克林顿总统 1999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 1999 年联邦国情咨文演说 名人演讲稿 Mr.Speaker,Mr.VicePresident,membersofCongress,honoredguests,myfellowAmericans.TonightIhavethehonorofreportingtoyouontheStateoftheUnion. LetmebeginbysalutingthenewspeakeroftheHouseandthankinghimespeciallytonightforextendinganinvitationtotwoguestssittinginthegallerywithMrs.J.DennisHastert.LynGibsonandWeiLingChestnutarethewidowsofthetwobraveCapitolHillpoliceofficerswhogavetheirlivestodefendfreedom''''shouse. Mr.Speaker,atyourswearinginyouaskedusalltoworktogetherinaspiritofcivilityandbipartisanship.Mr.Speaker,let''''sdoexactlythat. Tonight,IstandbeforeyoutoreportthatAmericahascreatedthelongestpeacetimeeconomicexpansioninourhistory.Withnearly18millionnewjobs,wagesrisingatmorethantwicetherateofinflation,thehighesthomeownershipinhistory,thesmallestwelfarerolesin30years,andthelowestpeacetimeunemploymentsince1957. Forthefirsttimeinthreedecades,thebudgetisbalanced.Fromadeficitof$290billionin1992,wehadasurplusof$70billionlastyear.Andnow,weareoncourseforbudgetsurplusesforthenext25years. 克林顿总统 1999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 Thankstothepioneeringleadershipofallofyou,wehavethelowestviolentcrimerateinaquartercenturyandthecleanestenvironmentinaquartercentury. AmericaisastrongforceforpeacefromNorthernIrelandtoBosniatotheMiddleEast. ThankstotheleadershipofVicePresidentGore,wehaveagovernmentfortheInformationAge,onceagainagovernmentthatisaprogressiveinstrumentofthecommongood,rootedinouroldestvaluesofopportunity,responsibilityandcommunity,devotedtofiscalresponsibility,determinedtogiveourpeoplethetoolstheyneedtomakethemostoftheirownlivesinthe21stcentury,a21stcenturygovernmentfor21stcenturyAmerica. MyfellowAmericans,Istandbeforeyoutonighttoreportthatthestateofourunionisstrong.Now,Americaisworkingagain.Thepromiseofourfutureislimitless.Butwecannotrealizethatpromiseifweallowthehumofourprosperitytolullusintocomplacency.Howwefareasanationfarintothe21stcenturydependsuponwhatwedoasanationtoday. So,withourbudgetsurplusgrowing,oureconomyexpanding,ourconfidencerising,nowisthemomentforthisgenerationtomeetourhistoricresponsibilitytothe21stcentury. Ourfiscaldisciplinegivesusanunsurpassedopportunitytoaddressaremarkablenewchallenge,theagingofAmerica.WiththenumberofelderlyAmericanssettodoubleby2019,thebabyboomwillbecomeaseniorboom. 克林顿总统 1999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 Sofirstandaboveall,wemustsaveSocialSecurityforthe21stcentury. Earlyinthiscentury,beingoldmeantbeingpoor.WhenPresidentFranklinD.RooseveltcreatedSocialSecurity,thousandswrotetothankhimforeliminatingwhatonewomancalled“thestarkterrorofpenniless,helplessoldage.“Eventoday,withoutSocialSecurity,halfournation''''selderlywouldbeforcedintopoverty. Today,SocialSecurityisstrong,butby2019,payrolltaxeswillnolongerbesufficienttocovermonthlypayments.By2019,thetrustfundwillbeexhaustedandSocialSecuritywillbeunabletopaythefullbenefitsolderAmericanshavebeenpromised. ThebestwaytokeepSocialSecurityarocksolidguaranteeisnottomakedrasticcutsinbenefits;nottoraisepayrolltaxrates;nottodrainresourcesfromSocialSecurityinthenameofsavingit.Instead,IproposethatwemakethehistoricdecisiontoinvestthesurplustosaveSocialSecurity. Specifically,Iproposethatwecommit60percentofthebudgetsurplusforthenext15yearstoSocialSecurity,investingasmallportionintheprivatesectorjustasanyprivateorstategovernmentpensionwoulddo.ThiswillearnahigherreturnandkeepSocialSecuritysoundfor55years. Butwemustaimhigher.WeshouldputSocialSecurityonasoundfootingforthenext75years.Weshouldreducepovertyamongelderlywomen,whoarenearlytwiceaslikelytobepoorasareotherseniors.Andweshouldeliminatethelimits克林顿总统 1999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 onwhatseniorsonSocialSecuritycanearn. Now,thesechangeswillrequiredifficult,butfullyachievablechoicesoverandabovethededicationofthesurplus.Theymustbemadeonabipartisanbasis.Theyshouldbemadethisyear.Soletmesaytoyoutonight,IreachoutmyhandtoallofyouinbothhousesinbothpartiesandaskthatwejointogetherinsayingtotheAmericanpeople,wewillsaveSocialSecuritynow. Now,lastyear,wewiselyreservedallofthesurplusuntilweknewwhatitwouldtaketosaveSocialSecurity.Again,Isay,weshouldn''''tspendanyofit,notanyofit,untilafterSocialSecurityistrulysaved.Firstthing''''sfirst. Second,oncewehavesavedSocialSecurity,wemustfulfillourobligationtosaveandimproveMedicare.AlreadywehaveextendedthelifeoftheMedicaretrustfundby10years,butweshouldextenditforatleastanotherdecade.Tonight,Iproposethatweuseoneoutofeverysixdollarsinthesurplusforthenext15yearstoguaranteethesoundnessofMedicareuntiltheyear2019. But,againbut,again,weshouldaimhigher.Wemustbewillingtoworkinabipartisanwayandlookatnewideas,includingtheupcomingreportoftheBipartisanMedicareCommission.Ifweworktogether,wecansecureMedicareforthenexttwodecadesandcoverthegreatestgrowingneedofseniorsaffordableprescriptiondrugs. Third,wemusthelpallAmericansfromtheirfirstdayonthejobtosave,toinvest,克林顿总统 1999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 tocreatewealth. Fromitsbeginnings,AmericanshavesupplementedSocialSecuritywithprivatepensionsandsavings.YettodaymillionsofpeopleretirewithlittletoliveonotherthanSocialSecurity.Americanslivinglongerthaneversimplymustsavemorethanever. Therefore,inadditiontosavingSocialSecurityandMedicare,Iproposeanewpensioninitiativeforretirementsecurityinthe21stcentury.Iproposethatweusealittleover11percentofthesurplustoestablishuniversalsavingsaccountsUSAaccountstogiveallAmericansthemeanstosave. Withthesenewaccounts,Americanscaninvestastheychooseandreceivefundstomatchaportionoftheirsavingswithextrahelpforthoseleastabletosave.USAaccountswillhelpallAmericanstoshareinournation''''swealthandtoenjoyamoresecureretirement.Iaskyoutosupportthem. Fourth,wemustinvestinlong-termcare. Iproposeataxcreditof$1,000fortheaged,ailingordisabledandthefamilieswhocareforthem.Long-termcarewillbecomeabiggerandbiggerchallengewiththeagingofAmericaandwemustdomoretohelpourfamiliesdealwithit. Iwasbornin1946,thefirstyearofthebabyboom.Icantellyouthatoneofthegreatestconcernsofourgenerationisourabsolutedeterminationnottoletourgrowingoldplaceanintolerableburdenonourchildrenandtheirabilitytoraiseourgrandchildren. 克林顿总统 1999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 Oureconomicsuccessandourfiscaldisciplinenowgiveustheopportunitytoliftthatburdenfromtheirshoulders,andweshouldtakeit. SavingSocialSecurity,Medicare,creatingU.S.accounts,thisistherightwaytousethesurplus.Ifwedoso,ifwedoso,wewillstillhaveresourcestomeetcriticalneedsandeducationanddefense. AndIwanttopointoutthatthisproposalisfiscallysound.Listentothis,ifwesetaside60percentofthesurplusforSocialSecurityand16percentforMedicareoverthenext15years,thatsavingswillachievethelowestlevelofpublicly-helddebtsincerightbeforeWorldWarIin1917. Sowiththesefourmeasures;savingSocialSecurity,strengtheningMedicare,establishingtheUSAaccounts,supportinglong-termcare,wecanbegintomeetourgeneration''''shistoricresponsibilitytoestablishtruesecurityfor21stcenturyseniors. Now,therearemorechildren,frommorediversebackgrounds,inourpublicschoolsthatanytimeinourhistory.Theireducationmustprovidetheknowledgeandnurturethecreativitythatwillallowourentirenationtothriveintheneweconomy. Todaywecansaysomethingwecouldn''''tsaysixyearsago.Withtaxcreditsandmoreaffordablestudentloans,withmorework-studygrantsandmorePellGrants,witheducationIRAs,thenewHOPEScholarshiptaxcutthatmorethanfivemillionAmericanswillreceivethisyear,wehavefinallyopenedthedoorsofcoll克林顿总统 1999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 egetoallAmericans. Withoursupport,nearlyeverystatehassethigheracademicstandardsforpublicschoolsandavoluntarynationaltestisbeingdevelopedtomeasuretheprogressofourstudents.Withover$1billionindiscountsavailablethisyear,wearewellonourwaytoourgoalofconnectingeveryclassroomandlibrarytotheInternet. Lastfall,youpassedourproposaltostarthiring100,000newteacherstoreduceclasssizeintheearlygrades.NowIaskyoutofinishthejob. Youknowourchildrenaredoingbetter.SATscoresareup.Mathscoreshaveriseninnearlyallgrades.Butthere''''saproblem.Whileourfourth-gradersoutperformedtheirpeersinothercountriesinmathandscience,oureighth-gradersarearoundaverage,andour12th-gradersranknearthebottom.Wemustdobetter. Noweachyearthenationalgovernmentinvestsmorethan$15billioninourpublicschools.Ibelievewemustchangethewayweinvestthatmoneytosupportwhatworksandtostopsupportingwhatdoesnotwork. First,laterthisyearIwillsendtoCongressaplanthatforthefirsttimeholdsstatesandschooldistrictsaccountableforprogressandrewardsthemforresults.MyEducationAccountabilityActwillrequireeveryschooldistrictreceivingfederalhelptotakethefollowingfivesteps: First,allschoolsmustendsocialpromotion. 克林顿总统 1999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 Now,nochild,nochildshouldgraduatefromhighschoolwithadiplomaheorshecan''''tread.Wedoourchildrennofavorswhenweallowthemtopassfromgradetogradewithoutmasteringthematerial.Butwecan''''tjustholdstudentsbackbecausethesystemfailsthem. Somybalancedbudgettriplesthefundingforsummerschoolandafter-schoolprogramstokeepamillionchildrenlearning.Now,ififyoudoubtthiswillwork,justlookatChicago,whichendedsocialpromotionandmadesummerschoolmandatoryforthosewhodon''''tmasterthebasics.Mathandreadingscoresareupthreeyearsrunningwithsomeofthebiggestgainsinsomeofthepoorestneighborhoods.Itwillwork,andweshoulddoit. Second,allstatesandschooldistrictsmustturnaroundtheirworstperformingschoolsorshutthemdown.That''''sthepolicyestablishedinNorthCarolinabyGovernorJimHunt.NorthCarolinamadethebiggestgainsintestscoresinthenationlastyear.Ourbudgetincludes$200milliontohelpstatesturnaroundtheirownfailingschools. Third,allstatesandschooldistrictsmustbeheldresponsibleforthequalityoftheirteachers.Thegreatmajorityofourteachersdoafinejob,butintoomanyschoolsteachersdon''''thavecollegemajorsorevenminorsinthesubjectstheyteach.Newteachersshouldberequiredtopassperformanceexams,andallteachersshouldknowthesubjecttheirteaching. Thisyear''''sbalancedbudgetcontainsresourcestohelpthemreachhighersta克林顿总统 1999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 ndards.Andtoattracttalentedyoungteacherstothetoughestassignments,Irecommendasix-foldincreaseinourprogramforcollegescholarshipsforstudentswhocommittoteachintheinner-citiesandisolatedruralareasandinIndiancommunities.LetusbringexcellencetoeverypartofAmerica. Fourth,wemustempowerparentswithmoreinformationandmorechoices.Intoomanycommunitiesit''''seasiertogetinformationonthequalityofthelocalrestaurantsthanonthequalityofthelocalschools. Everyschooldistrictshouldissuereportcardsoneveryschool.Andparentsshouldbegivenmorechoicesinselectingtheirpublicschools. WhenIbecamepresident,therewasjustoneindependentpubliccharterschoolinallAmerica.Withoursupportonabipartisanbasis,todaythereare1,100.Mybudgetassuresthatearlyinthenextcentury,therewillbe3,000. Fifth,toassurethatourclassroomsaretrulyplacesoflearning,andtorespondtowhatteachershavebeenaskingustodoforyears,weshouldsaythatallstatesandschooldistrictsmustbothadoptandimplementsensibledisciplinepolicies. Nowlet''''sdoonemorethingforourchildren.Today,toomanyschoolsaresooldthey''''refallingapart,orsoovercrowdedstudentsarelearningintrailers.Lastfall,Congressmissedtheopportunitytochangethat.Thisyear,with53millionchildreninourschools,Congressmustnotmissthatopportunityagain.Iaskyoutohelpourcommunitiesbuildormodernize5,000schools. Ifwedothesethings克林顿总统 1999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 endsocialpromotion,turnaroundfailingschools,buildmodernones,supportqualifiedteachers,promoteinnovation,competitionanddisciplinethenwewillbegintomeetourgeneration''''shistoricresponsibilitytocreateto21stcenturyschools. Now,wealsohavetodomoretosupportthemillionsofparentswhogivetheiralleverydayathomeandatwork. Themostbasictoolofallisadecentincome.Solet''''sraisetheminimumwagebyadollaranhouroverthenexttwoyears. Andlet''''smakesurethatwomenandmengetequalpayforequalworkbystrengtheningenforcementoftheequalpaylaws. (Applause,cheering) Thatwasencouraging,youknow?Therewasmorebalanceontheseesaw.Ilikethat.Let''''sgivethemahand.That''''sgreat. Workingparentsalsoneedqualitychildcare.So,againthisyear,IaskCongresstosupportourplanfortaxcreditsandsubsidiesforworkingfamilies,forimprovedsafetyandquality,forexpandedafter-schoolprogram.Andourplanalsoincludesanewtaxcreditforstay-at-homeparents,too.Theyneedsupportaswell. Parentsshouldneverhavetoworryaboutchoosingbetweentheirchildrenandtheirwork.Now,theFamilyandMedicalLeaveAct,theveryfirstbillIsignedintolaw,hasnow,since1993,helpedmillionsandmillionsofAmericanstocareforanewbornbabyoranailingrelativewithoutriskingtheirjobs.Ithinkit''''stime,wit