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PRESIDENTIAL ACTION IN THE SECOND TERM Friday, April 18, 1997 In State of the Union, the President outlined his concrete action plan to prepare America for the 21st Century. Since then, he has worked to take action on major national challenges: Balancing the Budget: Balanced budget submitted to Congress, reaching balance under both OMB and CBO assumptions; Budget plan balances the books and still invests in our people, giving our children world- class education, protecting the environment, strengthening Medicare and Medicaid; President initiated serious budget talks with Congressional leadership and budget chairmen; High-level negotiations continue daily between President's economic team and Congressional leaders; President's budget still the only plan on the table. Education: Speeches to state legislatures urging adoption of national standards; Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, California's top education official and the nation's military schools all endorsed President's plan -- covering nearly 20% of America's children; HOPE Scholarships/higher education legislation released, endorsed by over 250 college presidents; School Construction legislation unveiled -- will leverage $20 billion to help communities and states rebuild America's schools; Early Head Start enrollment increased by one-third for next year; Researchers, parents and other experts convene for White House Conference on Early Childhood Development and Learning: What New Research on the Brain Tells Us About Our Youngest Children, with over 80 satellite conferences around the country; On Net Day, issued $11.8 million in Technology Literacy Grants to help connect every classroom to the Internet by 2000; directed Department of Education to create parents' guide to Internet, and directed all agencies to expand educational content on Internet. Continuing to Expand the Economy: Latest economic numbers (for March) show 11.9 million jobs created in past four years, unemployment low at 5.2%, and real wages rising again. Voluntary, industry-led Apparel Industry agreement reached to curb the use of sweatshop labor in the goods we buy; Nation's major pension fund, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, shows surplus for the first time in its 22-year history; Legislation proposed to require tougher accounting standards for pensions, and new rules enacted to require employers to deposit pension funds faster. American Leadership in the World: Historic Helsinki Summit with President Yeltsin where two Presidents took major steps forward for European security (NATO enlargement), arms control (START II and III; ABM Treaty) and greater trade and investment;