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The Clinton
Record
Economic Leadership and a
Stronger Economy
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Under President Clinton's leadership,
almost 6 million new jobs were created in the first two years
of his Administration -- an average of 250,000 new jobs every
month.
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In 1994, the economy had the lowest combination of
unemployment and inflation in 25 years.
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As part of the
1993 Economic Plan, President Clinton cut taxes on 15
million low-income families and made tax cuts available to 90
percent of small businesses, while raising taxes on just 1.2
percent of the wealthiest taxpayers. |
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Fighting Crime and
Restoring Our Communities
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The President signed into law the
Brady Bill, which imposes a five-day waiting period on handgun
purchases so that background checks can be done to help keep
handguns away from criminals.
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The President's
Crime Bill will put 100,000 new police officers on the street.
More than 1,200 communities have already received grants to hire
27,000 additional officers.
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The Crime Bill
also punishes criminals by expanding the number of offenses
eligible for the death penalty and implementing the
"three-strikes-and-you're-out" provision.
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And, the Bill
banned the manufacture of 19 specific types of deadly assault
weapons, while simultaneously protecting hunters' rights by
exempting over 650 hunting rifles.
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Strengthening Our Families:
Security and Opportunity
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President Clinton signed
the Family and Medical Leave Act. The law, which covers over
42 million Americans, offers workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid,
job-guaranteed leave for child birth, adoption, or personal or
family illness.
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President Clinton expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit to
cut the taxes of 15 million working families with incomes of
$27,000 or less.
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President Clinton granted waivers to 25 states -- half the nation
-- providing for comprehensive welfare reform demonstrations.
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President Clinton ordered the U.S. Justice Department to conduct
the first-ever crackdown on deadbeat parents who refuse to accept
financial responsibility for their own children.
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Signed an Executive Order
cracking down on federal employees who owe child support.
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Cutting Bureaucracy
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President Clinton has already cut the federal bureaucracy by more
than 100,000 positions. Under the recommendations of the
National Performance Review, the federal bureaucracy will be
reduced by 272,000 -- its lowest level since the Kennedy
Administration.
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And, he reduced the White House staff by 25 percent.
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Making Education A Priority
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Under
the President's Direct Student Loan program, students can
borrow money directly from the government at a lower interest rate
and with many flexible repayment options, including the option to
repay with a percentage of their after-graduation salary.
Taxpayers will save at least $4.3 billion over five years.
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In 1994, over 20,000
AmeriCorps
members tutored students, immunized children, reclaimed urban
parks, and patrolled neighborhoods. In return, they earned $4,725
per year of service towards college tuition or job training.
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President Clinton signed into law
Goals 2000, a national standard of excellence for our public
schools. Already, 41 states and territories have received federal
grants to raise academic standards and improve schools.
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President Clinton's Safe and Drug Free Schools and Community Act
and the Safe Schools Act provide funding to schools to fight
violence and drug abuse. Schools can use up to 25 percent of their
funds to purchase metal detectors, develop safe zones, and hire
school security personnel.
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The President's School-to-Work program provides venture
capital to spark a nationwide system for moving America's young
people from high school to a job with a future. In 1994, all
states received planning funds for their school-to-work program.
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Charter School legislation signed by President Clinton encourages
states and localities to set up public school choice.
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Expanding Markets for
American Products
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The Clinton Administration forged a bipartisan coalition to pass
NAFTA, after concluding tough negotiations on side agreements
covering workers' rights, the environment, and import surges.
Exports to Mexico rose 23 percent in the first 11 months of 1994.
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President Clinton led the fight to pass
GATT, which lowers tariffs worldwide by $744 billion over ten
years -- the largest international tax cut in history. GATT cuts
tariffs on manufactured goods by more than one-third overall and
eliminates tariffs in major markets in a number of sectors in
which the U.S. is particularly competitive.
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Protecting Our Environment
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Under President Clinton, the EPA launched its
"Common Sense Initiative" to make health protection cheaper
and smarter by focusing on results rather than one-size-fits-all
regulations.
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The President's Northwest Forest Plan is putting communities in
the Northwest back to work, while conserving ancient forests.
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After decades of conflict, the Clinton Administration negotiated a
consensus plan to
protect California's most valuable natural resource -- its water.
The San Francisco and Delta estuary supplies dr inking water to
two-thirds of the state's people, provides irrigation for 45
percent of the nation's fruits and vegetables, and sustains 300
aquatic species.
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Promoting Security and
Freedom Abroad
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President Clinton hosted the signing of the Israeli-Palestinian
Declaration of Principles in September, 1993, and the signing of
the Israeli-Jordan Washington Principles in July, 1994 -- historic
agreements between the leaders of Israel and her Arab neighbors to
settle differences by peaceful means.
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To enhance European security and stability, the Clinton
Administration proposed the Partnership for Peace program,
offering former Soviet republics and Central/East European states
closer ties with NATO. Already, 22 nations have signed on, since
NATO's adoption of the program in January, 1994.
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As of May, 1994,
nuclear missiles in Russia and the United States are no longer
targeted against any country. And, as a result of other
Clinton Administration efforts, the
Ukraine is ahead of schedule in reaching the goal of transferring
1,500 nuclear warheads to Russia for dismantlement.
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President Clinton peacefully restored democracy to Haiti,
curbing the violence that threatened tens of thousands of
Haitians, securing our borders, and upholding our commitments and
the commitments made to us in the process.
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CREATING ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY AND SECURITY FOR ALL AMERICANS
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Signed the Economic Package, August 10, 1993. |
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The economy created 7.7 million new jobs in the first 34
months of this Administration.
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Passed the largest deficit-cutting plan in history --
saving more than $1 trillion over seven years.
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On track for three consecutive years of deficit reduction
-- for the first time since Harry Truman.
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Cut federal spending by $255 billion over 5 years.
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Made new tax cuts available to over 90% of small
businesses.
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Unemployment has fallen from 7% when President Clinton took
office to its current rate of 5.6%
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Lowest combined rate of unemployment and inflation since
1968.
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1994 real GDP growth was the highest in a decade.
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Proposed a plan to balance the budget while protecting critical
investments in education. |
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PROMOTING A FUTURE OF OPPORTUNITY
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Increased Head Start funding by almost $760 million.
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Passed the Student Loan Reform Act, August 10, 1993.
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Implemented the National Service Act, September 21, 1993.
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Signed the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, March 31, 1994.
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Enacted the School-to-Work Opportunities Act
on May 4, 1994.
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Signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Reauthorization |
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MAKING
COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS SAFE FOR OUR FAMILIES
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Passed the toughest most comprehensive Crime Bill ever,
September 13, 1994
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Signed the Brady Bill, November 30, 1993.
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Enacted the Assault Weapons Ban as part of the Crime Bill.
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Put 100,000 new police on the street -- nearly 31,000 more
officers have been funded.
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Signed the Violence Against Women Act as part of the Crime
Bill.
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Signed the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act, October 20,
1994.
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Issued Presidential Directive enforcing a "Zero Tolerance" gun
policy in schools, October 22, 1994
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Submitted and fought for the most comprehensive Drug Control
budget ever. |
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MAKING
GOVERNMENT WORK BETTER AND COST LESS
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Already cut the Federal Workforce by over 200,000 -- on the
way to lowest level in 30 years.
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Abolishing 16,000 pages of obsolete regulations and
rewriting 31,000 more pages.
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$58 billion in savings are already in the bank. $46 billion
in savings are still to come.
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Over 180 new recommendations will save $70 billion.
Eliminated 284 federal advisory committees.
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Developed government-wide Customer Service Standards for
the first time.
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Appointed the most diverse Cabinet and Administration in
history.
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Signed the most important federal procurement act ever to
streamline government purchasing.
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Reformed Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation
to protect 8.5 million pensions.
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Signed the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, March 22, 1995. |
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CREATING
OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA'S COMMUNITIES
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Created nine Economic Empowerment Zones and 95
Enterprise Communities.
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Signed the Community Development Banking Financial Institutions
Act, Sept. 23, 1994.
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Signed the Interstate Banking Bill, September 29, 1994.
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Instituted the Defense Reinvestment and Conversion Initiative.
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Reformed the Community Reinvestment Act to focus on
performance rather than paperwork.
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Made the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and Mortgage
Revenue Bond Program permanent. |
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PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
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Issued a new executive order to require polluters to disclose
information to the public and expanded the public's
right-to-know about toxic releases.
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Launched "reinventing environmental regulation" to cut red
tape and better protect public health.
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Issued a new standard to cut pollution from chemical plants
90% by 1997.
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Signed executive orders to increase recycling
and cut pollution in federal buildings.
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Signed the California Desert Protection Act, October 31,
1994.
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Issued a new standard to cut pollution from incinerators
95%.
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Introduced comprehensive Safe Drinking Water
and Superfund reforms.
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Developed a plan to restore Florida's Everglades.
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Ended decades of conflict over the allocation of California
Bay-Delta water. |
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PROMOTING HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS
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Passed the Family and Medical Leave Act, February 5, 1993.
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Signed a comprehensive Child Immunization Plan.
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Revoked the Reagan/Bush restrictions on abortion
counseling ("the gag rule"), abortions in military
hospitals, "Mexico City" policy and RU-486 imports.
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Increased Ryan White CARE Act funding for outpatient
AIDS care over 100% in first 3 budgets.
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Put the Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) on a
full-funding path.
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Increased funding 65% for breast cancer research.
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As part of the balanced budget plan, introduced health care
reform initiative which strengthens Medicare and
expands coverage.
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Proposed a $1.3 billion increase in veterans' benefits --
of which $1 billion will be directed to the VA health system
to provide treatment for 43,000 more veterans. |
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PRESERVING AND STRENGTHENING OUR FAMILIES
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Expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit
providing tax relief for 15 million working families.
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Introduced the Work and Responsibility Act - comprehensive
welfare reform.
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Passed the Family Support and Preservation
Program.
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Passed major funding increases for homeless programs in
both Houses.
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Approved 35 waivers to states permitting comprehensive
welfare reform demonstrations.
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Collected a record $10 billion in child support
through enforcement in 1994.
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Signed the Social Security Independent Agency Act.
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Increased adoption and foster care funds by almost $600
million from 1994-1995. |
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RESTORING TRUST IN OUR GOVERNMENT
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Signed the National Voter Registration Act (Motor-Voter),
May 20, 1993.
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Eliminated the tax deduction for lobbying
expenses.
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Imposed strictest Administration ethics guidelines in
history.
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Barred top officials from becoming foreign lobbyists after
leaving government.
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Signed the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
-- the first overhaul of lobbying rules in 50 years.
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Fought for passage of and signed into law the Congressional
Accountability Act, January 22, 1995.
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Fought for passage of line-item veto and campaign finance. |
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OPENING
FOREIGN MARKETS TO AMERICAN GOODS
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Signed NAFTA into law, December 8, 1993, which will create
hundreds of thousands of US jobs.
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Signed GATT into law, December 8, 1994, the largest trade
agreement in history.
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Secured free-trade commitments from Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) leaders.
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Hosted Summit of the Americas and agreed to negotiate a
Free Trade Area of the Americas by 2005
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Developed National Export Strategy, eliminating outdated
export controls on $35 billion in exports.
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Opened 15 different market sectors in Japan ranging from
telecommunications procurement to rice.
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Reached historic agreement with Japan on opening its automotive
market to billions of dollars worth of American cars
and parts.
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Reached agreement with China to provide intellectual property
rights protection for billions of dollars worth of U.S.
exports. |
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AMERICAN
LEADERSHIP
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Helped Israel and Jordan achieve an historic peace treaty
and Israel and the Palestinians fulfill their historic
accord.
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Contributed to an historic cease-fire in Northern Ireland.
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Restored democratically elected Haitian President Aristide
to power; will continue to stop the flow of refugees
to Florida.
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Undertook, with NATO allies and UN, military and diplomatic
actions to alleviate the suffering and lead the effort to broker a
comprehensive peace agreement in Bosnia.
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Russian nuclear missiles are no longer pointed at our
cities.
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Persuaded Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan to give up the
nuclear weapons left on their land when the Soviet Union
collapsed.
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Agreed to framework with North Korea that freezes and leads
to the eventual elimination of North Korea s dangerous
nuclear program.
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Led the international effort to secure the indefinite and
unconditional extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty (NPT) further reducing the danger of nuclear
proliferation around the world.
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Working to prevent nuclear weapons from ending up in the hands of
terrorists or international criminals.
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Air-lifted more than half a ton of vulnerable, highly
enriched uranium, enough to make dozens of nuclear bombs,
from Kazakhstan to safe storage.
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Assisted South Africa's transition to democracy, providing
support for elections and development.
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Bringing the nations of Europe closer:
-- Modernizing NATO;
-- Working with Russia;
-- Reforming the former Soviet Union economies
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Waging a tough counter-terrorism campaign
with stronger laws and more training for law enforcement.
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Maintaining strong sanctions against states that sponsor
terrorism and defy the rule of rule, such as Iran, Iraq,
Libya and Sudan.
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Sent our planes, ships and troops to turn back a new Iraqi
threat to the Persian Gulf.
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