% decrease. [through 6/99]
  • Child Support Collections Up 109%: Child support collections have increased by over $207 million—or 109% -- in Minnesota since FY92. [through FY98]
  • Encouraging Responsible Choices—Preventing Teen Pregnancy in Minnesota: Since 1993, President Clinton and Vice President Gore have supported innovative and promising teen pregnancy prevention strategies, with significant components of the strategy becoming law in the 1996 Personal Responsibility Act. The law requires unmarried minor parents to stay in school and live at home or in a supervised setting; encourages "second chance homes" to provide teen parents with the skills and support they need; and provides $50 million a year in new funding for state abstinence education activities. Efforts are making a difference, adolescent pregnancy rates and teen abortion rates are declining. And between 1991 and 1997, teen birth rates declined 14.2% in Minnesota.
  • $40.2 Million for Minnesota Welfare-to-Work: In 1998 and 1999, Minnesota received a total of $28 million in Federal welfare-to-work state formula grants, helping Minnesota welfare recipients get and keep jobs. In addition, in 1999 and 1998 a total of $12.2 million in competitive grants were awarded to Minnesota localities to support innovative welfare-to-work strategies. Part of the President's comprehensive efforts to move recipients from welfare to work, this funding was included in the $3 billion welfare to work fund in the 1997 Balanced Budget Act.
  • Helping People Get to Work: Through the Access to Jobs initiative, the Clinton-Gore Administration is working with communities across the country to design transportation solutions to help welfare recipients and other low-income workers get to and from work. Minneapolis, St. Paul, and St. Cloud have received a total of $1.47 million this year to fund innovative transit projects.

INVESTING IN MINNESOTA'S HEALTH

  • Helping Over 90,000 Minnesota Women and Children with WIC: The Clinton Administration is committed to full funding in the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). In FY99, Minnesota received $47.2 million in total WIC grant funding, helping 90,174 women, infants and children in need receive health and food assistance. [through 8/99]
  • More Toddlers Are Being Immunized: As a result of the President's 1993 Childhood Immunization Initiative, childhood immunization rates have reached an historic high. According to the CDC, 90% or more of America's toddlers received the most critical doses of each of the routinely recommended vaccines in 1996, 1997, and again in 1998 —surpassing the President's 1993 goal. In Minnesota in 1998, 95% of two-year olds received the vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis; 91% received the vaccine for polio; 93% received the vaccine for measles, and 95% received the vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae B, the bacteria causing a form of meningitis.
  • Funding for HIV/AIDS Assistance Programs: In FY 2000, Minnesota will receive over $1 million in Ryan White Title II formula grants. This funding provides people living with HIV and AIDS medical and support services. Also through the Ryan White Act, Minnesota will receive nearly $2.4 million for state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs), which help those without insurance obtain much needed prescription drugs. There has been a tenfold increase in ADAP funding in the last four years, up from $52 million in 1996 to $528 million in 2000. [HHS, Health Resources and Services Administration, 4/7/00]
  • Tobacco Plan Will Cut Smoking and Premature Deaths by 36% in Minnesota: The Clinton Administration's tobacco proposal, combined with the recently enacted state tobacco settlements, will cut youth smoking and resulting premature deaths 36% in Minnesota by 2004. Between 2000 and 2004, 51,100 of Minnesota's youth will be kept from smoking and 16,400 will be spared a premature tobacco-related death. [Treasury Dept., 2/99]
  • 2,390,000 Americans in Minnesota Cannot Be Assured They Have Patient Protections: Even if Minnesota enacted all the protections in the Patients' Bill of Rights, 2,390,000 people in Minnesota cannot be assured they have the comprehensive patient protections recommended by the President's Advisory Commission. This is because the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) may preempt state-enacted protections. That is why the President has called on Congress to pass a federally enforceable patients' bill of rights so that everyone enrolled in managed care may have a basic set of protections. Notably, 1,120,000 Minnesota women are in ERISA health plans and are therefore not necessarily protected. Women are particularly vulnerable without these protections because they are greater users of health care services, they make three-quarters of the health care decisions for their families, and they have specific health care needs addressed by a patients' bill of rights.

CARING FOR OUR VETERANS

  • Invested Nearly $683 Million in Minnesota's Veterans: President Clinton and Vice President Gore are committed to caring for Minnesota's 462,000 veterans. The Veterans Administration invested nearly $683 million in Minnesota in 1999 alone. In 1999, 48,688 Minnesota veterans received disability compensation or pension payments, nearly 4,800 went to college on the GI Bill, and 7,710 bought a home using VA loan guarantees.
  • Providing Health Care for Minnesota's Veterans: Since 1993, the VA health system has increased the number of patients treated every year by over 29 percent; treated 83 percent more homeless patients; organized approximately 1,300 sites of care delivery under 22 Veterans Integrated Service Networks; and established more than 250 new community-based outpatient clinics. In Minnesota, VA operates major medical centers in Minneapolis and St. Cloud, and community-based outpatient clinics at Fergus Fall, Hibbing and Mankato. In 1999, 45,938 veterans received health care in Minnesota's VA facilities.

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

  • 20 Toxic Waste Sites Cleaned Up: Since 1993, the EPA has completed 20 Superfund toxic waste cleanups in Minnesota. That's more than one and a half times the number of sites cleaned up in Minnesota during the previous twelve years combined. [through 3/1/00]
  • $12.9 Million in Safe Drinking Water Funding: This year [FY00], thanks to President Clinton, Minnesota will receive $12.9 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to provide low-interest loans to municipalities to build, improve, and prevent pollution of drinking water systems.
  • Brownfields—Revitalizing Communities in Minnesota: As part of the Clinton-Gore Administration's efforts to clean up Brownfields, the EPA has awarded grants to the State of Minnesota, as well as Hennepin County and the St. Paul Port Authority for environmental clean-up and economic revitalization. These projects are intended to jump-start local clean-up efforts by providing funds to return unproductive, abandoned, contaminated urban properties to productive use.
  • Improving the Quality of the Minnesota River: Minnesota is receiving $163 million from the USDA's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), as well as $60 million from State and other non-federal sources, to improve the quality of the Minnesota River by retiring up to 100,000 acres of environmentally-sensitive land in the Minnesota River Valley. CREP is a new voluntary initiative where the Agriculture Department partners with State governments and local interests to address local environmental problems related to agriculture.

SPEARHEADING URBAN RENEWAL EFFORTS

  • Revitalizing Minnesota's Communities: Minneapolis and St. Paul were both designated Enterprise Communities in December 1994 and were awarded $3 million each to create more jobs, housing, and economic opportunity. In 1999, Minneapolis was named a New Urban Empowerment Zone.
  • Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Will Help Develop 2,800 To 3,300 New Affordable Housing Units in Minnesota Over the Next 5 Years: Last year, the President and Vice President pushed for a 40-percent expansion in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. This year, the President and Vice President will try again to enact tax incentives to develop affordable housing. In Minnesota alone, this proposal would mean an additional 2,800 - 3,300 quality rental housing units for low-income American families during the next five years.

PROVIDING DISASTER RELIEF

  • Nearly $503 Million in Federal Emergency Assistance: Since 1993, Minnesota has received nearly $503 million in disaster relief. This includes $23 million in assistance for damages caused by severe storms, winds and flooding in 1999. [FEMA, 2/29/00]

EXPANDING FUNDS FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT

  • Nearly $1.4 Billion in Federal Highway Aid: Since 1993, Minnesota has received nearly $1.4 billion in federal highway aid, including $14.9 million for emergency relief in response to natural disasters and $5 million for scenic byways. These funds have helped generate 56,579 jobs. [through FY99]
  • Over $206.2 Million in Aviation Funds: From FY93-FY99 Minnesota received over $206.2 million in Airport Improvement Program funds to help build and renovate airports, and, when necessary, to provide funds for noise abatement to improve the quality of life for residents who live near airports.
  • Over $256.4 Million in Transit Funds: Since 1993, the Federal Transit Administration has provided over $256.4 million in funding to support mass transportation in Minnesota.
  • Saving Lives and Property: In 1999, the United States Coast Guard saved 3 lives and $887,000 of property in Minnesota.

January 2001


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