克林顿总统 1997年联邦国情咨文演说 WORD 版 【本文为 word 版，下载后可修改、打印，如对您有所帮助，请购买，谢谢。 】 第 1 页 克林顿总统 1997 年联邦国情咨文演说 名人演讲稿 THEPRESIDENT:Mr.Speaker,Mr.VicePresident,membersofthe105thCongress,distinguishedguests,andmyfellowAmericans: IthinkIshouldstartbysaying,thanksforinvitingmeback.(Applause.)Icomebeforeyoutonightwithachallengeasgreatasanyinourpeacetimehistory,andaplanofactiontomeetthatchallenge,toprepareourpeoplefortheboldnewworldofthe21stcentury. Wehavemuchtobethankfulfor.Withfouryearsofgrowth,wehavewonbackthebasicstrengthofoureconomy.Withcrimeandwelfarerollsdeclining,wearewinningbackouroptimism,theenduringfaiththatwecanmasteranydifficulty.WiththeColdWarrecedingandglobalcommerceatrecordlevels,wearehelpingtowinunrivaledpeaceandprosperityallacrosstheworld. MyfellowAmericans,thestateofourunionisstrong.(Applause.)Butnowwemustrisetothedecisivemoment,tomakeanationandaworldbetterthananywehaveeverknown.Thenewpromiseoftheglobaleconomy,theInformationAge,unimaginednewwork,life-enhancingtechnology-alltheseareourstoseize.Thatisourhonorandourchallenge.Wemustbeshapersofevents,notobservers.Forifwedonotact,themomentwillpass-andwewilllosethebestpossibilitiesofourfuture. 克林顿总统 1997年联邦国情咨文演说 WORD 版 【本文为 word 版，下载后可修改、打印，如对您有所帮助，请购买，谢谢。 】 第 2 页 Wefacenoimminentthreat,butwedohaveanenemy-theenemyofourtimeisinaction.So,tonight,Iissueacalltoaction-actionbythisCongress,actionbyourstates,byourpeople,toprepareAmericaforthe21stcentury.Actiontokeepoureconomyandourdemocracystrongandworkingforallourpeople;actiontostrengtheneducationandharnesstheforcesoftechnologyandscience;actiontobuildstrongerfamiliesandstrongercommunitiesandasaferenvironment;actiontokeepAmericatheworld''''sstrongestforceforpeace,freedomandprosperity.Andaboveall,actiontobuildamoreperfectunionhereathome. Thespiritwebringtoourworkwillmakeallthedifference.WemustbecommittedtothepursuitofopportunityforallAmericans,responsibilityfromallAmericans,inacommunityofallAmericans.Andwemustbecommittedtoanewkindofgovernment-nottosolveallourproblemsforus,buttogiveourpeople-allourpeople-thetoolstheyneedtomakethemostoftheirownlives. Andwemustworktogether.Thepeopleofthisnationelectedusall.Theywantustobepartners,notpartisans.Theyputusallrighthereinthesameboat,theygaveusalloars,andtheytoldustorow.Now,hereisthedirectionIbelieveweshouldtake. First,wemustmovequicklytocompletetheunfinishedbusinessofourcountry-tobalanceourbudget,renewourdemocracy,andfinishthejobofwelfarereform. Overthelastfouryears,wehavebroughtneweconomicgrowthbyinvestingino克林顿总统 1997年联邦国情咨文演说 WORD 版 【本文为 word 版，下载后可修改、打印，如对您有所帮助，请购买，谢谢。 】 第 3 页 urpeople,expandingourexports,cuttingourdeficits,creatingover11millionnewjobs,afour-yearrecord.(Applause.)Nowwemustkeepoureconomythestrongestintheworld.Weheretonighthaveanhistoricopportunity.LetthisCongressbetheCongressthatfinallybalancesthebudget.(Applause.) Intwodays,Iwillproposeadetailedplantobalancethebudgetby2019.ThisplanwillbalancethebudgetandinvestinourpeoplewhileprotectingMedicare,Medicaid,education,andtheenvironment.ItwillbalancethebudgetandbuildontheVicePresident''''seffortstomakeourgovernmentworkbetter,evenasitcostsless.Itwillbalancethebudgetandprovidemiddleclasstaxrelieftopayforeducationandhealthcare,tohelptoraiseachild,tobuyandsellahome. Balancingthebudgetrequiresonlyyourvoteandmysignature.ItdoesnotrequireustorewriteourConstitution.(Applause.)Ibelieveitisbothunnecessaryandunwisetoadoptabalancedbudgetamendmentthatcouldcrippleourcountryintimeofcrisis,andforceunwantedresults,suchasjudgeshaltingSocialSecuritychecksorincreasingtaxes.Letusatleastagree,weshouldnotpassanymeasure-nomeasureshouldbepassedthatthreatensSocialSecurity.(Applause.)Whateveryourviewonthat,weallmustconcedewedon''''tneedaconstitutionalamendment,weneedaction.(Applause.) Whateverourdifferences,weshouldbalancethebudgetnow.Andthen,forthelong-termhealthofoursociety,wemustagreetoabipartisanprocesstopreserveSocialSecurityandreformMedicareforthelongrun,sothatthesefundamen克林顿总统 1997年联邦国情咨文演说 WORD 版 【本文为 word 版，下载后可修改、打印，如对您有所帮助，请购买，谢谢。 】 第 4 页 talprogramswillbeasstrongforourchildrenastheyareforourparents. Andletmesaysomethingthat''''snotinmyscripttonight.Iknowthisisnotgoingtobeeasy.ButIreallybelieveoneofthereasonstheAmericanpeoplegavemeasecondtermwastotakethetoughdecisionsinthenextfouryearsthatwillcarryourcountrythroughthenext50years.Iknowitiseasierformethanforyoutosayordo.ButanotherreasonIwaselectedistosupportallofyou,withoutregardtoparty,togiveyouwhatisnecessarytojoininthesedecisions.Weoweittoourcountryandtoourfuture.(Applause.) Oursecondpieceofunfinishedbusinessrequiresustocommitourselvestonight,beforetheeyesofAmerica,tofinallyenactingbipartisancampaignfinancereform.(Applause.) Now,SenatorsMcCainandFeingold,RepresentativesShaysandMeehan,havereachedacrosspartylinesheretocrafttoughandfairreform.Theirproposalwouldcurbspending,reducetheroleofspecialinterests,createalevelplayingfieldbetweenchallengersandincumbents,andbancontributionsfromnoncitizens,allcorporatesources,andtheotherlargesoftmoneycontributionsthatbothpartiesreceive. YouknowandIknowthatthiscanbedelayed.AndyouknowandIknowthedelaywillmeanthedeathofreform.Solet''''ssetourowndeadline.Let''''sworktogethertowritebipartisancampaignfinancereformintolawandpassMcCain-Feingoldbythedaywecelebratethebirthofourdemocracy-Julythe4th.(Applaus克林顿总统 1997年联邦国情咨文演说 WORD 版 【本文为 word 版，下载后可修改、打印，如对您有所帮助，请购买，谢谢。 】 第 5 页 e.) Thereisathirdpieceofunfinishedbusiness.Overthelastfouryears,wemovedarecord2.25millionpeopleoffthewelfarerolls.Thenlastyear,Congressenactedlandmarkwelfarereformlegislation,demandingthatallable-bodiedrecipientsassumetheresponsibilityofmovingfromwelfaretowork. Noweachandeveryoneofushastofulfillourresponsibility-indeed,ourmoralobligation-tomakesurethatpeoplewhonowmustwork,canwork.(Applause.)Nowwemustacttomeetanewgoal:2millionmorepeopleoffthewelfarerollsbytheyear2019. Hereismyplan:Taxcreditsandotherincentivesforbusinessesthathirepeopleoffwelfare;incentivesforjobplacementfirmsandstatestocreatemorejobsforwelfarerecipients;training,transportation,andchildcaretohelppeoplegotowork. NowIchallengeeverystate:Turnthosewelfarechecksintoprivatesectorpaychecks.Ichallengeeveryreligiouscongregation,everycommunitynonprofit,everybusinesstohiresomeoneoffwelfare.AndI''''dliketosayespeciallytoeveryemployerinourcountrywhoevercriticizedtheoldwelfaresystem,youcan''''tblamethatoldsystemanymore,wehavetornitdown.Nowdoyourpart.Givesomeoneonwelfarethechancetogotowork.(Applause.) Tonight,Iampleasedtoannouncethatfivemajorcorporations-Sprint,Monsanto,UPS,BurgerKingandUnitedAirlines-willbethefirsttojoininanewnationa克林顿总统 1997年联邦国情咨文演说 WORD 版 【本文为 word 版，下载后可修改、打印，如对您有所帮助，请购买，谢谢。 】 第 6 页 lefforttomarshalAmerica''''sbusinesses,largeandsmall,tocreatejobssothatpeoplecanmovefromwelfaretowork.(Applause.) Wepassedwelfarereform.AllofyouknowIbelievewewererighttodoit.Butnoonecanwalkoutofthischamberwithaclearconscienceunlessyouarepreparedtofinishthejob.(Applause.) Andwemustjointogethertodosomethingelse,too-somethingbothRepublicanandDemocraticgovernorshaveaskedustodo-torestorebasichealthanddisabilitybenefitswhenmisfortunestrikesimmigrantswhocametothiscountrylegally,whoworkhard,paytaxesandobeythelaw.Todootherwiseissimplyunworthyofagreatnationofimmigrants.(Applause.) Now,lookingahead,thegreateststepofall-thehighthresholdofthefuturewenowmustcross-andmynumberonepriorityforthenextfouryearsistoensurethatallAmericanshavethebesteducationintheworld.(Applause.) Let''''sworktogethertomeetthesethreegoals:Every8-year-oldmustbeabletoread;every12-year-oldmustbeabletologontotheInternet;every18-year-oldmustbeabletogotocollege;andeveryadultAmericanmustbeabletokeeponlearningforalifetime.(Applause.) Mybalancedbudgetmakesanunprecedentedcommitmenttothesegoals-$51billionnextyear.Butfarmorethanmoneyisrequired.Ihaveaplan,aCalltoActionforAmericanEducation,basedonthese10principles. First,anationalcrusadeforeducationstandards-notfederalgovernmentstan克林顿总统 1997年联邦国情咨文演说 WORD 版 【本文为 word 版，下载后可修改、打印，如对您有所帮助，请购买，谢谢。 】 第 7 页 dards,butnationalstandards,representingwhatallourstudentsmustknowtosucceedintheknowledgeeconomyofthe21stcentury.Everystateandschoolmustshapethecurriculumtoreflectthesestandards,andtrainteacherstoliftstudentsuptothem.Tohelpschoolsmeetthestandardsandmeasuretheirprogress,wewillleadaneffortoverthenexttwoyearstodevelopnationaltestsofstudentachievementinreadingandmath. Tonight,Iissueachallengetothenation:Everystateshouldadopthighnationalstandards,andby1999,everystateshouldtestevery4thgraderinreadingandevery8thgraderinmathtomakesurethesestandardsaremet.(Applause.) Raisingstandardswillnotbeeasy,andsomeofourchildrenwillnotbeabletomeetthematfirst.Thepointisnottoputourchildrendown,buttoliftthemup.Goodtestswillshowuswhoneedshelp,whatchangesinteachingtomake,andwhichschoolsneedtoimprove.Theycanhelpustoendsocialpromotion.Fornochildshouldmovefromgradeschooltojuniorhigh,orjuniorhightohighschooluntilheorsheisready. Lastmonth,ourSecretaryofEducationDickRileyandIvisitedNorthernIllinois,where8thgradestudentsfrom20schooldistricts,inaprojectaptlycalled“FirstintheWorld,“tooktheThirdInternationalMathandScienceStudy.That''''satestthatreflectstheworld-classstandardsourchildrenmustmeetforthenewera.AndthosestudentsinIllinoistiedforfirstintheworldinscienceandcameinsecondinmathoofthem,KristinTannerandChrisGetsla,areheretonight,along克林顿总统 1997年联邦国情咨文演说 WORD 版 【本文为 word 版，下载后可修改、打印，如对您有所帮助，请购买，谢谢。 】 第 8 页 withtheirteacher,SueWinski;they''''reuptherewiththeFirstLady.Andtheyprovethatwhenweaimhighandchallengeourstudents,theywillbethebestintheworld.Let''''sgivethemahand.Standup,please.(Applause.) Second,tohavethebestschools,wemusthavethebestteachers.Mostofusinthischamberwouldnotbeheretonightwithoutthehelpofthoseteachers.IknowthatIwouldn''''tbehere.Foryears,manyofoureducators,ledbyNorthCarolina''''sGovernorJimHuntandtheNationalBoardforProfessionalTeachingStandards,haveworkedveryhardtoestablishnationallyacceptedcredentialsforexcellenceinteaching.Just500oftheseteachershavebeencertifiedsince1995.Mybudgetwillenable100,000moretoseeknationalcertificationasmasterteachers.Weshouldrewardandrecognizeourbestteachers.(Applause.)Andaswerewardthem,weshouldquicklyandfairlyremovethosefewwhodon''''tmeasureup,andweshouldchallengemoreofourfinestyoungpeopletoconsiderteachingasacareer. Third,wemustdomoretohelpallourchildrenread.Fortypercent-fortypercent-ofour8-year-oldscannotreadontheirown.That''''swhywehavejustlaunchedtheAmericaReadsinitiative-tobuildacitizenarmyofonemillionvolunteertutorstomakesureeverychildcanreadindependentlybytheendofthe3rdgrade.WewillusethousandsofAmeriCorpsvolunteerstomobilizethiscitizenarmy.Wewantatleast100,000collegestudentstohelp.AndtonightIampleasedthat60collegepresidentshaveansweredmycall,pledgingthatthousandsofthei克林顿总统 1997年联邦国情咨文演说 WORD 版 【本文为 word 版，下载后可修改、打印，如对您有所帮助，请购买，谢谢。 】 第 9 页 rwork-studystudentswillserveforoneyearasreadingtutors.(Applause.) Thisisalsoachallengetoeveryteacherandeveryprincipal.Youmustusethesetutorstohelpstudentsread.Anditisespeciallyachallengetoourparents.Youmustreadwithyourchildreneverynight. Thisleadstothefourthprinciple:Learningbeginsinthefirstdaysoflife.Scientistsarenowdiscoveringhowyoungchildrendevelopemotionallyandintellectuallyfromtheirveryfirstdays,andhowimportantitisforparentstobeginimmediatelytalking,singing,evenreadingtotheirinfants.TheFirstLadyhasspentyearswritingaboutthisissue,studyingit.AndsheandIaregoingtoconveneaWhiteHouseConferenceonEarlyLearningandtheBrainthisspring,toexplorehowparentsandeducatorscanbestusethesestartlingnewfindings. Wealreadyknowweshouldstartteachingchildrenbeforetheystartschool.That''''swhythisbalancedbudgetexpandsHeadStarttoonemillionchildrenby2019.(Applause.)AndthatiswhytheVicePresidentandMrs.GorewillhosttheirannualfamilyconferencethisJuneonwhatwecandotomakesurethatparentsareanactivepartoftheirchildren''''slearningallthewaythroughschool. They''''vedoneagreatdealtohighlighttheimportanceoffamilyinourlife,andnowthey''''returningtheirattentiontogettingmoreparentsinvolvedintheirchildren''''slearningallthewaythroughschool.AndIthankyou,Mr.VicePresident,andIthankyouespecially,Tipper,forwhatyoudo.(Applause.) Fifth,everystateshouldgiveparentsthepowertochoosetherightpublicschoo克林顿总统 1997年联邦国情咨文演说 WORD 版 【本文为 word 版，下载后可修改、打印，如对您有所帮助，请购买，谢谢。 】 第 10 页 lfortheirchildren.Theirrighttochoosewillfostercompetitionandinnovationthatcanmakepublicschoolsbetter.Weshouldalsomakeitpossibleformoreparentsandteacherstostartcharterschools,schoolsthatsetandmeetthehigheststandards,andexistonlyaslongastheydo.OurplanwillhelpAmericatocreate3,000ofthesecharterschoolsbythenextcentury-nearlyseventimesasthereareinthecountrytoday-sothatparentswillhaveevenmorechoicesinsendingtheirchildrentothebestschools. Sixth:Charactereducationmustbetaughtinourschools.Wemustteachourchildrentobegoodcitizens.(Applause.)Andwemustcontinuetopromoteorderanddiscipline,supportingcommunitiesthatintroduceschooluniforms,imposecurfewsenforcetruancylaws,removedisruptivestudentsfromtheclassroom,andhavezerotoleranceforgunsanddrugsinschool.(Applause.) Seventh:Wecannotexpectourchildrentoraisethemselvesupinschoolsthatareliterallyfallingdown.Withthestudentpopulationatanall-timehigh,andrecordnumbersofschoolbuildingsfallingintodisrepair,thishasnowbecomeaseriousnationalconcern.Therefore,mybudgetincludesanewinitiative-$5billiontohelpcommunitiesfinance$20billioninschoolconstructionoverthenextfouryears.(Applause.) Eighth:Wemustmakethe13thand14thyearsofeducation-atleasttwoyearsofcollege-justasuniversalinAmericabythe21stcenturyasahighschooleducationistoday,andwemustopenthedoorsofcollegetoAmericans.(Applause.)