EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
Unemployment Down to 4.9%: The unemployment rate in Texas has declined from 7.6% to 4.9% since 1993. 1,780,300 New Jobs: 1,780,300 new jobs have been created in Texas since 1993 -- an average of 281,100 per year, compared to an average of only 153,075 jobs per year in the previous administration. 1,593,300 New Private Sector Jobs: Since 1993, 1,593,300 new private sector jobs have been created-an average of 251,574 jobs per year, compared to an average of just 113,000 private sector jobs per year in the previous administration. 119,800 New Manufacturing Jobs: 119,800 manufacturing jobs have been created in Texas since 1993 -- an average of 18,916 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of only 1,950 manufacturing jobs were created each year during the previous administration. 177,900 New Construction Jobs: 177,900 construction jobs have been created in Texas since 1993 -- an average of 28,089 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of only 6,300 construction jobs were created each year during the previous administration. Bankruptcy Filings Down 13.7%: Bankruptcy filings in Texas have declined 13.7% per year since 1993, after increasing 14.2% during the previous two administrations. Home Ownership Has Increased in Texas: Home ownership in Texas has increased from 58.9% to 62.7% since the fourth quarter of 1993. Homebuilding Up 14.4%: Homebuilding in Texas has increased 14.4% per year since 1993. In contrast, homebuilding in Texas decreased an average of 5.6% per year over the past two administrations. 1.1 Million Have Received a Raise: Approximately 446,000 Texas workers benefited from an increase in the minimum wage-from $4.25 to $4.75 -- on October 1, 1996. They, along with about 697,000 more received an additional raise-from $4.75 to $5.15 -- on September 1, 1997. A $500 Child Tax Credit to Help Families Raising Children: To help make it easier for families to raise their children, the balanced budget included a $500 per-child tax credit for children under 17. Thanks to President Clinton, the Balanced Budget delivers a child tax credit to 2,040,000 families in Texas. Over $25,000 of Reduced Federal Debt for Every Family of Four: The national debt will be $1.7 trillion lower in FY99 than projected in 1993 -- that's $25,000 less debt for each family of four in Texas this year. 1.4% Growth in Total Bank Loans and Leases: Texas has seen a 1.4% average growth rate in total bank loans and leases per year since 1993. In contrast total bank loans and leases fell an average 7.9% per year during the previous two administrations. 0.5% Growth in Commercial and Industrial Loans and Leases: Since 1993, Texas has experienced a 0.5% annual growth rate in commercial and industrial loans and leases. In contrast, commercial and industrial loans and leases fell an average of 11% per year during the previous two administrations. EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION
Over 57,000 Children in Head Start: Over 57,000 Texas children were enrolled in Head Start in 1998. In FY99, Texas will receive $300.3 million in Head Start funding, an increase of $127.8 million over 1993. More High-Quality Teachers With Smaller Classes for Texas' Schools: Thanks to President Clinton, the final FY99 budget provides for the first year of the President's new initiative to hire 100,000 new, well-prepared teachers, to reduce class sizes in the early grades to a national average of 18. Texas receives $97.2 million in 1999 to hire about 2,500 new public school teachers. And, under President Clinton's proposal, Texas would receive $114 million in FY2000 to support a total of 3,112 teachers. $36.6 Million in Goals 2000 Funding: This year [FY99], Texas receives $36.6 million in Goals 2000 funding. This money is used to raise academic achievement by raising academic standards, increasing parental and community involvement in education, expanding the use of computers and technology in classrooms, and supporting high-quality teacher professional development. Nearly $35 Million for Technology Literacy: This year [FY99], Texas receives $35 million, for the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund, which helps communities and the private sector ensure that every student is equipped with the computer literacy skills needed for the 21st century. $649 Million for Students Most in Need: Texas receives $649 million in Title I grants providing extra help in the basics for students most in need, particularly communities and schools with high concentrations of children in low-income families [FY99]. This is an increase of $18.2 million over FY98 funding. $532.4 Million in Pell Grants: This year [FY99], Texas will receive $532.4 million in Pell Grants for low-income students going to college, an additional $24.9 million over last year. With this increase, a total of 276,100 Texas students will benefit. Expanded Work-Study To Help More Students Work Their Way Through College: The FY99 budget includes a significant expansion of the Federal Work Study program. Texas will receive $45.5 million in Work-Study funding in 1999 to help Texas students work their way through college. Over 8,000 Have Served in Texas through AmeriCorps: Since the National Service program began in 1993, 8,055 AmeriCorps participants have earned money for college while working in Texas' schools, hospitals, neighborhoods or parks. [through 11/98] Tuition Tax Credits in Balanced Budget Open the Doors of College and Promote Lifelong Learning: The balanced budget included both President Clinton's $1,500 HOPE Scholarship to help make the first two years of college as universal as a high school diploma and a Lifetime Learning Tax Credit for college juniors, seniors, graduate students and working Americans pursuing lifelong learning to upgrade their skills. This 20% tax credit will be applied to the first $5,000 of tuition and fees through 2002 and to the first $10,000 thereafter. 402,000 students in Texas will receive a HOPE Scholarship tax credit of up to $1,500. 490,000 students in Texas will receive the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. [fully phased-in FY2000 estimate] Expanded Job Training to Texas' Dislocated Workers: Thanks to President Clinton, the FY99 budget includes a significant expansion in the dislocated worker program. Texas will receive $84.3 million in 1999 to help 49,940 of Texas' dislocated workers get the training and reemployment services they need to return to work as quickly as possible. FIGHTING CRIME AND VIOLENCE
Crime Falls 15% in Texas: Since 1992, serious crime in Texas has fallen 15%. Violent crime and property crime have also declined 18% and 14% respectively. Crime Has Dropped Sharply in Major Cities: In Dallas, between 1992 and 1997, serious crime, as indicated by the crime index, has declined 23%, with a 46% drop in murder and a 51% drop in robbery. In addition, serious crime has also declined 47% in Fort Worth, 32% in Beaumont, 46% in Odessa and 31% in Wichita Falls. The murder rate has fallen 52% in Beaumont, 47% in Brownsville, 46% in Dallas, 45% in El Paso, 57% in San Antonio and 91% in Wichita Falls. [1992 and 1997 Uniform Crime Reports] Juvenile Arrests Down in Texas: Texas's juvenile murder arrests have decreased 61%. [FBI, Uniform Crime Report, 1992 and 1997] 4,555 More Police: The President's 1994 Crime Bill has funded 4,555 new police officers in communities across Texas. [through 7/99] McAllen and El Paso Will Receive Targeted Funding to Hire More Community Police: McAllen and El Paso were selected as pilot cities for the President's new effort to target high crime neighborhoods. The pilot program will provide full funding for new officers by waiving the usual matching requirements. McAllen and El Paso will deploy new officers to help meet the unique needs of their communities, such as combating gangs or targeting drug "hot spots." Reducing Crime with Drug Courts: Working to reduce drug-related crime in Texas, the Clinton Administration has awarded a Drug Court grant to the community of Dallas. The Administration had previously awarded grants to a number of Texas communities including: Conroe, Houston, Austin and Laredo. Drug courts use the coercive power of the criminal justice system to combine drug testing, sanctions, supervision and treatment to push nonviolent, drug-abusing offenders to stop using drugs and committing crimes. $10.3 Million to Combat Domestic Violence: Through the Violence Against Women Act, Texas received $10.3 million in federal funds in FY98 to establish more women's shelters and bolster law enforcement, prosecution and victims' services. Over $4 Million in Grants for Battered Women and Children: In FY98, Texas received approximately $4 million in HHS's Family Violence Prevention Program grants to assist women and children fleeing domestic abuse, an additional $769,000 increase over FY97. $34.3 Million to Keep Drugs & Violence Out of Texas Schools: Texas received $34.3 million in FY99 for the Safe & Drug Free Schools Program, which invests in school security and drug prevention programs. MOVING TEXANS FROM WELFARE TO WORK
454,655 Fewer People on Welfare: There are 454,655 fewer people on welfare in Texas now than there were at the beginning of 1993 -- a 58% decrease. [through 12/98] Child Support Collections Up 178%: Child support collections have increased by nearly $448 million-or 178% -- in Texas since FY92. [through FY98] Encouraging Responsible Choices -- Preventing Teen Pregnancy in Texas: Since 1993, President Clinton and Vice President Gore have supported innovative and promising teen pregnancy prevention strategies, with significant components of the strategy becoming law in the 1996 Personal Responsibility Act. The law requires unmarried minor parents to stay in school and live at home or in a supervised setting; encourages "second chance homes" to provide teen parents with the skills and support they need; and provides $50 million a year in new funding for state abstinence education activities. Efforts are making a difference, adolescent pregnancy rates and teen abortion rates are declining. And between 1992 and 1997, teen birth rates declined 9% in Texas. $138.6 Million for Texas Welfare-to-Work: In 1998, Texas received $76.1 million in Federal welfare-to-work state formula grants (the state matched $38.0 million in funding), helping Texas welfare recipients get and keep jobs. In addition, $24.6 million in competitive grants were awarded to Texas localities to support innovative welfare-to-work strategies. Part of the President's comprehensive efforts to move recipients from welfare to work, this funding was included in the $3 billion welfare to work fund in the 1997 Balanced Budget Act. Helping People Get to Work: Through the Access to Jobs initiative, the Clinton-Gore Administration is working with communities across the country to design transportation solutions to help welfare recipients and other low-income workers get to and from work. Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Galveston, Bryan, Abilene, Kileen-Temple, and Lubbock have received a total of $2.5 million this year to fund innovative transit projects. INVESTING IN TEXAS'S HEALTH
Health Care for Uninsured Children: The balanced budget included the largest single investment in health care for children since the passage of Medicaid in 1965 -- an unprecedented $24 billion over five years to cover as many as five million children throughout the nation. This investment guarantees the full range of benefits-from checkups to surgery -- that children need to grow up strong and healthy. It ensures that prescription drugs, vision, hearing, and mental health coverage now offered at the state level are extended to millions of uninsured children. To expand health coverage to more uninsured children in Texas the Balanced Budget provided $561 million in 1998. This compares to the 1995 Republican plan vetoed by President Clinton that would have denied health care coverage to 204,300 children in Texas. Helping 690,000 Texas Women and Children with WIC: The Clinton Administration is committed to full funding in the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). In FY98, Texas received $332.1 million in total WIC grant funding, helping 690,000 women, infants and children in need receive health and food assistance, 87,000 more than in 1994. More Toddlers Are Being Immunized: As a result of the President's 1993 Childhood Immunization Initiative, childhood immunization rates have reached an historic high. According to the CDC, by 1996, 90% or more of America's toddlers received the most critical doses of each of the routinely recommended vaccines-surpassing the President's 1993 goal. In Texas in 1997, 92% of two-year olds received the vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis; 88% received the vaccine for polio; 89% received the vaccine for measles, and 90% received the vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae B, the bacteria causing a form of meningitis. Increased Funding for Ryan White by $276.2 Million: Between 1993 and 1998, Texas communities received $276.2 million in Ryan White formula and other HIV/AIDS program funds. This funding provides people living with HIV and AIDS medical and support services, including the AIDS Drug Assistance Program which helps those without insurance obtain much needed prescription drugs. [HHS, Health Resources and Services Administration, 12/98] Tobacco Plan Will Cut Smoking and Premature Deaths by 40% in Texas: The Clinton Administration's tobacco proposal, combined with the recently enacted state tobacco settlements, will cut youth smoking and resulting premature deaths 40% in Texas by 2004. Between 2000 and 2004, 218,100 of Alaska's youth will be kept from smoking and 69,800 will be spared a premature tobacco-related death. [Treasury Dept., 2/99] 8,060,000 Americans in Texas Cannot Be Assured They Have Patient Protections: Even if Texas enacted all the protections in the Patients' Bill of Rights, 8,060,000 people in Texas cannot be assured they have the comprehensive patient protections recommended by the President's Advisory Commission. This is because the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) may preempt state-enacted protections. That is why the President has called on Congress to pass a federally enforceable patients' bill of rights so that everyone enrolled in managed care may have a basic set of protections. Notably, 3,900,000 Texas women are in ERISA health plans and are therefore not necessarily protected. Women are particularly vulnerable without these protections because they are greater users of health care services, they make three-quarters of the health care decisions for their families, and they have specific health care needs addressed by a patients' bill of rights. PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
10 Toxic Waste Sites Cleaned Up: Since 1993, the EPA has completed 10 Superfund toxic waste clean-ups in Texas. The sites are located in Grand Prairie, Bridge City, Texas City, Friendswood, Crosby (2), Houston (2), and Odessa (2) [through 6/99]. In contrast, only six sites were cleaned up during the previous two administrations combined. $62 Million in Safe Drinking Water Funding: This year [FY99], thanks to President Clinton, Texas will receive $56.6 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to provide low-interest loans to municipalities to build, improve, and prevent pollution of drinking water systems. In addition, Texas will receive $5.4 million in Public Water Supply Supervision grants to help monitor drinking water quality and enforce health standards. Revitalizing Brownfields Projects in Texas: As part of the Clinton-Gore Administration's efforts to clean up Brownfields, the EPA has awarded grants to communities in Texas-Dallas, Houston, Austin, Brownsville, Galveston, Grand Prairie and Laredo-for environmental clean-up and economic revitalization. In addition, the Rio Grande Council of Governments, TX & NM, which includes six counties in western Texas, will benefit from a Brownfields grant. These projects are intended to jump-start local clean-up efforts by providing funds to return unproductive, abandoned, contaminated urban properties to productive use. SPEARHEADING URBAN AND RURAL RENEWAL EFFORTS
Revitalizing Texas' Communities: The Rio Grande Valley was designated an Urban Empowerment Zone in 1994 and was awarded $40 million to create more jobs, housing, and economic opportunity for area residents. Houston was designated an Enterprise Community in December 1994 and was awarded $3 for similar job-creation efforts. It was later declared an Enhanced Enterprise Community and was awarded an additional $25 million. In addition, Dallas, El Paso, San Antonio, and Waco were each designated Enterprise Communities, and were awarded $3 million each for urban renewal efforts. In 1999, El Paso was designated a New Urban Empowerment Zone, San Antonio was named a Strategic Planning Community, and Uvalde was declared a Rural Enterprise Community. Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Will Help Develop 11,700 To 14,000 New Affordable Housing Units in Texas Over the Next 5 Years: Last year, the President and Vice President pushed for a 40-percent expansion in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. This year, the President and Vice President will try again to enact tax incentives to develop affordable housing. In Texas alone, this proposal would mean an additional 11,700 - 14,000 quality rental housing units for low-income American families during the next five years. PROVIDING DISASTER RELIEF
$212 Million in Federal Emergency Assistance: Since 1993, Texas has received $212 million in disaster relief. This includes $21 million for Tropical Storm Charley, Tropical Storm Frances and fires in 1998, and $166 million in assistance to recover from devastating floods that affected the Houston area in October of 1994. [FEMA, 12/98] EXPANDING FUNDS FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
Over $7 Billion in Federal Highway Aid: Since 1993, Texas has received over $7 billion in federal highway aid. Included in this funding is $22.1 million for emergency relief in response to natural disasters and $160,000 for scenic byways. These funds have helped generate nearly 297,573 jobs. [through FY98] Over $824 Million in Aviation Funds: From FY93-FY98 Texas received over $824 million in Airport Improvement Program funds to help build and renovate airports, and, when necessary, to provide funds for noise abatement to improve the quality of life for residents who live near airports. Over $1.3 Billion in Transit Funds: Texas has received over $1.3 billion in FTA funds since 1993. Saving Lives and Property: In 1997 the United States Coast Guard saved 212 lives and over $64 million of property in Texas.
Last Updated July 1999
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