Boulder City
Democratic Club

What Has President Obama and his Administration Done For America?

Government Reform
1. Established a National Performance Officer charged with making federal operations more efficient and ordered all federal agencies to review all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices.
2. The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act.
3. Held more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration.
4. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible.
5. Placed limits on lobbyist's access to the White House.
6. Placed limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration.
7. Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness.
8. Immediately and efficiently responded to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters.
9. Ended the previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations and reports.
10. Appointed the first Latina to the Supreme Court.
11. Established the National Declassification Center to assure timely declassification of documents.
12. Makes use of the WhiteHouse.gov website to inform the public on issues, give access to video of events, report the names of all visitors to the White House and the Vice President’s office and report on actions taken by the administration, such as consolidation of government programs and cost-cutting measures.

War on Terror
13. Established a new cyber security office.
14. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan.
15. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan.
16. The new Afghan War policy limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans.
17. Authorized the successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates allowing the Navy SEALS to do their job.
18. Increased US Navy patrols off the Somali coast.
19. Restarted the nuclear nonproliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols.

Jobs
20. Instituted enforcement for equal pay for women.
21. US auto industry rescue plan to prevent thousands of lost jobs in auto and related companies.
22. Extended the period of time for unemployment benefits to help workers who have lost their jobs.
23 . $789 billion economic stimulus plan targeting education & retraining workers, transportation projects and supplementing state and local budgets for police, firefighters and teachers.
24. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program.
25. Ended the previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back.
26. Increased opportunities in AmeriCorps program.
27. Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform.
28. Signed a jobs bill providing tax benefits to small businesses that hire new workers.
29. Hosted a jobs forum and influenced mayors all across the country to hold community job forums.
30. Hosted a White House Forum on the Economics of Workplace Flexibility to develop ways for businesses to meet the needs of workers to balance the demands of child care, elder care and the importance of continuing education.

Financial
31. Implemented the US financial and banking rescue plan to prevent the collapse of the national economy
32. Closed offshore tax safe havens
33. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
34. Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry's predatory practice
35. Making more loans available to small businesses
36. Developing legislation to regulate large banks, investment brokerages and stock rating companies
37. Established the Middle Class Task Force to address the issues impacting individuals and families.

Military and Veterans
38. Began the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force; this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.
39. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops
40. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
41. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel.
42. Improved housing for military personnel.
43. Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses.
44. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals.
45. Now reporting full information on war casualties and ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier's family
46. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB).
47. Improved benefits for veterans.
48. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans.
49. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts.
50. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan.
51. The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out.
52. Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

Health
53. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research and supports new biomedical research.
54. New federal funding for science and research labs.
55. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
56. Expanded vaccination programs and responded quickly to the H1N1 virus threat.
57. Lowered drug costs for seniors by narrowing the doughnut hole in Part D Medicare.
58. Ended the previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings.
59. Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare
60. Reformed the nation's healthcare system to extend coverage to almost 32 million citizens without health insurance and improve coverage for millions more under insured.
61. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules.
62. The FDA is now regulating tobacco.
63. Proposed and signed into law support to help seniors stay in their homes when they need a caregiver.

Housing
64. Implemented a housing rescue plan, including a government guarantee of mortgages.
The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance a mortgage if they are having trouble paying. (the new plan can be completed in one day)
65. Established a website with information to help homeowners use the refinance program. (Makinghomeaffordable.gov.)
66. Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud.

Energy
67. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect.
68. Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production.
69. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards.
70. Instituted attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles.
71. Cash for clunkers program offered vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars and stimulated auto sales.
72. Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government.
73. Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions.
74. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources.
75. Has announced his intention to push for further energy reform and independence from foreign sources.
76. Authorized the F/A-18 fighter jet to run on biofuels.
77. Began a collaboration between the Dept. of Agriculture and the Navy to develop biofuel solutions for the Navy’s energy needs.

Education
78. Implemented the Race To The Top program for education reform.
79. Provided funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools.
80. Allocated new funds for school construction.
81. Increased student loans programs and is improving the efficiency of those programs.
82. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced.

International Relations
83. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions.
84. Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy.
85. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office.
86. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic.
87. The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed.
88. Ended the previous policy on interrogation; the US no longer condones torture and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards.
89. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return home to visit loved ones.
90. Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons
91. Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive
92. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel.
93. The European missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010 easing relations with Russia.
94. Organized effective aid to Haiti and Chile following devastating earthquakes.
95. Joined with the government of Mexico in combating the violence on the US/Mexican border.
96. Opposed the expansion of Israeli housing development in the contested areas of Jerusalem.

Other
97. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters and paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of the President’s own pocket.
98. Named March 31, 2010 as Cesar Chavez Day.
99. Held the first Seder in the White House.
100. Hosted the first LGBT Pride month reception at the White House.
101. Received a group of blind and deaf individuals from the Helen Keller National Center at the Oval Office in recognition of Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week.
102. Welcomed the Teachers of the Year at the White House.
103. Increased the budget for NASA to extend the life on the International Space Station and to develop the next generation propulsion system for space exploration.

104. AND reduced taxes for millions of middle class and low income Americans.