Alabama

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PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Alabama PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE’S PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE’S

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Alabama

EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL

Unemployment Down to 4.7%: The unemployment rate in Alabama has declined from 7.6% to 4.7% since 1993.

245,300 New Jobs: 245,300 new jobs have been created in Alabama since 1993 -- an average of 31,315 per year, compared to an average of just 28,775 jobs per year in the previous administration.

228,500 New Private Sector Jobs: Since 1993, 228,500 new private sector jobs have been created in Alabama—an average of 29,170 jobs per year, compared to an average of just 22,425 private sector jobs per year in the previous administration.

32,800 New Construction Jobs: 32,800 construction jobs have been created in Alabama since 1993 -- an average of 4,232 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of 75 construction jobs were lost each year during the previous administration.

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 Alabama, the poverty rate has fallen from 17.4% in 1993 to 14.8% in 1999. [Census Bureau]

252,000 Have Received a Raise: Approximately 105,000 Alabama workers benefited from an increase in the minimum wage—from $4.25 to $4.75 -- on October 1, 1996. They, along with about 147,000 more have 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 455,000 families in Alabama.

Business Failures Down 8.6% Per Year: Business failures in Alabama have dropped an average of 8.6% per year since 1993, after increasing 15.9% per year during the previous 12 years [Oct 98 data].

Homeownership Has Increased in Alabama: Homeownership in Alabama has increased from 70.5% to 74.8% since 1993.

Home Building Up 4.1%: Home building in Alabama has increased by an average of 4.1% per year since 1993, after increasing only 2.1% per year during the previous administration.

Alabama’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 -- an Alabama family 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.

19.6% Growth in Total Bank Loans and Leases: Alabama has seen a 19.6% average growth rate in total bank loans and leases per year since 1993, after increasing only 4.0% during the previous administration.

16.8% Growth in Commercial and Industrial Loans and Leases: Since 1993, Alabama has experienced a 16.8% annual growth rate in commercial and industrial loans and leases, after increasing only 0.8% during the previous administration.

EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION

Over 15,000 Children in Head Start: 15,263 Alabama children were enrolled in Head Start in 1999. In FY00, Alabama will receive $81 million in Head Start funding, an increase of $33.9 million over 1993.

More High-Quality Teachers With Smaller Class Sizes for Alabama’s Schools: Thanks to the Class Size Reduction Initiative, Alabama received $19.4 million in 1999 to hire about 499 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 Alabama $21 million in 2000 and $26.2 million in 2001.

$17.7 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. Alabama will receive $17.7 million in school renovation grants.

Over $7 Million for Technology Literacy: This year [FY01], Alabama receives over $7 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.

$135.5 Million for Students Most in Need: Alabama will receive $135.5 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: Alabama will receive $3.6 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.

$176.9 Million in Pell Grants: This year [FY01], Alabama will receive $176.9 million in Pell Grants for low-income students going to college.

Expanded Work-Study To Help More Students Work Their Way Through College: Alabama will receive $16.6 million in Work-Study funding in 2001 to help Alabama students work their way through college.

Over 1,400 Have Served in Alabama through AmeriCorps: Since the National Service program began in 1993, 1,412 AmeriCorps participants have earned money for college while working in Alabama’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. 89,000 students in Alabama will receive a HOPE Scholarship tax credit of up to $1,500. 108,000 students in Alabama will receive the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. [fully phased-in FY2000 estimate]

Expanded Job Training to Alabama’s Dislocated Workers: President Clinton's FY 2001 budget would triple funding for the dislocated workers program over 1992 levels. Alabama received $10.8 million in 1999 to help 6,410 dislocated workers get the training and reemployment services they need to return to work as quickly as possible. And in FY 2000, Alabama will receive another $12.3 million to provide job training for dislocated workers.

FIGHTING CRIME AND VIOLENCE

Violent Crime Falls 32% in Alabama: Under the Clinton-Gore Administration, America has experienced the longest continuous drop in crime on record. Since 1992, violent crime in Alabama has fallen 32%. In Alabama’s cities, between 1992 and 1997, serious crime, as indicated by the crime index, has declined 19% in Birmingham, 15% in Huntsville, and 14% in Montgomery. [1992 and 1997 Uniform Crime Reports]

1,617 More Police: The President’s 1994 Crime Bill has funded 1,617 new police officers to date in communities across Alabama. [through 1/01]

Bessemer and Birmingham Will Receive Targeted Funding to Hire More Community Police: Bessemer and Birmingham were selected as pilot cities for the President’s new effort to target high crime neighborhoods. The pilot program will provide full funding for new officers by waiving the usual matching requirements. Bessemer and Birmingham will deploy new officers to help meet the unique needs of their communities, such as combating gangs or targeting drug "hot spots."

Reducing Crime with Drug Courts: Working to reduce drug-related crime in Alabama, the Clinton Administration has awarded Drug Court grants to the community of Tuscaloosa. The Administration had previously awarded grants to a number of Alabama communities including: Atmore, Birmingham, Cullman, and Montgomery. 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.

$20.7 Million to Combat Domestic Violence: Through the Violence Against Women Act, Alabama has received approximately $20.7 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 Alabama was awarded nearly $450,000 to help address sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking on campus. [through 9/2000]

Over $935,000 in Grants for Battered Women and Children: In FY99, Alabama received over $935,000 in HHS’s Family Violence Prevention Program grants to assist women and children fleeing domestic abuse.

$6.5 Million to Keep Drugs & Violence Out of Alabama’s Schools: Alabama receives $6.5 million in FY01 for the Safe & Drug Free Schools Program, which invests in school security and drug prevention programs.

MOVING ALABAMA RESIDENTS FROM WELFARE TO WORK

96,274 Fewer People on Welfare: There are 96,274 fewer people on welfare in Alabama now than there were at the beginning of 1993 -- a 68% decrease. [through 6/99]

Child Support Collections Up 79%: Child support collections have increased by nearly $77 million—or 79% -- in Alabama since FY92. [through FY98]

Encouraging Responsible Choices—Preventing Teen Pregnancy in Alabama: 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 nearly 10% in Alabama.

$43.8 Million for Alabama Welfare-to-Work: In 1998 and 1999, Alabama received a total of $26.9 million in Federal welfare-to-work state formula grants, helping Alabama welfare recipients get and keep jobs. In addition, in 1999 and 1998 a total of $16.9 million in competitive grants were awarded to Alabama 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. Birmingham has received a total of $500,000 this year to fund an innovative transit project.

INVESTING IN ALABAMA’S HEALTH

Health Care for Over 38,000 Uninsured Children in Alabama: 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 38,980 in Alabama. [HHS, Health Care Financing Administration, FY99 SCHIP enrollment data]

Helping Over 115,000 of Alabama’s 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, Alabama received $65.1 million in total WIC grant funding, helping 115,628 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 Alabama in 1998, 98% of two-year olds received the vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis; 91% received the vaccine for polio; 95% received the vaccine for measles, and 96% received the vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae B, the bacteria causing a form of meningitis.

Funding for HIV/AIDS Assistance Programs: In FY 2000, Alabama will receive $3.6 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, Alabama will receive $4.6 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 45% in Alabama: The Clinton Administration’s tobacco proposal, combined with the recently enacted state tobacco settlements, will cut youth smoking and resulting premature deaths 45% in Alabama by 2004. Between 2000 and 2004, 53,800 of Alabama’s youth will be kept from smoking and 17,200 will be spared a premature tobacco-related death. [Treasury Dept., 2/99]

2,050,000 Americans in Alabama Cannot Be Assured They Have Patient Protections: Even if Alabama enacted all the protections in the Patients’ Bill of Rights, 2,050,000 people in Alabama 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, 1,040,000 Alabama 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 $900 Million in Alabama's Veterans: President Clinton and Vice President Gore are committed to caring for Alabama's 408,000 veterans. The Veterans Administration invested nearly $900 million in Alabama in 1999 alone. In 1999, 77,730 Alabama veterans received disability compensation or pension payments, more than 6,631 went to college on the GI Bill, and 7,790 bought a home using VA loan guarantees.

Providing Health Care for Alabama'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 Alabama, VA operates major medical centers in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, and the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System in the Montgomery and Tuskegee areas. In 1999, 58,976 veterans received health care in Alabama's VA facilities.

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

Superfund Clean-Up in Alabama: The EPA completed toxic waste site clean-up in Perdido, Alabama. [through 3/1/00]

$9.2 Million in Safe Drinking Water Funding: This year [FY00], thanks to President Clinton, Alabama will receive $9.2 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.

Revitalizing Brownfields Projects in Alabama Communities: As part of the Clinton-Gore Administration’s efforts to clean up Brownfields, the EPA has awarded grants to communities in Alabama—Birmingham, Uniontown, and Prichard—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.

SPEARHEADING URBAN AND RURAL RENEWAL EFFORTS

Revitalizing Alabama’s Communities: In 1994 Birmingham, Chambers County, Greene County, and Sumter Counties were all designated Enterprise Communities and were awarded $3 million each to create more jobs, housing, and economic opportunity for area residents. In 1999 Birmingham was designated as a Strategic Planning Community.

Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Will Help Develop 3,300 To 4,000 New Affordable Housing Units in Alabama Over the Next 5Years: 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 Alabama alone, this proposal would mean an additional 3,300 - 4,000 quality rental housing units for low-income American families during the next five years.

PROVIDING DISASTER RELIEF

$246.7 Million in Federal Emergency Assistance: Since 1993, Alabama has received $246.7 million in disaster relief. This includes $50.6 million in assistance for severe storms, flooding, tornadoes and Hurricane Georges in 1998. [FEMA, 2/29/00]

EXPANDING FUNDS FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT

Over $1.5 Billion in Federal Highway Aid: Since 1993, Alabama has received over $1.5 billion in federal highway aid. This includes $48 million for emergency relief in response to natural disasters and $3 million for scenic byways. These funds have helped generate over 67,614 jobs. [through FY99]

Over $135 Million in Aviation Funds: From FY93-FY99 Alabama received over $135 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.