Removed Bush era restrictions on embryonic stemcell research Offering federal support for stemcell and new biomedical research Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children Established an independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare Reversed the Bush era restrictions that prevented Medicare from negotiating with pharmaceutical firms for cheaper drugs; now the government can again competitively bid Expanding vaccination programs Issued new disease prevention guidelines and priorities for the CDC Authorized the FDA to finally begin regulating tobacco Tasked federal labs to prioritize research on and deployment of H1N1 vaccines Asked multiple congressional committees to bring forward a healthcare reform bill that attempts to increase coverage and affordability; he supported holding many hearings and town halls on the issue Energy & Environment Removed a ruling that now allows individual states to enact automotive fuel efficiency standards above federal standards Offered attractive tax writeoffs for those who buy hybrid automobiles Overturned Bushera rule to weaken the Endangered Species Act Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient Americanmade fleet for the federal government Ended the Bush era policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions Signed a measure requiring energy producing plants to begin producing 15% of their energy from renewable sources The Obamas used LED energysaving lights on White House Christmas tree Announced that the federal government would reengage in the longdelayed effort to clean up Superfund toxic waste sites Announced the longterm development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production Proposed a new refuge for wild mustangs Cancelled several Bushera mountaintop removal and mining permits Reengaged in international treaties and agreements to protect the Antarctic Asked Congress for energy reform and cap and trade Developing plan to lease US coastal waters for wind and water current energy production Overturned Bushera policies that allowed uranium mining near national parks such as the Grand Canyon Expanded the Petrified Forest National Park Signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act that protects millions of acres of scenic, historic, and recreational lands and trails Requiring that government buildings and facilities be retrofitted to save energy costs Authorized studies in several western states to determine how to support largescale solar installations Attended the Copenhagen talks and, after the talks were stalled, negotiated an international (voluntary) agreement on reducing carbon emissions and raising funds to assist developing nations in offsetting carbon emissions Banned importation of pythons (in response to a growing population of pythons damaging the Florida Everglades) Agreed to consider increases in nuclear energy and offshore drilling Committing the federal government to increasing research and use of renewable, clean energy sources such as wind, biomass, etc. Rights Instituted enforcements for equal pay for women (Lilly Ledbetter Bill) Appointed the first Latina to the Supreme Court Held the first Seder in White House Appointed a diverse Cabinet and diverse White House staff Spoke at the annual dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights organization Signed the first major piece of federal gay rights legislation that includes acts of violence against gays under the list of federal hate crimes Reversed the Bush era practice of politicizing Justice Department investigations and prosecutions against political opponents Allowing some of the 9/11 perpetrators to be tried in federal court Signed an extension of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Bill to provide federal research and support for treating the disease
