克林顿总统1997年联邦国情咨文演说.docx
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克林顿总统1997年联邦国情咨文演说
克林顿总统1997年联邦国情咨文演说
名人演讲稿
THEPRESIDENT:
Mr.Speaker,Mr.VicePresident,membersofthe105thCongress,distinguishedguests,andmyfellowAmericans:
IthinkIshouldstartbysaying,thanksforinvitingmeback.(Applause.)Icomebeforeyoutonightwithachallengeasgreatasanyinourpeacetimehistory,andaplanofactiontomeetthatchallenge,toprepareourpeoplefortheboldnewworldofthe21stcentury.
Wehavemuchtobethankfulfor.Withfouryearsofgrowth,wehavewonbackthebasicstrengthofoureconomy.Withcrimeandwelfarerollsdeclining,wearewinningbackouroptimism,theenduringfaiththatwecanmasteranydifficulty.WiththeColdWarrecedingandglobalcommerceatrecordlevels,wearehelpingtowinunrivaledpeaceandprosperityallacrosstheworld.
MyfellowAmericans,thestateofourunionisstrong.(Applause.)Butnowwemustrisetothedecisivemoment,tomakeanationandaworldbetterthananywehaveeverknown.Thenewpromiseoftheglobaleconomy,theInformationAge,unimaginednewwork,life-enhancingtechnology--alltheseareourstoseize.Thatisourhonorandourchallenge.Wemustbeshapersofevents,notobservers.Forifwedonotact,themomentwillpass--andwewilllosethebestpossibilitiesofourfuture.
Wefacenoimminentthreat,butwedohaveanenemy--theenemyofourtimeisinaction.So,tonight,Iissueacalltoaction--actionbythisCongress,actionbyourstates,byourpeople,toprepareAmericaforthe21stcentury.Actiontokeepoureconomyandourdemocracystrongandworkingforallourpeople;actiontostrengtheneducationandharnesstheforcesoftechnologyandscience;actiontobuildstrongerfamiliesandstrongercommunitiesandasaferenvironment;actiontokeepAmericatheworld''''sstrongestforceforpeace,freedomandprosperity.Andaboveall,actiontobuildamoreperfectunionhereathome.
Thespiritwebringtoourworkwillmakeallthedifference.WemustbecommittedtothepursuitofopportunityforallAmericans,responsibilityfromallAmericans,inacommunityofallAmericans.Andwemustbecommittedtoanewkindofgovernment--nottosolveallourproblemsforus,buttogiveourpeople--allourpeople--thetoolstheyneedtomakethemostoftheirownlives.
Andwemustworktogether.Thepeopleofthisnationelectedusall.Theywantustobepartners,notpartisans.Theyputusallrighthereinthesameboat,theygaveusalloars,andtheytoldustorow.Now,hereisthedirectionIbelieveweshouldtake.
First,wemustmovequicklytocompletetheunfinishedbusinessofourcountry--tobalanceourbudget,renewourdemocracy,andfinishthejobofwelfarereform.
Overthelastfouryears,wehavebroughtneweconomicgrowthbyinvestinginourpeople,expandingourexports,cuttingourdeficits,creatingover11millionnewjobs,afour-yearrecord.(Applause.)Nowwemustkeepoureconomythestrongestintheworld.Weheretonighthaveanhistoricopportunity.LetthisCongressbetheCongressthatfinallybalancesthebudget.(Applause.)
Intwodays,Iwillproposeadetailedplantobalancethebudgetby2019.ThisplanwillbalancethebudgetandinvestinourpeoplewhileprotectingMedicare,Medicaid,education,andtheenvironment.ItwillbalancethebudgetandbuildontheVicePresident''''seffortstomakeourgovernmentworkbetter,evenasitcostsless.Itwillbalancethebudgetandprovidemiddleclasstaxrelieftopayforeducationandhealthcare,tohelptoraiseachild,tobuyandsellahome.
Balancingthebudgetrequiresonlyyourvoteandmysignature.ItdoesnotrequireustorewriteourConstitution.(Applause.)Ibelieveitisbothunnecessaryandunwisetoadoptabalancedbudgetamendmentthatcouldcrippleourcountryintimeofcrisis,andforceunwantedresults,suchasjudgeshaltingSocialSecuritychecksorincreasingtaxes.Letusatleastagree,weshouldnotpassanymeasure--nomeasureshouldbepassedthatthreatensSocialSecurity.(Applause.)Whateveryourviewonthat,weallmustconcedewedon''''tneedaconstitutionalamendment,weneedaction.(Applause.)
Whateverourdifferences,weshouldbalancethebudgetnow.Andthen,forthelong-termhealthofoursociety,wemustagreetoabipartisanprocesstopreserveSocialSecurityandreformMedicareforthelongrun,sothatthesefundamentalprogramswillbeasstrongforourchildrenastheyareforourparents.
Andletmesaysomethingthat''''snotinmyscripttonight.Iknowthisisnotgoingtobeeasy.ButIreallybelieveoneofthereasonstheAmericanpeoplegavemeasecondtermwastotakethetoughdecisionsinthenextfouryearsthatwillcarryourcountrythroughthenext50years.Iknowitiseasierformethanforyoutosayordo.ButanotherreasonIwaselectedistosupportallofyou,withoutregardtoparty,togiveyouwhatisnecessarytojoininthesedecisions.Weoweittoourcountryandtoourfuture.(Applause.)
Oursecondpieceofunfinishedbusinessrequiresustocommitourselvestonight,beforetheeyesofAmerica,tofinallyenactingbipartisancampaignfinancereform.(Applause.)
Now,SenatorsMcCainandFeingold,RepresentativesShaysandMeehan,havereachedacrosspartylinesheretocrafttoughandfairreform.Theirproposalwouldcurbspending,reducetheroleofspecialinterests,createalevelplayingfieldbetweenchallengersandincumbents,andbancontributionsfromnoncitizens,allcorporatesources,andtheotherlargesoftmoneycontributionsthatbothpartiesreceive.
YouknowandIknowthatthiscanbedelayed.AndyouknowandIknowthedelaywillmeanthedeathofreform.Solet''''ssetourowndeadline.Let''''sworktogethertowritebipartisancampaignfinancereformintolawandpassMcCain-Feingoldbythedaywecelebratethebirthofourdemocracy--Julythe4th.(Applause.)
Thereisathirdpieceofunfinishedbusiness.Overthelastfouryears,wemovedarecord2.25millionpeopleoffthewelfarerolls.Thenlastyear,Congressenactedlandmarkwelfarereformlegislation,demandingthatallable-bodiedrecipientsassumetheresponsibilityofmovingfromwelfaretowork.
Noweachandeveryoneofushastofulfillourresponsibility--indeed,ourmoralobligation--tomakesurethatpeoplewhonowmustwork,canwork.(Applause.)Nowwemustacttomeetanewgoal:
2millionmorepeopleoffthewelfarerollsbytheyear2019.
Hereismyplan:
Taxcreditsandotherincentivesforbusinessesthathirepeopleoffwelfare;incentivesforjobplacementfirmsandstatestocreatemorejobsforwelfarerecipients;training,transportation,andchildcaretohelppeoplegotowork.
NowIchallengeeverystate:
Turnthosewelfarechecksintoprivatesectorpaychecks.Ichallengeeveryreligiouscongregation,everycommunitynonprofit,everybusinesstohiresomeoneoffwelfare.AndI''''dliketosayespeciallytoeveryemployerinourcountrywhoevercriticizedtheoldwelfaresystem,youcan''''tblamethatoldsystemanymore,wehavetornitdown.Nowdoyourpart.Givesomeoneonwelfarethechancetogotowork.(Applause.)
Tonight,Iampleasedtoannouncethatfivemajorcorporations--Sprint,Monsanto,UPS,BurgerKingandUnitedAirlines--willbethefirsttojoininanewnationalefforttomarshalAmerica''''sbusinesses,largeandsmall,tocreatejobssothatpeoplecanmovefromwelfaretowork.(Applause.)
Wepassedwelfarereform.AllofyouknowIbelievewewererighttodoit.Butnoonecanwalkoutofthischamberwithaclearconscienceunlessyouarepreparedtofinishthejob.(Applause.)
Andwemustjointogethertodosomethingelse,too--somethingbothRepublicanandDemocraticgovernorshaveaskedustodo--torestorebasichealthanddisabilitybenefitswhenmisfortunestrikesimmigrantswhocametothiscountrylegally,whoworkhard,paytaxesandobeythelaw.Todootherwiseissimplyunworthyofagreatnationofimmigrants.(Applause.)
Now,lookingahead,thegreateststepofall--thehighthresholdofthefuturewenowmustcross--andmynumberonepriorityforthenextfouryearsistoensurethatallAmericanshavethebesteducationintheworld.(Applause.)
Let''''sworktogethertomeetthesethreegoals:
Every8-year-oldmustbeabletoread;every12-year-oldmustbeabletologontotheInternet;every18-year-oldmustbeabletogotocollege;andeveryadultAmericanmustbeabletokeeponlearningforalifetime.(Applause.)
Mybalancedbudgetmakesanunprecedentedcommitmenttothesegoals--$51billionnextyear.Butfarmorethanmoneyisrequired.Ihaveaplan,aCalltoActionforAmericanEducation,basedonthese10principles.
First,anationalcrusadeforeducationstandards--notfederalgovernmentstandards,butnationalstandards,representingwhatallourstudentsmustknowtosucceedintheknowledgeeconomyofthe21stcentury.Everystateandschoolmustshapethecurriculumtoreflectthesestandards,andtrainteacherstoliftstudentsuptothem.Tohelpschoolsmeetthestandardsandmeasuretheirprogress,wewillleadaneffortoverthenexttwoyearstodevelopnationaltestsofstudentachievementinreadingandmath.
Tonight,Iissueachallengetothenation:
Everystateshouldadopthighnationalstandards,andby1999,everystateshouldtestevery4thgraderinreadingandevery8thgraderinmathtomakesurethesestandardsaremet.(Applause.)
Raisingstandardswillnotbeeasy,andsomeofourchildrenwillnotbeabletomeetthematfirst.Thepointisnottoputourchildrendown,buttoliftthemup.Goodtestswillshowuswhoneedshelp,whatchangesinteachingtomake,andwhichschoolsneedtoimprove.Theycanhelpustoendsocialpromotion.Fornochildshouldmovefromgradeschooltojuniorhigh,orjuniorhightohighschooluntilheorsheisready.
Lastmonth,ourSecretaryofEducationDickRileyandIvisitedNorthernIllinois,where8thgradestudentsfrom20schooldistricts,inaprojectaptlycalled"FirstintheWorld,"tooktheThirdInternationalMathandScienceStudy.That''''satestthatreflectstheworld-classstandardsourchildrenmustmeetforthenewera.AndthosestudentsinIllinoistiedforfirstintheworldinscienceandcameinsecondinmath.Twoofthem,KristinTannerandChrisGetsla,areheretonight,alongwiththeirteacher,SueWinski;they''''reuptherewiththeFirstLady.Andtheyprovethatwhenweaimhighandchallengeourstudents,theywillbethebestintheworld.Let''''sgivethemahand.Standup,please.(Applause.)
Second,tohavethebestschools,wemusthavethebestteachers.Mostofusinthischamberwouldnotbeheretonightwithoutthehelpofthoseteachers.IknowthatIwouldn''''tbehere.Foryears,manyofoureducators,ledbyNorthCarolina''''sGovernorJimHuntandtheNationalBoardforProfessionalTeachingStandards,haveworkedveryhardtoestablishnationallyacceptedcredentialsforexcellenceinteaching.Just500oftheseteachershavebeencertifiedsince1995.Mybudgetwillenable100,000moretoseeknationalcertificationasmasterteachers.Weshouldrewardandrecognizeourbestteachers.(Applause.)Andaswerewardthem,weshouldquicklyandfairlyremovethosefewwhodon''''tmeasureup,andweshouldchallengemoreofourfinestyoungpeopletoconsiderteachingasacareer.
Third,wemustdomoretohelpallourchildrenread.Fortypercent--fortypercent--ofour8-year-oldscannotreadontheirown.That''''swhywehavejustlaunchedtheAmericaReadsinitiative--tobuildacitizenarmyofonemillionvolunteertutorstomakesureeverychildcanreadindependentlybytheendofthe3rdgrade.WewillusethousandsofAmeriCorpsvolunteerstomobilize