If you want to remind yourself why you worked for Barack Obama's election (and the election of the Democrats who supported him by passing the necessary legislation), if you want to see what a true progressive agenda looks like, scroll down this list and realize: this was in 22 months and in the face of the most hostile Congress any president has faced in modern history. If you are still convinced Barack Obama is a failure and sellout, so be it. But, if you think even a quarter of this list represents real progress for America, perhaps you'll also decide that supporting the President over the next two difficult years makes more sense than walking away and surrendering to the Just Say No Republicans. This indeed does turn out to be the hope and change that I voted for.
Arts and Culture Increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to the highest level since 1992. Created an artist corps for public schools. Championed the importance of arts education. Promoted cultural diplomacy.
Banking and Financial Reform BROAD POLICY Established the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and reform. Established President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans., Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010., Dodd-Frank (DF) Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the biggest financial reform law since the Great Depression. Managed the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) Assigned a Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program Act of 2009. Pension relief Act of 2010. Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act., Played a lead role in G-20 Summit re: financial crisis. Reformed deferral rules to curb tax advantages for investing overseas. Established new offshore investment policy that promotes in-sourcing., 1
FUNDING Cut salaries for 65 bailout executives (Pay Czar). Banks have repaid 75% of TARP funds, bringing the cost down to $89B as of June 2010. Closed offshore tax safe havens, tax credit loopholes. , TARGETED ACTIONS Created the Financial Stability Oversight Council to monitor stability of the financial system and individual firms (DF). New requirements for reporting financial data (DF). Created self-funded Office of Financial Research (OFR) to collect information from financial firms (DF). OFR employees must wait a year before working for certain financial firms. Provided for orderly liquidation of financial companies (DF). Limited trading activities of banks (Volcker Rule) beginning 2 yrs after passage (DF). Swaps Pushout Rule prevented federal assistance to swaps (including derivatives) traders (DF). Derivatives must be traded transparently through a clearing house (DF). Defined the amount and nature of assets required to meet capital requirements (DF). Originators of asset-backed securities must retain 5% ownership/risk (DF). Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (DF). Stronger client fiduciary duty for broker-dealers (DF). Higher standards for securities advertising and disclosures (DF). Expanded “insider loans” (DF). Higher standards for sytemically important ($50 billion assets+) institutions, including annual stress tests and restrictions on bank acquisitions (DF). Executive compensation must be determined by an independent committee (DF). Issued compensation guidelines for bank executive salary and bonuses. Financial agencies must establish Offices of Women and Minorities to promote more diverse hiring (DF). Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act., Credit CARD Technical Corrections Act of 2009. Established a credit card bill of rights. Reformed credit card swipe fees. Created new criminal penalties for mortgage fraud. Congress pursued Goldman Sachs for securities violations. Permanently extended Research and Experimentation Tax Credit for domestic investments. RESULTS (Treasury) Sold 1.5 billion shares of Citigroup at a profit. G-20 summit produced a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals. Financial reform has ‘strongest consumer financial protections in history.’
Civil Rights FUNDING Provided $12.2 billion in new funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Act though the American Recovery and investment Act. 2
TARGETED ACTIONS Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; Instituted equal pay for women. Presidential Memorandum extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. , Presidential Memorandum protecting gay and lesbian partners’ visitation/healthcare decisionmaking rights (4/15/2010). Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act to include gender, sexual orientation and disability. Supported the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT). Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act. Established White House Council on Women and Girls (Executive Order 13506 ). Financial agencies must establish Offices of Women and Minorities to promote more diverse hiring. Increased minority access to capital. Pushing through settlement in the black farmers lawsuit against USDA., Signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Increased Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities (Exec Order)(celebrating 20th anniversary of the ADA).,
Commerce, Trade and Technology BROAD POLICY Promoted internet freedom as part of U.S. foreign policy., Webcaster Settlement Act of 2009. Satellite Television Extension Act of 2010. FUNDING Expanded loan programs for small businesses. TARGETED ACTION: Small Business Act. Small Business Investment Act. Proposed tougher meat industry antitrust rules. Denied federal contracts to tax delinquents. Appointed the nation’s first Chief Technology Officer. Established Federal IT Dashboard. Modernized the USA.gov portal to connect people to the services they require. Launched the National Export Initiative, with the goal of doubling US exports by 2015. Provided National Export Initiative/Progress report and named President’s Export Council., Launched piracy crackdown.
Conservation BROAD POLICY Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Amendments Act of 2009. Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. North American Wetlands Conservation Act. 3
Stewardship of the Ocean (established National Ocean Council ), our Coasts and the Great Lakes (Executive Order). Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance (Executive Order)., Established partnerships to share environmental technology with other countries. FUNDING Increased funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Increased funding for national parks and forests. $175 million of ARRA allocated for water conservation, $135 million of that in the West. TARGETED AREAS: Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic., Expanded access to places to hunt and fish. Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration (Executive Order)., Led effort to phase out whaling. Pursued a wildfire management plan. Encouraged more controlled burns to reduce wildfires. Ordered removal of more brush, small trees and vegetation that fuel wildfires.
Economy BROAD POLICY The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA): a $789 billion economic stimulus plan. US auto industry rescue plan., Start-Up activity now higher than it was during the dotcom boom. Created task force to fight deficit. Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009. Temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. FUNDING Increased minority access to capital. $26 billion aid to states package (Aug 2010). TARGETED ACTIONS Raised the small business investment limit to $250,000 through the end of 2009. Created an Advanced Manufacturing Fund to invest in peer-reviewed manufacturing processes. Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act – establishes a Federal “Do Not Pay” list. Extended and indexed the 2007 Alternative Minimum Tax patch. Adopted Economic Substance tax doctrine. Extended unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits. Economy grew 5.9% in 4th quarter. U.S. Economy: Manufacturing grew by most since 2004. U.S. GDP up 3.2% in first quarter. Consumer spending showed biggest rise in 3 years. Orders for most durable goods rose. Wholesale inventories and sales rose in March. $26 billion state aid bill triggered a surge of private municipal investment. EXHIBITS – THE STIMULUS ONE YEAR LATER: 4
Success of the stimulus–how do you illustrate ‘could have been worse’? Distribution of ARRA funds by year. Need for financial education: Investors who act on their own do worse than T-bills; market timers earn negative returns. Consumer debt patterns (revolving and non-revolving) through end of 2009. Growth of the national debt from 2000-2009. Bar chart showing increases in national debt by President (since Carter). Pie chart: 2009 annual deficit contrasting large Bush tax cuts and relatively small ARRA. THE LEGACY: AUGUST 2010 The Economy Has Been Growing – seasonally adjusted change in GDP by quarter 2007-2010. The Private Sector Has Begun to Add Jobs – Monthly change in nonfarm employment 20082010. GDP would have been lower without the Recovery Act (2007-2013 projection) (scroll down to Part III to see chart). Unemployment would have been higher without ARRA (2008-2010). The gap between actual and full-employment GDP would have been much larger without TARP and ARRA (2008-2010). MISCELLANEOUS EXHIBITS: Public Sector Lost 316,000 jobs October 09-July 10 (state aid negotiated out of ARRA by GOP).
Education: College BROAD POLICY Enacted largest reform of student aid in 40 years., Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010. Established President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans. FUNDING Increased funding for land-grant college. Provided means for students struggling to make college loan payments to refinance. TARGETED ACTIONS Expanded Pell grants for low-income students. Expanded Pell grant pool by eliminating private lender subsidies for student loans.
Education: Health of Children BROAD POLICY Created the Race to the Top Fund ($4.35 billion) to reward States that create comprehensive education reform plans. Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 . FUNDING Provided funding for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools. Established State Equalization Fund; new funds for school construction (ARRA). Provided $77 Billion for reforms to to strengthen Elementary and Secondary education. Fully funded the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). 5
Provided $12.2 billion in new funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Act through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. $26 billion state aid package saved 160,000 teacher jobs (Aug 2010) Provided over $2.3 billion in additional funding to Head Start and Early Head Start programs in 2009. Provided $5 billion dollars for Early Learning Programs under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Roughly doubled the amount available in Federal Child Care Block Grants. Established “Promise Neighborhood” Grants (modeled after the Harlem Children’s Zone). Eliminated abstinence-only funding in budget., TARGETED ACTIONS Helped rebuild schools in New Orleans. Established school programs to highlight space and science achievements. Recruited math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession. Expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership to all low-income, first-time mothers . Provided affordable, high-quality child care. Unveiled initiatives to help men be better fathers.
Employment: Jobs BROAD POLICY Jobs for Main Street Act (2010). American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010. National Export Initiative FUNDING (DOL) Dedicated $100 million in Energy Training Partnership green jobs training grants. (DOL) Dedicated $150 million for Pathways Out of Poverty green jobs training grants. $33 billion-dollar jobs package (March 2010). $26 billion aid to states package (Aug 2010). $5,000 tax credit for every new worker. New Health IT Workforce Grants (ARRA). TARGETED ACTIONS Job training programs in clean technologies for displaced workers. Green Vet Initiative to promote environmental jobs for veterans. Financial agencies must establish Offices of Women and Minorities to promote more diverse hiring (DF). Recruited math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession. Initiated a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses., Required new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliations or contributions., RESULTS CBO found 3.7 Million jobs created by stimulus (May 2010). Job loss exploded under Bush, improves under Obama. 682,370 jobs created under the Recovery Act Between January 1 — March 31,2010. New jobless claims tumble. March payrolls surge by 162,000 US says . 6
March jobs data showed biggest growth in three years .ref U.S. economy added 90000 jobs in April . Jobless rates dropped in 34 states and DC (AP).
Energy: Green BROAD POLICY Established an Energy Partnership for the Americas. Established the Biofuels Working Group to develop a comprehensive approach to alternative fuels. Additional measures to advance clean energy/solar investments and job creation (ARRA). Launched new Climate Service. Worked toward deploying a global climate change research and monitoring system. Implemented renewable fuels mandate of 36 billion gallons by 2022. FUNDING More than doubled federal spending for research on clean fuels. $60 billion in spending and tax incentives for renewable and clean energy. Invested in all types of alternative energy. Increased funding for the Environmental Protection Agency. Invested $2 billion in solar power, hailed new jobs. Established consumer tax credit for plug-in hybrid cars., Provided grants to encourage energy-efficient building codes. Doubled funding for bicycling, walking projects, (DOL) Dedicated $100 million in Energy Training Partnership green jobs training grants. (DOL) Dedicated $150 million for Pathways Out of Poverty green jobs training grants. $8 billion combined public/pvt funding committed to develop Smart Power Grid (part of ARRA). Incentivized farmers to use more renewable energy and be more energy efficient. TARGETED ACTIONS Purchased fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government. Ordered 5,000 hybrids for federal fleet. (NIST) Completed first release of Smart Grid framework. Created job training programs in clean technologies for displaced workers. Created Green Vet Initiative to promote environmental jobs for veterans. Established program to convert manufacturing centers into clean technology leaders. RESULTS First President to create detailed vision for clean energy economy. Wind power growth up 39% due to government stimulus. Study: Almost 5 million charging stations by 2015.
Energy: Old BROAD POLICY Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions. Created Interagency Task Force on Carbon Capture and Storage. 7
Set national standards for fuel economy and first ever greenhouse gas emission levels for passenger cars and light trucks. Set smog limit: new strict proposal to replace Bush-era rule (EPA). Regulated greenhouse gases for large industrial sources (EPA). Raised fuel economy standards. Required states to provide incentives for utilities to reduce energy consumption. Allowed states to enact tougher fuel efficiency standards than federal standards. Established Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future. FUNDING Pledged more than $8 billion for new nuclear reactors. Tax breaks to promote public transit. TARGETED ACTIONS Dismantled the Minerals Management Service, cutting ties between industry and government. Reengaged in global warming and greenhouse gas emissions talks., Offered 17% U.S. emissions cuts at climate summit. Pledged 28% cut in federal greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Expanded greenhouse gas reduction targets for Federal operations -13% reduction from indirect sources by 2020. (FTC) Toughened anti-greenwashing rules. Instituted “Cash for Clunkers” to spur auto sales and promote fuel efficiency ., Ordered inspections of mines with poor safety records. Closed loophole that allowed drilling in Rockies without environmental review. (EPA) Sharply limited mountaintop mining. (EPA) Announced historic plans to regulate coal ash. Required electric utilities to produce 20% of their electricity demand from renewable energy sources by 2020. (EPA) Limited mercury emissions.
Energy: Oil BROAD POLICY Introduced Oil Spill Recovery Bill to remove oil company liability cap. Created offshore drilling safety review board. Created new drilling agency with investigative arm. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations and reports. FUNDING Ordered $20 billion escrow fund by BP to reimburse lost incomes in Gulf. Ordered $100 million to compensate those hurt by drilling moratorium. TARGETED ACTIONS Dismantled the Minerals Management Service, cutting ties between industry and government. Mandated new safety rules for offshore drilling. Opened civil and criminal investigations into Gulf oil spill., (Congress) Launched investigation into gas drilling practices. Established the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. 8
Amended Oil Pollution Act of 1990 authorizing advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Expanded oil rig workers’ families abilities to sue and recover. Fined BP subsidiary $5.2 million for false reporting. (EPA) Barred Texas’ authority to issue refinery operating permits.
Foreign Affairs and International Relations BROAD POLICY Re-established the United States standing in the world. Poll: World’s opinion of U.S. has “improved sharply” under Obama. 47 nations rise to Obama’s challenge at US nuke summit and agree to four years of nonproliferation efforts. Visited more countries and world leaders than any first year president. G-20 Summit produced a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis. Launched an international Add Value to Agriculture initiative (AVTA). Created a rapid response fund for emerging democracies. Bolstered the military’s ability to speak different languages. BY REGION: West Hem: Returned the rights of Americans to visit and assist their families in Cuba. , Middle East: Appointed envoys to the Middle East and AFPAK affirming the power of American diplomacy. Middle East: Renewed loan guarantees for Israel. Middle East: Pledged $400 million in aid to Gaza civillians. Middle East: Pressured Israel to end Gaza blockade. Middle East:used to give Israel a “green light” to strike Iran, augmenting Mid-East stability. Middle East: Iran Sanctions Act. Asia: Authorized President Bill Clinton’s mission to secure the release of two Americans held in North Korea. Asia: Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Webb to secure the release of an American held captive. Asia: Renewed import restrictions under Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003. Asia: Nuclear arms agreements with India (5/4/2010). Africa: Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009. Africa: Helped stabilize Somalia (Exec Order). Aus: Nuclear arms agreements with Australia (5/5/2010). Europe: Nuclear arms agreement with Russia. Europe: Agreed with Switzerland to bolster tax information exchange,
Government Efficiency BROAD POLICY Established the President’s Management Advisory Board. Streamlined and modernized government to save taxpayer dollars. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, 9
regulations and reports. SPECIFIC CUTS: Cut salaries of senior White House aides. Made $20 Billion in budget cuts. Provided that Members of Congress shall not receive a cost of living adjustment in pay during fiscal year 2011. Eliminated F-22 fighter jet program after lobbying Senate vote to strip financing for more jets from a defense funding authorization bill. Canceled contract for new Presidential helicopter fleet (28 helicopters, $11.2 billion). OTHER TARGETED ACTIONS Enhanced payment accuracy through a “Do Not Pay” list. Cracked down on tax cheats (Exec Order). Returned taxpayer monies for refurbishment of White House offices and living quarters. Established the USA.gov portal connecting people to the services they require.
Health and Wellness BROAD POLICY Established HealthCare.gov, a web portal for determining and comparing all consumer health insurance and health care options, Established an independent health institute to provide accurate and objective information. Established the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council ., Established President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules. Implemented a National HIV/AIDS Strategy 7/13/10 FUNDING Provided $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Provided $500 million in expanded funding for Health Professions Training Programs., Provided funding to strengthen hospital preparedness and emergency response Expanded funding to train primary care providers and public health practitioners. Increased funding to expand community based prevention programs. TARGETED ACTIONS First Lady Michelle Obama kicked off anti-obesity effort. Established a New Patient’s Bill of Rights. Established Patient Safety and Medical Liability Demonstration Projects. Questioned Prestigious Hospitals in Electronic Health Records Probe (DHHS). Established Standards For Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment Expanded vaccination programs. Signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. Engaged global efforts on HIV/AIDS issues. (FDA) Now regulating tobacco., Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. (FDA) Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients. , Banned sale of “light” cigarettes. Increased Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities (Exec Order)(celebrating 20th anniversary of the ADA)., 10
(FDA) to discuss stricter guidelines for tanning beds due to skin cancer. (FDA) Issued new guidance limiting antibiotic use in cattle to preserve efficacy in humans (6/28/2010). FDA) Reconsidered safety of Bisphenol A, initiates study.
Health Care Reform (See also Taxes) BROAD POLICY Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act // Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (March 2010). Required large employers to contribute to a national health plan. Required insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions. Required health plans to disclose how much of the premium goes to patient care. Established an independent health institute to provide accurate and objective information. Provided minimum essential health care coverage by Veteran’s Affairs. Expanded eligibility for State Children’s Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)., Prevented children from being refused health insurance coverage. Established Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. Increased regulation of drug manufacturers., Cut prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients by 50% and began eliminating the plan’s gap (“donut hole”) in coverage. TRICARE Affirmation Act. Extended COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) to provide for a continuation of health care. Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009.
Housing BROAD POLICY Unveiled $275 billion dollar housing plan Established “Opening Doors” – a federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness. FUNDING Provided $510 Million for the rehabilitation of Native American housing. Provided $2 billion for Neighborhood Stabilization Program . Provided $5 billion for Weatherization Assistance Program for low income families. Provided grants to encourage energy-efficient building codes. TARGETED ACTIONS Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act. Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, helping millions avoid foreclosure ., Established the Making Home Affordable Plan, which will provide for the refinance or loan modification for 9 Million homeowners. RESULTS
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New-home sales saw biggest jump in 47 years., Foreclosures fall 2%.
Humanitarianism BROAD POLICY Supported the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT). Civil Rights History Project Act of 2009., FUNDING Accelerated tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for Haiti earthquake relief. Made Haiti donations tax deductible for 2009. $60 million for flood victims in Pakistan (8/19/10). TARGETED ACTIONS The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; instituted equal pay for women. Presidential Memorandum extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees., Increased federal employment of individuals with disabilities (Exec Order)(celebrating 20th anniversary of the ADA). Presidential Memorandum extending benefits to Same-Sex Partners of Federal Employees., Presidential Memorandum protecting gay and lesbian partners’ visitation/healthcare decisionmaking rights (4/15/2010). The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act. Awarded the Presidential Medal of freedom to Harvey Milk and Billie Jean King. The Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act, advancing press freedom and safety for journalists. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act to include gender, sexual orientation and disability. Established White House Council on Women and Girls (Executive Order 13506 ). Awarded 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Native American Heritage Day Act of 2009. Appointed an American Indian policy adviser. (EPA) Reversed Controversial “Human Guinea Pig” Rule. Immigration Requested emergency funding of $600 million for Border Security. Deployed more drones on Mexico border (Homeland Security). Deported higher numbers of Illegal Immigrants.
Infrastructure BROAD POLICY Introduced plan to expand broadband Internet across U.S., FUNDING $8 billion combined public/private funding committed to develop Smart Power Grid (ARRA.) $800 million to fund rapid rollout of rural broadband expansion (7/2010). 12
Provided funding for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect. $290 million in funding for 53 grants to “fund new streetcars, buses, and transit facilities.” Invested $13 Billion (ARRA: $8B + $1B 5-year federal budget) in high speed rail projects in 13 major corridors,, Provided grants to encourage energy-efficient building codes. Created a social investment fund network. Funded a major expansion of AmeriCorps. TARGETED ACTIONS (NIST) Completed first release of Smart Grid framework. Opened 500 MHz of wireless spectrum over next 10 years to expand wireless/mobile broadband use. Commenced 10,000th road project, Columbus, OH (part of ARRA); June 2010. Airport and Airway Extension Act. Initiated modification to Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) regulations., Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which expands the volunteer program., RESULTS Study: Almost 5 million charging stations by 2015. 10,000th highway project (ARRA).
Labor Established POWER Initiative – protects government workers, ensures reemployment, reduces worker’s comp claims and payments. Restored funding to the EEOC and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. Law and Justice BROAD POLICY Outlined new federal drug control policy. Ordered review of mandatory minimum sentences. FUNDING Restored funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) program. TARGETED ACTIONS Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court., Appointed first black Attorney General, Eric Holder. Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act to include gender, sexual orientation and disability. Established crimes programs for the new Orleans area. Brought greater alignment to sentencing guidelines for powdered versus crack cocaine. Denounced SCOTUS ruling in Citizens United. Pushing through settlement in the Black Farmers Lawsuit against USDA ., DTV Delay Act. Criminal History Background Checks Pilot Extension Act of 2009. Tribal Law and Order Act.,
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RESULTS U.S. jail population declined for first time in decades.
Medicaid/Medicare/Social Security BROAD POLICY Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare. Social Security Disability Applicant Access to Professional Representation Act of 2010. FUNDING Eliminated higher subsidies to Medicare Advantage plans. TARGETED ACTIONS Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009., Cut prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients by 50% and began eliminating the plan’s gap (“donut hole”) in coverage. Preserved access to care for Medicare beneficiaries Expanded eligibility for Medicaid.
Military and National Security BROAD POLICY Began restructuring the military to reflect present day threats and technology. Recommitted the U.S. to a policy of “no torture” and full compliance with the Geneva Conventions. All servicepeople receive education in a region’s culture and language before deployment there (a soldier said this on Maddow). Supported the Repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT). Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date. Established new cyber security office., Defense Production Act Reauthorization of 2009. Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act. Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act. FUNDING Cut the missile defense program by $1.4 billion in 2010. Eliminated F-22 fighter jet program after lobbying Senate vote to strip financing for more jets from a defense funding authorization bill. Canceled contract for new Presidential helicopter fleet (28 helicopters, $11.2 billion). $1.1 Billion for improving airport security. Increased pay and benefits for military personnel. BY REGION/THEATER: AF Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan., AF Set troop pullout in Afghanistan to begin in summer 2011. AF Established Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing, prioritizes aid AF infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices. 14
AF Ordered military to withdraw fast food establishments from Afghan bases. IQ Ended combat mission (remaining personnel are nonagressive) 8/18/10 SOM Increased US Navy patrols off Somali coast. SOM Ordered SEAL operation that resulted in killing of three terrorists and the release of US captain held by Somali pirates. Closed secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere. Opened door to space arms treaty., Restarted the nuclear nonproliferation talks, building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols. Executive Order Optimizing the Security of Biological Select Agents and Toxins in the US. Caught more Taliban Leaders in one month than Bush/Cheney did in six years. Negotiated nuclear arms agreements with Australia (5/5/2010), India (5/4/2010), and Russia (5/10/2010)., New START treaty and protocol with Medvedev.
Military Veterans and Families BROAD POLICY Initiated a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses., Improved benefits for veterans., Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development . Worked to clear the backlog of veterans claims and streamline benefits to those who served. FUNDING Provided for the expenses of families of to be at Dover AFB when fallen soldiers arrive.ref Donated 250K of Nobel prize money to Fisher House. Veterans Health Care Budgetorm and Transparency Act of 2009. Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009. TARGETED ACTIONS Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act of 2009. Promoted a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots (“WASP”). Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information., Military Spouses Residency Relief Act. Improved basic housing allowance for military personnel. Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. Provided minimum essential health care coverage by Veteran’s Affairs. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans. Korean War Veterans Recognition Act. Blinded Veterans Association. Major Charles R. Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center. Improved access for Veterans to receive PTSD treatment. Green Vet Initiative to promote environmental jobs for veterans.
National Disasters and Emergencies 15
BROAD POLICY Ordered an extensive review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness., Memorandum on the Long-Term Gulf Coast Restoration Support Plan FUNDING Provided $210 Million for building and upgrading fire stations. Ordered $20 billion escrow fund by BP to reimburse lost incomes in Gulf. Ordered $100 million to compensate those hurt by drilling moratorium. TARGETED ACTIONS Haiti Economic Lift Program Act of 2010. Haiti Debt Relief and Earthquake Recovery Act of 2010. Emergency Aid to American Survivors of the Haiti Earthquake Act. National Service The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act — Expands the national volunteer program., Created a Social Investment Fund Network.
Scientific and Medical Research BROAD POLICY Removed restrictions and provided support for embryonic stem-cell research and new biomedical research. Extended the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology., Supported Landsat Data Continuity Mission to enhance earth mapping. FUNDING Provided new federal funding for science and research labs. Provided grants to early-career researchers. TARGETED ACTIONS Appointed an assistant to the president for science and technology policy. Optimized the Security of Biological Select Agents and Toxins in the United States
Space Exploration and Space Station BROAD POLICY Worked with international allies on International Space Station Opened door to space arms treaty., Used the private sector to improve spaceflight Supported commercial access to outer space FUNDING Increased spending to prepare for longer space missions TARGETED ACTIONS Added another Space Shuttle flight Partnered to enhance the potential of the International Space Station Used the International Space Station for fundamental biological and physical research Determined whether International Space Station can operate after 2016 Conducted robust research and development on future space missions 16
DOD opened access to social media sites (Air Force News). DOD will film all interrogations. Cracked down on tax cheats (exec order). Dismantled the Minerals Management Service, cutting ties between industry and government. Established the USA.gov portal connecting people to the services they require Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act., White House voluntary disclosure policy – visitor access records/450,000 records to date
Taxes BROAD POLICY Adopted Economic Substance tax doctrine. Cracked down on tax cheats (Exec Order). TARGETED ACTIONS TAX CREDITS/REDUCTIONS: Temporarily suspended taxes on unemployment benefits. Established consumer tax credit for plug-in hybrid cars., $60 billion in spending and tax incentives for renewable and clean energy. Tax breaks to promote public transit. Extended and indexed the 2007 Alternative Minimum Tax patch. Small business teax credits for the cost of health insurance for employees beginning 1/1/10 (HCR). 2-year temporary tax credit up to $1 billion to encourage investment in new disease prevention and treatment therapies (HCR). Income floor for medical expense deductions for individuals age 65 and older (and their spouses) remains at 7.5% through 2016; Raise 7.5% floor to 10% for all others (1/1/13) (HCR) Health insurance premium tax credits and subsidies available for those with income up to 4x the federal poverty level (1/1/14) (HCR) Accelerated tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for Haiti earthquake relief. TARGETED ACTIONS TAX ASSESSMENTS/INCREASES: Made Haiti donations tax deductible for 2009. Increased penalty tax of 20% on nonequal distributions from HSA and MSA (1/1/11) (HCR) Income tax rates for the highest earners will change from 35 to 39.6 percent. (1/1/11) (HCR) Capital gains tax for the highest earners will change from 15 to 20 percent. (1/1/11) (HCR) 2.3% excise tax on manufacturers and importers of certain medical devices (1/1/13) (HCR) For high earners the capital gains tax will rise from 20 to 23.8 percent. (1/1/13) (HCR) A 2.35 percent Medicare payroll tax only on wages over the threshold (an increase of 0.9 percent) (1/1/13) (HCR) Tax increase for corporations with assets of at least $1 billion (1/1/14) (HCR) 40% Excise tax on Cadillac health plans (2018) (HCR) TARGETED ACTIONS TAX ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION: Closed offshore tax safe havens, tax credit loopholes . , Employers will report the value of health benefits on W-2s (1/1/11) (HCR) RESULTS Tax bills hit lowest level since 1950. Tax refunds up 10 percent due to stimulus.
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Transparency and Accountability BROAD POLICY Mandate to follow the standards of the Freedom of Information Act (exec order). Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible. Unveiled “open government” plans. Federal IT Dashboard, “a website enabling federal agencies & the public to view details of information technology”. TARGETED ACTIONS Released presidential records. Imposed limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House. Imposed limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration. Closed lobbyist loopholes with respect to the Recovery Act Banned lobbyist gifts to executive employees. Provided more town halls and media access than previous administration., Required health plans to disclose how much of the premium goes to patient care. Established an independent health institute to provide accurate and objective information. Required new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliations or contributions., Established a uniform standard for declassifying, safeguarding and classifying national security information (12/29/2009). Created a national declassification center. DOD opened access to social media sites (Air Force News). DOD will film all interrogations. Cracked down on tax cheats (exec order). Dismantled the Minerals Management Service, cutting ties between industry and government. Established the USA.gov portal connecting people to the services they require Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act., RESULTS White House voluntary disclosure policy – visitor access records/450,000 records to date Recovery, Progress and Change Federal deficit shrank 8% year-on-year. Financial reform has ‘strongest consumer financial protections in history.’ Wall Storm designed to end taxpayer bailouts. Six-month report card: exports in the first four months of 2010 were 17 percent higher than in the first four months of 2009 . Job loss exploded under Bush, improves under Obama. 682,370 jobs created under the Recovery Act Between January 1 — March 31,2010. New jobless claims tumble. March payrolls surge by 162,000. March jobs data showed biggest growth in three years .ref U.S. economy added 90,000 jobs in April . Jobless rates dropped in 34 states and DC (AP). New-home sales saw biggest jump in 47 years., 18
Foreclosures fall 2%. U.S. Economy: Manufacturing grew by most since 2004. U.S. GDP up 3.2% in first quarter, consumer spending showed biggest rise in 3 years . Orders for most durable goods rose. Wholesale inventories and sales rose in March. Consumer confidence highest in 2 years. Start-Up activity now higher than it was during the dotcom boom. Study: almost 5 million charging stations by 2015. Wind power growth up 39% due to government stimulus. Poll: world’s opinion of U.S. has “improved sharply” under Obama.ref 47 nations rise to Obama’s challenge at US nuke summit and agree to four years of nonproliferation efforts. U.S. jail population declined for first time in decades.
More of Obama’s Accomplishments: 1. Passed Health Care Reform: 2. Passed the Stimulus: 3. Passed Wall Street Reform: 4. Ended the War in Iraq: 5. Began Drawdown of War in Afghanistan: 6. Eliminated Osama bin laden: 7. Turned Around U.S. Auto Industry: 8. Recapitalized Banks: 9. Repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”: 10. Toppled Moammar Gaddafi: 11. Told Mubarak to Go: 12. Reversed Bush Torture Policies: 13. Improved America’s Image Abroad: 14. Kicked Banks Out of Federal Student Loan Program, Expanded Pell Grant Spending: 15. Created Race to the Top: 16. Boosted Fuel Efficiency Standards: 17. Coordinated International Response to Financial Crisis: 18. Passed Mini Stimuli: 19. Began Asia “Pivot”: 20. Increased Support for Veterans: 21. Tightened Sanctions on Iran: 22. Created Conditions to Begin Closing Dirtiest Power Plants: 23. Passed Credit Card Reforms: 24. Eliminated Catch-22 in Pay Equality Laws: 25. Protected Two Liberal Seats on the U.S. Supreme Court: 19
26. Improved Food Safety System: 27. Achieved New START Treaty: 28. Expanded National Service: 29. Expanded Wilderness and Watershed Protection: 30. Gave the FDA Power to Regulate Tobacco: 31. Pushed Federal Agencies to Be Green Leaders: 32. Passed Fair Sentencing Act: 33. Trimmed and Reoriented Missile Defense: 34. Began Post-Post-9/11 Military Builddown: 35. Let Space Shuttle Die and Killed Planned Moon Mission: 36. Invested Heavily in Renewable Technology: 37. Crafting Next-Generation School Tests: 38. Cracked Down on Bad For-Profit Colleges: 39. Improved School Nutrition: 40. Expanded Hate Crimes Protections: 41. Brokered Agreement for Speedy Compensation to Victims of Gulf Oil Spill: 42. Created Recovery.gov: 43. Pushed Broadband Coverage: 44. Expanded Health Coverage for Children: 45. Recognized the Dangers of Carbon Dioxide: 46. Expanded Stem Cell Research: 47. Provided Payment to Wronged Minority Farmers: 48. Helped South Sudan Declare Independence: 49. Killed the F-22: 50. Avoided Scandal: As of November 2011, served longer than any president in decades without a scandal.
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THE List of 371 MAJOR Obama Accomplishments so far, With Citations (Keep in mind, this is not all that he has done.) In 2008, we elected the most progressive president in history. And regardless of the negativity, when you actually look at the record, there has been a lot of progress since January 20, 2009. Here is a list of many of President Obama’s accomplishments as President. Every one of them has a citation, so no one can dismiss them out of hand, although many have tried since I started to compile this list -even with the obstacles we gave him, especially the Republican Congress, this President will leave a hell of a legacy. If we want to win elections – and in a democracy, that has to be our main goal – we have to make people want to vote for us. That means accentuating the positive, and talking about how great we are, especially compared to the alternative.
Changed the Culture of the Executive Branch 1. Within his first week, he signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse. http://1.usa.gov/dUvbu5 2. Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money. http://n.pr/hcgBn1 3. On his first full day, he froze White House salaries for the duration of the Great Recession. http://on.msnbc.com/ewJUIx
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4. He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending and efficiency. http://www.cio.gov 5. He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems and signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act, in an attempt to limit waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting systems. http://bit.ly/hOw1t1http://bit.ly/fz8GAd 6. He created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. http://bit.ly/hwKhKa 7. Signed an Executive Order instructing federal agencies to review all federal regulations and remove any unnecessary and/or burdensome regulations from the books. http://1.usa.gov/Lpo5bd 8. Dismantled the Minerals Management Service, thereby cutting ties between energy companies and the government. http://nyti.ms/bw1MLu 9. Banned gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch. http://bit.ly/fsBACN 10. Banned anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years and placed strict limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House. http://nyti.ms/gOrznV 11. Held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public. http://bit.ly/gVNSgX 12. Became the first president to stream every White House event, live. http://1.usa.gov/kAgOP5 13. Established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities. http://www.serve.gov 14. Restored the 30-day time frame for former presidents to review records and eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews, giving the public greater access to historic White House documents, and curtails the use of executive privilege to shield them. http://1.usa.gov/gUetLb 15. Improved the Freedom of Information Act and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent when processing FOIA requests. http://1.usa.gov/gjrnp2 16. Streamline the Department of Education’s procurement policies and made them more transparent. http://bit.ly/1r9oQvh 17. Provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history. http://1.usa.gov/hQ7 18. Signed a law to completely reform NSA Data Collection program and keep phone records in the hands of the phone company. http://bit.ly/1dG34vD 19. Staved Off a Bush Depression, Improved the Economy 20. Pushed through and signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as “the stimulus package.” He also launched recovery.gov, a website that allows taxpayers to track spending from the Act. http://1.usa.gov/ibiFSshttp://1.usa.gov/e3BJMk 21. By the end of his first year, the economy created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy by 3.5%. http://reut.rs/i46CEE 22. He created the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan and forced banks and other entities to pay back virtually all of the bailout money. http://1.usa.gov/eA5jVShttp://bit.ly/eCNrD6 23. He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan. http://1.usa.gov/goy6zl 24. In 2010, more jobs were created than had been created during Bush’s eight years. http://bit.ly/hrrnjY
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25. He pushed through and implemented an auto industry rescue plan that saved as many as 1 million jobs and possibly the entire auto industry. http://bit.ly/ibhpxr http://bit.ly/gj7mt5 26. Through his investment in GM, returned to the company to its place as the premiere car company in the world. http://lat.ms/zIJuQx 27. In February 2016, GM was in such good financial shape, they gave a share of the profit to each worker, with checks up to $11,000. http://detne.ws/1mk7Jry 28. Doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, to improve manufacturing efficiency. http://bit.ly/eYD4nf 29. Increased infrastructure spending after years of neglect. http://bit.ly/f77aOw 30. Signed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, which helped millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures and provided $2.2 billion to combat homelessness and stabilize the housing market. http://bit.ly/eEpLFn 31. Signed an Executive Order creating jobs immediately by instructing them to reduce the time needed for review and permitting of infrastructure projects. http://1.usa.gov/GHxaYt 32. Through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, he and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery. http://bit.ly/dZgXXw http://bit.ly/gORYfL 33. Played a lead role in getting the G-20 Summit to commit to a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis. http://nyti.ms/gHlgp5 34. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, saved at least 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors that would have otherwise been lost. http://1.usa.gov/ez30D 35. With Congressional Democrats, provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession. http://bit.ly/g0IKWR 36. China’s largest manufacturer, Foxconn, is building a large plant in Pennsylvania http://cnnmon.ie/1k7LT4S 37. Worked with Apple Computer to get them to build more product here, and thecompany is building two large plants to manufacture products here; one in Texas http://zd.net/1nkpt2O and one in Arizona http://bit.ly/1mXY5Vg 38. Created an institute to invest in more manufacturing jobs in the technology fields of the future. http://nyti.ms/1egyXrV 39. Ordered all federal contractors to pay a minimum wage of $10.10 per hour, leading the way to a national increase. http://wapo.st/1iaU5kd 40. Ordered the completion of the International Trade Data System, a digital trade record book, by 2016. This move will streamline and simplify the process through which small- and mediumsized businesses set up the export of US goods. http://bit.ly/1nwSRF4 41. Specific Examples of Economic Improvement 42. As of January 2016, a record 64 consecutive months of overall job growth. http://on.msnbc.com/1TKFCPQ 43. As of January 2016, Unemployment drops below 5% for the first time in eight years and without a significant bubble. 4.9% http://on.msnbc.com/1TKFCPQ 44. As of April 2016, there have been 74 consecutive months of private sector job growth. http://1.usa.gov/1Xhizho 23
45. In April 2016, new unemployment claims hit their lowest level since Nov. 1973. http://nyti.ms/1YhZEBk 46. Since February 2010, when job numbers hit their lowest point, 14.6 million non-farm private sector jobs have been created. http://1.usa.gov/1Xhizho 47. Oversaw a reduction in the federal budget deficit by two-thirds since taking office. http://bit.ly/1xKMmjY 48. Reduced the federal budget deficit from 9.8% of GDP in Fiscal Year 2009 under Bush, to 2.9% of GDP in FY 2014. http://www.cbo.gov/publication/45653 49. Scolds Congress and gets passed a $305 billion highways bill, which will have the added benefit of created hundreds of thousands of new jobs and creating incentives for green cars. http://bit.ly/1NsL2Zq 50. Addressed Wrongdoing in the Financial Sector 51. Signed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system, and create a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown. http://abcn.ws/g18Fe7 52. Ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money. http://huff.to/eAi9Qq 53. Along with Congressional Democrats, pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression. http://bit.ly/hWCPg0http://bit.ly/geHpcD 54. Created and implemented rules to reduce the influence of speculators in the oil market. http://bit.ly/MDnA1t 55. Created and implemented rules so banks can no longer use depositors’ money to invest in highrisk financial instruments that work against depositors’ interests. http://bit.ly/fnTayj 56. Supported the concept of allowing stockholders to vote on executive compensation. http://bit.ly/fnTayj 57. Endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes. http://bit.ly/esOdfB http://bit.ly/eG4DPM 58. Negotiated a deal with Swiss banks permitting the US government to gain access to bank records of criminals and tax evaders. http://bit.ly/htfDgw 59. Signed the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, closing many of the loopholes that allowed companies to send jobs overseas, and avoid paying US taxes by moving money offshore. http://1.usa.gov/bd1RTq 60. Thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, inflation in the healthcare sector dropped to its lowest point in 50 years. http://on.wsj.com/1E6cYjF 61. Improved Conditions for Consumers and Small Businesses 62. Signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices. http://1.usa.gov/gIaNcS 63. Guided the housing market all the way back from total collapse, which led to a rally for housing starts. http://reut.rs/1NTAOVU http://reut.rs/1NTAOVU 64. Brought airline industry back to their highest profitability since before the recession. http://lat.ms/1O8H1iE
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65. Blocked a monopolistic merger of Staples and Office Depot, to preserve at least some competition. http://bit.ly/1kcY2Kv 66. Stock market has reached record highs, restoring most of the economic losses felt during the Bush Recession. http://bit.ly/1z4FAtL 67. Created and Implemented the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau http://1.usa.gov/j5onG http://bit.ly/fnTayj 68. Consumer confidence continues to inch up to its highest level more than a decade. http://bit.ly/1PZLRcK 69. Initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses. http://1.usa.gov/eu0u0b 70. Created business.gov, to allow online collaboration between small businesses and experts re managing a business. (The program has since merged with SBA.gov.) http://www.business.gov 71. Took steps to improve minority access to capital. http://bit.ly/f9xVE7 72. Used recovered TARP money to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan. http://on.msnbc.com/i1i8eV 73. Crafted and signed an executive order establishing the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans. http://bit.ly/eyqsNE 74. Oversaw the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression. http://thedc.com/gxkCtP 75. Through the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, extended the False Claims Act to combat fraud by companies and individuals using money from TARP and Stimulus programs. http://bit.ly/SLTcSa 76. Set up rules for banks in handling legal marijuana money. http://nyti.ms/1b80o2K 77. Added greater protections to consumer financial transactions to reduce identity theft. http://1.usa.gov/1pjfUFq 78. Took steps to prevent pirate fishing and protect fish populations, and ordered stricter labeling requirements on labeling of seafood products in stores. http://1.usa.gov/1BYhTUn 79. Signed the RAISE Act, which should encourage more people to open small businesses and help improve the economy. http://bit.ly/1QhTqkF 80. Signed a bill that allows low-volume vehicle manufacturers that will increase entrepreneurship among small car manufacturers, who often build replicas of classics but who often build green vehicles. http://bit.ly/1QhTqkF 81. Signs an Executive Order to strengthen cooperation with regard to global entrepreneurship. http://1.usa.gov/294u5eI 82. Signs a law to allow “ordinary investors” to help a company start up through crowdfunding. http://n.pr/299eZEn 83. Signs a bill to strengthen American economic competitiveness. http://bit.ly/2932zfA 84. Strengthened the Middle Class and Fought Poverty 85. Worked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families. http://bit.ly/fNfidS 86. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, cut taxes for 95% of America’s working families. http://bit.ly/eSEI4F 87. Tax rates for average working families are the lowest since 1950. http://bit.ly/f74pD8 88. Extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years. http://bit.ly/eFeSdP 25
89. Extended discounted health coverage under the COBRA health insurance law for the unemployed from 9 months to 15 months, and he’s also extended unemployment benefits more than a few times. http://aol.it/evtVxDhttp://nyti.ms/emrqKJ http://bit.ly/hOtIpg http://bit.ly/fTT7kz 90. Provided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps). http://nyti.ms/gfLqyM 91. Signed an Executive Order that established the White House Office of Urban Affairs. http://wapo.st/eWECA8 92. Included the Buffet Rule in his 2014 budget proposal, in order to fulfill a campaign promise to make sure tax rates are fair between the rich and the middle class. http://1.usa.gov/19PkdQo 93. Used the fiscal cliff negotiations to extend for five additional years the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides tax credits to families for college-related expenses, thus saving those families up to $10,000. http://onforb.es/17zYg3u 94. Increased protections for the unemployed who are seeking a government job. http://1.usa.gov/1jgXATu 95. Updated and modernized overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) http://1.usa.gov/1iGDO8e 96. Signed and implemented the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, to improve nutrition in schools and make children healthier. http://1.usa.gov/GAXkSk 97. To make college more affordable and accountable, will begin rating colleges with regard to affordability and value. http://bit.ly/14Dn7UL 98. Initiated a reform of federal job training programs, to make them more relevant to the current economy and the job market. http://1.usa.gov/1kZLQHG 99. Under Obama, the bottom 95% of taxpayers pay lower federal income taxes than at any time in the last 50 years, including under Reagan, or either Bush. http://bit.ly/1w1W8Ns 100. Signed a presidential memorandum authorizing six weeks paid leave for all federal employees with a new baby and encouraged Congress to do the same for all workers. http://bit.ly/18613XA 101. 2014 marked the first time since 1984 that unemployment dropped in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 1.usa.gov/1E25u0C 102. Took steps to improve workplace safety by creating an Advisory Board to study workers’ exposure to toxic substances. http://1.usa.gov/1M4s8IG 103. Changed overtime rules to make it far more difficult for employers to avoid paying overtime to workers. http://politi.co/1KHfiBe 104. Changed rules for federal contractors, guaranteeing that all workers earn paid leave; this should affect about 300,000 workers. http://1.usa.gov/1LcHZWl 105. Negotiated a law to finally replace “No Child Left Behind” and remove much of the onerous government “oversight” that caused children to stagnate, not improve, academically. http://bit.ly/1Up9pMl 106. Addressed Civil Rights and Equality 107. Formed a commission to examine and make recommendations for fixing the broken voting system. http://wapo.st/16K0D 108. Created a Civil Rights Division in the Justice Department that has become a very strong voice for Black people. http://bit.ly/1ObO7TI 26
109. At a press conference August 9, 2013, gave up a small measure of executive power, promising to create adversarial process in FISA regarding NSA surveillance. http://1.usa.gov/1dQmnyQ 110. Proposed rules to enhance Fair Housing Laws, to give HUD and other enforcement agencies more enforcement power. http://bit.ly/1qkz4uQ 111. Ordered a review of capital punishment policies after several botched executions. http://nyti.ms/RDJp58 112. Approved $1.2 billion discrimination settlement with black farmers who had proved USDA bias. http://huff.to/1Nol9Ab 113. Appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. http://1.usa.gov/fi5IY0 114. Concentrated immigration enforcement on those who commit crimes, and vowed to stop breaking up families. http://1.usa.gov/1uTZ8gV 115. Streamlined the visa process, to make it more responsive and humane for those who want to be here legally. http://1.usa.gov/1tgDRti 116. Took steps to tighten the reins when it comes to providing local law enforcement agencies with military-style equipment and exercising more control over the equipment they receive. http://1.usa.gov/1ATWV3K 117. Changed fair housing rules to make more affordable housing available to more people. http://cnn.it/1JcR3qB 118. Helped Democrats in Congress pass and signed the Civil Rights History Act. http://bit.ly/th0JC8 119. Created a Policing Task Force to deal with the problems that led to the #BlackLivesMatter movement. http://nbcnews.to/1T17PON 120. His Justice Department investigated the Ferguson Police Department twice and slammed them for their racism and exploitive practices. http://nbcnews.to/1q9jTpf 121. Established the White House Council of Native American Affairs, to improve government-to-government relations with Native American nations. http://1.usa.gov/1cIEeEv 122. Limited local police acquisitions of military-style equipment, to reduce the likelihood of overkill. http://n.pr/1NGkBjT 123. Signed Blue Alert Law, which provides police officers with more information when they are threatened. http://bit.ly/1NGksga 124. Blocked the sale of Apache tribal land to foreign mining company, over Republican objections. http://bit.ly/1RYpmfihttp://bit.ly/1RYpmfi 125. Settled with the City of Cleveland over civil rights and excessive force violations. http://nbcnews.to/24GRQNw 126. Reviewed the practices of the Philadelphia Police Department and made 91 recommendations to prevent civil rights and excessive force violations. http://on.msnbc.com/1q9ktmX 127. Signed a law to modernize the way the federal government refers to minorities, removing certain archaic terms from the vocabulary. http://bit.ly/291BeIL 128. Signed a law to better protect children in tribal foster care. http://strib.mn/293Gyky 129. Improved Workers’ Rights
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130. He issued final rules that require all employers to prominently post employees’ rights where all employees or prospective employees can see it, including all websites and intranets. http://1.usa.gov/qu2EhQ 131. Obama’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission clarified and strengthened rules prohibiting discrimination against pregnant workers. http://alj.am/1mo0kjV 132. Required companies who bid on federal contracts larger than $500,000 to publicly disclose all previous violations of labor law, including unpaid claims for back wages. http://1.usa.gov/V54qY3 133. Made it illegal for federal contractors with more than $1 million in contracts to force employees into arbitration in workplace discrimination accusations. http://1.usa.gov/V54qY3 134. Vetoed Republican bill that would have blocked new NLRB rules that were designed to speed up the time it takes workers to unionize. http://reut.rs/1agujMO He also added a Memorandum of Disagreement to make his reasons for the veto clear and made a major statement in support of unions. http://1.usa.gov/1NG7RuA 135. Cracked down on companies that were previously denying sick pay, vacation and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare tax payments through abuse of the employee classification of independent contractor. http://nyti.ms/fOGLcj 136. Signed law that bans imports of goods produced through forced labor. http://nbcnews.to/1RuJu2y 137. Protected the Rights of LGBT People 138. Signed and implemented the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. http://bit.ly/gsMSJ7 139. Oversaw and implemented the repeal of the reprehensible “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy. http://bit.ly/fdahuHhttp://bit.ly/mZV4Pz 140. Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. http://1.usa.gov/g2RLCj 141. Appointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history. http://bit.ly/g1lA7D 142. Appointed first openly transgender Cabinet Official in History. http://bit.ly/58zUp7 143. Advocated that United Nations adopt a policy supporting gay rights worldwide. http://lat.ms/pQe1RS 144. As soon as the Supreme Court invalidated the Defense of Marriage Act, he moved to extend federal benefits to same-sex couples. http://wapo.st/1avDjue 145. Issued an order requiring hospitals to allow visitation by same-sex couples. http://reut.rs/llNJek 146. Changed HUD rules to prohibit gender and sexual orientation-based discrimination in housing bit.ly/9RxEnP 147. Changed his mind and publicly expressed support for same-sex marriage. http://bit.ly/JsiFKp 148. Issued a Presidential Memorandum reaffirming the rights of gay couples to make medical decisions for each other. http://1.usa.gov/aUueGT 149. Appointed several prominent gay athletes and others, and plans to show US government’s commitment to gay rights to anti-gay Russia. http://on.cpsj.com/1fckN9h
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150. Department of Agriculture propagated new rules to better enforce nondiscrimination when it comes to USDA investigations and to extend non-discrimination to gender identity. http://bit.ly/1yChJhi 151. Banned all federal contractors from discriminating against gay workers. http://1.usa.gov/1ok1gfH 152. Persevered with his campaign to turn “gay marriage” into “marriage” and won in the Supreme Court. http://cbsloc.al/1M4qLKb 153. Improved Conditions for Women 154. Establishing the White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider the effect of their policies and programs on women and families. http://bit.ly/e1puTk http://1.usa.gov/rFfqMM 155. Implemented the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restored basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. http://bit.ly/fT3Cxg 156. Eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and rescinded the global gag rule. http://bit.ly/eCFAI1 http://bit.ly/f92drF 157. Improved the Paycheck Fairness Act, making it possible for employees to talk about their salaries without retaliation, and ordering salary data collection, so as to make it harder for employers to pay women less. http://huff.to/1nwVOWf 158. Signed an Executive Order pledging support for efforts to end the global problem of violence against women and girls. http://1.usa.gov/MHTRVU 159. Shattered another glass ceiling by naming Janet Yellen chair of the Federal Reserve beginning Feb. 1, 2014. http://usat.ly/1gqMBfk 160. Expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act. http://1.usa.gov/dSbI0x 161. Ordered companies with 100 employees or more to disclose pay data based on race and gender, to address the pay gap. http://theatln.tc/1Q04XPL 162. Signs law restoring Arlington Cemetery burial rights for women pilots in World War II. http://bit.ly/293rmjb 163. Addressed Criminal Justice Failings and the Gun Culture 164. Made significant reductions in drug sentencing guidelines for current prisoners. http://n.pr/1mWBLkM 165. Oversaw the first drop in the federal prison population in 32 years. http://bit.ly/1B5h8rW 166. Increased his use of clemency to release thousands of non-violent drug offenders from prison. http://nyti.ms/1KE8DJG 167. Ordered a ban on solitary confinement for juvenile offenders in federal prisons. http://bit.ly/20ObRzA 168. Took executive action to promote smart gun technology, to make them safer. http://1.usa.gov/1RhK1tU 169. After a failure by Congress to act, proposed executive orders to create more background checks and to fully staff the background check system. http://cnn.it/1JXmUg6 170. Relaxed HIPAA rules enough to allow for more information to be available to the background check system. http://on.wsj.com/SX9xaZ 171. Ordered the tracing of guns as part of criminal investigations to provide data to researchers. http://on.wsj.com/SX9xaZ 29
172. Order the Justice Department to look at the categories of mental health problems prohibited from owning guns to make sure people aren’t falling through the cracks, getting guns. http://onforb.es/1nUAGw3 173. Expanded the definitions of gun dealers and expanded the information available and required in background checks for firearm purchases. http://bit.ly/1K5aXee 174. Set up a task force to figure out what other measures can be taken to limit gun violence in the wake of Congressional inaction. http://1.usa.gov/1QjYMGJ 175. Signed bill to improve protections for correctional officers and their families. http://bit.ly/1SMCi4W 176. Changed the playing field on criminal justice reform by commuting sentences of lowlevel criminals and signaling a more practical footing. http://1.usa.gov/1YclW7f 177. Signaled major shift away from the failed “Drug War” by promising to commit more than $1 billion to combat addiction. http://2wsb.tv/1SMBQUv 178. Improved Treatment of Soldiers and Veterans 179. Provided active combat troops with better body armor. http://bit.ly/hzSv2h 180. Created a Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program for military personnel, in order http://abcn.ws/1ghLrEshttp://abcn.ws/1ghLrEs to improve the quality of their medical care. http://1.usa.gov/f4yaxW 181. Put an end to the Bush-era stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan beyond their enlistment date. http://nyti.ms/e2YQ7Q 182. Signed and implemented Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, making more money available to enable better medical care for veterans. http://1.usa.gov/fN4ur1 183. With Congressional Democrats, oversaw largest spending increase in 30 years for Department of Veterans Affairs, for improved medical and extended care facilities for veterans. http://1.usa.gov/gY8O3x 184. Implemented the Green Vet Initiative, which provides special funding to provide veterans with training in green jobs. http://bit.ly/epwUQY 185. Initiated and signed a recruitment and employment plan to get more veterans into government jobs. http://bit.ly/b48coi 186. Oversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals. http://bit.ly/gjzTxX 187. Signed the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, which ensures that spouses of military personnel who are forced to move because their spouse is posted for military duty can avoid state taxes in their temporary residence. http://bit.ly/1Gh0NX 188. Ordered improvements to access to mental health care for veterans, military personnel and their families. http://1.usa.gov/TP7PVZ 189. Got Syria to dismantle its chemical weapons without military firing a single shot or dropping a single bomb. http://nyti.ms/1lVEkU7 190. Along with Congressional Democrats, not only reauthorized families of fallen soldiers to be able to visit when the body arrives at Dover AFB, but also provided funding for it. Ended the media blackout on coverage of the return of fallen soldiers. http://nyti.ms/glqN66 http://bbc.in/gWSSkA
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191. Funded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans’ services. http://1.usa.gov/huhqfo 192. Signed into law a bill that provides support, counseling, and breastfeeding supplies to military moms who are covered under TRICARE, the health insurance provided to veterans. http://bit.ly/1yNxL8O 193. Signed into law a bill that makes it easier for military dogs to retire at home with their handlers. http://bit.ly/1J78Y2U 194. Improved America’s Reputation Around the World 195. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office. http://bit.ly/hZycda 196. As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration. http://nyti.ms/dKvY4g 197. Made a speech at a US mosque to demonstrate his commitment to religious rights and send a message to Muslims around the world. http://cnn.it/1PGU1uI 198. Restored America’s reputation around the world as a global leader. http://bit.ly/h743y7http://bit.ly/ho4TCr 199. Re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues. http://1.usa.gov/e7QuDj 200. Closed a number of secret detention facilities. http://nyti.ms/rpUc9l 201. Improved relations with Middle East countries by appointing special envoys. http://1.usa.gov/tiGAGe 202. Pushed forward the first realistic Middle East peace strategy in more than a decade, without abandoning the two-state solution. http://wapo.st/1avyste 203. Pushed for military to emphasize greater development of foreign language skills. http://bit.ly/AxUCLV 204. Offered $400 million to the people living in Gaza, while calling on both Israel and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence. http://bit.ly/9axfWh 205. Refused to give Israel the green light to attack Iran over their possible nuclear program. http://bit.ly/xVmSZK 206. Ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay, although blocked by Congress. http://bit.ly/eW6CVF 207. Ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy and prohibited the use of “enhanced interrogation.” http://bit.ly/g6MTuC 208. Ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed. http://bbc.in/h6N9ax 209. Released the Bush torture memos. http://bit.ly/hWJ5z0 210. On his second day in office, banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies and put the US in full compliance with the Geneva Convention. http://1.usa.gov/dL6Zvehttp://nyti.ms/hzWWys 211. In response to the emerging “Arab Spring,” he created a Rapid Response fund, to assist emerging democracies with foreign aid, debt relief, technical assistance and investment packages in order to show that the United States stands with them. http://bit.ly/zfmGv9 212. Ended the F-22 program, saving $4 billion. Though the 187 aircraft cost $358 million each to build, it had never flown a combat mission. http://slate.me/PYzmzT 31
213. Passed the Iran Sanctions Act, to prevent war and encourage the Iranian government to give up their nuclear program. http://1.usa.gov/wLtNjb 214. Ended the Iraq War. http://tgr.ph/ru0tyS 215. Worked to keep our withdrawal from Afghanistan on track, despite GOP opposition. http://reut.rs/1cIOsF1 reiterated that commitment in 2014. http://nyti.ms/1exnmRF 216. Conducted a secret mission by SEAL Team Six to rescue two hostages held by Somali pirates. http://bit.ly/y8c9Fz 217. Through United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, helped negotiate a peaceful split of Sudan into two countries, creating an independent South Sudan. http://reut.rs/qzE0Tj 218. Helped make donations to Haiti tax deductible in 2009. http://huff.to/6YkAVY 219. Established a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. http://1.usa.gov/eX28DP 220. Issued Executive Order blocking interference and helping to stabilize Somalia. http://1.usa.gov/hxdf8U 221. Established new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba, such as allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families and send money to support them. http://n.pr/hY3Kwa http://nyti.ms/emQBde 222. The new policies in Cuba led to thawed relations and the first US Embassy in Cuba in more than 55 years. http://abcn.ws/1ghLrEs 223. Became the first U.S. President to visit Cuba in more than 80 years. http://bit.ly/1qlKwbi 224. Negotiated a deal with Iran that will prevent them from getting a nuclear weapon anytime soon, without firing a shot or invading the country. http://cnn.it/1M3Hpvv 225. As a result of the Iran agreement, Iran shipped pretty much all of it nuclear material to Russia. http://nyti.ms/1PrzLty 226. Became the first US President to visit Jamaica in more than 30 years, worked to restore relations with the country and signed a natural gas distribution agreement with the country. http://bit.ly/1JtpFqi 227. Signs law extending some privacy protections to US allies, a reversal of the Bush practice of spying on people like Angela Merkel and the like. http://bit.ly/1VZza6w 228. Instituted Power Africa, an initiative to bring electrical generation to greater parts of the African continent. http://bbc.in/1QtYVud 229. Changed US Approach to “Defense� and National Security 230. Created a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat. http://1.usa.gov/gDX1nE 231. Authorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010. http://1.usa.gov/gLFZl2 232. Restarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush. http://lat.ms/gkcl3i 233. Signed and got ratification of a new SALT Treaty. http://bit.ly/f3JVtw 234. Negotiated and signed a new START Treaty that will stay in force until at least 2021. http://1.usa.gov/cI1bC4 235. Committed the US to no permanent military bases in Iraq. http://bit.ly/hk73OJ
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236. Developed a comprehensive strategy with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan designed to facilitate the defeat of al Qaeda, the withdrawal of most troops and the rebuilding of Afghanistan. http://wapo.st/ee4Xcs 237. Re-focused on Afghanistan, stabilized the country, and began the process of withdrawing troops from the country. http://bit.ly/lNXUna 238. Negotiated a deal with Afghan government, to withdraw troops and military support, while assisting in rebuilding and modernizing of the country. http://bit.ly/K362an 239. Took steps to severely weaken al Qaeda and limited their ability to terrorize the world. http://yhoo.it/n5lXs6 240. Negotiated and signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty with India. http://1.usa.gov/aHp0Cn 241. Worked with NATO to limit the slaughter of innocents in Libya, so that Libyans could topple the despotic Khadaffy government and determine their own fate. http://aje.me/qAh4Sj 242. Got Egyptian President/dictator Mubarak to leave the Egyptian government to the people, to determine their own fate. http://f24.my/efvgNZ 243. In 2011, reoriented American focus from the Middle East to the Asian-Pacific region by simultaneously engaging China and crafting new alliances with Asian countries uncomfortable with Chinese behavior. http://bit.ly/RGlMDi 244. Restored federal agencies such as FEMA to the point that they have been able to manage a huge number of natural disasters successfully. http://bit.ly/h8Xj7z 245. Increased border security http://bit.ly/1JQDGz9 246. Ordered and oversaw the Navy SEALS operation that killed Osama bin Laden. http://bit.ly/jChpgw 247. Established the Homeland Security Partnership Council, to enhance the nation’s ability to “address homeland security priorities, from responding to natural disasters to preventing terrorism, by utilizing diverse perspectives, skills, tools, and resources.” http://1.usa.gov/VJjLXO 248. Signed agreement with Afghanistan to end war, turn security over to Afghans. http://nyti.ms/1xSjgBd 249. Breaking with recent presidential tradition, instead of just attacking Syria in the wake of chemical weapons attacks on Syrians, Obama ordered a full report on the decision-making process. http://cbsn.ws/184RFgu 250. Instead of holding hearings and creating a political football, he quietly captured a suspect who actually committed the Benghazi terrorist attack. http://wapo.st/1jFlmzv He is also getting a lot of useful information from the suspect. http://nyti.ms/UfE2Ka 251. Instituted rules to order sanctions against individuals and groups that threaten national cybersecurity. http://1.usa.gov/1HWcGMG 252. Instituted tougher new sanctions against North Korea after threats of nuclear attack and several tests. http://cbsn.ws/1L8L5hW 253. Took concrete steps to improve our counter-terrorism efforts. http://bit.ly/1RATjAh 254. Making great strides in defeating the Islamic State without committing hundreds of thousands of troops or carpet bombing civilians, against Republican objections. http://bit.ly/1TxBK5e 255. Improved Education and Educational Opportunities
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256. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, invested heavily in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. http://1.usa.gov/gGRIAr 257. Created the Race to the Top program, which encouraged states to come up with effective school reforms and rewards the best of them. http://bit.ly/NHtZ7L 258. Oversaw major expansion of broadband availability in K-12 schools nationwide. http://bit.ly/fNDcj3 259. Oversaw major expansion in school construction. http://bit.ly/fYwNrV 260. Signed an executive order that expanded recognition and funding for historically black colleges and universities. http://on.thegrio.com/1rD50gc 261. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, put $5 billion into early education, including Head Start. http://1.usa.gov/tzT2Rr 262. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as GI Bill 2.0, to improve veterans’ access to education. http://bit.ly/hPhG7J 263. Oversaw expansion of the Pell Grants program, to expand opportunity for low and middle income students to go to college. http://bit.ly/hI6tXz 264. Signed and implemented the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds. http://1.usa.gov/dQvtUe 265. Took major new steps to protect students from ineffective for-profit colleges through “gainful employment” measures, whereby schools have to demonstrate that its students actually find work to get federal aid. http://1.usa.gov/jkzQe2 266. Repeatedly increased funding for student financial aid, and at the same time cut the banks completely out of the process, thus us creating greater accountability. http://bit.ly/gYWd30 http://bit.ly/e9c7Dr http://bit.ly/eEzTNq 267. Reformed student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate. http://nyti.ms/dMvHOt 268. Created a rating system for colleges, so that those applying for student financial aid know better what they’re paying for. http://bit.ly/14Dn7UL 269. Led a bipartisan effort to reform the federal approach to education and essentially repeal “No Child Left Behind.” http://cbsn.ws/2780qXu 270. Restored the Adult View on Science and Technology 271. Created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making. http://1.usa.gov/g2SDuw 272. Opened up the process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects. http://bit.ly/j0KV2U 273. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs. http://nyti.ms/fTs9t7 274. Obama EPA reversed research ethics standards which allowed humans to be used as “guinea pigs” in tests of the effects of chemicals, to comply with numerous codes of medical ethics. http://bit.ly/bKgqdS 275. Conducted a cyberspace policy review. http://1.usa.gov/gmbdvC 276. Provided financial support for private sector space programs. http://bit.ly/fn8ucr 277. Oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use. http://bit.ly/dNTRyP 34
278. Through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs. http://bit.ly/ecQSgA 279. Increased funding for community-based prevention programs. http://bit.ly/frMPG3 280. Expanded space exploration and discovery options to include more players. http://1.usa.gov/13qmZpm 281. Through the Connect America Fund, pushed through and received FCC approval for a move of $8 billion in subsidies away from telephone landlines to assist lower-income rural families in accessing broadband. http://lat.ms/vhRUEs http://bit.ly/129V3SY 282. In the wake of the West Fertilizer tragedy, formed the Chemical Safety and Security Working Group, to work on measures to prevent another such events. http://1.usa.gov/18kHSlA 283. Established a Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center, a recommendation made by the 9/11 Commission, to coordinate efforts to fight cyber-crime and terrorism. http://1.usa.gov/1A0aEoS 284. The Obama FCC, with his leadership, adopted strong net neutrality rules, to keep the Internet open and equal for everyone. http://fcc.us/1MhTlIA 285. Ordered rules to speed up deployment of a more comprehensive broadband infrastructure. http://1.usa.gov/M7rVpe 286. Set up a National Strategic Computing Initiative, to “maximize benefits of highperformance computing (HPC) research, development, and deployment.” http://1.usa.gov/1IN3FZa 287. Ordered a federal level change in national earthquake standards. http://1.usa.gov/1T5wGoR 288. Signed executive orders designed to strengthen government cybersecurity and prevent hackers from getting in. http://usat.ly/1R0saIt 289. Took steps to combat the effects of climate change by committing the U.S. to developing long-term drought resilience measures. http://1.usa.gov/1SMCuRY 290. Started the road to greater exploration of space by signing bill to encourage mining on asteroids and clarifying property rights in space. http://bit.ly/1RV2la9 291. Improved Our Health 292. Eliminated Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, and provided increased federal support for biomedical and stem cell research. http://bit.ly/h36SSOhttp://ti.me/edezge 293. Signed Democratic-sponsored Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis. http://bit.ly/fOi2rb 294. Expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership program, which provides home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families, to cover more firsttime mothers. http://bit.ly/jRRRJc 295. Along with Democrats in Congress, ushered through and signed a bill authorizing FDA to regulate tobacco and order tobacco companies to disclose their ingredients and to ban cigarettes falsely labeled as “light.” http://on.msnbc.com/fiKViB 296. Has overseen a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors. http://bit.ly/e5b1iq http://1.usa.gov/fVNkt9 35
297. Eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price. http://bit.ly/fOkG5b 298. Two weeks after taking office, signed Democratic-sponsored Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act, which increased the number of children covered by health insurance by 4 million. http://bit.ly/fDEzGv 299. Urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. http://yhoo.it/e8Tj9C 300. Pushed through and signed Affordable Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage greatly and ended many detrimental insurance company practices. He also established healthcare.gov. http://www.healthcare.gov/ 301. Through ACA, allowed children to be covered under their parents’ policy until they turned 26. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V 302. Through the ACA, provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small businesses to provide health insurance to their employees. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V 303. Through the ACA, millions of people receive help in paying their health insurance company premiums. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V 304. Through the ACA, expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. http://nyti.ms/ekMWpo (Note: except for those states whose Republicans refused to take the extra money.) 305. By 2014, the Affordable Care Act dropped the number of uninsured Americans by 22.3%, which amounts to more than 10.3 million people with insurance who didn’t have it before. Only 13.9% of Americans are uninsured, a drop from 18.9% in 2013. http://on.msnbc.com/1r4kjGn 306. The Affordable Care Act has increased the life expectancy of Medicare greatly. http://on.wsj.com/1yuNco6 307. Through the ACA, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V 308. Medicare costs actually declined slightly, for the first time in decades in 2011, according to the Congressional Budget Office. http://1.usa.gov/oMxpTh 309. Since passage of the ACA, health care inflation is at its lowest level since 1960. http://1.usa.gov/1vXR0Ld 310. Created the HIV Care Continuum Initiative, to strengthen the government’s ability to respond to the continuing domestic HIV epidemic, after years of Republicans weakening the government’s ability to deal with the crisis. http://1.usa.gov/1iLED0t 311. Signed bill that will provide health insurance premium support to workers who lose their health insurance due to foreign competition. http://bit.ly/1evvVDF 312. In response to the confusion triggered by the asinine Hobby Lobby decision, which essentially declared that corporations could have “religious rights” and lord them over employees, created new rules to give all women with insurance the right to free birth control. http://on.wsj.com/1O44a1t 313. Implemented the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for 2015-2020, which is a follow-up to the first such strategy in US history, which he implemented in 2010. http://1.usa.gov/1IXknHm 314. Signed and will implement new child safety standards for ecigarettes. http://bit.ly/1XaFCIS 36
315. Set up a White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force, in order to implement ways to develop a cure for cancer. http://1.usa.gov/20AeKY4 316. Took steps to improve detection and treatment of mental health problems. http://1.usa.gov/25HEDp5 317. Signed Trevor’s Law, which will allow for better tracking and study of cancer and disease clusters. http://bit.ly/297uFJK 318. Signed a memorandum of understanding with Cuba to share healthcare information. http://bit.ly/29mCojf 319. Addressed the Environment While Dealing with Energy Needs 320. Doubled federal spending on clean energy research. http://bit.ly/iN0sCE 321. Pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars. http://bit.ly/j8UP5Y 322. Created a program to develop renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that will produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. http://1.usa.gov/fgfRWq 323. Reengaged in the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions agreements talks, and proposed one himself. He also addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference, officially reversing the Bush era stance that climate change was a “hoax.” http://bit.ly/dX6Vj3 http://bit.ly/fE2PxK http://nyti.ms/hfeqvv 324. Fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide. http://bit.ly/eJ6QOO 325. Required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption. http://bit.ly/lBhk7P 326. Under Obama, our dependence on foreign oil has dropped to its lowest rate since 1985, and continues to drop. http://1.usa.gov/1p6kTUy 327. Meanwhile, oil consumption is way down because of reduced driving and higher mileage standards. http://ti.me/1z4HFG8 328. Improved siting, review and permitting stations for power plants, in an attempt to seriously improve the nation’s electric grid. http://1.usa.gov/1l8zNqn 329. Reengaged in a number of treaties and agreements designed to protect the Antarctic. http://bit.ly/fzQUFO 330. Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid and electric vehicles. http://bit.ly/glCukV 331. Established a quadrennial review of our energy infrastructure, to encourage a modernization of the grid, and to encourage the transition away from fossil fuel use. http://1.usa.gov/1nx2oMo 332. Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles. http://1.usa.gov/hmUSbk http://1.usa.gov/fLWq5c http://bit.ly/h5KZqy 333. Encouraged BP to pay $20 billion to establish Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, to reduce the need for taxpayer funds to be used for compensation and clean up. http://wapo.st/ds2BxT (Note: it took 20 years to get $1.3 billion for the Exxon Valdez spill. ) 334. Oversaw and pushed through an amendment to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 authorizing advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://1.usa.gov/yTRYVo
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335. Actively tried to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to eliminate the liability limits for those companies responsible for large oil spills. http://nyti.ms/bxjDi3 336. Became the first President to simply say “Climate Change is a fact,� and set up the first federal government protocols for dealing with the impacts of climate change. http://1.usa.gov/1b7V67B 337. Initiated Criminal and Civil inquiries into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://nyti.ms/bVuB7a 338. Asserted federal legal supremacy to bar Texas from authorizing new refinery permits on its own.http://bit.ly/ww8eMd 339. Set up new, stricter standards limiting power plant emissions. http://1.usa.gov/1mML2M3 340. Strengthened the Endangered Species Act. http://bit.ly/hscjsH 341. Strengthened protection for wildlife, and expanded enforcement of laws against wildlife trafficking. http://1.usa.gov/1fce1Ai 342. Obama EPA improved boiler safety standards to improve air quality, and save 6500 lives per year. http://bit.ly/jYH7nt 343. Through the EPA, attemped to take steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans. http://bit.ly/fBuWd2 344. Through new EPA regulations, he created a pretext for closing the dirtiest power plants in the country, by limiting emissions of mercury and other toxic gasses. http://bit.ly/rQCIgA 345. Increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10% http://bit.ly/fbJPjY 346. Announced greatly improved commercial fuel efficiency standards. http://1.usa.gov/oQiC1K 347. Signed a bill that allowed for increased regulations of a large number of chemicals and other toxic materials, allowing the EPA to make the use of certain toxic materials more transparent. http://usat.ly/2911hA4 348. Announced a huge increase in average fuel economy standards from 27.5mpg in 2010 to 35.5mpg starting in 2016 and 54.5 starting in 2025 http://1.usa.gov/qtghsW 349. Facilitated investment in industrial energy efficiency to create jobs and strengthen US manufacturing while saving businesses $100 billion over a decade. http://1.usa.gov/WsIgbx 350. Set up the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to oversee Gulf Coast restoration efforts after the 2010 BP oil spill. The money to fund the restoration efforts comes from fines against BP. http://1.usa.gov/Rxjb29 351. Engaged in the most comprehensive plan to combat climate change in a generation. http://bit.ly/13lXhET 352. Ordered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021. http://reut.rs/fV155p 353. Oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers. http://bit.ly/mjnq2R 354. Guided a 418% increase in solar power capacity between 2010 and 2014. http://bit.ly/1rHkWJC 355. As of May 2015, 74% of new electrical capacity was provided by solar and wind power. http://bit.ly/1T5r0LC
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356. Bypassed Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions. http://bit.ly/froaP5 357. Oversaw a tripling in the use of wind power to generate electricity. The US now leads the world in increased wind power capacity. http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5448 358. Ordered the federal government to incorporate climate resilience and climate science into all international development in which the United States engages. http://1.usa.gov/YV1EpW 359. Fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact fuel efficiency standards that exceeded federal standards. http://nyti.ms/e8e94x 360. Fast-tracked increased fuel economy standards for vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year. It was the first time such standards had been increased in more than a decade. http://politi.co/hiaPKM 361. Oversaw establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, to create more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies. http://bit.ly/lZp73y 362. Obama EPA reversed a Bush-era decision to allow the largest mountaintop removal project in US history. http://bit.ly/lP3yEL 363. Ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances. http://1.usa.gov/g3MTbu 364. Obama EPA ruled that excess CO2 is a pollutant. http://bit.ly/iQTSNN 365. Closed a deal with China to limit carbon emissions to slow down climate change. http://nyti.ms/1xzyS8K 366. Blocked all oil and gas drilling in Bristol Bay, Alaska, one of the most pristine environments in North America http://lat.ms/13xUVFD 367. Signed an Executive Order to improve environmental efforts in the Arctic region and to combat climate change by better coordinating the efforts of the 23 federal agencies operating in the area. http://usat.ly/ZEzLzE 368. Vetoed a bill to fast track construction of the parallel Keystone XL pipeline. http://nbcnews.to/1DVDFo7 369. Expanded clean water regulations to more stringently protect all of the nation’s waterways, even when states fail in their duty. http://bit.ly/1RdQpTc 370. Signed an Executive Order committing the federal government to lead the way in building a sustainable economy. It’s his fifth doing just that. http://1.usa.gov/1EzO2ne 371. Banned the use of antibiotics in food served in US Government-run cafeterias and ordered agencies to only use antibiotic-free meat. http://bit.ly/1G1vUxi http://bit.ly/1KHkl4N 372. Developed new rules to address climate change and to create a significant boost to clean energy. http://bit.ly/1UnQcuR 373. Negotiated and signed a virtually Republican-Proof global agreement on climate change, with 190 countries signing on. http://bit.ly/1RkjVG8 374. Became one of 196 countries that signed onto a UN Framework on Climate Change. http://unfccc.int/2860.php 375. Ordered a moratorium on new coal leasing on federal land, and they will examine the whole leasing process. http://wapo.st/23Q6en8 376. Signed a bill to better protect pipelines and to authorize greater oversight. http://bit.ly/291woja 39
377. Signed into law a measure directing the Department of Transportation to issue guidelines for minimum standards for underground storage of natural gas. http://bit.ly/291AdjL 378. There’s a Lot More! 379. Nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Justice in the court’s history, and the women represent only the third and fourth women to serve on the court, out of a total of 112 justices. http://huff.to/eOChg6http://bit.ly/i02wgP 380. Appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president. http://bit.ly/dX6vNB 381. Loosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference. http://huff.to/eQfa7j 382. Signed national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program. http://bit.ly/idgQH5 383. Signed a bill that provided $4.3 billion in additional assistance to 9/11 first responders. http://bit.ly/o7cWYS 384. Placed major restrictions on the ivory trade in a bid to prevent the wholesale slaughter of elephants in Africa. http://ti.me/292Z4Gg 385. Signed a bill that will seriously curb the use of animal testing and establish alternative testing methods. http://bit.ly/28Z5AuS 386. Signed the Claims Resolution Act, which provided $4.6 billion in funding for a legal settlement with black and Native American farmers who had been cheated out of government loans and natural resource royalties in the past. http://1.usa.gov/dGppUa 387. To help those communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy, issued an executive order setting up the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, and asked Congress to approve $60 billion in supplemental assistance to aid in storm recovery. http://1.usa.gov/134L7hl 388. Produced 23 Executive actions designed to make it easier for law enforcement to identify those who shouldn’t have guns, thus helping them enforce the law. http://on.wsj.com/SX9xaZ 389. Expanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements in trade pacts like NAFTA. http://bit.ly/etznpY 390. Oversaw funding of the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, which is scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015. He protected the funding during budget negotiations. http://on.fb.me/fD0EVO http://bit.ly/ff5Luv 391. Oversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.http://bit.ly/dFb8qF 392. Expanded the authority of Customs to improve enforcement of trade and customs laws and to better coordinate said enforcement among various agencies. http://bit.ly/1S5pun7
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And Did You Know?
Despite the characterizations of some, Obama’s success rate in winning congressional votes on issues was an unprecedented 96.7% for his first year in office. Though he is often cited as superior to Obama, President Lyndon Johnson’s success rate in 1965 was only 93%. http://n.pr/i3d7cY And of course… Despite the odds, became the first black president and then, was reelected by a wide margin. On top of that, he is a great family man who remained scandal free the entire presidency.
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Working behind the Scenes
Great Reputation with Everyone-Even the Pope
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