Virginia

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

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Virginia

EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL

Unemployment Down to 2.1%: The unemployment rate in Virginia has declined from 5.4% to 2.1% since 1993.

620,400 New Jobs: 620,400 new jobs have been created in Virginia since 1993 -- an average of 79,200 per year, compared to an average of 15,175 per year during the previous administration.

587,400 New Private Sector Jobs: Since 1993, 587,400 new private sector jobs have been created in Virginia—an average of 74,987 jobs per year, compared to an average of just 3,900 private sector jobs per year in the previous administration.

56,800 New Construction Jobs: 56,800 construction jobs have been created in Virginia since 1993 -- an average of 7,329 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of 11,525 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 Virginia, the poverty rate has fallen to 8.4% in 1999. [Census Bureau]

Business Failures Down 15.2% Per Year: Business failures in Virginia have dropped an average of 15.2% per year since 1993, after increasing 23.8% per year during the previous administration. [Oct 98 data]

162,000 Have Received a Raise: Approximately 79,000 Virginia workers benefited from an increase in the minimum wage—from $4.25 to $4.75 -- on October 1, 1996. They, along with about 83,000 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 636,000 families in Virginia.

Home Building Up 2.5%: Home building in Virginia has increased by an average of 2.5% per year since 1993, after falling by an average of 11.8% per year during the previous four years.

Homeownership Has Increased in Virginia: Homeownership in Virginia has increased from 68.8% to 71.2% since 1993.

Virginia'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 Virginia 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.

0.3% Growth in Total Bank Loans and Leases: Virginia has seen a 0.3% average growth rate in total bank loans and leases per year since 1993. In contrast total bank loans and leases fell by an average of 4.2% per year during the previous administration.

EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION

Over 12,200 Children in Head Start: 12,243 Virginia children were enrolled in Head Start in 1999. In FY00, Virginia will receive $75.9 million in Head Start funding, an increase of $36.5 million over 1993.

More High-Quality Teachers With Smaller Classes for Virginia’s Schools: Thanks to the Class Size Reduction Initiative, Virginia received $21 million in 1999 to hire about 504 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 Virginia $22.8 million in 2000 and $28.4 million in 2001.

$16.2 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. Virginia will receive $16.2 million in school renovation grants.

$6.8 Million for Technology Literacy: This year [FY01], Virginia receives $6.8 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.

$129.8 Million for Students Most in Need: Virginia receives $129.8 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: Virginia will receive $3.5 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.

$188.7 Million in Pell Grants: This year [FY01], Virginia will receive $188.7 million in Pell Grants for low-income students going to college.

Expanded Work-Study To Help More Students Work Their Way Through College: Virginia will receive $21.5 million in Work-Study funding in 2001 to help Virginia students work their way through college.

Nearly 1,600 Have Served in Virginia through AmeriCorps: Since the National Service program began in 1993, 1,579 AmeriCorps participants have earned money for college while working in Virginia’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. 146,000 students in Virginia will receive a HOPE Scholarship tax credit of up to $1,500. 179,000 students in Virginia will receive the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. [fully phased-in FY2000 estimate]

Expanded Job Training to Virginia’s Dislocated Workers: President Clinton's FY 2001 budget would triple funding for the dislocated workers program over 1992 levels. Virginia received $15.1 million in 1999 to help 8,960 dislocated workers get the training and reemployment services they need to return to work as quickly as possible. In FY 2000, Virginia will receive over $12.3 million to provide job training services for dislocated workers.

FIGHTING CRIME AND VIOLENCE

Crime Falls 5% in Virginia: Under the Clinton-Gore Administration, America has experienced the longest continuous drop in crime on record. Since 1992, serious crime in Virginia has fallen 5% statewide. Property crime has also declined 5%. In Virginia’s cities, between 1992 and 1997, serious crime, as indicated by the crime index, has declined 19% in Newport News, 17% in Norfolk, and 13% in Richmond. In addition, murders have also declined 48% in Newport News, 30% in Norfolk and 17% in Virginia Beach. [1992 and 1997 Uniform Crime Reports]

Juvenile Arrests Down in Virginia: Virginia’s juvenile murder arrests have decreased 21% between 1992 and 1997. [FBI, Uniform Crime Report, 1992 and 1997]

2,052 More Police: The President’s 1994 Crime Bill has funded 2,052 new police officers to date in communities across Virginia. [through 1/01]

Reducing Crime with Drug Courts: Working to reduce drug-related crime in Virginia, the Clinton Administration has awarded Drug Court grants to the communities of Charlottesville and Richmond. The Administration had previously awarded grants to a number of Virginia communities including: Fredericksburg, Newport News and Roanoke. 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.

$37 Million to Combat Domestic Violence: Through the Violence Against Women Act, Virginia has received approximately $37 million in federal funds to establish more women’s shelters and bolster law enforcement, prosecution and victims’ services. [through 9/2000]

Over $1.4 Million in Grants for Battered Women and Children: In FY99, Virginia received over $1.4 million in HHS’s Family Violence Prevention Program grants to assist women and children fleeing domestic abuse.

$8.2 Million to Keep Drugs & Violence Out of Virginia’s Schools: Virginia received $8.2 million in FY01 for the Safe & Drug Free Schools Program, which invests in school security and drug prevention programs.

MOVING VIRGINIANS FROM WELFARE TO WORK

110,479 Fewer People on Welfare: There are 110,479 fewer people on welfare in Virginia now than there were at the beginning of 1993 -- a 57% decrease. [through 6/99]

Child Support Collections Up 84%: Child support collections have increased by nearly $122 million—or 84% -- in Virginia since FY92. [through FY98]

Encouraging Responsible Choices—Preventing Teen Pregnancy in Virginia: 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 17.4% in Virginia.

$45.6 Million for Virginia Welfare-to-Work: In 1998 and 1999, Virginia received a total of $31.9 million in Federal welfare-to-work state formula grants, helping Virginia welfare recipients get and keep jobs. In addition, in 1998 and 1999 a total of $13.7 million in competitive grants were awarded to Virginia 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. Culpepper, Richmond, Farmville, Charlottesville, Roanoke, Urbana, and Orange have received a total of $1.8 million this year to fund innovative transit projects.

INVESTING IN VIRGINIA’S HEALTH

Health Care for Nearly 16,900 Uninsured Virginia 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 16,895 in Virginia. [HHS, Health Care Financing Administration, FY99 SCHIP enrollment data]

Helping Over 131,000 Virginia 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, Virginia received $73.5 million in total WIC grant funding, helping 131,497 women, infants and children in need receive health and food assistance, 6,300 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 Virginia in 1998, 96% of two-year olds received the vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis; 91% received the vaccine for polio; 90% 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, Virginia will receive over $5.2 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, Virginia will receive over $9.5 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 Virginia: The Clinton Administration’s tobacco proposal, combined with the recently enacted state tobacco settlements, will cut youth smoking and resulting premature deaths 46% in Virginia by 2004. Between 2000 and 2004, 90,800 of Virginia’s youth will be kept from smoking and 29,100 will be spared a premature tobacco-related death. [Treasury Dept., 2/99]

3,060,000 Americans in Virginia Cannot Be Assured They Have Patient Protections: Even if Virginia enacted all the protections in the Patients’ Bill of Rights, 3,060,000 people in Virginia 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, 1,540,000 Virginia 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.

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

7 Toxic Waste Sites Cleaned Up: Since 1993, the EPA has completed 7 Superfund toxic waste clean-ups in Virginia. The sites are located in Richmond (2), Chuckatuck, Chatham, Dillwyn, Salem and Piney River. That's more than two times the number of sites sites cleaned up during the previous two administrations combined. [through 3/1/00]

$15.1 Million in Safe Drinking Water Funding: This year [FY00], thanks to President Clinton, Virginia will receive $15.1 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.

Brownfields—Revitalizing Communities in Virginia: As part of the Clinton-Gore Administration’s efforts to clean up Brownfields, the EPA has awarded grants to communities in Shenandoah, Richmond, and Cape Charles-Northampton County 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.

Restoring Land Along the Chesapeake Bay: Virginia is receiving $68 million from the USDA's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), as well as $27 million from State and non-Federal sources, to restore up to 35,000 acres of environmentally-sensitive land along the Chesapeake Bay and many of Virginia’s streams and rivers. This joint Federal-State effort will mean cleaner water, improved habitat for threatened and endangered species, and eventually better yields from the bay’s fisheries. 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 AND RURAL RENEWAL EFFORTS

Revitalizing Virginia’s Communities: Accomac and Norfolk were both 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, Norfolk/Portsmouth was named a New Urban Empowerment Zone.

Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Will Help Develop 4,000 To 4,800 New Affordable Housing Units in Virginia 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 Virginia alone, this proposal would mean an additional 4,000 - 4,800 quality rental housing units for low-income American families during the next five years.

PROVIDING DISASTER RELIEF

$178.3 Million in Federal Emergency Assistance: Since 1993, Virginia has received $178.3 million in disaster relief. This includes over $51.7 million in disaster relief to help recovery after Hurricane Floyd in 1999; $2 million for Hurricane Bonnie in 1998; and $30 million in assistance to recover from Hurricane Fran, which occurred in September of 1996. [FEMA, 2/29/00]

EXPANDING FUNDS FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT

Over $1.6 Billion in Federal Highway Aid: Since 1993, Virginia has received over $1.6 billion in federal highway aid, including $15.8 million for emergency relief in response to natural disasters and $2.2 million for scenic byways. These funds have helped generate 71,569 jobs. [through FY99]

Over $308.2 Million in Aviation Funds: From FY93-FY99 Virginia received over $308.2 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.