Bill Clinton: “We want to build a new bridge to the 21st century, and that's what we're going to do. Folks, I want us to build that…”

“We want to build a new bridge to the 21st century, and that's what we're going to do. Folks, I want us to build that bridge by working together. I want us to build that bridge by saying everybody's got a place. We worked very hard, for example, to help our bigger businesses sell their products abroad. I was proud just a few days ago at our convention when an autoworker from Toledo, Ohio, working in a plant that was opened in 1910, got up and said that he was making Jeeps and they were selling 41,000 overseas, and we were number one again, and 700 people like him had jobs. I was proud of that. But we also have to have small businesses in places like Mayfield. I'm proud of the fact that we have made every small business in the country eligible for a tax cut if they invest more in their businesses, increasing their annual writeoff from $10,000 to $25,000 a year. I'm proud of the fact that in that minimum wage bill we made it possible for small businesses--made it much easier to take out retirement plans for the owners and employees and then for the employees to keep those retirement savings when they move from job to job. People that work for small businesses ought to be able to have a secure retirement, too, and so should people who change jobs. I'm proud of that. Let me say this: We have to build a bridge to the 21st century where people can succeed at work and at home, can be good parents, most of all. That does mean health care. It does mean retirement security. It does mean higher wages and better jobs. It also means things like the family and medical leave law, the first bill I signed as President. Twelve million American families got to take a little time off from work without losing their job when a baby was born or a parent was sick. I want to expand that to say that parents ought to go to their parent- teacher conferences and their regular doctor's appointments. I want to expand that to say that when a parent earns overtime, the parent should be able to decide to take the overtime in pay or in time with their kids, depending on what they need for the family. And I'm very proud of the fact that in that minimum wage law we also gave a $5,000 tax credit to families who will adopt children, and more if the children have disabilities. There are tens of thousands of children out there that need a home with stable parents, and I hope more people will take advantage of this. That's the kind of bridge I want to build to the future. Will you help us build that bridge? [Applause] It starts in the Mayfields all over America. It starts in the places the politicians don't visit. It starts with the values and the work and the family that you're building. I love these signs. Hillary and Tipper and Al and I are delighted to be here. We ask for your help, your prayers, your support for 68 more days and for 4 years beyond. We can build that bridge to the 21st century wide enough for all of us to walk across. Thank you, and God bless you.”