These kinds of innovations are also propelling our remarkable prosperity. Information technology only includes 8 percent of our employment， but now it counts for a third of our economic growth—along with jobs that pay， by the way， about 80 percent above the private sector average. Again， we ought to keep in mind， government-funded research brought supercomputers， the Internet， and communications satellites into being. Soon researchers will bring us devices that can translate foreign languages as fast as you can talk； materials 10 times stronger than steel at a fraction of the weight； and—this is unbelievable to me—molecular computers the size of a tear drop with the power of today's fastest supercomputers.
To accelerate the march of discovery across all these disciplines in science and technology， I ask you to support my recommendation of an unprecedented $3 billion in the 21st Century Research Fund， the largest increase in civilian research in a generation. We owe it to our future.
Now， these new breakthroughs have to be used in ways that reflect our values. First and foremost， we have to safeguard our citizens' privacy. Last year， we proposed to protect every citizen's medical record. This year， we will finalize those rules. We've also taken the first steps to protect the privacy of bank and credit card records and other financial statements. Soon I will send legislation to you to finish that job. We must also act to prevent any genetic discrimination whatever by employers or insurers. I hope you will support that.
These steps will allow us to lead toward the far frontiers of science and technology. They will enhance our health， the environment， the economy in ways we can't even imagine today. But we all know that at a time when science， technology and the forces of globalization are bringing so many changes into all our lives， it's more important than ever that we strengthen the bonds that root us in our local communities and in our national community.
No tie binds different people together like citizen service. There's a new spirit of service in America—a movement we've tried to support with AmeriCorps， expanded Peace Corps， unprecedented new partnerships with businesses， foundations， community groups. Partnerships， for example， like the one that enlisted 12，000 companies which have now moved 650，000 of our fellow citizens from welfare to work. Partnerships to battle drug abuse， AIDS， teach young people to read， save America's treasures， strengthen the arts， fight teen pregnancy， prevent violence among young people， promote racial healing. The American people are working together.
But we should do more to help Americans help each other. First， we should help faith-based organizations to do more to fight poverty and drug abuse， and help people get back on the right track， with initiatives like Second Chance Homes that do so much to help unwed teen mothers. Second， we should support Americans who tithe and contribute to charities， but don't earn enough to claim a tax deduction for it. Tonight， I propose new tax incentives that would allow low-and middle-income citizens who don't itemize to get that deduction. It's nothing but fair， and it will get more people to give.
We should do more to help new immigrants to fully participate in our community. That's why I recommend spending more to teach them civics and English. And since everybody in our community counts， we've got to make sure everyone is counted in this year's census.
Within 10 years—just 10 years—there will be no majority race in our largest state of California. In a little more than 50 years， there will be no majority race in America. In a more interconnected world， this diversity can be our greatest strength. Just look around this chamber. Look around. We have members in this Congress from virtually every racial， ethnic， and religious background. And I think you would agree that America is stronger because of it.
You also have to agree that all those differences you just clapped for all too often spark hatred and division even here at home. Just in the last couple of years， we've seen a man dragged to death in Texas just because he was black. We saw a young man murdered in Wyoming just because he was gay. Last year， we saw the shootings of African Americans， Asian Americans， and Jewish children just because of who they were. This is not the American way， and we must draw the line.
I ask you to draw that line by passing without delay the Hate Crimes Prevention Act and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. And I ask you to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.
Finally tonight， I propose the largest-ever investment in our civil rights laws for enforcement， because no American should be subjected to discrimination in finding a home， getting a job， going to school， or securing a loan. Protections in law should be protections in fact.
Last February， because I thought this was so important， I created the White House Office of One America to promote racial reconciliation. That's what one of my personal heroes， Hank Aaron， has done all his life. From his days as our all-time home run king to his recent acts of healing， he has always brought people together. We should follow his example， and we're honored to have him with us tonight. Stand up， Hank Aaron.
I just want to say one more thing about this， and I want every one of you to think about this the next time you get mad at one of your colleagues on the other side of the aisle. This fall， at the White House， Hillary had one of her millennium dinners， and we had this very distinguished scientist there， who is an expert in this whole work in the human genome. And he said that we are all， regardless of race， genetically 99.9 percent the same.
Now， you may find that uncomfortable when you look around here. But it is worth remembering. We can laugh about this， but you think about it. Modern science has confirmed what ancient faiths has always taught： the most important fact of life is our common humanity. Therefore， we should do more than just tolerate our diversity—we should honor it and celebrate it.
My fellow Americans， every time I prepare for the State of the Union， I approach it with hope and expectation and excitement for our nation. But tonight is very special， because we stand on the mountain top of a new millennium. Behind us we can look back and see the great expanse of American achievement； and before us we can see even greater， grander frontiers of possibility. We should， all of us， be filled with gratitude and humility for our present progress and prosperity. We should be filled with awe and joy at what lies over the horizon. And we should be filled with absolute determination to make the most of it.
You know， when the framers finished crafting our Constitution in Philadelphia， Benjamin Franklin stood in Independence Hall and he reflected on the carving of the sun that was on the back of a chair he saw. The sun was low on the horizon. So he said this—he said， "I've often wondered whether that sun was rising or setting. Today，" Franklin said， "I have the happiness to know it's a rising sun." Today， because each succeeding generation of Americans has kept the fire of ******* burning brightly， lighting those frontiers of possibility， we all still bask in the glow and the warmth of Mr. Franklin's rising sun.
After 224 years， the American revolution continues. We remain a new nation. And as long as our dreams outweigh our memories， America will be forever young. That is our destiny. And this is our moment.
Thank you， God bless you， and God bless America.
2000年1月27日，星期四
议长先生、副总统先生、国会议员、各位贵宾、美国同胞们：
我们幸运地生活在这样一个历史时刻。我们国家从未享有如此之大的繁荣和社会进步，同时面临如此之少的国内危机和国外威胁。我们从未有过这么幸运的机会，因此也从未有过这样重大的责任去建设我们的开国元勋们所梦想的更加完美的合众国。
我们正以骄人的成绩迎接新世纪，我们创造了2000万个以上的新就业机会，三十多年来最快的经济增长速度，30年来最低的失业率，20年来最低的贫困率，有史以来非洲裔美国人和西班牙裔美国人最低的失业率，42年来第一次连续性预算盈余。到下个月，美国将创下有史以来经济增长持续时间最久的记录。
我们建设了一个新经济。
与我们的经济革命一致的是美国精神也在恢复。犯罪率下降了20%，降至25年来的最低水平；青少年的生育率连续七年呈下降趋势；收养率上升了30%；接受福利救济的人数减少了一半，是30年来的最低水平。
美国同胞们，纵观历史我们的合众国从未如此强大。
像以往一样，真正的功劳属于美国人民。我还要感谢与我们共同努力，把进步置于党派斗争之上的在座的国会议员们。八年前，大多数美国人还不这么确信，在2000年会有很多值得庆祝的成就。当时，我们的国家处于经济困境、社会衰退和政治停滞之中。有一本畅销书的书名是《美国：出了什么问题？》
凭借我们国家最优良的传统，美国人决心拨乱反正。我们重新采取中间路线，用一种植根于基本而持久的价值观的新思想取代过时的意识形态。这种价值观就是人人拥有机会，人人承担责任，所有美国人组成一个大家庭。我们彻底改造了政府，使它成为新思想的催化剂，重视机会与责任，使人民拥有解决自己的问题所需要的新思想的工具。
我们凭借40年来最少的联邦工作人员队伍，把空前的赤字变成了创纪录的盈余，并把教育方面的投资增加了一倍。借助10万名社区警察和禁止50万罪犯拥有枪支的布雷迪法，我们减少了犯罪。
我们知道我们结束了福利救济——在保证儿童的医疗和营养的同时要求父母参加工作，并增加儿童照管、交通和住房方面的经费以帮助他们的父母参加工作。通过家人生病休假法，父母们在我们的帮助下既能家庭美满又能事业成功。迄今为止，已有2000万美国人利用这种休假来照料新生儿或者生病的亲人。我们吸收15万美国年轻人加入美国国民服务队为居民服务，同时帮助他们挣钱上大学。
1992年，我们只有一幅路线图；今天，我们已经取得了成果。
然而更重要的是，美国又有了拥有美好梦想的信心。但我们千万不能让这种信心变成自满情绪，因为我们传给子孙后代的梦想和行为将成为评价我们的标准。在这一点上，评价我们的标准将很高，的确很高，因为我们取得成功的机会是如此之大。
美国同胞们，我们已经跨越我们建造的通向21世纪的桥梁。现在，我们必须塑造21世纪的美国革命——关于机会、责任和大家庭的革命。我们必须成为一个崭新的国家，就像开国之初一样。
20世纪初，西奥多·罗斯福曾说：“最重要的特点是远见卓识……美国应该成为日益强大的国家，拥有目光长远的未来。”那么今晚，让我们放眼未来，为我们国家确定宏伟的目标。
对于21世纪的美国，让我们做出如下承诺：每一个孩子在入学时有望学到知识，在毕业时有望取得成就。每一个家庭都能家庭事业双丰收，没有一个儿童会在贫困中长大成人。我们将迎接美国老龄化的挑战。我们将最终保证向所有美国人提供优质的、负担得起的医疗。
我们将使美国成为地球上最安全的大国。我们将自1835年以来第一次清偿国债。我们将给美国每个社区带来繁荣。我们将扭转气候变化的趋势，留给后人一个更加安全、更加洁净的星球。美国将领导世界走向共同和平与繁荣，走向科学技术的前沿。我们将最终实现我们的开国元勋们很久以前的承诺——上帝庇护之下的一个不可分割、人人享有自由与正义的国家。
这些都是宏伟的目标，值得一个伟大的国家去争取。我们今年不可能实现所有这些目标，甚至这个十年也不可能，但我们终将实现这些目标。我们要记住，美国独立战争不是一枪就打赢的，北美洲不是一年就完成开拓的。历史以及过去七年给我们的启示是，宏伟的目标是一步一步实现的，在进展的基础上不断积累，不断进步。
当然，如果我们举步不前，我们就不可能取得进步。在我国最紧迫的一些优先考虑的问题上，本届国会犹豫的时间太久了。因此，我们今晚就从它们谈起。
我再次请求你们通过真正的病人权益法。我请求你们通过注重实际的枪支安全法。我请求你们通过竞选筹款改革法。我请求你们通过或否决被提名的司法官员或其他重要官员。另外，我再次请求你们，我恳求你们提高最低工资。
两年前，让我试着平衡一下跷跷板——两年前，当我们为实现第一个平衡预算而跨越党派界限时，我曾提出通过保持财政纪律来履行我们对下一代的责任。因为我们不愿背离这条道路，我们正做着在七年前看来难以想象的事情。我们实际上正逐渐支付国债。
现在，如果我们继续沿着这条道路走下去，我们将在13之年内完全清偿债务，使美国自1835年安德鲁·杰克逊担任总统以来第一次摆脱债务的困扰。
1993年，我们开始凭借赤字减少法整顿财政状况。你们大家都会记得，该法案是以一票之差在两院得到通过的。你们的前同事，我的第一任财政部长，领导了那次行动并促成了我们长期的经济繁荣。他今晚来到了我们中间，劳埃德·本特森你为美国做出了重要贡献，我们感谢你。
除了清偿债务，我们必须确保削减债务的好处用于履行我们向每位美国人做出的最重要的承诺——社会保险与老年保健医疗制度。今晚，我请你们与我合作，两党采取一致行动把第一笔款项用于社会保险改革，把通过削减债务节省下来的钱用于社会保险信托基金，使该基金在今后50年强劲健康地发展。
但这只是我们行程的开始，我们还必须采取正确的措施来实现我们的伟大目标。首先和最重要的是，我们需要在21世纪对教育进行改革，以每个儿童都能识文断字为指导思想。因为教育比以往任何时候都重要，是我国儿童通向未来的钥匙，我们必须确保所有儿童都拥有这把钥匙。这意味着优质的学前教育和课外教育，教室里受过最好培训的教师，以及所有儿童上大学的机会。
七年来，我们一直致力于利用机会和责任来改善我们的学校，投资更多但要求得到的回报也更多。学生的阅读和数学能力以及大学入学成绩都提高了，某些最引人注目的收益是在非常贫困街区的学校里获得的。
但所有成功的学校都遵循着同一经过实践证明的准则：提高标准、实施更明确的责任以及提供额外帮助，这样需要这种帮助的儿童就能得到帮助来达到那些标准。我向国会递交了一项以这个准则为基础的改革计划。这项计划使各州和各校区为取得进展而做出努力，并且由于这种进展而得到回报。每年我国政府在学校投资150多亿美元。是到了支持行得通的制度和停止支持行不通的制度的时候了。
现在，由于我们对学校提出了更多的要求，我们也应该增加对学校的投资。让我们把投资增加一倍，以便帮助各州和各校区改革最差劲的学校或者干脆关闭它们。让我们把对课外计划和夏季学校计划的投资增加一倍，以便提高成绩，使人们不再在街头闲逛，并使他们摆脱麻烦。如果我们做到这一点，我们就能够使美国每所失败学校的每位儿童——每一个人有机会达到高标准。
自从1993年以来，我们几乎把我们对“起步领先计划”的投资增加了一倍，并且提高了它的质量。今晚，我要求你们对该计划再投资10亿美元，这是该计划历史上资金增加幅度最大的一次。
我们知道那些规模较小、教师优异的班级里的学生的成绩最好。连续两年来，国会一直支持我的计划，雇用10万名新的合格教师来缩小每个年级的班级规模。为此我感谢你们，请你们连续第三年支持我的这项计划。为了确保所有教师了解他们教授的课程，今晚我建议制订一项新的教学质量计划，以便让更多有天分的教师进入教室授业解惑，奖励那些留在教室安心工作的优异教师，并且使所有教师得到他们所需要的培训。
我们知道特许学校提供真正的公立学校的选择。在我就任总统之初，全美国只有一所独立的公立特许学校。今天，感谢你们，全国现在共有1700所特许学校。我现在请你们帮助我们实现我们这样的一个目标，即到明年时特许学校达到3000所。
我们知道我们必须把我们所有的教室与因特网连接起来，我们快要达到这个目标了。1994年，只有3%的教室连上了因特网。如今，在副总统的“提高上网率计划”的帮助下，一半以上的教室连上了因特网。在我们所有的学校中，有90%至少有一台计算机连接了因特网。
