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file Acceplishments, POTUS I Clinton Presidential Records Digital Records Marker This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff. This marker identifies the place of a publication. Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: MEETING AMERICA'S CHALLENGES IN AN AGE OF POSSIBILITY May 1996 "Now it is time for us to look also to the challenges of today and tomorrow, beyond the burdens of yesterday. The challenges are significant. But America was built on challenges, not promises. I am confident: When Americans work together in their homes, their schools, their churches, their syna- gogues, their civic groups, their workplace, they can meet any challenge." - President Clinton, State of the Union Address January 23, 1996 First Challenge: To Cherish Our Children and Strengthen America's Families Cherishing Our Children Announced a breakthrough agreement with the media and entertainment industry to develop a television ratings system to enable parents to protect their children from violence and adult content. Gave parents greater control over what their children watch on television by requiring the installation of anti-violence screening chips ("V-chips") in all new televisions. Proposed targeted measures to cut off children's access to tobacco products and to ban advertising directed at children. Established a Childhood Immunization Initiative to ensure vaccinations and healthy futures for all children. The President's initiative contributed to the immunization of 75% of two-year-old children in 1995, an historic high. Strengthening Our Families Enabled workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a family member without fear of losing their jobs. (Family and Medical Leave Act) Provided tax relief for 15 million working families by increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit to allow more families to qualify for tax rebates. Helped families move from welfare to work by authorizing 37 states to bypass existing welfare rules and set time limits on benefits, require recipients to work or stay in school, provide child care and give employers incentives to hire welfare recipients. These waivers are making work and responsibility a way of life for 75% of all welfare recipients Melanne Verveer account Photo paid for by Clinton/Gore '96 Primary Committee Inc. CLINTON GORE PHOTOCOPY PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPY PRESERVATION IOMIC SECURITY * EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY * N A LEADERSHIP THAT MAKES DIFFERENCE P ГУ to MEET NG AMERICA'S CHA ENGES = ECONOI AND DRUGS * ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FIRST a OPFORTUNITY WITH RESPONS TOTAL UCATIONAL OPPORTUN TY a Rebbe NG CRIME AN MAKES A D FRERENCE - PUTTING FAIM LIES F is CHALLENGES 5 ECONOMIC SECUR T* EDUCAT PHOTOCOPY PRESERVATION ICING CRIME AND DRUGS 0 ENVIRONMENTAL PRO FAMILIES FIRST = OPPORTUNITY WITH RESPON ECURITY B EDOCATIONAL OPPORTONITY - REDUCT ERSHIP THAT MAKES CLINTON GORE ING F, NG AMERICA CHALLENGES 0 ECONOMIC SECUR UGS = ENVIRONMENTAG PROT STION LEADERSH IPPORTUNITY WITH RESPONSIA 1.005 MARTING'A OPPORTUNITY D REDUCING CRIME ANY LA Test PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPY Paid for by the Clinton/Gore '96 Primary Committee, Inc. CLINTON GORE Dear Leader: Thank you for all your hard work and friendship over the years. It has been with your support that Vice President Gore and I have been able to continue fighting for our families, our values, and our future as a nation. Now I am asking you to help me bring my message to all Americans through our Speakers Program. This message is that America is on the right track toward the 21st century, and we are meeting the challenges of new times with the old values of opportunity, responsibility, and community. Americans have always risen to meet our challenges. When we work together, we never fail. As you know, this election is about whether our government will continue its commitment to provide a quality education, a secure retirement, a healthy environment, and a fair opportunity for every American. In just under four years, our Administration has cut the deficit by more than half, and the economy has responded by creating 10.5 million new jobs and by producing the lowest unemployment rate in seven and a half years. We have moved 1.9 million people from welfare to work. Crime has been down four years in a row, making our streets safer for our children. Our leadership in the world is strong, bringing new hope for peace. Your participation in the Speakers Program will be vital in bringing this vision of greater opportunity and a brighter future to all Americans. Please use this information for speaking engagements, public appearances, group gatherings, talk radio, and wherever else you see the need. The campaign will be sending you regular updates to help you bring our message to the American. Please feel free to contact the campaign if you need additional help in our common effort. Thank you for your commitment to guaranteeing America's leadership into the 21st century. Sincerely, Bin Clinion Bill Clinton Paid for by the Clinton/Gore '96 General Committee, Inc. CLINTON GORE Designing Your Message HELPFUL GUIDELINES FOR CLINTON/GORE '96 LEADERS TELL YOUR STORY The most effective way to reach your audience is to talk about your own personal experience. Let people know why you believe so strongly in President Clinton, based on your own beliefs and values. RAISE THE STAKES OF THE ELECTION This election may be the most important of our lifetime — a choice not just between candidates, but between very different visions of our country's future. The outcome of this election will determine what kind of country we live in, what we value and respect, and what our children's future will be. THE BEST POLITICS ARE THE LEAST Political The public is tired of hearing about political strategies and spin doctors. People don't want to be manipulated or "spun"; they take the election of their President seriously, and they want us to take it seriously, too. Resist the temptation to talk about strategy or poll data. Talk about governing, not campaigning. THE BEST MESSAGE BUILDS ON THE STRONGEST PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT — Exemplified IN THE PRESIDENT'S Acceptance SPEECH Like the President's acceptance speech, our message should be: Based on values; Oriented toward the future: Framed as challenges - challenges we can meet together. USE VALUES-BASED Language The vote for President is a vote for leadership - and leaders are chosen on the basis of values, not programs and legislation. This is an especially important point for Democrats, because too often in the past, we have talked about the programs and policies we care about instead of the values these policies represent. That has sometimes enabled our opponents to portray us as not having any values. This time we want to make our values explicit, by talking about leadership, family, opportunity, responsibility, and community. We want to talk about how President Clinton has transferred his commitment to these shared American values into actions that have improved the lives of everyday people. Leadership President Clinton is a leader who does what's right - not because it is easy, but because it is the right thing to do. He is a leader for all Americans - regardless of background or party. The President took on the National Rifle Association to win passage of the Brady Bill preventing more than 60,000 people with criminal records from getting handguns last year. He put a ban on assault weapons, making the streets safer for our children. That wasn't easy - but it was the right thing to do. The President signed the Family and Medical Leave Act to enable Americans to take up to 12 weeks of Paid for by the Clinton/Gore 96 General Committee, Inc. unpaid leave to care for a family member without fear of losing their jobs. The President fought for and signed into law the first increase in the minimum wage in five years to reward work and responsibility. FAMILY It's our most common identification: We all think of ourselves as part of a family, and caring about our families is one of the values we have in common. We want to talk about making a difference for families, about the value of policies that strengthen and protect families. We strengthen families by giving parents the tools they need - family and medical leave, health care for our parents, education for our children, clean water, and safe communities. Opportunity, Responsibility, AND COMMUNITY President Clinton believes in opportunity for every American, for every child, for every family. But opportunity must be accompanied by responsibility; we should meet our responsibilities to one another, to our families, to our communities, and to our country. Public policy should help people who act responsibly. And we must all build a stronger, more united American community - by working together as one country to meet the challenges before us. President Clinton urges Americans to overcome the voices of division and the politics of hate. He reminds us that our country was founded on challenges, not promises. And he points out that when we work together to meet those challenges, we never fail. President Clinton said, "That is the key to a more perfect union: Our individual dreams must be realized by our common efforts." BUILDING A BRIDGE TO THE 21ST CENTURY The Clinton/Gore Administration has a great record of achievements - but we must also look ahead. We know there is more to do. Our message should focus on the future, referring to accomplishments as examples of what the President is doing to help build a bridge toward the 21st century - a bridge that is wide and strong enough for every American to cross. And remember: Our message, like our direction, is positive. Leaders bring hope. FRAME Our Goals AS CHALLENGES Speaking in terms of the challenges before us enables us to combine two important American traits - optimism and realism. We are optimistic because we believe the future can be better than the past. We are realistic enough to know that we aren't there yet. Frame the issues of this campaign in these terms. For example: How do we meet the challenge of good economic policy? By moving forward, continuing to expand the economy, and making sure that good economic news means good news for family budgets. CONTRAST AND COMPARE As Election Day nears, it will become increasingly clear that this election is a choice between two very different candidates, with different values and records of achievement. We welcome the chance to make the comparison based on ideas, not insults - based on policy differences, not personal attacks. Remind people that this election is a choice between: The Future - or the Past Change - or the Status Quo Values - or Insiders Economic Growth - or a Return to the Failed Economy of 1991 We hope these guidelines are helpful. If you have any suggestions or questions regarding the Speakers Program, please call Gloria Johnson, National Director of Surrogate Speakers, at 202-530-2124. FRAMING THE MESSAGE "We offer the American people a new choice based on old values. We offer opportunity. We demand responsibility. We will build an American community again. The choice we offer is not conservative or liberal ...It's different. It's new. And it will work. It will because it is rooted in the vision and values of the American people." Bill Clinton - Presidential Candidate July 1992 THE CASE FOR REELECTING PRESIDENT CLINTON A plan that has worked. The President came into office with a plan - a plan that worked. We now have more jobs and more opportunity, less crime and welfare, more personal responsibility, and stronger communities across America. No guesswork in '96. There is no guesswork about this election - we know what the President and Vice President have done to move America forward, but we can only imag- ine what the Dole-Kemp ticket would do with unchecked power in Washington. A forward-looking agenda for the year 2000. The President has a progressive agenda that builds on his accomplishments and will help America move into the 21st century with confidence and strength. THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF THIS PRESIDENCY President Clinton and Vice President Gore are meeting America's challenges as we move into the 21st century. They're doing this by protecting American values in ways that mat- ter in people's daily lives - through opportunity, responsibility and community. OPPORTUNITY: Giving people the tools they need to make the most of their own lives through economic growth, job creation, targeted tax cuts, and education. RESPONSIBILITY: Demanding that Americans live up to their obligations to themselves, their children, and our communities. COMMUNITY: Helping families, school districts, and neighborhoods to build stronger communities; helping to strengthen families by giving parents the tools to raise their children on their own. CLINTON/GORE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: AMERICA IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK Here's how President Clinton has offered more OPPORTUNITY: A prosperous economy. President Clinton got the economy moving again. The economy has created more than 10 million new jobs; the deficit has been cut by more than half; the nation now makes more autos than Japan; there are now a record number of businesses owned by women; and real hourly wages are rising again after falling for a decade. Lower taxes for working families. President Clinton cut taxes for 15 million working families and is fighting for new. targeted tax cuts for education, child-rearing, and buying a first home. Higher minimum wage. President Clinton raised the minimum wage, which had fallen to a 40-year low. Portable health care insurance. President Clinton signed into law health care insurance reforms that allow you to take health care insurance from job to job, and not be barred from coverage if you get sick. Here's how President Clinton has demanded more RESPONSIBILITY: Reduced crime. President Clinton took steps that reduced crime four years in a row, putting 100,000 new police on the streets; made "three-strikes-and you're-out" the law of the land; passed the assault weapons ban; and passed the Brady Bill that has prevented handguns from falling in the hands of 60,000 felons, fugitives, and stalkers. Moved people off welfare and into work. President Clinton is moving millions from welfare to work by allowing states to reform welfare, and by signing national welfare reform - there are already 1.9 million fewer people on welfare. Cracked down on deadbeat dads. President Clinton is cracking down on deadbeat dads and promoting policies to prevent teenage pregnancy. Fought for and signed legislation that would prohibit those convicted of any offense involving domestic violence - misdemeanor or felony - from owning or possessing a firearm. Here's how President Clinton has built greater COMMUNITY: Allowing time off to help a sick family member. President Clinton fought for the Family and Medical Leave Act, which Americans have already used 12 million times to care for a new baby or a sick family member without fear of losing their jobs. Giving parents more control. President Clinton required the V-chip in new TV sets to give parents greater control over what their children watch on television, and proposed the toughest-ever measures to limit children's access to tobacco products and to reduce their appeal to children. Cleaning up America. President Clinton is leaving our environment safe and clean for the next generation - ensuring public health, protecting natural resources, and making common-sense reforms to environmental programs. Protecting Medicare, Medicaid, education, and the environment. During the tough budget fights of 1995 and 1996, the President protected all of these values by standing up to Dole-Gingrich efforts to cut Medicare, Medicaid, education, and the environment. 1 CLINTON/GORE LOOKING FORWARD: BUILDING A BRIDGE TO THE 21ST CENTURY Creating more OPPORTUNITY: Balance the budget. President Clinton will balance the budget in a way that protects Medicare, Medicaid, and our investments in education and the environment. Promote working-family tax cuts. President Clinton will target tax cuts and expanded IRAs for families to pay for college, child-rearing, home ownership, and health care. Promote literacy and computers. President Clinton will work to ensure that every child can read independently by the end of third grade with 30,000 reading specialists and volunteer coordinators; and he wants to connect every classroom in America to the Information Superhighway by the year 2000. Ensure a healthier America. President Clinton will increase access to health care by helping Americans who lose their jobs keep their health insurance for six months, and he will fight to fully fund research to fight diseases like breast cancer and AIDS. Increasing the demand for more RESPONSIBILITY: Broaden anti-crime efforts. President Clinton will make our streets and homes safer by banning cop killer bullets. Expand anti-drug efforts. President Clinton will expand efforts to crack down on drugs with a strategy targeted at young people. Support the creation of a million jobs for former welfare recipients. President Clinton supports the creation of community, business and private sector placement services to move 1 million of the hardest-to-employ welfare recipients into jobs by the year 2000. Building more COMMUNITY: Reduce deadly tobacco use by children. President Clinton wants targeted measures to limit children's access to tobacco products and reduce their appeal to children. Promote more time off to attend to family matters. President Clinton will expand the Family and Medical Leave Act SO workers can take time off from work for parent-teacher conferences and routine medical appointments. Speed up cleanups. President Clinton will double the pace of toxic waste cleanup under Superfund SO that two-thirds of priority sites will be cleaned by the year 2000. CLINTON GORE Biography OF William Jefferson Clinton President OF THE United States William Jefferson Clinton is the 42nd President of the United States of America. He was sworn in on January 20, 1993. A fifth-generation Arkansan, President Clinton was born on August 19, 1946. He spent the first years of his life in Hope and then moved with his family to Hot Springs, where he graduated from high school. The President earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University in 1968 and a law degree from Yale Law School in 1973. He also studied at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar from 1968 to 1970. He was then a member of the law school faculty at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Elected Attorney General of Arkansas in 1976, President Clinton ran for Governor two years later and won, and the people of Arkansas reelected him four more times. He served as Governor longer than all of his predecessors except one. His term was marked with leadership on education and economic development issues. President Clinton has served as chair of the National Governors' Association, the Education Commission of the States, the Lower Mississippi Delta Development Commission, the Southern Growth Policies Board, the Democratic Governors' Association, and the Democratic Leadership Council. The President is married to Hillary Rodham Clinton, and they have a 16-year-old daughter, Chelsea. President and Mrs. Clinton celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in October 1995. Paid for by the Clinton/Gore 96 General Committee, Inc. CLINTON GORE Biography OF Albert Gore, Jr. VICE President OF THE United STATES Al Gore was inaugurated as the 45th Vice President of the United States on January 20, 1993. The Vice President's congressional career began when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1984 and was reelected in 1990, becoming the first candidate in modern history - Republican or Democrat - to win all 95 of Tennessee's counties. A candidate for the Democratic Nomination for President in 1988, the Vice President won more than 3 million votes, as well as Democratic contests in seven states. The Vice President, born on March 31, 1948, is the son of former U.S. Senator Albert Gore, Sr., and Pauline Gore. Raised in Carthage, Tenn., and Washington, D.C., he received a degree in government with honors from Harvard University in 1969. After graduation, he volunteered for enlistment in the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. Returning to civilian life, the Vice President became an investigative reporter with The Tennessean in Nashville. He attended Vanderbilt University Divinity School and Vanderbilt Law School. At the beginning of his Administration, President Clinton asked the Vice President to lead the effort to reinvent the federal government - to make it work better and cost less. To date, the National Performance Review has reduced the federal workforce by more than 250,000 positions — the lowest level in 30 years - and has saved the taxpayers $118 billion. Among elected officials, the Vice President's environment record is unparalleled. He is the author of the bestseller EARTH IN THE BALANCE: Ecology and the Human Spirit. The Vice President is also a nationally recognized leader in the field of technology. When he was a member of the U.S. Senate, he introduced and steered passage of the High Performance Computing Act to create a national, high-speed computer network and increase research and development of high-performance technologies. The Vice President is married to Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore. They have four children. The Gores have a small farm near Carthage, Tenn., and the family belongs to the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Carthage. Paid for by the Clinton/Gore '96 General Committee, Inc. Making Government Work Better Under the leadership of President Clinton and Vice President Gore, the Administration has created a smaller government that works better and costs less. The President has: Reduced the federal workforce by more than 230,000 positions to the smallest federal civilian workforce since John F. Kennedy was President. Saved taxpayers $118 billion by cutting wasteful government practices and spending through Vice President Gore's National Performance Review. Eliminated 16,000 pages of unnecessary government regulations. Signed into law the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, dramatically improving how the federal government purchases items and saving taxpayers $12.3 billion over the next five years. Published customer service standards at more than 200 departments and agencies so the federal government's customers, the American taxpayers, know what to expect and how to give feedback on the service they have received. Consolidated, eliminated, and privatized government. The Interstate Commerce Commission, the Bureau of Mines, and the Office of Territorial Affairs were all eliminated. President Clinton and Vice President Gore consolidated hundreds of job training, public health, and environmental programs to allow states and localities to serve their residents better. President Clinton and Vice President Gore also privatized such government functions as the Naval Petroleum Reserve and the Alaska Power Administration. Formed partnerships with America's businesses and with state and local governments to change the way government works. For example, the Small Business Administration loan form has been cut from a one-inch thick manual to a one-page document. Signed legislation restricting unfunded mandates so Congress can't pass on new costs to state and local governments without paying for them. Signed the Line-Item Veto, which greatly increases presidential authority to eliminate wasteful spending by allowing the President to cancel wasteful special interest projects and targeted tax breaks that benefit special interests. Top Ten Clinton/Gore Accomplishments 1. Strengthened and expanded America's economy; 10.5 million new jobs; the deficit cut by 60 percent: lower interest rates on car loans, business loans, and home mortgages; and the lowest unemployment in 7.5 years. 2. Increased public safety, reduced crime, added 100,000 more police to the streets, banned 19 kinds of assault weapons, and prevented over 60,000 fugitives, felons, and stalkers from purchasing handguns. 3. Strengthened America's families; signed the Family and Medical Leave Act, giving working Americans the opportunity to take up 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a sick family member without fear of losing their jobs. 4. Protected access to affordable, quality health insurance by making health insurance more portable, protecting mothers and newborns from being rushed out of the hospital in less than 48 hours, and moving toward equal treatment of mental illness. 5. Opened the doors to higher education for more Americans by expanding student loans and lowering their cost; expanding scholarships: and establishing the national service initiative, AmeriCorps. 6. Protected clean water and food by increasing safeguards for meat and poultry, requiring expanded testing of contaminants, and expanding right-to-know laws. 7. Made work pay by increasing the minimum wage for 10 million working Americans and expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit to provide tax relief for 15 million working families. 8. Ended welfare as we know it by granting waivers to 43 states - resulting in 1.9 million fewer people on welfare - and signing national welfare reform legislation that includes time limits, work requirements, and increased funding for child care. 9. Made government smaller and more responsive by reducing the size of the federal workforce by more than 230,000 and saving $118 billion. 10. Maintaining American leadership around the world by fighting terrorism; reducing nuclear weapons and keeping them out of the wrong hands; and working to bring peace to Bosnia, Northern Ireland, and the Middle East. Strengthening Families Strong families are vital to our children and our nation, and President Clinton governs on the side of families. President Clinton is working to strengthen our families by providing tax relief to working families, investing in our children's education, reducing crime, and strengthening parents' capacity to nurture healthy families. The President has: Created 10.5 million new jobs, cut the deficit by 60 percent, lowered interest rates on car loans, business loans, credit cards, and home mortgages, and secured the lowest levels of unemployment in 7.5 years. Increased the minimum wage for 10 million working Americans, and expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit to provide tax relief for 15 million working families. Signed the Family and Medical Leave Act, giving working Americans the opportunity to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a sick family member without fear of losing their jobs. Insisted on a balanced budget that protects Medicare, Medicaid, and our investments in education and the environment. Opened the doors to higher education by expanding student loans and lowering their cost, and establishing the national service initiative, AmeriCorps. Pushed for common-sense reforms to environmental programs while blocking attempts to roll back safeguards for our families' food. water, and air supplies. Stood up to the tobacco and gun lobbies to protect our children's safety. Fought to give parents greater control over what their children watch on television by requiring the "V-chip" in all new televisions. Strengthened the laws enforcing the collection of child support. By 1995, $11 billion in unpaid child support was collected - a 40 percent increase over 1992. Signed the Kennedy-Kassebaum Health Bill to make sure all Americans can keep their health insurance if they have to change jobs, to guarantee that mothers and newborns are not forced out of the hospital in less than 48 hours; and to move toward equal treatment of the mentally ill in insurance coverage. Banned 19 of the deadliest assault weapons and prevented over 60,000 fugitives, felons, and other criminals from buying handguns. Signed the "Three-Strikes-and-You're-Out" policy and is putting 100,000 new police officers on the streets. Promoted safe schools by encouraging school uniform policies to foster discipline and respect, and by enacting the Gun-Free Schools Act, which expels students for one year if they bring guns to school. Creating Economic Opportunity Four years ago, the economy was failing. The record-breaking federal deficit reached $290 billion. Unemployment rose to 7.5 percent. Job growth was anemic. In 1991, our economy actually lost jobs, many of these in high-wage industries. President Clinton changed the country's course by making tough choices - choices made tougher by some Republicans. The President has: Cut spending by $255 billion over five years; Reduced the size of the government by more than 230,000 workers; Expanded exports by negotiating over 200 trade agreements; and Invested in our people and their skills by expanding access to higher education, promoting worker training through tax credits, encouraging charter schools and other reforms, and signing the Goals 2000 Act. Since President Clinton took office, the deficit has been cut in half and the private sector economy is now growing - more strongly than it was during the Reagan and Bush administration. Real wages are rising for the first time in a decade. The typical family's annual income is up $1,600. 10.5 million new jobs have been created - 92 percent created by the private sector and more than 50 percent in high-wage industries. The combined rate of unemployment, interest, and mortgage rates is at the lowest level since 1968. Unemployment has dropped to 5.1 percent - - a 7.5-year low. Our basic industries are back. 900,000 new construction jobs have been created. and our automobile industry and high-tech industries like semi-conductors and biotech lead the world. Exports are up one-third. President Clinton's program has helped strengthen our economy AND expand economic opportunity. Home ownership is at a 15-year high - there are 4.5 million new homeowners under President Clinton. Welfare rolls have dropped 1.9 million. The number of Americans living in poverty dropped 1.6 million in 1995 - the largest drop in 27 years. Income inequality dropped more in 1995 than in any year since 1968. The African-American poverty rate is at its lowest level in history. President Clinton has proposed a responsible $110 billion in tax cuts targeted to education and child-rearing that will keep the country on the right track. He has spelled out in his balanced budget plan exactly how the tax cuts targeted to the middle class are offset by new savings. Creating Opportunities for Women President Clinton has an unprecedented record of supporting women and their families. The President has: Fostered the growth of women-owned businesses. Fought for and signed into law the first increase in the minimum wage in five years - almost 60 percent of all minimum wage earners are women. Appointed more women to top government positions than any previous Administration: 42 percent of the President's appointees are women, six women hold Cabinet-level positions, and 59 percent of Clinton Administration judicial nominees are women. Opened 260,000 new jobs for women in the military by removing barriers to certain job classifications Signed the Family and Medical Leave Act, allowing families to care for their loved ones without fear of losing their jobs. He is proposing to expand the act to allow workers to take up to 24 hours of unpaid leave to support their children's educational needs. older relatives' health care, and other family medical obligation. Signed the Kennedy-Kassebaum Bill that limits exclusions for pre-existing conditions and allows individuals to take their health insurance with them when they change or lose their jobs. Established a Childhood Immunization Plan to ensure vaccinations and healthy futures for all children. Increased funding for breast cancer research by 65 percent; supported increased availability of mammography and signed legislation requiring that women be included in National Institute of Health sponsored-research. Signed his tough Crime Bill, which included the Violence Against Women Act, the first national effort to reduce violence against women. The Act increases funding for battered women's shelters and has already provided $156 million in state grants to bolster law enforcement, prosecution, and victims' services. The bill also created the first nationwide 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline, providing immediate crisis intervention, counseling, and referrals for women in need. Fought to protect family planning and clinic safety. Collected a record level of child support ($11 billion. a nearly 40 percent increase). Combatting Crime & Drugs President Clinton's tough anti-crime program is making America's streets safer for our children and our families. Violent crime and murder rates are falling. President Clinton is taking action to reduce drug use by targeting drug pushers and youth gangs. The President Has Protected Our Communities by: Adding 100,000 new police to our streets through the Crime Bill. The crime rate is down, and some 44,000 officers are already being hired. Signing the Brady Bill, which requires a five-day waiting period for background checks before an individual may purchase a handgun. So far it has stopped more than 60,000 fugitives, felons, and other criminals from buying handguns. Enacting the Safe and Drug-Free School Act to protect schools from crime and drugs. Virtually every school district in the nation uses these funds to keep violence, drugs, and alcohol away from students and out of school. He enacted the Gun-Free Schools Act, which requires immediate expulsion for one year of any student who brings a gun to school. Signing the Assault Weapons Ban, which prohibits the manufacture and importation of 19 military-style assault weapons while protecting 650 hunting weapons. Elevating the Office of National Drug Control Policy to full Cabinet- level status and appointing General Barry McCaffrey as Director. Signing the Violence Against Women Act. which allows interstate law enforcement against offenders and enables victims to sue in federal court. To protect women even more, the President is calling for an extension of the Brady Bill handgun controls to include acts of domestic violence. Targeting international criminal networks that import drugs into our country. Drug prosecutions have increased 13 percent since 1994, and federal prosecutors achieved an 85 percent conviction rate in all drug cases in 1994. Signing Megan's Law, requiring states to disclose information about child molesters and sexual violent offenders when they are released from prison. Urged Congress to ban the manufacture of deadly "cop-killer" bullets. Improving Education The Clinton Administration is fighting to provide Americans with the skills and training they need to get better jobs, earn higher incomes, and enjoy a brighter future. In today's global economy, President Clinton is committed to keeping America competitive by ensuring that people get the education, training, and know-how they need to compete and succeed. The President has: Created AmeriCorps, the national service initiative that gives young people the opportunity to earn money for college by serving their communities in education, public safety, and environmental protection. Increased Head Start funding by nearly $800 million to provide early education for tens of thousands of children. Reformed the student loan program to make college more affordable for millions of students by providing them access to better, more flexible repayment options. Increased the minimum Pell Grant scholarship from $2,300 to $2,470 and to $2,700 for 1997. Signed the Goals 2000 Act, which supports the development of standards of excellence for students. It also encourages local school reforms that improve teaching, increase parental involvement, and expand the use of technology in the classroom. Signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to connect every classroom and library in America to the Information Superhighway by the year 2000. Encouraged schools to consider school uniform policies to help reduce violence while promoting discipline and respect. Signed the Gun-Free Schools Act, which requires immediate expulsion for one year of any student who brings a gun to school. Fought for full funding of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act. which includes measures to increase security in schools, drug prevention programs, and training for teachers in dealing with violence. Proposed the Hope Scholarship Tax Cut to make the first two years of college as universal as high school. All students would receive a $1,500 refundable tax credit for full-time tuition in their first year and another $1,500 in the second year if they work hard. stay off drugs, and earn at least a B average. Proposed the "America Reads" Challenge to ensure that every child in America can read independently by the end of the third grade. Preserving Our Environment Because of the progress we made during the last generation, we now have cleaner, safer air and water. We must continue to move forward. President Clinton has made common-sense reforms to environmental programs while blocking attempts to roll back safeguards for our families' food, water, and air. He has: Issued a requirement for industries to disclose information about toxic releases to their neighbors and nearly doubled the number of chemicals that industries must report. Issued new standards to cut toxic pollution from chemical plants by 90 percent and dangerous incinerator emissions by 98 percent. Signed legislation to strengthen safeguards for pesticides in food, with special protections for children. Established Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. Signed legislation to strengthen the Safe Drinking Water Act. Vowed to veto the lobbyist-written bill to roll back the Clean Water Act, which keeps billions of pounds of toxic pollutants and sewage out of our rivers, lakes, and streams. Launched the Brownfields initiative to return land to productive use by providing a $2 billion tax incentive to clean up old industrial waste sites. Issued new policies to protect consumers from E. coli contamination in meat. Committed $1.5 billion over seven years to help restore the unique Florida Everglades. Changed EPA rules to reduce paperwork requirements for businesses by 15 million hours and allowed businesses to write their own rules if they can do it cleaner and cheaper. Fought Republican attempts to gut Superfund. Toughened the Environmental Protection Agency's enforcement programs and fought to protect them from drastic budget cuts. Broke through decades of conflict and negotiated a consensus plan to protect and allocate California Bay-Delta water. Vetoed a Republican congressional bill that would have opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling Issued an Executive Order to promote recycling and cut down on solid waste. Led the way to an international agreement to phase out the use of 12 dangerous, persistent organic pollutants worldwide, such as PCBs and DDT. Reformed Wetlands and Endangered Species programs to protect the environment better while lessening regulatory hurdles for homeowners. Photo paid for by Clinton/Gore '96 Primary Committee Inc. Leader's Guide Paid for by the Clinton/Gore '96 Primary Committee, Inc. CLINTONGORE PHOTOCOPY PRESERVATION CLINTON#GORE PHOTOCOPY PRESERVATION CLINTON GORE THE TOP TEN ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE CLINTON/GORE ADMINISTRATION 1. Strengthened and expanded America's economy; 10.5 million new jobs; the deficit cut by 60%; lower interest rates on car loans, business loans, and home mortgages; and the lowest unemployment in 7.5 years. 2. Increased public safety, reduced crime; adding 100,000 more police to the streets, banning 19 kinds of assault weapons, and preventing over 60,000 fugitive, felons and stalkers from purchasing handguns. 3. Strengthened America's families; signed the Family and Medical Leave Act giving working Americans the opportunity to take up 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a sick family member without fear of losing their jobs. 4. Protected access to affordable, quality health insurance; by making health insurance more portable, protecting mothers and newborns from being rushed out of the hospital in less than 48 hours, and moving toward equal treatment of mental illness. 5. Opened the doors to higher education for more Americans: by expanding student loans and lowering their cost; expanding scholarships; and establishing the national service initiative, AmeriCorps. 6. Protected clean water and food: by increasing safeguards for meat and poultry, requiring expanded testing of contaminants, and expanding right-to-know laws. 7. Made work pay by increasing the minimum wage for 10 million working Americans; expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit to provide tax relief for 15 million working families. 8. Ended welfare as we know it: by granting waivers to 43 states -- resulting in 1.9 million fewer people on welfare -- and signing national welfare reform legislation that includes time limits, work requirements, and increased funding for child care. 9. Made government smaller and more responsive: by reducing the size of the federal workforce by more than 230,000 and saving $118 billion. 10. Maintained American leadership around the world; by fighting terrorism; reducing nuclear weapons and keeping them out of the wrong hands; and working to bring peace to Bosnia, Northern Ireland, and the Middle East. P.O. Box 19100 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-9100 VOICE: 202 331 1996 TTY: 202 530 2170 FAX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. CLINTON GORE 96 President Clinton Creating Economic Opportunity "We have an obligation, you and I, to leave our children a legacy of opportunity, not a legacy of debt." President Bill Clinton Four years ago, the economy was failing. The record-breaking federal deficit reached $290 billion. Unemployment rose to 7.5 percent. Job growth was anemic. In 1991, our economy actually lost jobs, many of these in high-wage industries. During the Bush years alone, nearly 200,000 high wage jobs were lost. Our basic industries, including the automobile and construction industries, were falling behind. President Clinton changed the country's course by making tough choices -- choices made tougher by Republican brinkmanship. President Clinton took responsibility and expanded economic opportunity when he: Cut spending by $255 billion over five years; Reduced the size of the government by nearly 250,000 workers -- during the Reagan and Bush years the number of federal workers increased; Expanded exports by negotiating over 200 trade agreements; and Invested in our people and their skills by expanding access to higher education, promoting worker training through tax credits, encouraging charter schools and other reforms, and signing the Goals 2000 Act. Since President Clinton took office, the deficit has been cut in half -- going from $290 billion in 1992 to $116 billion this year. The private sector economy is now growing by 3.2 percent annually -- stronger than it was during the Reagan and Bush administration. Real wages are rising for the first time in a decade. The typical family's annual income is up $,1600. 10.5 million new jobs have been created -- 92 percent created by the private sector and more than 50 percent in high-wage industries. The combined rate of unemployment, interest, and mortgage rates is at the lowest level since 1968. Unemployment has dropped to 5.1 percent -- a 7.5-year low and the 24th consecutive month below 6 percent. Our basic industries are back. 900,000 new construction jobs have been created, and our automobile industry and high-tech industries like semi-conductors and biotech lead the world. Exports are up one-third. (over) P.O. Box 19100 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-9100 VOICE: 202 331 1996 TTY: 202 530 2170 FAX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. President Clinton's program has helped strengthen our economy AND expand economic opportunity. Home ownership is at a 15-year high -- there are 4.5 million new homeowners under President Clinton. Welfare rolls have dropped 1.8 million. The number of Americans living in poverty dropped 1.6 million in 1995 -- the largest drop in 27 years. Income inequality dropped more in 1995 than in any year since 1968. The African-American poverty rate is at its lowest level in history. This is a record to build on, not to rest on -- and certainly not to gamble on. President Clinton and Senator Dole have two very different approaches to building a strong economy: Bob Dole has proposed a risky $548 billion in tax cuts that will force even deeper cuts to the very investments in Medicare, Medicaid, education, and the environment that have helped strengthen the economy and expand economic opportunity under President Clinton. President Clinton has proposed a responsible $110 billion in tax cuts targeted to education and child-rearing that will keep the country on the right track. Dole's plan could explode the deficit. Business Week: "[A] 15% tax cut would cause the annual budget deficit to balloon. " (8/12/96) President Clinton's plan is fully paid for within a balanced budget. "The President deserves praise -- not Dole's knee-jerk political sneering -- for spelling out precisely how he would pay for the plan without increasing the deficit." (San Francisco Chronicle, 6/5/96) Dole admits that he does not know how to pay for his plan: "We don't have every dollar worked out." (CBS This Morning, 8/12/96) President Clinton has spelled out in his balanced budget plan exactly how the tax cuts targeted to the middle class are offset by new savings. Dole's Campaign Co-Chair Senator D'Amato admits that deep cuts to Medicare will be hidden during the election. D'Amato: "You can't just be cutting all of discretionary spending You're gonna have to look at Medicare I would never say it if I were him [Dole] until after the election Absolutely. I mean I'm not running this year so I can say it and tell the truth." (Don Imus Show, 8/12/96) CLINTON GORE President Clinton Keeping Our Economy on the Right Track "I want to build a bridge to the 21st century that end the permanent underclass, that lifts up the poor and ends their isolation, their exile, and they're not forgotten anymore." President Bill Clinton The U.S. Census report released confirms that President Clinton's leadership has put our economy on the right track. Nationwide, household income is up, income inequality is down, and the number of people living in poverty has taken its biggest drop in 27 years. Rising Family Income The typical family's income is up $1,600 since passage of President Clinton's 1993 economic plan. The typical household income grew more in 1995 than in any year in a decade. In 1995, median household income increased 2.7 percent -- or $898 -- after adjusting for inflation, from $33, 178 in 1993 to $34,076 in 1995. The typical African-American family income has increased over $3,000 since 1992 -- adjusted for inflation, from $22,923 in 1992 to $25,970 in 1995. Income Inequality Going Down The gap between our riches and poorest Americans is down. In 1995, household income inequality fell more than in any year since 1968. Declining Poverty Rates The number of people living in poverty dropped 1.6 million in 1995. That's the largest drop in 27 years. The poverty rate for African-Americans is the lowest in history. The African-American poverty rate fell to 29.3 percent -- its lowest level since data were first collected in 1959. The child poverty rate is down. It dropped more in 1995 than in any other year since 1976. P.O. Box to its lowest level ever. (over) 20036-9100 VOICE: 202-331-1996 TTY: 202-530-2170 FAX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. President Clinton's Responsible Leadership Is Creating Greater Opportunity For All Americans 10.5 Million New Jobs Consumer Confidence at its Highest Level in Six Years Home ownership at a 15-Year High Real Wages Rising for the First Time in a Decade Unemployment at its Lowest Level in 7.5 years CLINTON GORE 96 President Clinton Strengthening Families "Opportunity alone is not enough...I want our nation to take responsibility to make sure that every single child can look out the window in the morning and see a whole community getting up and going to work." President Bill Clinton Strong families are vital to our children and our nation, and President Clinton governs on the side of families. President Clinton is working to strengthen our families by providing tax relief to working families, investing in our children's education, reducing crime, and strengthening parents' capacity to nurture healthy families. President Clinton has: Strengthened and expanded the economy by creating 10.5 million new jobs, cutting the deficit by 60 percent, lowering interest rates on car loans, business loans, credit cards, and home mortgages, and securing the lowest levels of unemployment in 7.5 years. Made work pay by increasing the minimum wage for 10 million working Americans, and expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit to provide tax relief for 15 million working families. Signed the Family and Medical Leave Act, giving working Americans the opportunity to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a sick family member without fear of losing their jobs. Insisted on a balanced budget that protects Medicare, Medicaid, and our investments in education and the environment. Opened the doors to higher education for more Americans by expanding student loans and lowering their cost, expanding scholarships, and establishing the national service initiative, AmeriCorps. Pushed for common sense reforms to environmental programs while blocking attempts to roll back safeguards for our families' food, water, and air supplies. Stood up to the tobacco and gun lobbies to protect our children's safety. Fought to give parents greater control over what their children watch on television by requiring the "V-chip" in all new televisions. (over) P.O. Box 19100 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-9100 VOICE: 202 331 1996 TTY: 202.530.2170 FAX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. Strengthened the laws enforcing the collection of child support. By 1995, $11 billion in unpaid child support was collected -- a 40 percent increase over 1992. Signed the Kennedy-Kassebaum Health Bill to make sure all Americans can keep their health insurance if they have to change jobs, even if someone in their family has been sick; guaranteeing that mothers and newborns are not forced out of the hospital in less than 48 hours; and moving toward equal treatment of the mentally ill in insurance coverage. Increased public safety by winning passage of a bill that banned 19 of the deadliest assault weapons and prevented over 60,000 fugitives, felons, and other criminals from buying handguns. Signed the historic Crime Bill which keeps career violent offenders behind bars for life with a "Three-Strikes-and-You're-Out" policy and puts 100,000 new police officers on the streets. Promoted safe schools by encouraging school uniform policies to foster unity, discipline and respect, and enacting the Gun-Free Schools Act, which expels students for one year if they bring guns to school. Made government smaller and more responsive by reducing the size of the federal workforce by 230,000, eliminating 16,000 pages of unnecessary regulations, and publishing customer service standards so that taxpayers know what to expect from government. CLINTON GORE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES Contrast The Public Records President Clinton: Senator Dole: Signed the Family and Medical Leave Act Led the opposition to the FMLA in 1988 which allows workers up to 12 weeks of and 1993. "I don't think [the FMLA] has unpaid leave to care for a sick family anything to do with family values...," Dole member without fear of losing their jobs. explained. Signed the Kennedy-Kassebaum Bill to Claimed he supports the bill, but said that he make sure Americans can keep their health would not delay his retirement a single insurance if they have to change jobs, even day to pass it, and admitted that his if someone in their family has been sick; departure would diminish the bill's chances. guaranteeing that mothers and newborns are Yet when he left the Senate, all obstacles not forced out of the hospital in less than 48 were removed, and the bill was passed. hours; and moving toward equal treatment of the mentally ill in insurance coverage. Fought for and signed the Brady Bill Led and supported Republican filibusters which provides for a five-day waiting period against the Brady Bill in 1992 and 1993. and background checks of prospective handgun buyers. Since passage, the law has stopped more than 60,000 fugitives, felons and other criminals from buying handguns Banned 19 of the deadliest assault Blocked the Assault Weapons Ban and weapons when he signed the tough Crime pledged to the National Rifile Association Bill. that repealing the ban would be "one of my legislative priorities." (1993 CQ Almanac) Signed the Violence Against Women Act, Filibustered and voted against the Crime which increased funding for battered Bill, including the $1.6 billion in funding for women's shelters and is providing $156 the Violence Against Women Act. million in state "STOP Grants" to bolster local law enforcement, prosecution and victims' services to better address violence against women. P.O. Box 19100 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-9100 VOICE: 202 331 1996 TTY: 202 530 2170 FAX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. In his 1995 State of the Union address, During his final months as Senate Majority President Clinton said we should raise the Leader, Dole blocked attempts by minimum wage. In August 1996, the Democrats to raise the minimum wage. President increased the minimum wage When the issue came up, Dole said, "I from $4.25 to $5.15 an hour - a 90¢ raise assume that sooner or later the issue will be for 10 million working families. The debated and voted on, directly or measure was originally opposed by the indirectly but not today, not tomorrow, and Republicans. not next week." (The New York Times, 3/27/96) Fought for voluntary ratings system when Senator Dole just talked. Since his well- he convened a meeting of the country's top known speech denouncing Hollywood, Bob media executives and secured from them a Dole has done nothing to help improve the commitment to establish a voluntary ratings quality of entertainment programming for system to provide parents with the tools they our children. need to control what their children are exposed to on television. Fought for "V-chip" technology. V-chips Opposed the V-chip and voted against the installed in televisions will allow parents to telecommunications bill that required it. screen violent and indecent programming for their children. Proposed regulations that reduce easy Dole said he "didn't mind" banning vending access by minors to cigarettes by requiring machines, but never sponsored legislation age verification for cigarette purchases and to actually do anything about it.. face-to-face sale of cigarettes -- banning vending machines and mail-order sales. Proposed regulations banning tobacco Dole never sponsored any legislation to ban advertisements aimed at children. tobacco ads aimed at children. Dole said, President Clinton's proposal bans outdoor regarding smoking by young people, "...We advertising of cigarettes within 1,000 feet of know it's not good for kids. But a lot of schools and playgrounds. It also permits other things aren't good. Drinking's not black-and-white text-only advertising in good. Some would say milk's not good." publications with significant youth readership. CLINTON GORE 96 President Clinton Making Government Work Better "Our Administration is working hard to give the American people a government that works better and costs less [We] are eliminating 16,000 pages of unnecessary rules and regulations, shifting more decision-making out of Washington, back to states and local communities." President Bill Clinton Americans expect and deserve common-sense government -- a government that performs well for them, uses their tax dollars wisely, views them as valued customers, does not impose excessive burdens, and makes a positive impact on their lives. Under the leadership of President Clinton and Vice President Gore, the Administration has created a smaller government that works better and costs less. The President has: Reduced the federal workforce by nearly 240,000 positions to the smallest federal civilian workforce since John F. Kennedy was President. Saved taxpayers $118 billion by cutting wasteful government practices and spending through Vice President Gore's National Performance Review. Eliminated 16,000 pages of unnecessary government regulations. Signed into law the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994, dramatically improving how the federal government purchases items and saving taxpayers $12.3 billion over the next five years. Published customer service standards at more than 200 departments and agencies so the federal government's customers, the American taxpayers, know what to expect and how to give feedback on the service they have received. Savings over five years (1995 to 1999) from the common-sense government initiative will total $108 billion, with an additional $70 billion in savings over the period of 1996 to 2000. Consolidated, eliminated, and privatized government. The Interstate Commerce Commission, the Bureau of Mines, and the Office of Territorial Affairs were all eliminated. President Clinton and Vice President Gore consolidated hundreds of job training, public health, and environmental programs to allow states and localities to serve their residents better. President Clinton and Vice President Gore also privatized such government functions as the Naval Petroleum Reserve and the Alaska Power Administration. (over) P.O. Box 19100 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-9100 VOICE: 202 331 1996 TTY: 202-530-2170 FAX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. Formed partnerships with America's businesses and with state and local governments to change the way government works. For example, the Small Business Administration loan form has been cut from a one-inch thick manual to a one-page document. Signed legislation restricting unfunded mandates so Congress can't pass on new costs to state and local governments without paying for them. Signed the Line-Item Veto, which greatly increases presidential authority to eliminate wasteful spending by allowing the President to cancel wasteful special interest projects and targeted tax breaks that benefit special interests. Building on Our Progress Vice President Gore, under President Clinton's leadership, has taken significant steps toward creating a government that not only is smaller, but also is more responsive to the needs of the American people. The Clinton Administration is bringing the federal government into the Information Age, cutting red tape and providing quicker and easier access for all Americans. The President's commitment to balancing the budget requires that we expand our reinvention successes. These initiatives will provide significant benefits to Americans in improved services and reduced costs by: Continuing to reduce the size of the federal workforce by cutting overhead and unnecessary bureaucracy. Creating performance-based organizations with executives hired to get results; tossing out restrictive government rules, and making the executives personally accountable for delivering results. Increasing the use of regulatory partnerships with the private sector, abandoning the old way of doing business, and forming alliances with management and labor that focus on results; Forging new relationships with communities by creating performance partnerships in which goals are set together, while each community decides how best to meet them. Establishing single points of contact for large communities to help solve their problems with the federal government more quickly. CLINTON GORE President Clinton Improving Education "We must demand excellence at every level of education If we do every 8-year-old will be able to read; every 12-year-old will be able to log in on the Internet; every 18-year-old will be able to go to college. And all Americans will have the knowledge they need to cross that bridge to the 21st century." President Bill Clinton The Clinton Administration is fighting to provide Americans with the skills and training they need to get better jobs, earn higher incomes, and enjoy a brighter future. In today's global economy, President Clinton is committed to keeping America competitive by ensuring that people get the education, training, and know-how they need to compete and succeed. President Clinton Has Helped People Better Themselves by: Created AmeriCorps, the national service initiative that gives young people the opportunity to earn money for college by serving their communities. In the past two years, 70,000 AmeriCorps members have worked in education, public safety, and environmental protection while earning money for college. Increased Head Start funding by nearly $800 million to provide early education for tens of thousands of children. Reformed the student loan program to make college more affordable for millions of students by providing them access to better, more flexible repayment options. Increased the minimum Pell Grant scholarship from $2,300 to $2,470. The President has also proposed another increase in the Pell Grant to $2,700 for 1997, when the program will provide grants to 3.8 million students. Signed the Goals 2000 Act, which supports the development of standards of excellence for students. It also encourages local school reforms that improve teaching, increase parental involvement, and expand the use of technology in the classroom. Signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to connect every classroom and library in America to the Information Superhighway by the year 2000. Encouraged schools to consider school uniform policies to help reduce violence while promoting discipline and respect. P.O. Box 19100 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-9100 VOICE: 202 331 1996 TTY: 202 530 2(3ver) AX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. Signed the Gun-Free Schools Act, which requires immediate expulsion for one year of any student who brings a gun to school. Fought for full funding of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act, which includes measures to increase security in schools, drug prevention programs, and training for teachers in dealing with violence. The President Is Building on Our Progress by: Proposing the Hope Scholarship Tax Cut to make the first two years of college as universal as high school. All students would receive a $1,500 refundable tax credit for full-time tuition in their first year and another $1,500 in the second year if they work hard, stay off drugs, and earn at least a B average. This $1,500 credit would make community college free for most students. Proposing a $10,000 education deduction per year for the cost of college tuition and training. Many hard-working families stand to benefit from this. Proposing an increase in the number of students in the college work study program from 700,000 to more than 1 million. Proposing the "America Reads" Challenge to ensure that every child in America can read independently by the end of the third grade. The President's new initiative helps parents and the entire community focus on reading skills by mobilizing 1 million community volunteer tutors, expanding Head Start, and challenging both the nonprofit and private sectors to help children read better. Supporting public school choice. President Clinton believes that information, competition, and choice among public schools should be the rule, not the exception. Challenging every high school student in the country to make a commitment to community service. The President is asking all high schools to make community service part of their basic curriculum and to raise $500 to reward a high school student who has done significant work to help the community. The federal government will then match the $500 to help that student go on to college. Proposing a 10 percent tax credit for small businesses that pay for employee education and training. CLINTON GORE 96 IMPROVING EDUCATION Compare the Public Record and Visions for the Future: President Clinton vs. Senator Dole The Public Record President Clinton: Senator Dole: President Clinton created the Direct Senator Dole voted against the Student Student Loan Program in the Student Loan Loan Reform Act, which created the Direct Reform Act, making college more Student Loan Program. affordable for millions of students while saving taxpayers billions of dollars. President Clinton vetoed the extreme Senator Dole voted for the Republican Dole/Gingrich budget that would have Budget Resolution that would have cut effectively eliminated the Direct Student student loans by $10 billion over seven Loan Program. years. President Clinton consistently supported Senator Dole voted in May 1995 to freeze increases in the maximum Pell Grant to Pell Grant funding, which would have help low-income families pay for college. resulted in a 20 percent real cut in funding Under President Clinton, the Pell Grant has by 2002 and a 17 percent reduction in the grown from $2,300 to $2,470. And he has maximum Pell Grant from $2,470 in 1996 to proposed to expand it for FY97. $2,055 by 2002 making it more difficult for 2.7 million students to go to college. President Clinton created the AmeriCorps Senator Dole voted against the creation of National Service program on September 21, the National Service program after leading 1993. Already, 70,000 AmeriCorps a Republican filibuster against the bill. members have met community needs in the Senator Dole called the AmeriCorps bill a areas of education, public safety, human "willy-nilly mortgaging of our future. "(CQ services, and the environment, while earning Almanac, 1993) scholarships for college. P.O. Box 19100 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-9100 VOICE: 202 331 1996 TTY: 202 530 2170 FAX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. Compare Visions For The Future President Clinton: Senator Dole: President Clinton has proposed $110 billion Senator Dole's risky economic scheme in tax cuts targeted at education and would require 40 percent cuts in a broad families including: range of domestic programs. A 40 percent cut in education would mean: America's Hope Scholarship -- a 300,000 children could be denied $1,500 refundable tax credit for the Head Start preschool opportunities. first two years at any college. 5,800 local school districts could be Education Tax Deduction -- denied Safe and Drug Free Schools President Clinton's balanced budget services. contains a tax deduction of up to $10,000 per year for the cost of 1.45 million students could be denied college tuition and training Pell Grant scholarships. throughout one's life. CLINTON GORE 96 President Clinton Crime and Drugs "I want to build a bridge to the 21st century where our children are not killing other children anymore; where children's lives are not shattered by violence at home or in the schoolyard; where a generation of young people are not left to raise themselves on the streets." President Bill Clinton President Clinton's tough anti-crime program is making America's streets safer for our children and our families. Violent crime and murder rates are falling. President Clinton is taking action to reduce drug use by targeting drug pushers and youth gangs. The President Has Protected Our Communities by: Adding 100,000 new police to our streets through the Crime Bill. The crime rate is down, and some 44,000 officers are already being hired. Signing the Brady Bill, which requires a five-day waiting period for background checks before an individual may purchase a handgun. So far it has stopped more than 60,000 fugitives, felons, and other criminals from buying handguns. Enacting the Safe and Drug-Free School Act to protect schools from crime and drugs. Virtually every school district in the nation uses these funds to keep violence, drugs, and alcohol away from students and out of school. He enacted the Gun-Free Schools Act, which requires immediate expulsion for one year of any student who brings a gun to school. Signing the Assault Weapons Ban, which prohibits the manufacture and importation of 19 military-style assault weapons while protecting 650 hunting weapons. Elevating the Office of National Drug Control Policy to full Cabinet-level status and appointing General Barry McCaffrey as Director. Signing the Violence Against Women Act, which allows interstate law enforcement against offenders and enables victims to sue in federal court. To protect women even more, the President is calling for an extension of the Brady Bill handgun controls to include acts of domestic violence. (over) P.O. Box 19100 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-9100 VOICE: 202 331 1996 TTY: 202 530 2170 FAX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. Strengthened the laws enforcing the collection of child support. By 1995, $11 billion in unpaid child support was collected -- a 40 percent increase over 1992. Signed the Kennedy-Kassebaum Health Bill to make sure all Americans can keep their health insurance if they have to change jobs, even if someone in their family has been sick; guaranteeing that mothers and newborns are not forced out of the hospital in less than 48 hours; and moving toward equal treatment of the mentally ill in insurance coverage. Increased public safety by winning passage of a bill that banned 19 of the deadliest assault weapons and prevented over 60,000 fugitives, felons, and other criminals from buying handguns. Signed the historic Crime Bill which keeps career violent offenders behind bars for life with a "Three-Strikes-and-You're-Out" policy and puts 100,000 new police officers on the streets. Promoted safe schools by encouraging school uniform policies to foster unity, discipline and respect, and enacting the Gun-Free Schools Act, which expels students for one year if they bring guns to school. Made government smaller and more responsive by reducing the size of the federal workforce by 230,000, eliminating 16,000 pages of unnecessary regulations, and publishing customer service standards so that taxpayers know what to expect from government. CLINTON GORE 96 CRIME AND DRUGS Contrast the Public Records President Clinton: Senator Dole: President Clinton's Community Oriented Voted to eliminate COPS. Senator Dole Policing ("COPS") program, part of his filibustered and voted against the Crime 1994 Crime Bill, is putting 100,000 new Bill, then voted for the Congressional cops on our streets; 44,000 police have Conference Report that would have already been funded. eliminated the COPS program. (CQ Almanac) President Clinton fought to ensure our police Senator Dole opposes the Brady Bill and officers are better armed than drug dealers the Assault Weapons Ban. Dole supported by signing the Brady Bill, which provides the Republican filibusters of the Brady Bill for a five-day waiting period and in 1992 and 1993. He sponsored an background checks of prospective handgun amendment to block the Assault Weapons buyers, and the Assault Weapons Ban, Ban in 1993 and has pledged that repealing which outlaws 19 of the deadliest assault it is "one of my legislative priorities." (1993 weapons. CQ Almanac) President Clinton appointed Four-Star In 1982, Senator Dole voted against the General Barry McCaffrey to the position creation of the drug czar's office in the of Drug Czar. General McCaffrey is the White House to coordinate drug first Drug Czar with drug interdiction enforcement operations and policy. Dole background. President Clinton promoted the also announced he would propose another Director of National Drug Control Policy to bill without the drug czar position. Dole a Cabinet position. also voted against the 1994 Crime Bill which reauthorized the Office of National Drug Control Policy (the drug czar) through Sept. 30, 1997. (1994 CQ Almanac) P.O. Box 19100 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-9100 VOICE: 202 331 1996 TTY: 202.530.2170 FAX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. President Clinton signed the Violence Senator Dole filibustered and voted Against Women Act, part of the Crime Bill, against the Crime bill -- including $1.6 which increased funding for battered billion in funding for the Violence Against women's shelters and is providing $156 Women Act. (CQ Almanac) million in state "STOP Grants" to bolster local law enforcement, prosecution and victims' services to better address violence against women. President Clinton created a national 24- Only under pressure from Senator hour crisis hotline to ensure that battered Mosely-Braun and others, Dole agreed to women and their families have access to spare Violence Against Women Act funding help at all times. During its first 12 weeks, from "social spending" cuts set forth in his the hotline provided immediate crisis amendments to the Crime Bill. (The New intervention, counseling, and referrals for York Times, 8/25/94) almost 21,000 callers. President Clinton supports the Safe and Senator Dole voted to cut the Safe and Drug Free Schools program's innovative Drug Free Schools program by 51 percent. and successful anti-drug counseling, (Conference Report on GOP FY95 education and intervention, which benefits Rescissions Bill) roughly 97 percent of all school districts. President Clinton fought for voluntary Senator Dole just talked. Since his well- ratings system. He convened a meeting of known speech denouncing Hollywood, our country's top media executives and Senator Dole has done nothing to help secured from them a commitment to improve the quality of entertainment establish a voluntary ratings system to programming for our children. provide parents with the tools they need to control what their children are exposed to on television. President Clinton fought for "V-chip" Senator Dole opposed the V-chip and technology. V-chips installed in televisions voted against the telecommunications bill will allow parents to screen violent and that required it. indecent programming for their children. CLINTON GORE 96 President Clinton Reproductive Rights "When I took office, I abolished the Gag Rule. I abolished the ban on fetal tissue research. I appointed Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court, who's made a career of fighting for the rights of women and believes in the constitutional right to choose. I have gotten the United States back into the effort to control worldwide population growth, which is an important human issue, not through abortion, but through basic contraceptives, something the United States had walked away from before." President Bill Clinton President Clinton believes that decisions about abortion should be between a woman, her doctor, and her conscience. He continues to protect women's health and safety and the right of women to make their own reproductive choices by: Reversing the Gag Rule during his first week in office. This provides women who use federally funded clinics with the information they need to make informed reproductive choices; Signing the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which is now being implemented by the Department of Justice to fight violence and intimidation against women and their doctors and ensure clinic safety; Increasing funding for family planning to help reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies. This makes family planning information and contraceptives available to millions of women who might not otherwise receive reproductive and other health services; Making teenage pregnancy prevention a top priority. To continue bringing rates down, the Administration is working to instill a greater sense of personal responsibility in young people for the consequences of their behavior, while providing increased opportunities for education, jobs, and their future so that they are more likely to make the right choices; Supporting Medicaid coverage for abortion services for poor women who are the victims of rape or incest and for those whose lives are endangered. These services were banned during the Reagan and Bush Administrations by the "Hyde Amendment" to the appropriations bill that funds Medicaid; President Clinton's challenge to the private sector to address the high rates of teen pregnancy has prompted the formation of a National Campaign to Reduce Teen Pregnancy. This effort aims to marshal private resources across the country to effectively reduce teen pregnancy rates by one-third in 10 years; (over) P.O. Box 19100 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-9100 VOICE: 202 331 1996 TTY: 202 530 2170 FAX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. Repealing the "Mexico City Policy" to reverse 12 years of attacks on reproductive choice for women around the world. The policy banned distribution of family planning funds to overseas organizations that perform abortions or provide family planning counseling; Encouraging adoption, including adoption of children with special needs, and reducing the amount of time children spend in foster care. President Clinton strongly supports the adoption tax credit as a way to make it easier for families to adopt. Under this Administration, there has been a 60 percent increase in the number of children with special needs adopted with federal assistance. The President also supported the Multiethnic Placement Act to remove the barriers facing adoptive parents so that more children live in loving and safe homes; and Ending welfare as we know it by signing the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act. This bill includes time-limits and work requirements, gives states incentives to create jobs for welfare recipients, increases funding for child care, strengthens child support enforcement, and maintains the federal guarantee of nutrition programs and Medicaid coverage for pregnant women, children, and the disabled. Even before signing national welfare reform, the Clinton Administration granted waivers to 43 states to reform welfare on their own -- making work and responsibility a way of life for 75 percent of all welfare recipients. Building on Our Progress President Clinton will continue to protect women's health issues and the constitutional guarantee of a woman's right to choose. He will remain committed to fighting any legislation that violates this guarantee or that endangers women's health and safety. In April 1996, the President vetoed legislation banning late-term abortions because it failed to protect women from serious threats to their health. Although the President opposes this procedure on an elective basis, he believes it should be available when there are serious and adverse health consequences for the mother, and only in the small number of compelling cases where its use, in the medical judgement of a woman's physician, is necessary to preserve her life or avert serious damage to her health. The President has clearly stated that if Congress passes a bill with a narrow exception that allows use of the procedure when necessary to prevent death or serious health consequences, he will sign it. The Administration will further continue to work to reduce the numbers of unintended pregnancies, to support domestic and international family planning, and to champion programs that break down barriers to adoption. CLINTON GORE 96 REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE Contrast The Public Records President Clinton: Bob Dole: "I have always believed that the decision to Opposes Roe V. Wade: Dole has voted have an abortion generally should be against abortion rights 107 out of 113 times between a woman, her doctor, her in his 28 years in the Senate. In a speech to conscience, and her God. I support the the Christian Coalition, he said: " For decision in Roe V. Wade protecting a more than 20 years, I've opposed Roe V. woman's right to choose, and I believe that Wade, and I support a constitutional the abortions protected by that decision amendment to overturn Roe V. Wade " should be safe and rare." (The New York Times, March 1996) Supports reproductive health and family In 1974, by his own admission, Dole planning. He has increased Title X Family became the first politician to use abortion as Planning Program funding from $173.4 a political issue by distributing anti-abortion million to $193.3 million. ads against his election opponent, Dr. William Roy. Worked to reduce the number of Extremist views: "Who becomes the next abortions by increasing funding for family President is important to everyone, but planning, adoption, and foster care, and nothing is as important as protecting the life supported a national grassroots campaign to of the unborn." [Business Wire 3/1/88(Dole reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. 1/28/88 statement cited within article. )] Reversed the gag rule. During his first Voted against ending the gag rule. Dole week in office, President Clinton issued an supported former President Bush's veto of Executive Order lifting the ban (gag rule) on the bill (Public Health Service Act) that abortion counseling by Title IX (family would have overturned the gag rule. planning) grantees. (10/1/92) Signed the Freedom of Access to Clinic Voted against passage of the Freedom of Entrances Act to fight the escalating Access to Clinic Entrances Act S.636 violence against women and doctors at [5/12/94 Cong. Record on Choice," 1994 women's health clinics. 103rd Congress, 2nd Session (NARAL)] P.O. Box 19100 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-9100 VOICE: 202 331 1996 TTY: 202 530 2170 FAX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. CLINTON GORE 96 President Clinton Preserving Our Environment "We must ask more of ourselves, we must expect more of each other, and we must face our challenges together. Our challenge is to leave our environment safe and clean for the next generation People do have a right to know that their air and their water are safe." President Bill Clinton Because of the progress we made during the last generation, we now have cleaner, safer air and water. We must continue to move forward. One third of Americans still breathe air that endangers their health. In too many communities, the water is not safe to drink. Under this Administration, Americans are learning about environmental safety so they can take action to keep communities healthy and clean. They are making common-sense reforms to environmental programs while blocking attempts to roll back safeguards for our families' food, water, and air. President Clinton has: Issued a "Pollution Disclosure" Executive Order requiring industries to disclose information about toxic releases to their neighbors and nearly doubling the number of chemicals that industries must report. Issued new standards to cut toxic pollution from chemical plants by 90 percent and dangerous incinerator emissions by 98 percent. Signed legislation to strengthen safeguards for pesticides in food, with special protections for children. Established Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. Signed legislation to strengthen the Safe Drinking Water Act. Vowed to veto the lobbyist-written bill to roll back the Clean Water Act, which keeps billions of pounds of toxic pollutants and sewage out of our rivers, lakes, and streams. Launched the Brownfields initiative to return land to productive use by providing a $2 billion tax incentive to clean up old industrial waste sites. Issued new policies to protect consumers from E. coli contamination in meat. Committed $1.5 billion over seven years to help restore the unique Florida Everglades. (over) P.O. Box 19100 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-9100 VOICE: 202 331 1996 TTY: 202-530-2170 FAX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. Changed EPA rules to reduce paperwork requirements for businesses by 15 million hours and allowed businesses to write their own rules if they can do it cleaner and cheaper. Completed nearly as many toxic waste site cleanups under the Superfund program in each of the past three years as in the previous 12 years. The Clinton Administration fought Republican attempts to gut Superfund. Toughened the Environmental Protection Agency's enforcement programs and fought to protect them from drastic budget cuts. Fought attempts to close national parks and developed a "Parks for Tomorrow" program to restore our national parks. Broke through decades of conflict and negotiated a consensus plan to protect and allocate California Bay-Delta water. Vetoed a Republican congressional bill that would have opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling. Issued an Executive Order to promote recycling and cut down on solid waste. Led the way to an international agreement to phase out the use of 12 dangerous, persistent organic pollutants worldwide, such as PCBs and DDT. Reformed Wetlands and Endangered Species programs to protect the environment better while lessening regulatory hurdles for homeowners. Building on Our Progress Protecting the environment will strengthen and expand our economy and create more jobs. The Clinton Administration is implementing technology programs to help our businesses compete in the growing global market while creating jobs for our workers. President Clinton will continue to support policies that protect our health and natural resources while making common-sense reforms to ease the burden on businesses by: Expanding community right-to-know laws and challenging communities to use the information to work with businesses to cut pollution. Announcing a bold commitment to accelerate Superfund toxic waste cleanup, nearly doubling the pace of cleanup so that approximately two-thirds of priority sites will be cleaned by 2000. Calling for measures to expand the Brownfields initiative to cleanup and redevelop approximately 5,000 contaminated and abandoned urban properties by the year 2000, strengthen penalties for the worst criminal polluters, expand right-to-know laws about toxins in our communities, and make our nation's drinking water safer and cleaner. Continuing to work with state and community leaders and businesses to find better ways to protect our natural resources and provide economic opportunities. CLINTON GORE 96 PROTECTING AMERICA'S ENVIRONMENT Contrast the Public Records President Clinton: Senator Dole: In August 1996, President Clinton signed a Senator Dole voted for the Republicans bill reforming the Safe Drinking Water Act extreme VA, HUD, EPA appropriations which requires drinking water tests to bill. eliminate dangerous contaminants. President Clinton also vetoed the GOP's extreme GOP VA, HUD, EPA appropriations bill that would have cut safe drinking water funding by 45 percent from his request. Under President Clinton's leadership nearly Senator Dole backed the extreme 1995 as many Superfund sites were cleaned up in Republican Appropriations Bill which 1994 and 1995 as had been cleaned up in the would have slashed EPA's Superfund previous decade -- all while reducing the Toxic Waste Cleanup Fund by 25 percent. cost of toxic waste cleanups by 25 percent. The Clinton Administration has initiated Senator Dole joined Gingrich in the fight to hundreds of charges and has levied tens of cut funding for environmental millions of dollars in fines against polluters enforcement. for environmental crimes. President Clinton is increasing by 30 Senator Dole's 1995 Regulatory Reform percent the number of industrial facilities bill included provisions amending the required to make public the levels of toxic Community Right-To-Know Act to weaken chemicals they release. Previously, the the standard for listing a released toxic Clinton Administration nearly doubled the chemical. An amendment was offered to number of chemicals that must be reported. delete these provisions from the bill, but Senator Dole successfully killed the amendment with his own measure. Senator Dole's risky economic scheme could cause 40 percent cuts in environmental programs. In addition, the "regulatory reform" portion of Dole's plan would gut the government's environmental enforcement and rule-making ability. P.O. Box 19100 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-9100 VOICE: 202 331 1996 TTY: 202 530 2170 FAX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. CLINTON GORE 96 President Clinton Fighting for Peace and Freedom "Because of American leadership, more people than ever before live free and at peace, and Americans have known 50 years of prosperity and security. All over the world people still look to us and trust us to help them seek the blessings of peace and freedom. But as the Cold War fades into memory, voices of isolation say America should retreat from its responsibilities We can't be everywhere we can't do everything. But where our interests and our values are at stake, and where we can make a difference, America must lead." President Bill Clinton Our challenge is to maintain America's leadership in the fight for peace and freedom. Under President Clinton, America is making peace in the Middle East, reducing the number of nuclear missiles throughout the world, and opening new markets for American products. Securing world peace and promoting opportunity are President Clinton's top foreign policy goals. He has: Made sure that America's military remains the best-equipped, best-trained, and best- prepared fighting force in the world to meet post-Cold War challenges to peace. Made Americans safer by putting into effect the START II arms reduction treaty. The new treaty reduces nuclear stockpiles by 25 percent. The President convinced Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan to give up their nuclear weapons after the breakup of the former Soviet Union. And the President negotiated an agreement with North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program. Concluded a comprehensive peace agreement for war-ravaged Bosnia. President Clinton's decisive leadership in brokering the Dayton Accords has replaced ethnic cleansing, terror, and war in Bosnia with peace. Now, American leadership is ending the death and destruction there while securing our interests for the future. Restored democracy to Haiti. President Clinton gave Haiti another chance at democracy, and the result has been the first transfer of power from one democratically elected president to another in that country's history. Worked for peace in the Middle East. President Clinton negotiated the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty and is helping Israelis and Palestinians work toward fulfilling their historic peace agreement. (over) P.O. Box 19100 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-9100 VOICE: 202 331 1996 TTY: 202 530 2170 FAX: 202 496 4849 PAID FOR BY THE CLINTON/GORE '96 GENERAL COMMITTEE, INC. Become the first American president to visit Northern Ireland in the pursuit of a real, just, and lasting peace; Fought for strong and successful trade agreements, leading to increased opportunities for American exporters. U.S. exports have grown 31 percent, creating 1 million high- quality, high-wage jobs. Imposed the toughest sanctions ever on Castro's Cuba following the brutal killing of U.S. nationals over international water. Used American military might to turn back new Iraqi threats in the Persian Gulf and to respond to a threat on the life of former President George Bush. Helped build a united, democratic Europe. Through the President's leadership, NATO has agreed to a process to admit new members, while modernizing and strengthening its organization. We are establishing a Trans-Atlantic Partnership for Peace, working with Russia, and helping to reform the former Soviet economies; Waged a tough counter-terrorism campaign with stronger laws and more training for law enforcement. In April 1996, President Clinton signed anti-terrorism legislation giving law enforcement officials tough new tools to stop terrorists before they strike and to bring them to justice if they attack. Building on Our Progress President Clinton will continue to stand up for American values abroad. By supporting those who are taking risks for peace, we are living up to our promise of American leadership. President Clinton is showing leadership by challenging Congress and other countries to: Intensify the fight against terrorism and organized crime at home and abroad by working for tougher enforcement and more cross-border cooperation. Secure a truly comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. Outlaw the use of poison gas by ratifying the Chemical Weapons Convention. Aggressively combat international drug-trafficking by working closely with other countries, providing military support, and fighting corruption. Admit the first new NATO members since the end of the Cold War and maintain partnership with Russia.