• 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.
• Passed the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010.
• Passed the Dodd-Frank (DF) Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the biggest financial reform law since the Great Depression.
• Assigned a Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program Act of 2009 and reclaimed all but $25 billion of the more than $700 billion in tax payer bailout money.
• Passed the Pension Relief Act of 2010.
• Passed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act.
• Reformed deferral rules to curb tax advantages for investing overseas.
• Established new offshore investment policy that promotes in-sourcing.
• Cut salaries for 65 bailout executives
• Closed offshore tax safe havens, tax credit loopholes.
• Created the Financial Stability Oversight Council to monitor stability of the financial system and individual firms.
• Instituted new requirements for reporting financial data to the SEC
• Created self-funded Office of Financial Research (OFR) to collect information from financial firms
• Office of Financial Regulation employees must wait a year before working for certain financial firms.
• Provided rules for orderly liquidation of financial companies to avoid future bailouts.
• Limited trading activities of banks (Volcker Rule).
• Swaps Pushout Rule prevented federal assistance to swaps (including derivatives) traders
• Derivatives must be traded transparently through a clearing house
• Defined the amount and nature of assets required to meet capital requirements
• Mandated that originators of asset-backed securities must retain 5% ownership/risk
• Founded the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
• Stronger client fiduciary duty for broker-dealers
• Mandated higher standards for securities advertising and disclosures
• Required higher standards for systemically important ($50 billion assets+) institutions, including annual stress tests and restrictions on bank acquisitions
• Executive compensation must be determined by an independent committee
• Issued compensation guidelines for bank executive salary and bonuses.
• Financial agencies must establish Offices of Women and Minorities to promote more diverse hiring
• Signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act.
• Signed the 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.
• Worked with Congress in pursuing Goldman Sachs for securities violations.
• Permanently extended Research and Experimentation Tax Credit for domestic investments.
• Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals.
• Denied federal contracts to tax delinquents.
• Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act – establishes a Federal “Do Not Pay” list.
• Established President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans.
• Agreed with Switzerland to bolster tax information exchange.
Women & Civil Rights
• Provided $12.2 billion in new funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Act
• Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
• Presidential Memorandum extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.
• Presidential Memorandum protecting gay and lesbian partners’ visitation/healthcare decision-making rights .
• Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
• Repealed Don’t Ask, Don't Tell
• Signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act.
• Established the first White House Council on Women and Girls by Executive Order
• Increased minority access to capital.
• Pushed through the settlement for the black farmers lawsuit against the USDA.
• Signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• Endorsed and achieved the passage of the U.N. Gay Rights Protection Resolution.
• Awarded the Presidential Medal of freedom to Harvey Milk and Billie Jean King.
• Started a national "It Gets Better" campaign to address bullying in schools for homosexual teens.
• Civil Rights History Project Act of 2009.
• Promoted a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots
• Publicly endorsed the Respect for Marriage Act in the Senate.
• Appointed Sue Fulton the first openly gay person to serve on the West Point Board of Visitors.
• Delivered comprehensive primary care for women Veterans at all VA facilities by 2013.
• Placed full-time Women Veterans Program Managers at 144 health systems and expanding outreach to women Veterans in communities across the country.
• Ordered insurance companies to cover women's health and preventative care without a co-pay.
Transparency & Reform "Change"
• Promoted internet freedom as part of U.S. foreign policy.
• Launched a media piracy crackdown.
• Required new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliations or contributions.
• Streamlined and modernized government to save taxpayer dollars.
• Established the President’s Management Advisory Board.
• Cut salaries of senior White House aides.
• Canceled contract for new Presidential helicopter fleet.
• Returned taxpayer monies for refurbishment of White House offices and living quarters.
• Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules.
• The Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act, advancing press freedom and safety for journalists.
• Awarded 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.
• Reversed Controversial “Human Guinea Pig” Rule.
• Opened 500 MHz of wireless spectrum over next 10 years to expand wireless/mobile broadband use.
• Restored funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) program.
• Appointed the first Latina to the Supreme Court.
• Appointed first black Attorney General, Eric Holder.
• Brought greater alignment to sentencing guidelines for powdered versus crack cocaine.
• Denounced SCOTUS ruling in Citizens United.
• Signed the Criminal History Background Checks Pilot Extension Act of 2009.
• Recommitted the U.S. to a policy of “no torture” and full compliance with the Geneva Conventions.
• Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date.
• Established new cyber security office.
• Closed secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere.
• Department of Defense opened access to social media sites.
• Ordered the Department of Defense to film all interrogations.
• Mandated all departments follow the standards of the Freedom of Information Act.
• 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.
• Granted the most interviews in a single year.
• Established a uniform standard for declassifying, safeguarding and classifying national security information.
• Created a national declassification center for government records.
• White House has a voluntary disclosure policy posting White House visitors to the official whitehouse.gov site.
• Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
• Barred ex-presidents from restricting the release of their papers.
• Lifted the gag order on abortion counseling overseas.
Creating Jobs
• Passed a Small Business Act to encourage hiring.
• Passed a Small Business Investment Act to open up investment capital and loans to small businesses.
• 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.
• Signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: a $789 billion economic stimulus plan to avoid a depression.
• Saved the U.S. Auto Industry from collapse
• Passed the 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.
• $26 billion aid to states package that saved 160,000 teacher jobs.
• 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.
• Extended and indexed the 2007 Alternative Minimum Tax patch.
• Extended unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits.
• Signed the Jobs for Main Street Act
• Dedicated $100 million in Energy Training Partnership green jobs training grants.
• $5,000 tax credit for every new worker.
• Started job training programs in clean technologies for displaced workers.
• Green Vet Initiative to promote environmental jobs for veterans.
• Expanded funding to train primary care providers and public health practitioners.
• 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 in high speed rail projects in 13 major corridors.
• Created a social investment fund network.
• Funded a major expansion of AmeriCorps.
• Airport and Airway Extension Act.
• Initiated modification to Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) regulations.
• Started the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which expands the volunteer program.
• 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.
Environment
• Signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 increasing protected habitats under federal law.
• Signed the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.
• Established the National Ocean Council and Stewardship of the Ocean program by Executive order.
• Established the Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance by Executive order.
• Established partnerships to share environmental technology with other countries.
• Increased funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
• Increased funding for national parks and forests.
• $175 million allocated for water conservation, $135 million for the Southwest
• Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic.
• Expanded access to places to hunt and fish for sustainability.
• Issued the Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration Act by Executive order.
• Led effort to phase out whaling.
• Pursued an updated wildfire management plan.
• Encouraged more controlled burns to reduce wildfires.
• Increased funding for the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Ordered 5,000 hybrids for federal fleet.
• Wind power growth up 39% due to government stimulus.
• Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions.
• Achieved the highest 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
• Regulated greenhouse gases for large industrial sources
• Required states to provide incentives for utilities to reduce energy consumption.
• Enacted tax breaks to promote public transit.
• Reengaged in global warming and greenhouse gas emissions talks.
• Pledged 28% cut in federal greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
• Ordered inspections of mines with poor safety records.
• Closed loophole that allowed drilling in Rockies without environmental review.
• Sharply limited mountaintop mining.
• Announced historic plans to regulate coal ash.
• 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.
• Ordered $20 billion escrow fund by BP to reimburse lost incomes in Gulf.
• Ordered $100 million to compensate those hurt by drilling moratorium.
• Mandated new safety rules for offshore drilling.
• Opened civil and criminal investigations into Gulf oil spill.
• Launched investigation into gas drilling practices.
• 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.
• Barred Texas’ authority to issue refinery operating permits.
Education
• Enacted largest reform of student aid in 40 years.
• Signed the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010.
• Provided means for students struggling to make college loan payments to refinance.
• Expanded Pell grants for low-income students.
• Expanded Pell grant pool by eliminating private lender subsidies for student loans.
• Created the Race to the Top Fund ($4.35 billion) to reward States that create comprehensive education reform plans.
• Increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to the highest level since 1992.
• Created an artist corps for public schools.
• Provided funding for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools.
• Established State Equalization Fund; new funds for school construction.
• Provided $77 Billion for reforms to to strengthen Elementary and Secondary education.
• Provided $500 million for Head Start Programs.
• Fully funded the Community Development Block Grant
• Provided $5 billion dollars for Early Learning Programs
• 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 sex education funding.
• Recruited math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession.
• Expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership to all low-income, first-time mothers.
• Signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act reauthorizes many federal nutrition programs.
Middle-Class
• Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009.
• Established HealthCare.gov, a web portal for determining and comparing all consumer health insurance and health care options
• Expanded eligibility for State Children’s Health Insurance Fund
• Unveiled a $275 billion dollar housing plan to prevent millions of families from losing their homes because of Wall St.'s negligence.
• Established “Opening Doors” – a federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness.
• 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.
• Signed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act.
• Established the Making Home Affordable Plan, which will provide for the refinance or loan modification for 9 Million homeowners.
• Initiated a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses.
• Worked to clear the backlog of veterans claims and streamline benefits to those who served.
• Donated 250K of Nobel prize money to Fisher House.
• Provided $210 Million for building and upgrading fire stations.
• 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.
• Provided grants to early-career researchers.
• Used the private sector to improve spaceflight
• Supported commercial access to outer space
• Small business tax credits for the cost of health insurance for employees beginning
• Income floor for medical expense deductions for individuals age 65 and older (and their spouses) remains at 7.5%
• Health insurance premium tax credits and subsidies available for those with income up to 4x the federal poverty level
• Signed the largest immediate tax cut for the bottom 98% of Americans in history.
• Reformed No Child Left Behind by placing emphasis on what's good for students.
• Capped out of pocket expenses when people get sick so people don’t go in to bankruptcy after getting ill.
• Signed the 9/11 Emergency Responders Health Care Bill.
• Signed the Food Safety Modernization Act which paves the way for the first major overhaul of the food safety system in the United States in nearly a century.
• Signed the The Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Energy
• Established an Energy Partnership for the Americas.
• Established the Biofuels Working Group to develop a comprehensive approach to alternative fuels.
• Launched a new Climate Service.
• Worked toward deploying a global climate change research and monitoring system.
• Implemented renewable fuels mandate of 36 billion gallons by 2022.
• More than doubled federal spending for research on clean fuels.
• $60 billion in spending and tax incentives for renewable and clean energy.
• Established consumer tax credit for plug-in hybrid cars.
• Provided grants to encourage energy-efficient building codes.
• $8 billion combined public/pvt funding committed to develop Smart Power Grid
• Purchased fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government.
• Established program to convert manufacturing centers into clean technology leaders.
• Established Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future.
• Pledged more than $8 billion for new nuclear reactors.
• Instituted “Cash for Clunkers” to spur auto sales and promote fuel efficiency.
• Required electric utilities to produce 20% of their electricity demand from renewable energy sources by 2020.
Foreign Policy & Defense
• 47 nations rise to Obama’s challenge at US nuke summit and agree to four years of non-proliferation efforts.
• Delivered a landmark speech to the Arab world 100 days into his presidency.
• Visited more countries and world leaders than any first year president.
• Created a rapid response fund for emerging democracies.
• Bolstered the military’s ability to speak different languages.
• Returned the rights of Americans to visit and assist their families in Cuba.
• Appointed envoys to the Middle East and AFPAK affirming the power of American diplomacy.
• Renewed loan guarantees for Israel.
• Pledged $400 million in aid to Gaza civilians.
• Refused to give Israel a “green light” to strike Iran, augmenting Mid-East stability.
• Authorized President Bill Clinton’s mission to secure the release of two Americans held in North Korea.
• Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Webb to secure the release of an American held captive.
• Killed Osama bin Laden, the world's number one terrorist and mass murderer.
• Signed a Nuclear arms agreements with India.
• Eliminated F-22 fighter jet program after lobbying the Senate to strip financing for more jets from a defense funding authorization bill.
• Eliminated the Eastern Europe Missile Defense Shield or "Star Wars" Program.
• Accelerated tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for Haiti earthquake relief.
• $60 million for flood victims in Pakistan
• Deported higher numbers of Illegal Immigrants with violent convictions or arrests.
• Signed an Executive order closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay.
• Ended combat operations in Iraq.
• Began the drawdown of troops in Afghanistan with a complete withdrawal by 2014.
• Caught more Taliban Leaders in one month than Bush/Cheney did in six years.
• Signed a new START treaty and reduced U.S. nuclear arms by 30%.
• Provided for the expenses of families of to be at Dover AFB when fallen soldiers arrive.
• Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information.
• Signed the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act.
• Improved basic housing allowance for military personnel.
• Fully funded the VA Hospitals.
• Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans.
• Signed the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act.
• Improved access for Veterans to receive PTSD treatment.
• Successfully saved U.S. citizens held captive by Somali pirates
Health Care
• Established an independent health institute to provide accurate and objective information.
• Established the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council.
• Implemented a National HIV/AIDS Strategy
• Provided $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
• Provided $500 million in expanded funding for Health Professions Training Programs.
• 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.
• Established Standards For Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment
• Expanded vaccination programs.
• Now regulating tobacco under the FDA.
• Signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
• Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients.
• Banned sale of “light” cigarettes.
• Issued new guidance limiting antibiotic use in cattle to preserve efficacy in humans
• Passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the first comprehensive reform of the nation's health care system in 80 years.
• 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.
• Provided minimum essential health care coverage by Veteran’s Affairs.
• 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
• Signed the TRICARE Affirmation Act.
• Extended COBRA to provide for a continuation of health care.
• Signed the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009.
• Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare.
• Medicare costs for patients have dropped considerably.
• Eliminated higher subsidies to Medicare Advantage plans.
• Preserved access to care for Medicare beneficiaries.
• Denied cuts to Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries during debt negotiations.
• 2-year temporary tax credit up to $1 billion to encourage investment in new disease prevention and treatment therapies
• Order insurance companies to spend a minimum of 85% of premiums on health care and payouts, and not CEO pay and compensation.
• Made preventative care free in most cases.
