Clinic access bill 1994 law that makes it a federal crime to attack or physically obstruct abortion clinics.

Clinton crime bill Broad 1994 anticrime measure that bans several types of assault weapons, gives states and municipalities money to hire more police officers, funds drug treatment programs in federal prisons and extends the death penalty to cover more than 60 federal offenses, including terrorist homicides and large-scale drug trafficking. Click here for more information on the crime bill.

Clinton Health Care Plan Sweeping reforms proposed in 1993. Key provisions included guaranteed health insurance for all Americans and government oversight of health care system. Met serious opposition in Congress and private sector and was eventually abandoned by administration. Full text of Clinton's Health Care plan.

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Agreement between industrialized nations establishing rules for international commerce. Texts of GATT and NAFTA.

Goals 2000: Educate America Act Passed in 1994. Established voluntary national standards in public schools. Goals 2000 Legislation and Related Items.

Line item veto Constitutional amendment that would allow the President to veto certain items in legislation while signing whole bill into law.

Medicare Federal health insurance program for elderly.

Medicaid Federal health insurance program for poor.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 1993 treaty that phases out tariffs and other trade barriers between the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Texts of GATT and NAFTA.

Proposition 187 November 1994 referendum passed by California voters that denies all but emergency public services to illegal immigrants. Declared unconstitutional in November 1995 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Appeal is pending.

Unfunded mandate The practice of the federal government imposing rules and regulations on state and local governments without funding them.

Welfare reform bill, House Passed House of Representatives July 1995. Would transfer responsibility for antipoverty programs from federal government to states, set two-year limit on receipt of benefits and deny benefits to women who have children while on welfare.

Welfare reform bill, Senate Passed Senate September 1995. Would transfer responsibility for antipoverty programs from federal government to states and set five-year limit on receipt of welfare benefits.

Interest Group Explanations

National Right to Life Committee Antiabortion lobbying group.

National Abortion Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) Prochoice lobbying group.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Leading African-American civil rights organization.

Concord Coalition Nonpartisan group founded by former Sens. Warren Rudman and Paul Tsongas that works to eliminate the federal budget deficit by the year 2000.

National Taxpayers Union Tax and budget watchdog group.

Citizens Against Government Waste Budget watchdog group.

American Civil Liberties Union Individual liberties watchdog group.

National Education Association National teachers' union and lobbying organization.

American Federation of Teachers National teachers' union and lobbying organization.

League of Conservation Voters Environmental watchdog and lobbying group.

League of Private Property Voters Lobbying group that combats what it deems excessive environmental regulations.

Handgun Control Inc. Lobbying group in favor of gun control laws.

National Rifle Association (NRA) Lobbying group opposed to gun control laws.

American Security Council Lobbying and research group that promotes a strong U.S. defense and wants nation to maintain military superiority.

Council for a Livable World Activist and lobbying group dedicated to scaling back defense spending and weapons systems.

American Public Health Association Watchdog and lobbying group on health care issues.

Competitive Enterprise Institute Lobbying and research group that promotes free trade.

Some information on this page was obtained from Project Vote Smart, a nonprofit, nonpartisan political research organization.