America's Challenge: Background on President's State of the Union Address

AMERICA'S CHALLENGE

Background on President Clinton's
State of the Union Address to Congress
January 23, 1996

Families are the foundation of American life. The President challenges families to stay together, respect one another, end domestic violence, and for parents to take responsibility for their children.

1. CHALLENGE ON FAMILIES: Cherish our children and strengthen the American Family.

Cut Down On TV-Violence.

The Administration wants to give parents the information they need to determine what their children see and hear. For this reason, the President supports the V-chip and voluntary rating system established by the television industry. The Administration also supports action to increase and improve the quality of programming for children.

To this end, the President has urged the Commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission to require broadcasters to air at least three hours per week -- and preferably more - of quality children's programming and has supported Public Broadcasting and the quality programming option it offers children and adults. The President's meeting with leaders of major media corporations and the entertainment industry will discuss voluntary ways to achieve these goals without delay.

Protect Our Children From Tobacco.

More than 300,000 Americans every year die because of illnesses associated with tobacco use. Every single day, another 3,000 children become regular smokers. One thousand of these children will eventually die from smoking-related disease. It is up to all of us -- family, schools and communities -- to work together to protect our children from the deadly disease of nicotine addiction.

This past year, President Clinton proposed targeted measures to fight this deadly problem. The Administration has proposed regulations designed to restrict the methods used by the tobacco industry to sell tobacco products to children. Specifically, these proposals cut off children's access to tobacco and reduce the appeal of these products.

Just last week, the Clinton Administration gave states guidance on how to implement the Synar Amendment, which requires states to have and to enforce laws banning the sale and distribution of tobacco products to children.

Child Support Enforcement.

The President reiterated his proposal for the toughest child support enforcement measures ever: streamlined paternity establishment; employer reporting of new hires to catch non-paying parents who move from job to job; uniform interstate child support laws; computerized state-wide collections to speed up payments; and tough new penalties, like drivers' license revocation. Together, these measures will send a clear and consistent message that both parents must take responsibility for the children they bring into this world. Congress should pass them now as part of real, bipartisan welfare reform.

Teen Pregnancy.

In last year's State of the Union Address, the President called for a national campaign to address teen pregnancy, which he called "our most serious social problem." This year, the President announced that his call has been answered. A diverse and bipartisan group of prominent Americans is about to announce the formation of A National Campaign to Reduce Teenage Pregnancy. Their goal is to reduce teenage pregnancy by one-third over the next ten years. This is a serious, nonpartisan effort to mobilize many sectors of American society -- business, entertainment, media, religious leaders and others -- to tackle this serious problem. The Clinton administration has worked to help the organizers of this independent effort get started, and the President has promised his active support for their work.

2. CHALLENGE ON EDUCATION: Renew our schools for the new century and open wide the doors of college.

Over the past three years, President Clinton has led efforts to dramatically reform education and training policy. Now, President Clinton proposes several new initiatives to bring more technology into the classroom; urge states, communities, and schools to raise standards; give parents more public school choice; and greatly expand access to college.

Educational Technology Initiative -- Technological Literacy For The 21st Century.

Nothing is more critical to preparing our public schools for the 21st century than ensuring they have the modern technology to prepare students for the information age. The President challenges the nation to work together in a major new national effort to help every student become technologically literate for the 21st century.

Specifically the President has four goals:

  1. Provide access to modern computers for all teachers and students;
  2. Connect every school in America to the Information Superhighway;
  3. Develop effective software in all subject areas, and
  4. Give every teacher the development they need to help students use and learn through technology.

To reach these goals the President will lead a national effort that will include the following new initiatives:

Higher Education Standards For Students And Teachers.

Perhaps no challenge is more central to ensuring America's competitive strength in the 21st century than renewing our public school system. The President wants to see public schools driven by demanding high standards for students and teachers.

President Clinton challenges states and school districts to enact professional standards of excellence for teachers, and high standards of achievement for students. He also urged that all parents should have the opportunity to change schools or start new ones if their child's school is not performing.

Schools need to be safe and drug-free, and need to teach well the basics, good citizenship, responsibility, and core academics. The President believes that schools need to be accountable for their students' performance and that a high school diploma must mean something.

Public School Choice.

President Clinton believes that information, competition, and choice among public schools should be the rule, not the exception. Any parent who is dissatisfied with either their own child's or the school's performance should have the opportunity to choose a public school that will do better.

Charter Schools.

To ensure that every parent has this chance, the President is calling on all 50 states to enact charter school laws within 12 months. Twenty states currently have laws providing for the creation of charter schools -- public schools, created and managed by parents, teachers and administrators. They are held accountable for their results through a performance-based contract with a local school board, state, or other public institution.

The President will also be asking for a substantial increase in federal funding, up to $40 million annually, to help local efforts to start nearly 3,000 new charter schools over the next five years.

Parent Involvement.

The President believes strongly in the critical importance of parent involvement in their children's education. Parents are and continue to be their children's first and most important teacher. The President asks parents to read with children, see that their homework is done, see that they take the tough courses, know their children's teachers, talk to their children directly about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and talk to them about the values they want them to have. These conversations could literally save their lives. Businesses, schools, and religious organizations can help parents find the time for all of this by being family-friendly for learning.

Dramatically Expand Access To College.

President Clinton is deeply committed to ensuring that all deserving students can afford to go to college, and to helping American families invest in their children's and their nation's future. That is why he will continue to block attempts to cap the Direct Lending Student Loan program, which makes college more accessible by allowing students to repay loans as a percentage of their income and by cutting out the middle-man and eliminating red tape. That is also why he will block attempts to cut Pell Grant Scholarships and instead wants to increase their number and the maximum award.

Now, President Clinton calls for the enactment of three key initiatives to increase access to and the affordability of college education. Each of these proposals rewards responsible students and hard-working families.

3. CHALLENGE ON ECONOMIC SECURITY.

Provide new security for the American family in the new economy.

America's economy is strong. Home ownership is at its highest rate in 15 years and 7.8 million new jobs have been created during the last three years. The President's 1993 Economic Plan has cut the deficit nearly in half. And Taxes have been lowered for 15 million households by dramatically expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit. But our people are working harder than ever, and they deserve what it takes to get ahead in the new economy.

A G.I. Bill for America's Workers.

In the new economy, skills matter more. For workers, a year of either on-the-job or formal training raises wages by about as much as a year of college education. That is why the President challenged the Congress in December 1994 to enact a new GI Bill for America's Workers.

Now, the President calls for the Congress to pass his fundamental reform of the federal job-training system. The Administration's proposal would eliminate at least 70 separate job training programs, replacing them with an integrated system that minimizes red tape and maximizes individual choice in each local community. Unemployed and low-income workers would be able to get individual Skill Grants to use as they choose for learning new skills to find new and better jobs.

The President's proposal would also provide workers access, through networks of One-Stop Career Centers already under construction in the States, to reliable computerized data on jobs, careers, what skills are in demand, and the success records of training institutions, so that workers can make good choices to improve their futures. States and localities would have flexibility to work in partnership with the private sector to tailor training programs and delivery systems to reflect local conditions and priorities.

The Administration proposal also includes a youth component. Federal education, training, and employment programs for youth would be reshaped to support the community-based school-to-work movement already underway in states under the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994. The proposal will enable schools, colleges, and the private sector in each local community to offer all youth work-based learning opportunities and clear pathways to good jobs, rewarding careers, and lifelong learning.

Increase the Minimum Wage.

The President challenges Congress to raise the minimum wage and provide the opportunity for Americans to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. One year ago, the President proposed increasing the minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.15 an hour in two equal steps. If Congress does not act now, the value of the minimum wage will fall to its lowest level in 40 years. The President's proposal would help lift the lives of the estimated 11 million Americans who earn less than $5.15. For those people working full-time, this minimum wage increase provides $1,800 -- enough money for the average American family to buy groceries for seven months.

A rise in the minimum wage helps families that are working hard but struggling to make ends meet. Most workers who earn the minimum wage are adults; nearly 40 percent are the sole breadwinner in their family; and the average minimum wage worker brings home half of their family's earnings. And more than one dozen studies suggest that a modest minimum wage increase -- like the President's proposal -- would not cost jobs.

Despite criticism in some corners, the minimum wage has traditionally had bipartisan support. In 1989, the minimum wage increase passed the House by a vote of 382 to 37, and 89 to 8 in the Senate. It's time to raise the minimum wage. And it's time to ensure that those who work hard and play by the rules can live with the dignity that they have earned.

The Earned Income Tax Credit and
$500 Per Child Tax Credit.

President Clinton's 1993 Economic Plan expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit to provide tax relief to 15 million working families and households. The EITC encourages families to move from welfare to work by making work pay. President Clinton has staunchly opposed deep cuts in the EITC proposed by Republicans which would raise income taxes on millions of hard-working families. The President's seven-year balanced budget plan provides additional tax relief to working families. It would provide a tax credit of up to $500 per child to families with incomes up to $75,000.

Making Pensions More Accessible For All Americans.

Only about half of all full-time workers in the private sector are covered by a pension. Three-quarters of workers in small businesses with fewer than 100 employees are not covered by a pension plan. President Clinton believes that we need to better empower Americans to save for their futures.

Simplifying Pension Rules.

In June of last year, the President proposed a significant simplification of our pension system, so that businesses of all sizes, but particularly small businesses, could more easily make tax-advantaged savings programs available to their employees. The NEST option would enable businesses with 100 or fewer employees to establish a retirement savings program by sending the IRS a simple one-page form. By getting rid of the family aggregation rules, families who work together in small or large businesses could save as individuals. Larger businesses and tax-exempt organizations could also offer simpler plans, so more money could go to workers' retirement and less to accountants, lawyers, and other consultants. These proposals are all part of the President's budget offer of January 18, 1996. Similar reforms have been passed by the Congress. This is an area where agreement to benefit all Americans is both possible and close to fruition.

Safeguarding Retirement Savings.

The Clinton Administration has taken important actions to make certain that pension savings are there when people need them. The Retirement Protection Act enacted in 1994 protects the pension funds of more than 40 million workers and retirees in traditional pension plans, including more than 8 million in plans that remain underfunded. Pension underfunding has been reduced for the first time in a decade -- from $71 billion in 1993 to $31 billion in 1994. The Department of Labor's 401(k) enforcement program and proposed legislation and regulations are designed to ensure that employees' savings are actually contributed to their retirement plan and invested. The Department has already recovered more than $3.5 million for 2,800 workers. This Administration has demonstrated its commitment to safety and security in the pension system.

Opposing Raids on Pension Funds.

No corporation should be able to raid your hard-earned savings. The Clinton Administration will continue to fight cynical Republican efforts to fund tax cuts by allowing corporations to raid their pension funds -- the same kind of raids that cost workers about $20 billion in the 1980s to fund corporate mergers and leveraged buyouts. The Republican proposal would allow corporations to reduce pension fund assets by approximately $15 billion.

Health Insurance Reform -- Portability Protections.

The President calls on the Congress to pass meaningful health insurance reforms that would guarantee that insurers no longer apply pre-existing condition exclusions to previously insured workers who have had at least one year of coverage. Providing for this portability protection and eliminating "job-lock" for all Americans has always been one of President Clinton's top priorities. His proposal would also require plans to renew coverage without regard to health status.

Insurance reform bills similar to the President's have received broad, bipartisan support in the Congress. Over 35 insurance market reform bills have been introduced since 1990, including legislation cosponsored by Republican Senator Kassebaum and Democratic Senator Kennedy that was unanimously reported out of the Labor Committee last year.

Protect Medicare and Medicaid:
Reform that Protects and Strengthens the Programs.

Medicare. The President's proposal preserves and enhances Medicare. In so doing, he rejects proposals that structurally undermine the program through excessive cuts and unwise programmatic changes that unnecessarily harm beneficiaries and providers. Instead, the President proposes reforms that achieve savings that limit the per person growth of the program to just below the private sector growth rate, extends the life of the Medicare Trust Fund through at least 2010, adds new cost-effective preventive benefits, and provides a new respite benefit for families of beneficiaries with Alzheimer's disease.

In addition, the President proposal expands plan choices for beneficiaries to include HMOs with a point-of-service option, Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), and Provider Service Networks. These options work to promote competition on the basis of cost and quality, rather than to "cherry-pick" at the expense of the sick and the elderly.

Medicaid. Like the Medicare program, the President calls on the nation to maintain its commitment to a strong, but more flexible and cost-conscious Medicaid program. He rejects proposals that block grant the program and provide for harmful and excessive cuts that could deny health benefits to 3-6 million Americans in 2002, including more than 1 million children. Instead, President Clinton advocates making the program more flexible by removing unnecessary Federal health care delivery and reimbursement strings that tie a Governor's hands in administering an efficient and responsive program. In so doing, however, he maintains the Federal guarantee to a set of meaningful benefits, retains financial and quality protections for the states (through his per capita cap, which provides more dollars during economic downturns), and continues protections of recipients and their families (through retention of nursing home quality, spousal impoverishment, and family financial resources protections, and retention of coverage of low-income Medicare beneficiaries' premiums and costsharing).

Health Insurance Reforms -- Building On Portability Protections:
Health Insurance For the Temporarily Unemployed.

The President believes that individuals who lose their health insurance when they lose their job should be eligible for premium subsidies to pay for private insurance coverage for up to six months. Such a proposal would provide coverage for 3.8 million more Americans a year.

Health Insurance Reform -- Making Insurance More Accessible
and Affordable For Small Business And Their Employees.

In addition to the insurance reforms outlined above, the President's proposal would require plans to make coverage available to all groups of businesses, regardless of the health status of any of the group's members ("guaranteed issue"). Insurers would be required to provide an open enrollment period of at least 30 days for all new employees (whether or not they had been previously insured). Moreover, insurers could not individually underwrite new enrollees, i.e., their premiums would have to be the same as other enrollees with similar demographic characteristics. These provisions also have broad, bipartisan support.

To address the issue of affordability, the President's insurance reforms would also limit premium variations for small businesses by phasing out the use of claims experience, duration of coverage, and health status in determining rates. To put the self-employed on a more equal footing with other businesses, the President proposes to gradually increase the self-employed tax deduction from 25 to 50 percent. And finally, to help provide small businesses with the type of purchasing clout larger businesses have, technical assistance and funding ($25 million a year in grants) would be provided to states to set up voluntary purchasing cooperatives. (Purchasing cooperatives are also included in the Kassebaum/Kennedy plan.)

Under the President's plan, the State could request that commercial insurers providing Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans (FEHBP) also offer insurance products to small businesses in a voluntary purchasing cooperative. To assure cost control within the Federal program, the Federal employee and private sector "pools" would be kept separate.

Cracking Down On Health Care Fraud And Abuse.

In the last three years alone, the Administration has saved an unprecedented $15 billion by cracking down on fraud and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

The President's balanced budget plan continues these aggressive policies. It strengthens the fraud and abuse laws so that we can better prosecute health care fraud in all government programs and private plans, makes it easier to restore money to Medicare and Medicaid and to American taxpayers, and increases penalties so that wrongdoers are punished severely. It expands "Operation Restore Trust" nationwide -- a program currently operating in five states that coordinates anti-fraud activities and uses new technology to fight fraud and abuse. Finally, it guarantees funding to investigate and prosecute those who have defrauded the Medicare and Medicaid programs and the taxpayers who support them.

4. CHALLENGE ON CRIME AND DRUGS: Take back our streets from crime, gangs, and drugs.

America has begun to find the way to stop crime. In New York City murders are down 25%, in St. Louis 18%, and in Seattle 32%. The President's Crime Bill is putting more police on the streets -- 31,000 just this last year. The Brady Bill has stopped 44,000 felons and over 20,000 fugitives, stalkers, and others from buying handguns. The Assault Weapons Ban is keeping UZIs out of the hands of drug runners, and the Violence Against Women Act has cracked down on abusers of women while improving servicesfor victims so that they have somewhere to turn. The President's anti-crime strategy is working.

The President reiterated that he will veto any attempt to repeal the Brady Bill, the Assault Weapons Ban, or the COPS program -- which will put an additional 25,000 cops on the streets of America in 1996. In addition, the President announced several new initiatives to build on his Administration's successful efforts to win the war on crime and drugs.

Anti-Gang Initiatives.

Over the past decade, street gangs have become the major force in the distribution of narcotics and the commission of violent crimes. Gangs are a significant problem affecting not only our inner cities but also suburban and rural communities throughout the country. Over the last year, the Justice Department's Anti-Violent Crime Strategy -- in which Federal prosecutors work in tandem with members of their local law enforcement and communities -- has lead to the prosecution of thousands of violent and repeat offenders.

One Strike And You're Out -- A Directive To
Remove Criminals From Public Housing.

President Clinton is committed to cracking down on gangs and drugs in public housing. Large, violent street gangs have controlled entire projects in some of our cities, recruiting children as young as 7 years old to sell drugs.

President Clinton challenges HUD, local governments and public housing residents to link arms in ousting drug dealers and violent crime from public housing. In city after city, the count for abusive residents involved in drugs and crime will now be "one strike and you're out." Under this plan, the President will direct the Secretary of HUD to implement a one strike program for public housing. We will no longer tolerate these drug dealers and violent offenders terrorizing residents in their homes.

Truth-In-Sentencing.

State and local prison populations continue to grow. Unfortunately, some correctional systems faced with rising prison populations have released offenders when their institutions reach a certain population level. The result is that prisoners are released before they finish serving their full sentence. This is a hoax being played on the American public. The Federal criminal justice system resolved this problem some time ago by adopting truth-in-sentencing. Federal prisoners serve at least 85% of the sentence imposed and are not eligible for parole. Now is the time for the States to get on board and stop releasing criminals back into the general public before they serve their time. That is why the President is challenging the States to ensure that by theyear 2000 State prisoners serve at least 85% of their sentence.

New Drug Czar -- General Barry R. McCaffrey.

Ending the drug scourge in America has and will be a top priority for the Clinton Administration. That is why President Clinton announced during the State of the Union that he will be nominating General Barry R. McCaffrey to be his next Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

A Four Star General, McCaffrey served in four combat tours, was wounded three times in action, and was decorated twice with the Distinguished Service Cross and twice with the Silver Star. In praising President Clinton for choosing McCaffrey, The Miami Herald described him as "decisive, analytical, candid, soldier's soldier, the Army's most decorated officer... says what he thinks, and he thinks with great clarity."

As Commander of U.S. forces in Latin America McCaffrey built an international and interagency coalition that has achieved significant successes over the last two years against narcotraffickers attempting to bring cocaine into the United States. His service and leadership in Latin America will build upon the success that his predecessor, Lee Brown, contributed in dismantling the Cali Drug Cartel.

General McCaffrey's skills and background make him perfectly suited for this position -- a proven military leader who commands respect from young Americans, pursues his goals with efficiency and order, and expects positive results. He has spent his military career engaged in coordinated campaigns that are directed toward solutions and winning. He will not tolerate bureaucratic turf wars or grandstanding on this critical issue.

5. CHALLENGE ON THE ENVIRONMENT: Protect the environment for future generations.

For the past generation we have made great progress in protecting the environment. We now have cleaner and safer air and water. Lead levels in children's blood have been cut 70 percent and toxic emissions from factories are cut in half. 25 years ago, lake Erie was dead, now it is a thriving resource. Now, President Clinton challenges Congress to move forward, not backward, on the environment, and called on Congress to abandon reckless proposals to cut environmental enforcement by 25% and make taxpayers -- not polluters -- pick up the tab for environmental cleanup.

Project XL -- Tougher Standards And More Flexibility.

As the nation has made progress in protecting the environment, the system created to address the environmental crises of 25 years ago must change with the times.

To achieve better environmental results at less cost, provide regulatory flexibility, and maintain accountability, President Clinton announced Project XL -- for excellence and leadership -- in March 1995. In November 1995, the President named eight pilot projects from six companies and a state and a local government as the first of 50 projects.

Project XL is based on the premise that by giving businesses, states and communities the flexibility to explore creative solutions for controlling pollution, they will develop innovative ways to achieve results that go beyond the ones required by environmental regulations -- and do so in more common-sense and cost-effective ways.

In his 1996 State of the Union Address, the President offered this challenge to all businesses: If you can meet even higher environmental standards, we will cut red tape and regulations, so that you can find the cheapest and most efficient way to do it.

Expanding Community Right-To-Know About Toxic Chemicals
Released In Their Communities.

For nearly a decade, Americans have had an important right: the right to know what dangerous chemicals are being released into their communities. Armed with Community-Right-To-Know information, citizens around the country are taking action to solve local environmental problems that affect their health and safety. Since the inception of these laws in 1986, reported releases of toxic chemicals have declined by 43% nationwide.

EPA's Toxics Release Inventory is an annual listing of chemical hazards that industries have released into the environment, organized by zip code. Citizens have easy access to these reports through local libraries, state and federal environmental offices, the internet, and EPA's toll-free hotline. President Clinton has acted to strengthen and expand the public's right to know about local pollution by requiring Federal facilities and government contractors to report on chemical releases, by expanding the number of chemicals that must be publicly reported, and by making it easier for small businesses to report right-to-know information. Now, President Clinton calls on Congress to work with his Administration to expand and strengthen communities' right-to-know.

Brownfields Initiative -- Common Sense Approach
To Cleaning The Environment.

The Administration is taking a new approach to environmental regulation, one that tackles problems with common sense. Throughout America's cities, hundreds of thousands of old industrial sites lie neglected. These so-called "brownfields" have lingered as trash-strewn eyesores while businesses have shifted their operations to pristine locations in the suburbs and the countryside.

The President pledges that his Administration would revitalize America's cities by challenging American business to work with their communities to clean up brownfields that are a blight to our communities, a threat to our health, and an obstacle to economic growth. Under this proposal, EPA will continue to make common sense policy changes that speed the cleanup of brownfields and provide grants to cities to cleanup and redevelop contaminated land.

The President is proposing to offer new purchasers and other businesses that will redevelop brownfields a new targeted tax incentive to recover the cost of clean-up in distressed communities over a shorter period of time. This initiative will spur the private sector to create jobs, return land to productive use, and clean up the environment. As part of this package, the Administration will also ask Congress to enact legislation to protect lenders who finance the clean-up or redevelopment of these sites. This common sense, cost-effective initiative captures the best of what we can do together to revitalize the cities of this country.

6. CHALLENGE ON WORLD LEADERSHIP: Meet our responsibility to lead
the fight for freedom and peace.

President Clinton has continued the strong tradition of American leadership in the world that has brought our people 50 years of security and prosperity. He has addressed the challenges of today: ethnic and religious hatreds; aggression by rogue states; the spread of weapons of mass destruction; terrorism; crime; drug trafficking; environmental decay -- because problems that start beyond our borders can quickly become problems within them. The United States cannot be the world's policeman, because our reach and resources are limited. Instead, where our interests and values demand it -- and where we can make a difference -- America takes the lead.

America The Peacemaker -- Not Isolationist, Not Global Policeman.

Ratification of START II Treaty To Cut Nuclear Stockpiles By Another 25%.

President Clinton calls on the Senate to give its advice and consent to ratification of the Treaty Between the United States and Russian Federation on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START II) now. Before Christmas l995, the Senate virtually completed debate on the Treaty and adopted a unanimous consent agreement that no further amendments to the resolution of ratification would be in order.

When ratified by Russia and entered into force, START II will require far-reaching nuclear arms reductions. In combination with the START I Treaty, START II will eliminate launchers that carried over 14,000 of the 21,000 warheads deployed when the START I Treaty was signed in 1991 -- a reduction of two-thirds. In addition, START II will eliminate the most destabilizing strategic nuclear arms -- heavy ICBMs and multiple warhead ICBMs. The President urges no further delay in reducing the nuclear threat to all Americans.

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

President Clinton challenges the 38 nations participating in the Geneva Conference on Disarmament to finish work on the Treaty so that it is ready to be signed this fall as called for by the United Nations General Assembly last December. As President Clinton said on August 11, "American leaders since Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy have believed a comprehensive test ban would be a major stride toward stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Now, as then, such a treaty would greatly strengthen the security of the United States and nations throughout the world. But now, unlike then, such a treaty is within our reach."

Last August, the President announced his decision to ban nuclear testing for all time by negotiating a true "zero yield" Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). This decision was an historic milestone in our efforts to reduce the nuclear threat and to strengthen U.S. and global security that will stop an entire generation of new nuclear weapons.

Chemical Weapons Convention.

The President calls upon the Senate to outlaw poison gas once and for all by ratifying the Chemical Weapons Convention now. At the UN General Assembly last October, the President pressed for ratification of this vital treaty, stating: "As the Cold War gives way to the global village, too many people remain vulnerable. No one is immune .... We must press other countries and our own Congress to ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention."

Since the use of chemical weapons in World War I, the United States has led the effort to control and ultimately eliminate them. We outlawed the wartime use of poisonous gas in the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and today President Clinton is working hard to outlaw not only the use but also the development, production and possession of chemical weapons. Completed in 1992 and opened for signature in January 1993, 160 countries now have signed the Convention and 47 have ratified it. It is time the United States did so too.

Counter-Terrorism.

In the past three years, the President has devoted unprecedented attention to the fight against terrorism. New strategies and resources resulted in the arrest of World Trade Center bombers; increased pressure on the most dangerous terrorist groups, including preventing other bombing plots; blocking the fundraising by terrorist groups opposed to the Middle East peace process; and improved our effectiveness in coping with terrorism involving chemical and biological weapons. The Clinton Administration was preparing to counter this new scourge well before the terrifying Sarin attack in Tokyo's subway.

One year ago this month, the President asked Congress for legislation to strengthen our ability to combat international terrorism. On April 19, 1995 terrorists bombed the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing and maiming scores of innocent workers, visitors, and children. In response, the President asked Congress to expand the international terrorism bill to include domestic terrorism. Although the Senate acted quickly, the House has failed to act. This bill is essential if we are to keep overseas terrorists from attacking Americans here at home; to prevent terrorist groups from raising funds here; to respond effectively to chemical or biological attacks; and give our Federal law enforcement agencies the tools they need to bring terrorists to justice before they strike again. The President calls upon Congress to act now on this bill creating a more secure America at home.

Supporting Resources for Leadership.

America cannot lead without adequate resources. Some want to retreat in the post-card war era, while others want to lead on the cheap. Our ability to lead now faces a clear and present danger from efforts to drastically cut our foreign affairs budget. Such cuts could eliminate aid to some states of the former Soviet Union and hinder our efforts to reduce the nuclear threat; cripple our non-proliferation efforts; eliminate our contribution to peace operations, which can save us from deploying our own forces; limit our ability to promote peace in the Middle East; undermine our efforts to expand U.S. exports; and slash programs to wipe out production and smuggling of drugs that ultimately destroy our neighborhoods.

Support for these programs requires only 1% of the Federal budget. This is good investment for the American people -- and a good bargain.

America must maintain the best trained, best equipped, and best prepared military in the world. Together with a strong military, an adequately funded international affairs programs will preserve our security, expand our prosperity and advance democracy. The President calls on Congress to give us the resources we need to lead for peace.

7. CHALLENGE ON GOVERNMENT: Reform our political system
and make government work for the people.

This government must again become one of the people, by the people, and for the people. The President challenges Congress to curb special interest influence in politics by passing the first truly bipartisan campaign finance reform in a generation. And the President challenges government to continue down the path of reinvention and downsizing, creating the smallest, smartest, and cheapest government in 30 years.

Political Reform -- Endorsement of The McCain-Feingold
Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Bill.

In his first three years in office, the President has pursued a strong, wide-ranging political reform agenda. He imposed the toughest-ever ethics code on his appointees, closed the tax provision that allowed corporations to deduct the cost of lobbying expenses, signed the Motor Voter law, and cut the White House staff by 25%.

Last year the President signed two major reform bills that he had promised to enact in Putting People First. The Congressional Accountability Act which requires Members of Congress to live by the laws of the land and lobbying disclosure legislation.

Yet, two major reforms have yet to be sent to his desk. President Clinton calls on Congress to send him the line-item veto bill so he can sign it immediately and to pass the McCain-Feingold bipartisan campaign finance reform legislation. This legislation would provide thirty minutes of free television time and require broadcasters to sell advertising at 50% of the lowest available unit rate for candidates who abide by voluntary spending limits; would limit PAC contributions to $1,000; toughen bundling rules; ban personal use of campaign funds; increase disclosure and accountability of those who engage in political advertising and restrict the use of soft money.

Reinventing Government .

Under the Vice President's National Performance Review, the Clinton Administration has cut 16,000 pages of unnecessary rules and regulations and cut the Federal workforce by 205,000 employees, making it the smallest in 30 years.

President Clinton feels strongly that never again should a public servant threaten the full faith and credit of the United States and no public servant should ever again shut down the government of the United States.

Federal workers who remain are working harder and delivering better value for less money. In the coming weeks the Administration will be pursuing even more initiatives for governing with less resources. The guiding principle behind these initiatives is the need to manage government in a way that rewards performance and not red tape.

Critical to this goal will be the following initatives: transforming the federal work force via Civil Service Reform, transforming certain government organizations into Performance Based Organizations, reinventing federalism via the establishment of more Performance Partnerships with States and localities, transforming the regulatory agencies in the federal government in order to improve compliance, and establishing specific, widely publicized customer service standards for those American citizens who interact with the federal government.

Executive Order To Revoke Federal Contracts Of
Businesses That Hire Illegal Workers.

The President is preparing to issue an Executive Order that is intended to ensure that Federal Government contracts are not awarded to companies than employ illegal workers. Consistent with federal law prohibiting such employment, this order provides for debarment of any federal contractor who knowingly employs illegal workers thereby depriving U.S. legal workers of opportunities to hold those jobs. Unfortunately, this does occur. A recent INS enforcement action, Operation SouthPAW, found that illegal aliens were employed in the construction of a federal building in Atlanta. Nothing in this order relieves employers of their obligations to avoid unfair immigration-related employment practices and to comply with all antidiscrimination requirements of applicable law.

1996 State of the Union Address

In Statement On Teen Pregnancy

Protect Our Children From Tobacco

America's Challenge: Background on President's State of the Union Address

Statement By The President On Direct College Loans

President Clinton's 1996 State of the Union Address as delivered

State of the Union Address - Background

State of the Union 1995 - Picture

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