Georgia

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

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Georgia

EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL

Unemployment Down to 3.0%: The unemployment rate in Georgia has declined from 6.2% to 3.0% since 1993. In contrast, unemployment in Georgia increased 10.7% under the previous administration.

952,400 New Jobs: 952,400 new jobs have been created in Georgia since 1993 -- an average of 121,583 jobs per year, compared to an average of just 32,050 jobs per year during the previous administration.

899,200 New Private Sector Jobs: Since 1993, 899,200 new private sector jobs have been created in Georgia—an average of 114,791 jobs per year, compared to an average of just 22,275 private sector jobs per year in the previous administration.

45,400 New Manufacturing Jobs: 45,400 manufacturing jobs have been created in Georgia since 1993 -- an average of 5,796 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of 4,625 manufacturing jobs were lost each year during the previous administration.

78,300 New Construction Jobs: 78,300 construction jobs have been created in Georgia since 1993 -- an average of 10,103 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of 6,475 construction jobs were lost each year during the previous administration.

281,000 Have Received a Raise: Approximately 96,000 Georgia workers benefited from an increase in the minimum wage—from $4.25 to $4.75 -- on October 1, 1996. They, along with about 185,000 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 847,000 families in Georgia.

Business Failures Down 20.3% Per Year: Business failures in Georgia have dropped an average of 20.3% per year since 1993, after increasing 23.1% per year during the previous 12 years [Oct. 98 data].

Homeownership Has Increased in Georgia: Homeownership in Georgia increased from 66.8% to 71.3% since 1993.

Home Building Up 9.6%: Home building in Georgia has increased by an average of 9.6% per year since 1993, after falling by over 8.3% per year during the previous administration.

Georgia'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 Georgia 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.

EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION

Over 21,100 Children in Head Start: 21,121 Georgia children were enrolled in Head Start in 1999. In FY00, Georgia will receive $127.9 million in Head Start funding, an increase of $61.6 million over 1993.

More High-Quality Teachers With Smaller Classes for Georgia’s Schools: Thanks to the Class Size Reduction Initiative, Georgia received $30 million in 1999 to hire about 769 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 Georgia $32.4 million in 2000 and $40.4 million in 2001.

$28.8 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. Georgia will receive $28.8 million in school renovation grants.

More than $12.4 Million for Technology Literacy: This year [FY01], Georgia receives more than $12.4 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 21^st century.

$236.5 Million for Students Most in Need: Georgia will receive $236.5 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: Georgia will receive $6.4 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.

$224.6 Million in Pell Grants: This year [FY01], Georgia will receive $224.6 million in Pell Grants for low-income students going to college.

Expanded Work-Study To Help More Students Work Their Way Through College: Georgia will receive $21million in Work-Study funding in 2001 to help Georgia students work their way through college.

Nearly 4,200 Have Served in Georgia through AmeriCorps: Since the National Service program began in 1993, 4,183 AmeriCorps participants have earned money for college while working in Georgia’s schools, hospitals, neighborhoods or parks. [through 12/99]

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. 128,000 students in Georgia will receive a HOPE Scholarship tax credit of up to $1,500. 156,000 students in Georgia will receive the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. [fully phased-in FY2000 estimate]

Expanded Job Training to Georgia’s Dislocated Workers: President Clinton's FY 2001 budget would triple funding for the dislocated workers program over 1992 levels. Georgia received $17.1 million in 1999 to help 10,130 dislocated workers get the training and reemployment services they need to return to work as quickly as possible. In FY 2000, Georgia will receive nearly $22 million to provide job training for dislocated workers.

FIGHTING CRIME AND VIOLENCE

Violent Crime Falls 8% in Georgia: Under the Clinton-Gore Administration, America has experienced the longest continuous drop in crime on record. Since 1992, violent crime in Georgia has fallen 8%. In Georgia’s cities, serious crime, as indicated by the crime index, has fallen 18% in Atlanta and 11% in Savannah. And murder has fallen 24% in Atlanta, 36% in Macon, and 17% in Savannah. [1992 and 1997 Uniform Crime Reports]

Juvenile Arrests Down in Georgia: Georgia’s juvenile murder arrests have decreased 31% between 1992 and 1997. [FBI, Uniform Crime Report, 1992 and 1997]

2,368 More Police: The President’s 1994 Crime Bill has funded 2,368 new police officers to date in communities across Georgia. [through 1/01]

Reducing Crime with Drug Courts: Working to reduce drug-related crime in Georgia, the Clinton Administration has awarded Drug Court grants to the communities of Atlanta and Covington. The Administration had previously awarded a grant to the Georgia community of Brunswick. 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.

$31.9 Million to Combat Domestic Violence: Through the Violence Against Women Act, Georgia has received approximately $31.9 million in federal funds to establish more women’s shelters and bolster law enforcement, prosecution and victims’ services. [through 9/2000]

Over $1.6 Million in Grants for Battered Women and Children: In FY99, Georgia received over $1.6 million in HHS’s Family Violence Prevention Program grants to assist women and children fleeing domestic abuse.

$11.9 Million to Keep Drugs & Violence Out of Georgia’s Schools: Georgia receives $11.9 million in FY01 for the Safe & Drug Free Schools Program, which invests in school security and drug prevention programs.

MOVING GEORGIANS FROM WELFARE TO WORK

272,018 Fewer People on Welfare: There are 272,018 fewer people on welfare in Georgia now than there were at the beginning of 1993 -- a 68% decrease. [through 6/99]

Child Support Collections Up 72%: Child support collections have increased by $126 million—or 72% -- in Georgia since FY92. [through FY98]

Encouraging Responsible Choices—Preventing Teen Pregnancy in Georgia: 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 11.9% in Georgia.

$73.7 Million for Georgia Welfare-to-Work: In 1998 and 1999, Georgia received a total of $54.8 million in Federal welfare-to-work state formula grants, helping Georgia welfare recipients get and keep jobs. In addition, in 1999 and 1998 a total of $18.9 million in competitive grants were awarded to Georgia 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. Atlanta, Savannah, and Gainesville have received a total of $1.3 million this year to fund innovative transit projects.

INVESTING IN GEORGIA’S HEALTH

Health Care for Nearly 48,000 Uninsured Georgia 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 47,581 in Georgia. [HHS, Health Care Financing Administration, FY99 SCHIP enrollment data]

Helping Over 225,000 Georgia 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, Georgia received $115.6 million in total WIC grant funding, helping 225,112 women, infants and children in need receive health and food assistance, 12,500 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 Georgia in 1998, 95% of two-year olds received the vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis; 92% received the vaccine for polio; 92% received the vaccine for measles, and 94% received the vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae B, the bacteria causing a form of meningitis.

Funding for HIV/AIDS Assistance Programs: In FY 2000, Georgia will receive nearly $8.4 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, Georgia will receive over $16.2 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 46% in Georgia: The Clinton Administration’s tobacco proposal, combined with the recently enacted state tobacco settlements, will cut youth smoking and resulting premature deaths 46% in Georgia by 2004. Between 2000 and 2004, 88,000 of Georgia’s youth will be kept from smoking and 28,200 will be spared a premature tobacco-related death. [Treasury Dept., 2/99]

3,440,000 Americans in Georgia Cannot Be Assured They Have Patient Protections: Even if Georgia enacted all the protections in the Patients’ Bill of Rights, 3,440,000 people in Georgia 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, 1,700,000 Georgia 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 More Than $1.2 Billion in Georgia's Veterans: President Clinton and Vice President Gore are committed to caring for Georgia's 685,000 veterans. The Veterans Administration invested more than $1.2 billion in Georgia in 1999 alone. In 1999, 109,148 Georgia veterans received disability compensation or pension payments, more than 10,567 went to college on the GI Bill, and 19,914 bought a home using VA loan guarantees.

Providing Health Care for Georgia'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 Georgia, the VA operates major medical centers in Atlanta, Dublin and Augusta, as well as eight community-based outpatient clinics located throughout the state which provide veterans with access to medical care closer to where they live. In 1999, 80,461 veterans received health care in Georgia's VA facilities.

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

8 Toxic Waste Sites Cleaned Up: Since 1993, the EPA has completed 8 Superfund toxic waste cleanups in Georgia. The sites are located in Cedartown (3), Albany, Augusta, LaFayette, Brunswick and Powersville. In contrast, only one site was cleaned up in Georgia under the previous two administrations. [through 3/1/00]

$16.6 Million in Safe Drinking Water Funding: This year [FY00], thanks to President Clinton, Georgia will receive $16.6 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 in Atlanta and East Point: As part of the Clinton-Gore Administration’s efforts to clean up Brownfields, the EPA has awarded grants to Atlanta and East Point. 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 Georgia’s Communities: In 1994, Atlanta was designated an Empowerment Zone and was awarded $100 million to create more jobs, housing, and economic opportunity for city residents. Also in 1994, Albany, Central Savannah, Crisp County and Dooley County were all named Enterprise Communities and were each awarded $3 million for similar job creation efforts. In 1999, Cordele was designated a New Rural Empowerment Zone.

Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Will Help Develop 5,200 To 6,200 New Affordable Housing Units in Georgia 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 Georgia alone, this proposal would mean an additional 5,200 - 6,200 quality rental housing units for low-income American families during the next five years.

PROVIDING DISASTER RELIEF

$643.6 Million in Federal Emergency Assistance: Since 1993, Georgia has received $643.6 million in disaster relief. This includes $47.9 million in assistance to those suffering from severe storms and flooding in 1998 and $5.3 million in disaster relief after Hurricane Floyd in 1999. [FEMA, 2/29/00]

EXPANDING FUNDS FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT

Over $2.4 Billion in Federal Highway Aid: Since 1993, Georgia has received over $2.4 billion in federal highway aid, including $66.3 million for emergency relief in response to natural disasters. These funds have helped generate 110,669 jobs. [through FY99]

Over $288.9 Million in Aviation Funds: From FY93-FY99 Georgia received over $288.9 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.