PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE?S
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Arkansas
EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
? Unemployment Down to 4.2%: The unemployment rate in Arkansas has
declined from 6.7% to 4.2% since 1993.
? 200,400 New Jobs: 200,400 new jobs have been created in Arkansas since
1993 -- an average of 25,583 per year.
? 177,900 New Private Sector Jobs: Since 1993, 177,900 new private
sector jobs have been created in Arkansas?an average of 22,711 jobs per
year, compared to an average of just 20,075 private sector jobs per year in
the previous administration.
? 17,700 New Construction Jobs: 17,700 construction jobs have been
created in Arkansas since 1993 -- an average of 2,284 jobs per year. In
contrast, an average of only 1,200 construction jobs were created each year
during the previous administration.
? 174,000 Have Received a Raise: Approximately 75,000 Arkansas workers
benefited from an increase in the minimum wage?from $4.25 to $4.75 -- on
October 1, 1996. They, along with about 99,000 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.
? 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
263,000 families in Arkansas.
? Arkansas? 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
Arkansas 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.
? 1.4% Growth in Commercial and Industrial Loans and Leases: Since 1993,
Arkansas has experienced a 1.4% annual growth rate in commercial and
industrial loans and leases. In contrast, commercial and industrial loans
and leases fell by an annual average of 4.4% during the previous
administration.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION
? Over 10,000 Children in Head Start: 10,065 Arkansas children were
enrolled in Head Start in 1999. In FY00, Arkansas will receive $48.8
million in Head Start funding, an increase of $21.4 million over 1993.
? More High-Quality Teachers With Smaller Classes for Arkansas?s
Schools: Thanks to the Class Size Reduction Initiative, Arkansas received
$11.6 million in 1999 to hire about 299 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
Arkansas $12.6 million in 2000 and $23.6 million in 2001.
? $10.8 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. Arkansas will receive $10.8
million in school renovation grants.
? ? Over $4 Million for Technology Literacy: This year [FY01],
Arkansas receives more than $4.4 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.
? $85.3 Million for Students Most in Need: Arkansas will receive $85.3
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: Arkansas will receive $2.3 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.
? $95.3 Million in Pell Grants: This year [FY01], Arkansas will receive
$95.3 million in Pell Grants for low-income students going to college.
? Expanded Work-Study To Help More Students Work Their Way Through
College: Arkansas will receive $7.7 million in Work-Study funding in 2001
to help Arkansas students work their way through college.
? Over 1,580 Have Served in Arkansas through AmeriCorps: Since the
National Service program began in 1993, 1,582 AmeriCorps participants have
earned money for college while working in Arkansas?s schools, hospitals,
neighborhoods or parks. [through 2/00]
? Tuition Tax Credits to 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. 41,000 students in Arkansas will receive a HOPE Scholarship
tax credit of up to $1,500. 50,000 students in Arkansas will receive the
Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. [fully phased-in FY2000 estimate]
? Expanded Job Training to Arkansas? Dislocated Workers: President
Clinton's FY 2001 budget would triple funding for the dislocated workers
program over 1992 levels. Arkansas received $9.7 million in 1999 to help
5,750 dislocated workers get the training and reemployment services they
need to return to work as quickly as possible. And in FY 2000, Arkansas
will receive another $12.3 million to provide job training for dislocated
workers.
FIGHTING CRIME AND VIOLENCE
? Violent Crime Falls 4% in Arkansas: Under the Clinton-Gore
Administration, America has experienced the longest continuous drop in
crime on record. Since 1992, violent crime has fallen 4% statewide. In
Little Rock, between 1992 and 1997, serious crime, as indicated by the
crime index, has fallen 20%, with a 39% decline in murder and 29% drop in
robbery. [1992 and 1997 Uniform Crime Reports]
? Juvenile Arrests Down in Arkansas: Arkansas?s juvenile murder arrests
have decreased 59% between 1992 and 1997. [FBI, Uniform Crime Report, 1992
and 1997]
? 1,226 More Police: The President?s 1994 Crime Bill has funded 1,226
new police officers to date in communities across Arkansas. [through 1/01]
? Reducing Crime with Drug Courts: Working to reduce drug-related crime
in Arkansas, the Clinton Administration has awarded a Drug Court grant to
the community of Little Rock. 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.
? $15.2 Million to Combat Domestic Violence: Through the Violence
Against Women Act, Arkansas has received approximately $15.2 million in
federal funds to establish more women?s shelters and bolster law
enforcement, prosecution and victims? services. [through 9/2000]
? Nearly $549,000 in Grants for Battered Women and Children: In FY99,
Arkansas received $549,000 in HHS?s Family Violence Prevention Program
grants to assist women and children fleeing domestic abuse.
? $4.1 Million to Keep Drugs & Violence Out of Arkansas? Schools:
Arkansas receives $4.1 million in FY01 for the Safe & Drug Free Schools
Program, which invests in school security and drug prevention programs.
MOVING ARKANSANS FROM WELFARE TO WORK
? 44,632 Fewer People on Welfare: There are 44,632 fewer people on
welfare in Arkansas now than there were at the beginning of 1993 -- a 60%
decrease. [through 6/99]
? Encouraging Responsible Choices?Preventing Teen Pregnancy in Arkansas:
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 pregnancy rates declined 8.6% in Arkansas.
? Child Support Collections Up 139%: Child support collections have
increased by $59 million?or 139% -- in Arkansas since FY92. [through FY98]
? $23.8 Million for Arkansas Welfare-to-Work: In 1998 and 1999, Arkansas
received a total of over $16.4 million in Federal welfare-to-work state
formula grants, helping Arkansas welfare recipients get and keep jobs. In
addition, in 1999 and 1998 a total of $7.4 million in competitive grants
were awarded to Arkansas 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. Little Rock and Pine Bluff have
received a total of $508,500 this year to fund innovative transit projects.
INVESTING IN ARKANSAS? HEALTH
? Health Care for Nearly One Thousand Uninsured Children in Arkansas: 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 913 in Arkansas. [HHS,
Health Care Financing Administration, FY99 SCHIP enrollment data]
? Helping Over 82,000 Arkansas 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, Arkansas received
$46.2 million in total WIC grant funding, helping 82,825 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 Arkansas in 1998, 89% of two-year olds received
the vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis; 90% received the vaccine
for polio; 88% 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, Arkansas will
receive $1.6 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, Arkansas will receive $2.1 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 42% in Arkansas:
The Clinton Administration?s tobacco proposal, combined with the recently
enacted state tobacco settlements, will cut youth smoking and resulting
premature deaths 42% in Arkansas by 2004. Between 2000 and 2004, 14,800 of
Arkansas?s youth will be kept from smoking and 9,700 will be spared a
premature tobacco-related death. [Treasury Dept., 2/99]
? 1,000,000 Americans in Arkansas Cannot Be Assured They Have Patient
Protections: Even if Arkansas enacted all the protections in the Patients?
Bill of Rights, 1,000,000 people in Arkansas 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, 500,000 Arkansas 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 $708 Million in Arkansas' Veterans: President Clinton
and Vice President Gore are committed to caring for Arkansas' 246,000
veterans. The Veterans Administration invested nearly $708 million in
Arkansas in 1999 alone. In 1999, 36,700 Arkansas veterans received
disability compensation or pension payments, more than 3,090 went to
college on the GI Bill, and 3,080 bought a home using VA loan guarantees.
? Providing Health Care for Arkansas' 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 Arkansas, the VA operates major medical centers in
Little Rock and Fayetteville. The Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare
System (CAVHS), located in Little Rock and North Little Rock, offers a
broad spectrum of inpatient and outpatient health-care services, and also
operates two community-based outpatient clinics in Mountain Home and El
Dorado with plans for opening two more in Hot Springs and Mena. In 1999,
more than 65,000 veterans received health care in Arkansas? VA facilities.
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
? 6 Toxic Waste Sites Cleaned Up: Since 1993, the EPA has completed 6
Superfund toxic waste cleanups in Arkansas -- in Omaha, Edmondson, Ola, and
three in Jacksonville. This is double the number of sites cleaned up in
Arkansas during the previous two administrations. [through 3/1/00]
? $11 Million in Safe Drinking Water Funding: This year [FY00], thanks
to President Clinton, Arkansas will receive $11 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.
SPEARHEADING URBAN AND RURAL RENEWAL EFFORTS
? Revitalizing Arkansas? Communities: Little Rock/ Pulaski County, East
Central, and Mississippi County were all 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, Little
Rock/North Little Rock was named a Strategic Planning Community.
? Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Will Help Develop 1,900 To
2,300 New Affordable Housing Units in Arkansas 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 Arkansas alone, this proposal would mean an additional 1,900 -
2,300 quality rental housing units for low-income American families during
the next five years.
PROVIDING DISASTER RELIEF
? $71.5 Million in Federal Emergency Assistance: Since 1993, Arkansas
has received $71.5 million in disaster relief. This includes $107.2
million in assistance to recover from Hurricane Opal, which occurred in
October of 1995. [FEMA, 2/29/00]
EXPANDING FUNDS FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
? Over $1.3 Billion in Federal Highway Aid: Since 1993, Arkansas has
received over $1.3 billion in federal highway aid, including $2.1 million
for emergency relief in response to natural disasters. These funds have
helped generate 59,442 jobs. [through FY99]
? Over $68.7 Million in Transit Funding: Since 1993, Arkansas has
received over $68.7 million in Federal Transit Funding.
? Over $136 Million in Airport Improvement Program Funds: From FY93-FY99
Arkansas received over $136 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.
? Saving Lives and Property: In 1997, the United States Coast Guard
saved 5 lives in Arkansas.
|
