Investing in America's Youth

his generation has a duty to give the next generation a future of genuine opportunity. Our young people deserve the best. I am determined that they will get it. We must work together to build the brightest, the best prepared, the most secure, and the most successful generation of young people in the history of our nation.”

—President Bill Clinton

President Clinton is working to give our nation's young people greater opportunity to live out their dreams -- with stronger families, more educational opportunity, economic security, a cleaner environment, and a safer world. As we enter a new century, higher education is more important than ever -- the path to high-wage jobs and a brighter future. That is why President Clinton is increasing access to college for as many Americans as possible. He is investing in America's youth by:

	Creating AmeriCorps, the national service initiative that gives young people the opportunity to earn money for college by serving their communities and their country. In the past two years, 45,000 volunteers have worked in schools, hospitals, neighborhoods, and parks while earning money for college.
	Reforming the student loan program, making college more affordable for 1.7 million students in 1994 and 1995. The President's new Direct Lending Program provides college students with access to flexible repayment options, including pay-as-you-earn plans.
	Increasing the minimum Pell Grant from $2,300 to $2,470. The President also proposes another increase in the Pell Grant to $2,700 for 1997, providing grants to 3.8 million students.
	Expanding the School-to-Work Program and other opportunities for students who are not immediately bound for four-year colleges -- through local partnerships among businesses, schools, community organizations, and state and local governments.
	Creating the Community Schools Program to promote constructive alternatives to crime for young people when they are not in school.
	Protecting the Summer Youth Employment and Training Program, which gives many disadvantaged urban and rural students their first work experience.
	Promoting sound economic policies that have cut the deficit by more than half, created 10.5 million new jobs, increased exports by 31 percent, and brought down interest rates to record lows -- reducing the cost of credit cards and student loans.
	Creating the COPS Youth Firearms Violence Initiative to enhance community policing efforts to address the rise of youth firearm violence. Firearms kill more people between the ages of 15 and 24 than all natural causes combined.
	Signing the Violence Against Women Act, which helps states bolster law enforcement and provides funds to prevent rape and the sexual exploitation of runaway and homeless youth.
	Adding 100,000 police to our streets and signing the Brady Bill and Assault Weapons Ban.
	Increasing funding for AIDS research, prevention, and care by 37 percent, helping the 17,745 young adults ages 20-24 who were diagnosed with AIDS by June 1995.
	Protecting our environment by issuing an executive order requiring industries to disclose information to their neighbors about toxic releases, by expanding national parks, by improving inspection of meat and poultry, and by signing executive orders to increase recycling and to cut waste in federal buildings.
	Brokering the Dayton Peace Accords, ending four years of bloodshed in Bosnia and providing a secure environment so that elections and economic reconstruction can proceed.
	Championing peace efforts in the Middle East, negotiating the Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty, and helping Israelis and Palestinians to fulfill their historic peace agreement.

Building on Our Progress

President Clinton will continue to give young people the opportunities they need to succeed in the next century by:

	Proposing his HOPE Scholarship Plan to make the first two years of college as universally available as high school.
	Proposing a tax deduction of up to $10,000 per year for the cost of college tuition and training.
	Proposing a dramatic expansion of the College Work Study Program, increasing the number of students involved in work study to more than 1 million over the next five years.
	Proposing the largest-ever, merit-based scholarship program to reward the top 5 percent of high school graduates with $1,000 grants toward the cost of college.

Meeting Our Challenges Protecting Our Values