EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
Unemployment Down to 3.5%: The unemployment rate in Oklahoma declined from 5.8% to 3.5 % since 1993. 238,900 New Jobs: 238,900 new jobs have been created in Oklahoma since 1993 -- an average of 37,231 jobs per year, compared to an average of just 21,525 jobs per year during the previous administration. 231,100 New Private Sector Jobs: Since 1993, 231,100 new private sector jobs have been created-an average of 36,016 jobs per year, compared to an average of just 16,500 private sector jobs per year in the previous administration. 19,900 New Manufacturing Jobs: 19,900 manufacturing jobs have been created in Oklahoma since 1993 -- an average of 3,101 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of only 1,075 manufacturing jobs were created each year during the previous administration. 15,800 New Construction Jobs: 15,800 construction jobs have been created in Oklahoma since 1993 -- an average of 2,462 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of only 1,225 construction jobs were created each year during the previous administration. 200,000 Have Received a Raise: Approximately 86,000 Oklahoma workers benefited from an increase in the minimum wage-from $4.25 to $4.75 -- on October 1, 1996. They, along with about 114,000 more received an additional raise-from $4.75 to $5.15 -- on September 1, 1997. Poverty Has Fallen: In Oklahoma, the poverty rate has fallen from 19.9% in 1993 to 13.7% in 1997--down 6.2% under President Clinton. [Census Bureau] Home Building Up 10.1%: Home building in Oklahoma has increased an average of 10.1% per year since 1993. In contrast, home building decreased an average of 6.9% during the previous two administrations. 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 326,000 families in Oklahoma. 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 Oklahoma this year. EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION
Over 12,000 Children in Head Start: Over 12,000 Oklahoma children were enrolled in Head Start in 1998. In FY99, Oklahoma will receive $54.4 million in Head Start funding, an increase of $22.2 million over 1993. More High-Quality Teachers With Smaller Classes for Oklahoma'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. Oklahoma receives $13.5 million in 1999 to hire about 348 new public school teachers. And, under President Clinton's proposal, Oklahoma would receive $16 million in FY00 to support a total of 431 teachers. Nearly $5.6 Million in Goals 2000 Funding: This year [FY99], Oklahoma receives nearly $5.6 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. $4.8 Million for Technology Literacy: This year [FY99], Oklahoma receives $4.8 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. Connecting Oklahoma's Schools and Libraries to the Internet: The E-rate program is part of the Administration's effort to connect every classroom and library to the information superhighway, giving every child access to the resources and knowledge available online. This program helps schools and libraries by providing discounts of 20 to 90 percent on telecommunications services, internal connections and Internet access - with the largest discounts going to the poorest urban and rural schools. In the first year of funding alone, Oklahoma received over $32.6 million in E-rate discounts. $88.3 Million for Students Most in Need: Oklahoma will receive $88.3 million in Title I grants (to Local Education Agencies) 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 $1.5 million over FY98 funding. 59,800 Students Will Receive Pell Grants This Year: This year [FY00], Oklahoma will receive $116.4 million in Pell Grants for low-income students going to college, benefiting a total of 59,800 Oklahoma students. 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. Oklahoma will receive $10.4 million in Work-Study funding in 1999 to help Oklahoma students work their way through college. Over 700 Have Served in Oklahoma through AmeriCorps: Since the National Service program began in 1993, 746 AmeriCorps participants have earned money for college while working in Oklahoma'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. 74,000 students in Oklahoma will receive a HOPE Scholarship tax credit of up to $1,500. 90,000 students in Oklahoma will receive the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. [fully phased-in FY00 estimate] Expanded Job Training to Oklahoma's Dislocated Workers: Thanks to President Clinton, the FY99 budget includes a significant expansion in the dislocated worker program. Oklahoma will receive $5.7 million in 1999 to help 3,410 of Oklahoma's dislocated workers get the training and reemployment services they need to return to work as quickly as possible. FIGHTING CRIME AND VIOLENCE
Violent Crime Has Fallen 7%: Since 1992, violent crime in Oklahoma has fallen 7%. In Tulsa, between 1992 and 1997, serious crime, as indicated by the crime index, has fallen 7%. In addition, robberies have declined 24% in Oklahoma City, with a 13% drop in rape, and a 3% drop in murder. [1992 and 1997 Uniform Crime Reports] Juvenile Arrests Down in Oklahoma: Oklahoma's juvenile violent crime arrests have decreased 17% between 1992 and 1997. [FBI, Uniform Crime Report, 1992 and 1997] 871 More Police: The President's 1994 Crime Bill has funded 871 new police officers to date in communities across Oklahoma. [through 7/99] Reducing Crime with Drug Courts: Working to reduce drug-related crime in Oklahoma, the Clinton Administration has awarded Drug Court grants to the communities of Sapulpa and Seminole County. The Administration had previously awarded grants to a number of Oklahoma communities including: Stillwater, Claremore, Elk City, Muskogee, Oklahoma City, Okmulgee, Enid, Perkins, Purcell and Tahlequah. 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. Nearly $4 Million to Combat Domestic Violence: Through the Violence Against Women Act, Oklahoma received $3.9 million in federal funds in FY98 to establish more women's shelters and bolster law enforcement, prosecution and victims' services. Over $700,000 in Grants for Battered Women and Children: In FY98, Oklahoma received over $700,000 in HHS's Family Violence Prevention Program grants to assist women and children fleeing domestic abuse, an additional $125,000 increase over FY97. $5.1 Million to Keep Drugs & Violence Out of Oklahoma's Schools: Oklahoma has received $5.1 million in FY99 for the Safe & Drug Free Schools Program, which invests in school security and drug prevention programs. MOVING OKLAHOMA RESIDENTS FROM WELFARE TO WORK
89,814 Fewer People on Welfare: There are 89,814 fewer people on welfare in Oklahoma now than there were at the beginning of 1993 -- a 61% decrease. [through 3/99] Child Support Collections Up 85%: Child support collections have been increased by $40 million-or 85% -- in Oklahoma since FY92. [through FY98] Encouraging Responsible Choices-Preventing Teen Pregnancy in Oklahoma: 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 Oklahoma. $22.1 Million for California Welfare-to-Work: In 1998, Oklahoma received $11.5 million in Federal welfare-to-work state formula grants (the state matched $5.7 million in funding), helping Oklahoma welfare recipients get and keep jobs. In addition, $2.8 million in competitive grants were awarded to Oklahoma localities to support innovative welfare-to-work strategies and Native American tribes in Oklahoma received $2.0 million in Federal funding. 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. Eastern Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa have received a total of $1.3 million this year to fund innovative transit projects. INVESTING IN OKLAHOMA'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 Oklahoma the balanced budget provided $81.2 million in 1998. This compares to the 1995 Republican plan vetoed by President Clinton that would have denied health care coverage to 69,300 children in Oklahoma. Helping 108,000 Oklahoma 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, Oklahoma received $44.7 million in total WIC grant funding, helping 108,000 women, infants and children in need receive health and food assistance, 20,700 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 Oklahoma in 1997, 95% of two-year olds received the vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis; 90% received the vaccine for polio; 88% received the vaccine for measles, and 93% received the vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae B, the bacteria causing a form of meningitis. Increased Funding for Ryan White by $12.1 Million: Between 1993 and 1998, Oklahoma communities received $12.1 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 44% in Oklahoma: The Clinton Administration's tobacco proposal, combined with the recently enacted state tobacco settlements, will cut youth smoking and resulting premature deaths 44% in Oklahoma by 2004. Between 2000 and 2004, 40,400 of Oklahoma's youth will be kept from smoking and 12,900 will be spared a premature tobacco-related death. [Treasury Dept., 2/99] 1,240,000 Americans in Oklahoma Cannot Be Assured They Have Patient Protections: Even if Oklahoma enacted all the protections in the Patients' Bill of Rights, 1,240,000 people in Oklahoma 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, 630,000 Oklahoma 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
$11.9 Million in Safe Drinking Water Funding: This year [FY99], thanks to President Clinton, Oklahoma will receive $10.7 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, Oklahoma will receive $1.2 million in Public Water Supply Supervision grants to help monitor drinking water quality and enforce health standards. Four Superfund Clean-up Sites in Oklahoma: Since 1993, the EPA has completed four toxic waste site clean-ups in Oklahoma. The sites are located in Oklahoma City (2), Criner and Sand Springs, Oklahoma (through 6/99). In contrast, only one site was cleaned up under the previous two administrations combined. Revitalizing Brownfields Project in Oklahoma: As part of the Clinton-Gore Administration's efforts to clean up Brownfields, the EPA has awarded grants to Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and the Comanche Nation for environmental clean-up and economic revitalization. This project is intended to jump-start local clean-up efforts by providing funds to return unproductive, abandoned, contaminated urban properties to productive use. SPEARHEADING RURAL AND URBAN RENEWAL EFFORTS
Revitalizing Oklahoma's Communities: Oklahoma City and Little Dixie were designated Enterprise Communities in December, 1994 and were awarded $3 million each to create more jobs, housing, and economic opportunity for area residents. In 1999, Ada was designated a Rural Enterprise Community. Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Will Help Develop 4,100 To 4,900 New Affordable Housing Units in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma alone, this proposal would mean an additional 4,100 - 4,900 quality rental housing units for low-income American families during the next five years. Helping Rural Oklahoma Families: Since 1993, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has invested more than $814 million in Oklahoma for rural economic development efforts including rural water and sewer, housing and business assistance. [through FY98] PROVIDING DISASTER RELIEF
$71 Million in Federal Emergency Assistance: Since 1993, Oklahoma has received $71 million in disaster relief. This includes $730 thousand for extreme fire hazards in 1998, and $4.7 million in crisis counseling assistance for those residents affected by the Federal Building Bombing in April of 1995. [FEMA, 12/98] EXPANDING FUNDS FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
Over $1.6 Billion in Federal Highway Aid: Since 1993, Oklahoma has received over $1.6 billion in federal highway aid. Included in this funding is $24.8 million for emergency relief in response to natural disasters. These funds have helped generate 67,526 jobs. [through FY98] Over $69 Million in Aviation Funds: From FY93-FY98 Oklahoma received over $69 million in Airport Improvement Project 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 $78 Million in Transit Funds: Oklahoma has received over $78 million in FTA funds since 1993.
Last Updated August 1999
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