T H E   W H I T E   H O U S E

PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Oklahoma

Help Site Map Text Only

• Unemployment Down to 2.9%: The unemployment rate in Oklahoma declined from 5.8% to 2.9% since 1993.
• 262,800 New Jobs: 262,800 new jobs have been created in Oklahoma since 1993 -- an average of 33,549 jobs per year, compared to an average of just 21,525 jobs per year during the previous administration.
• 246,800 New Private Sector Jobs: Since 1993, 246,800 new private sector jobs have been created—an average of 31,506 jobs per year, compared to an average of just 16,500 private sector jobs per year in the previous administration.
• 16,600 New Manufacturing Jobs: 16,600 manufacturing jobs have been created in Oklahoma since 1993 -- an average of 2,119 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of only 1,075 manufacturing jobs were created each year during the previous administration.
• 21,600 New Construction Jobs: 21,600 construction jobs have been created in Oklahoma since 1993 -- an average of 2,787 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of only 1,225 construction jobs were created each year during the previous administration.
• 200,000 Have Received a Raise: Approximately 86,000 Oklahoma workers benefited from an increase in the minimum wage—from $4.25 to $4.75 -- on October 1, 1996. They, along with about 114,000 more 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 Oklahoma, the poverty rate has fallen from 19.9% in 1993 to 13.4% in 1999. [Census Bureau]
• Home Building Up 5.3%: Home building in Oklahoma has increased an average of 5.3% per year since 1993. In contrast, home building decreased an average of 6.9% during the previous two administrations.
• 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 326,000 families in Oklahoma.
• Oklahoma'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 Oklahoma 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.
• 5.9% Growth in Total Bank Loans and Leases: Oklahoma has seen a 5.9% average annual growth rate in total bank loans and leases per year since 1993. In contrast, total bank loans and leases fell an annual average of 0.7% during the previous administration.
• 6.3% Growth in Commercial and Industrial Loans and Leases: Since 1993, Oklahoma has experienced a 6.3% average annual growth rate in commercial and industrial loans and leases. In contrast, commercial and industrial loans and leases fell an annual average of 3.7% during the previous administration.

• Over 12,200 Children in Head Start: 12,217 Oklahoma children were enrolled in Head Start in 1999. In FY00, Oklahoma will receive $61.6 million in Head Start funding, an increase of $29.4 million over 1993.
• More High-Quality Teachers With Smaller Classes for Oklahoma's Schools: Thanks to the Class Size Reduction Initiative, Oklahoma received $13.5 million in 1999 to hire about 348 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 Oklahoma $14.6 million in 2000 and $18.3 million in 2001.

• $13.2 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. Oklahoma will receive $13.2 million in school renovation grants.

• $5.5 Million for Technology Literacy: This year [FY01], Oklahoma receives $5.5 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 21^st century.
• $106.1 Million for Students Most in Need: Oklahoma receives $106.1 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: Oklahoma will receive $2.9 million in Title I Accountability Grants. 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.

• $138.6 Million in Pell Grants: This year [FY01], Oklahoma will receive $138.6 million in Pell Grants for low-income students going to college.
• Expanded Work-Study To Help More Students Work Their Way Through College: Oklahoma will receive $10.8 million in Work-Study funding in 2001 to help Oklahoma students work their way through college.
• Over 1,100 Have Served in Oklahoma through AmeriCorps: Since the National Service program began in 1993, 1,162 AmeriCorps participants have earned money for college while working in Oklahoma'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 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. 74,000 students in Oklahoma will receive a HOPE Scholarship tax credit of up to $1,500. 90,000 students in Oklahoma will receive the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. [fully phased-in FY2000 estimate]
• Expanded Job Training to Oklahoma's Dislocated Workers: President Clinton's FY 2001 budget would triple funding for the dislocated workers program over 1992 levels. Oklahoma received $5.7 million in 1999 to help 3,410 dislocated workers get the training and reemployment services they need to return to work as quickly as possible. In FY 2000, Oklahoma will receive nearly $8.1 million to provide job training services to dislocated workers.

• Violent Crime Has Fallen 7%: Under the Clinton-Gore Administration, America has experienced the longest continuous drop in crime on record. Since 1992, violent crime in Oklahoma has fallen by 7%. In Tulsa, between 1992 and 1997, serious crime, as indicated by the crime index, has fallen by 7%. In addition, robberies have declined 24% in Oklahoma City, with a 13% drop in rape, and a 3% drop in murder. [1992 and 1997 Uniform Crime Reports]
• Juvenile Arrests Down in Oklahoma: Oklahoma's juvenile violent crime arrests have decreased 17% between 1992 and 1997. [FBI, Uniform Crime Report, 1992 and 1997]
• 935 More Police: The President's 1994 Crime Bill has funded 935 new police officers to date in communities across Oklahoma. [through 1/01]
• Reducing Crime with Drug Courts: Working to reduce drug-related crime in Oklahoma, the Clinton Administration has awarded Drug Court grants to the communities of Sapulpa and Seminole County. The Administration had previously awarded grants to a number of Oklahoma communities including: Stillwater, Claremore, Elk City, Muskogee, Oklahoma City, Okmulgee, Enid, Perkins, Purcell and Tahlequah. 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.
• $22.8 Million to Combat Domestic Violence: Through the Violence Against Women Act, Oklahoma has received approximately $22.8 million in federal funds to establish more women's shelters and bolster law enforcement, prosecution and victims' services. [through 9/2000]
• Over $720,000 in Grants for Battered Women and Children: In FY99, Oklahoma received over $720,000 in HHS's Family Violence Prevention Program grants to assist women and children fleeing domestic abuse.
• $5.3 Million to Keep Drugs & Violence Out of Oklahoma's Schools: Oklahoma has received $5.3 million in FY01 for the Safe & Drug Free Schools Program, which invests in school security and drug prevention programs.

• 95,544 Fewer People on Welfare: There are 95,544 fewer people on welfare in Oklahoma now than there were at the beginning of 1993 -- a 65% decrease. [through 6/99]
• Child Support Collections Up 85%: Child support collections have been increased by $40 million—or 85% -- in Oklahoma since FY92. [through FY98]
• Encouraging Responsible Choices—Preventing Teen Pregnancy in Oklahoma: 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 10.8% in Oklahoma.
• $33.3 Million for California Welfare-to-Work: In 1998 and 1999, Oklahoma received a total of $22.6 million in Federal welfare-to-work state formula grants, helping Oklahoma welfare recipients get and keep jobs. In addition, in 1999 and 1998 a total of $8.7 million in competitive grants were awarded to Oklahoma localities to support innovative welfare-to-work strategies and Native American tribes in Oklahoma received $2.0 million in Federal funding. 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. Eastern Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa have received a total of $1.3 million this year to fund innovative transit projects.

• Health Care for Over 40,000 Uninsured Oklahoma Children: In 1997, President Clinton passed the largest single investment in health care for children since 1965 -- an unprecedented $24 billion over five years to cover as many as five million children throughout the nation. This investment guarantees the full range of benefits that children need to grow up strong and healthy. Two million children nationwide have health care coverage thanks to the President's plan, including 40,196 in Oklahoma. [HHS, Health Care Financing Administration, FY99 SCHIP enrollment data]
• Helping Over 108,000 Oklahoma 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, Oklahoma received $56.3 million in total WIC grant funding, helping 108,303 women, infants and children in need receive health and food assistance, 19,200 more than in 1994. [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 Oklahoma in 1998, 89% of two-year olds received the vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis; 93% received the vaccine for polio; 94% received the vaccine for measles, and 89% received the vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae B, the bacteria causing a form of meningitis.
• Funding for HIV/AIDS Assistance Programs: In FY 2000, Oklahoma will receive nearly $1.9 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, Oklahoma will receive over $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 44% in Oklahoma: The Clinton Administration's tobacco proposal, combined with the recently enacted state tobacco settlements, will cut youth smoking and resulting premature deaths 44% in Oklahoma by 2004. Between 2000 and 2004, 40,400 of Oklahoma's youth will be kept from smoking and 12,900 will be spared a premature tobacco-related death. [Treasury Dept., 2/99]
• 1,240,000 Americans in Oklahoma Cannot Be Assured They Have Patient Protections: Even if Oklahoma enacted all the protections in the Patients' Bill of Rights, 1,240,000 people in Oklahoma 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, 630,000 Oklahoma 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.

• Invested Over $795 Million in Oklahoma's Veterans: President Clinton and Vice President Gore are committed to caring for Oklahoma's 350,000 veterans. The Veterans Administration invested over $795 million in Oklahoma in 1999 alone. In 1999, 64,442 Oklahoma veterans received disability compensation or pension payments, more than 6,568 went to college on the GI Bill, and 6,862 bought a home using VA loan guarantees.

• Providing Health Care for Oklahoma'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 1999, 54,894 veterans received health care in Oklahoma's VA facilities.

• $11.1 Million in Safe Drinking Water Funding: This year [FY00], thanks to President Clinton, Oklahoma will receive $11.1 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.
• Five Superfund Clean-up Sites in Oklahoma: Since 1993, the EPA has completed five toxic waste site clean-ups in Oklahoma. The sites are located in Oklahoma City (3), Criner, and Sand Springs. In contrast, only one site was cleaned up under the previous two administrations combined. [through 3/1/00]
• Revitalizing Brownfields Project in Oklahoma: As part of the Clinton-Gore Administration's efforts to clean up Brownfields, the EPA has awarded grants to Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and the Comanche Nation for environmental clean-up and economic revitalization. This project is intended to jump-start local clean-up efforts by providing funds to return unproductive, abandoned, contaminated urban properties to productive use.

• Revitalizing Oklahoma's Communities: Oklahoma City and Little Dixie were designated Enterprise Communities in December 1994 and were awarded $3 million each to create more jobs, housing, and economic opportunity for area residents. In 1999, Ada was designated a Rural Enterprise Community.
• Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Will Help Develop 4,100 To 4,900 New Affordable Housing Units in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma alone, this proposal would mean an additional 4,100 - 4,900 quality rental housing units for low-income American families during the next five years.

• $175.6 Million in Federal Emergency Assistance: Since 1993, Oklahoma has received $175.6 million in disaster relief. This includes $730 thousand for extreme fire hazards in 1998, and $4.7 million in crisis counseling assistance for those residents affected by the Federal Building Bombing in April of 1995. [FEMA, 2/29/00]

• Over $1.2 Billion in Federal Highway Aid: Since 1993, Oklahoma has received over $1.2 billion in federal highway aid, including $24.8 million for emergency relief in response to natural disasters and $100,000 for scenic byways. These funds have helped generate 57,539 jobs. [through FY99]
• $87.2 Million in Aviation Funds: From FY93-FY99 Oklahoma received $87.2 million in Airport Improvement Project 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.
• $90.2 Million in Transit Funds: Oklahoma has received $90.2 million in Federal Transit funds since 1993.

January 2001

South

Alabama

Arkansas

Delaware

The District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maryland

Mississippi

North Carolina

Oklahoma

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

West Virginia