As Congress considers its budget cuts this week, President Clinton will emphasize his solid record cutting the deficit and his commitment to a balanced budget. The President is proud of what he has done to cut the deficit and wasteful spending. He wants to build on that success by balancing the budget, while preserving common sense investments that reflect our values.

o The deficit has been shrinking for three straight years, for the first time since Harry Truman was President.

o The deficit is being cut in half as a percent of the economy.

o The President has a plan to put the budget in balance and lift the debt off the backs of America's children.

President Clinton Wants a Budget That Reflects our Values -- opportunity, family, community and responsibility -- by:

o INVESTING IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING so America's families can thrive in the new economy.

o HONORING OUR COMMITMENT TO AMERICA'S ELDERLY, helping them live with the health and economic security they deserve.

o PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH so our children grow up in a clean and safe world.

o REWARDING WORK over welfare and providing tax relief for middle class families.

o BALANCING THE BUDGET to lift the burden of debt off our children.

"I've given the Congress a balanced budget that cuts all kinds of spending; it eliminates hundreds of programs. But it increases our investment in education, in technology, in research. It protects instead of hurts the old, the poor, the disabled, the little children."

President Clinton, October 23, 1995

President Clinton Will Fight Against Balancing the Budget on the Backs of Our Children. The current Republican plan would:

o Eliminate Medicaid coverage for as many as 4.4 million children in 2002.

o Deny 1 million women Healthy Start infant mortality services, affecting the births of 74,000 infants each year.

o Raise taxes on the families of more than 23 million children by an average of $415 in 2002.

o Deny Head Start to 180,000 children nationwide in 2002.

o Deny 1.1 million children basic and advanced skills in 1996.

o Deny more than 23 million students opportunity to participate in the Safe and Drug Free Schools initiative.

o Deny 50,000 young people next year the opportunity to serve their communities through AmeriCorps, the President's national service effort.

o Leave children exposed to hazardous waste by slashing funds to clean 200 hazardous waste sites nationwide by 36% in 2002.

o Deny 404,000 children child care assistance in 2002.

o Eliminate home energy assistance for 6 million children.

o Deny assistance to more than 16,000 homeless children.

o Force the families of 3.4 million children to pay more rent.