We brought about with the Congress, after much delay, the renewal of the general revenue sharing.  We expanded community development and Federal manpower programs.  We began a significant urban mass transit program.  Federal programs today provide more funds for our States and local governments than ever before—­$70 billion for the current fiscal year.  Through these programs and others that provide aid directly to individuals, we have kept faith with our tradition of compassionate help for those who need it.  As we begin our third century we can be proud of the progress that we have made in meeting human needs for all of our citizens.

We have cut the growth of crime by nearly 90 percent.  Two years ago crime was increasing at the rate of 18 percent annually.  In the first three quarters of 1976, that growth rate had been cut to 2 percent.  But crime, and the fear of crime, remains one of the most serious problems facing our citizens.

We have had some successes, and there have been some disappointments.  Bluntly, I must remind you that we have not made satisfactory progress toward achieving energy independence.  Energy is absolutely vital to the defense of our country, to the strength of our economy, and to the quality of our lives.

Two years ago I proposed to the Congress the first comprehensive national energy program—­a specific and coordinated set of measures that would end our vulnerability to embargo, blockade, or arbitrary price increases and would mobilize U.S. technology and resources to supply a significant share of the free world’s energy after 1985.  Of the major energy proposals I submitted 2 years ago, only half, belatedly, became law.  In 1973 we were dependent upon foreign oil imports for 36 percent of our needs.  Today, we are 40-percent dependent, and we’ll pay out $34 billion for foreign oil this year.  Such vulnerability at present or in the future is intolerable and must be ended.

The answer to where we stand on our national energy effort today reminds me of the old argument about whether the tank is half full or half empty.  The pessimist will say we have half failed to achieve our 10-year energy goals; the optimist will say that we have half succeeded.  I am always an optimist, but we must make up for lost time.

We have laid a solid foundation for completing the enormous task which confronts us.  I have signed into law five major energy bills which contain significant measures for conservation, resource development, stockpiling, and standby authorities.  We have moved forward to develop the naval petroleum reserves; to build a 500-million barrel strategic petroleum stockpile; to phase out unnecessary Government allocation and price controls; to develop a lasting relationship with other oil consuming nations; to improve the efficiency of energy use through conservation in automobiles, buildings, and industry; and to expand research on new technology and renewable resources such as wind power, geothermal and solar energy.  All these actions, significant as they are for the long term, are only the beginning.