One month ago yesterday, President Bill Clinton became only the second commander-in-chief in America’s history to be impeached by the House of Representatives.

Yesterday, Clinton walked into the House chamber to face Congress and the American people as he delivered his State of the Union address.

Even as Clinton urged the nation to look ahead into the next century as “one America,” the Senate remains divided about the fate of his presidency.

Although the president’s lawyers spent the day defending him to the Senate, Clinton made no mention of Monica or impeachment, and he instead went ahead with plans for the duration of his presidency.

Just the way it should have been.

Although there is little on Capitol Hill for Clinton to be excited about during the impeachment trial, there was much in his State of the Union address to be excited about.

Clinton called for a majority of expected budget surpluses from the next 15 years to go into saving the dwindling Social Security fund. He also outlined a plan to invest portions of that money in the stock market.

Clinton called for saving parts of the budget surpluses for Medicare and retirement accounts.

The president focused on education during his address, proposing to hold school districts to strict, results-based accountability — “to support what works and to stop supporting what doesn’t.”

Clinton called on businesses and local governments to work together to fix the Y2K problem nationwide, and he assured those receiving Social Security checks that their money will still arrive on time.

He announced that the Justice Department will sue tobacco companies for billions of dollars that the government has spent on caring for smokers.

Clinton also advocated equal pay for women and mentioned the possibility that a woman could be standing in his place in the next hundred years.

All of these issues are important to our nation.

From saving Social Security to invigorating education, the problems facing America are weighty and timely. They require the undivided attention of our president and our congressional leaders.

President Clinton gave his attention to these issues Tuesday night.

It’s time for Congress to refocus its attention on the State of the Union as well.