EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL:
Unemployment Down to 3.2%: The unemployment rate in Utah has declined from 4.4% to 3.2% since 1993. 260,000 New Jobs: 260,000 new jobs have been created in Utah since 1993 -- an average of 41,053 jobs per year compared to the average of just 28,150 jobs per year during the previous administration. 241,200 New Private Sector Jobs: Since 1993, 241,200 new private sector jobs have been created-an average of 38,084 jobs per year, compared to an average of just 24,575 private sector jobs per year in the previous administration. 25,600 New Manufacturing Jobs: 25,600 manufacturing jobs have been created in Utah since 1993 -- an average of 4,042 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of only 1,650 manufacturing jobs were created each year during the previous administration. 35,300 New Construction Jobs: 35,300 construction jobs have been created in Utah since 1993 -- an average of 5,574 jobs per year 77,000 Have Received a Raise: Approximately 33,000 Utah workers benefited from an increase in the minimum wage-from $4.25 to $4.75 -- on October 1, 1996. They, along with about 44,000 more received an additional raise-from $4.75 to $5.15 -- on September 1, 1997. Home Ownership Has Increased in Utah: Home ownership in Utah has increased from 70.2% to 73.9% since the fourth quarter of 1993. Home Building Up 6.1% Per Year: New home building in Utah has increased 6.1% per year since 1993. Poverty Has Fallen: Nationally, the poverty rate has fallen from 15.1% in 1993 to 13.3% in 1997. In Utah, the poverty rate has fallen from 10.7% in 1993 to 8.9% in 1997--down 1.8% under President Clinton. [Census Bureau] 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 257,000 families in Utah. 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 Utah this year. 21.5% Growth in Total Bank Loans and Leases: Utah has seen a 21.5% average annual growth rate in total bank loans and leases per year since 1993. In contrast, total bank loans and leases grew only an average of 0.2% per year during the previous administration. 21.7% Growth in Commercial and Industrial Loans and Leases: Since 1993, Utah has experienced a 21.7% annual growth rate in commercial and industrial loans and leases. In contrast, commercial and industrial loans and leases fell an average of 5.2% during the previous administration. EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION
Over 4,500 Children in Head Start: Over 4,500 Utah children were enrolled in Head Start in 1998. In FY99, Utah will receive $23.3 million in Head Start funding, an increase of $10.1 million over 1993. More High-Quality Teachers With Smaller Classes for Utah's 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. Utah receives $7.7 million in 1999 to hire about 198 new public school teachers. And, under President Clinton's proposal, Utah would receive $9 million in FY2000 to support a total of 245 teachers. Nearly $3.2 Million in Goals 2000 Funding: This year [FY99], Utah receives nearly $3.2 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. $2.1 Million for Technology Literacy: This year [FY99], Utah receives $2.1 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. Over $33 Million for Students Most in Need: Utah receives over $33 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] $73.8 Million in Pell Grants: This year [FY99], Utah will receive $73.8 million in Pell Grants for low-income students going to college, an additional $3.5 million over last year. With this increase, a total of 41,300 Utah 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. Utah will receive $4.7 million in Work-Study funding in 1999 to help Utah students work their way through college. Over 500 Have Served in Utah through AmeriCorps: Since the National Service program began in 1993, 522 AmeriCorps participants have earned money for college while working in Utah's 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. 53,000 students in Utah will receive a HOPE Scholarship tax credit of up to $1,500. 65,000 students in Utah will receive the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. [fully phased-in FY2000 estimate] Expanded Job Training to Utah's Dislocated Workers: Thanks to President Clinton, the FY99 budget includes a significant expansion in the dislocated worker program. Utah will receive $2.5 million in 1999 to help 1,510 of Utah's dislocated workers get the training and reemployment services they need to return to work as quickly as possible. FIGHTING CRIME AND VIOLENCE
Juvenile Arrests Down in Utah: Utah's juvenile arrests have decreased 27% between 1992 and 1997, (as measured by the crime index). [FBI, Uniform Crime Report, 1992 and 1997] 914 More Police: The President's 1994 Crime Bill has funded 914 new police officers to date in communities across Utah. [through 7/99] Reducing Crime with Drug Courts: Working to reduce drug-related crime in Utah, the Clinton Administration has awarded Drug Court grants to the communities of Salt Lake City, Provo, and Vernal. 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. $1.8 Million to Combat Domestic Violence: Through the Violence Against Women Act, Utah received $1.8 million in federal funds in FY98 to establish more women's shelters and bolster law enforcement, prosecution and victims' services. $400,000 in Grants for Battered Women and Children: In FY98, Utah received $400,000 in HHS's Family Violence Prevention Program grants to assist women and children fleeing domestic abuse, an additional $27,000 increase over FY97. Nearly $3.0 Million to Keep Drugs & Violence Out of Utah Schools: Utah received $3.0 million in FY99 for the Safe & Drug Free Schools Program, which invests in school security and drug prevention programs. MOVING UTAH RESIDENTS FROM WELFARE TO WORK
25,646 Fewer People on Welfare: There are 25,646 fewer people on welfare in Utah now than there were at the beginning of 1993 -- a 48% decrease. [through 12/98] Child Support Collections Up 84%: Child support collections have increased by $44 million-or 84% -- in Utah since FY92. [through FY98] Encouraging Responsible Choices-Preventing Teen Pregnancy in Utah: 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 8% in Utah. $3.0 Million for Utah Welfare-to-Work: In 1998, $3.0 million in competitive grants were awarded to Utah 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. INVESTING IN UTAH'S HEALTH
Health Care for Uninsured Children: The balanced budget includes 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 Utah the Balanced Budget provided $24 million in 1998. This compares to the 1995 Republican plan vetoed by President Clinton that would have denied health care coverage to 25,900 children in Utah. Helping 57,000 Utah 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, Utah received $30.2 million in total WIC grant funding, helping 57,000 women, infants and children in need receive health and food assistance, 1,700 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 Utah in 1997, 93% of two-year olds received the vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis; 90% received the vaccine for polio; 86% 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 $6.6 Million: Between 1993 and 1998, Utah communities received $6.6 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 46% in Utah: The Clinton Administration's tobacco proposal, combined with the recently enacted state tobacco settlements, will cut youth smoking and resulting premature deaths 46% in Utah by 2004. Between 2000 and 2004, 23,000 of Utah's youth will be kept from smoking and 7,400 will be spared a premature tobacco-related death. [Treasury Dept., 2/99] 950,000 Americans in Utah Cannot Be Assured They Have Patient Protections: Even if Utah enacted all the protections in the Patients' Bill of Rights, 950,000 people in Utah 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, 470,000 Utah 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
$8.2 Million in Safe Drinking Water Funding: This year [FY99], thanks to President Clinton, Utah will receive $7.4 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, Utah will receive $771,300 in Public Water Supply Supervision grants to help monitor drinking water quality and enforce health standards. Five Superfund Sites Cleaned Up: Since the President took office in 1993, the EPA has completed five toxic waste site clean-up in Utah. The sites are located in Midvale, Ogden and Salt Lake City (3) [through 6/99]. Brownfields-Revitalizing Communities in Utah: As part of the Clinton-Gore Administration's efforts to clean up Brownfields, the EPA has awarded grants to communities in Utah-Murray City, Ogden City, Provo, West Jordan, and Salt Lake City-for environmental clean-up and economic revitalization. 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 RENEWAL EFFORTS
Revitalizing Utah's Communities: Ogden was designated an Enterprise Community and were awarded $3 million each to create more jobs, housing, and economic opportunity for area residents. Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Will Help Develop 1,000 To 1,200 New Affordable Housing Units in Utah 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 Utah alone, this proposal would mean an additional 1,000 - 1,200 quality rental housing units for low-income American families during the next five years. PROVIDING DISASTER RELIEF
$157 Thousand in Federal Emergency Assistance: Since 1993, Utah has received $157 million in disaster relief. [FEMA, 12/98] EXPANDING FUNDS FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
Over $788 Million in Federal Highway Aid: Since 1993, Utah has received over $788 million in federal highway aid. Included in this funding is $600,000 for emergency relief in response to natural disasters and $2.72 million for scenic byways. These funds have helped generate 33,214 jobs. [through FY98] Over $142 Million in Aviation Funds: From FY93-FY98 Utah received over $142 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. Approximately $248 Million in Transit Funds: Utah has received approximately $248 million in FTA funds since 1993.
Last Updated July 1999