Agenda - The Texas Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy: Fill & Download for Free

Ok. Good question. Thanks. This is going to be a long post, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Feel free to skim. For those of you read all of it: I appreciate! Thanks!Birth Control, Sex Ed and the Societal Dynamics of Shame: an EssayBirth control and sex education would definitely promote a healthier culture of sexuality and of course, would held equip young people to understand boundaries and consent and have serious conversations about these issues. Of course, a drop in the abortion rate would be among the effects; states with an abortion ban have a higher rate of teen pregnancies, as well as other complications, in addition to a higher maternal and infant mortality rate. But much more importantly, we would be equipping our young people to communicate in a healthy way, respect each other, relate to sexuality in a healthy and wholesome way, and express themselves about some really important issues in a way that is clear and respectful. And that kind of honest, nuanced conversation about sensitive and important issues is something our society really needs. And teaching the skills for it starts in school, where teachers and peers can model healthy discourse in a hopefully safe, informed, and civil environment.All of that would be worth cultivating and important in its own right, promoting greater social stability, good values, tolerance, open communication, transparency, trust, understanding of others and of self, listening skills, healthy discourse, and cohesion - to name a few good qualities we could be modeling for and inspiring in the next generation. Those are positive, socially necessary qualities and values, qualities we need more, not less, of in schools and even society generally. We want kids to have a caring and respectful environment in which to learn and grow and ideally, flourish. And quite simply, there’s something pernicious and abusive about keeping kids ignorant in the name of religion. Kids deserve an education from their teachers, and guidance and support from the adults in their lives. Anything less is cheating and betraying some of the most vulnerable members of our society, and setting them up for failure when we could easily do better. Our nation’s youth deserves honesty, genuine education, and a spirit of mutual respect. They deserve the same modeling of and access to open critical inquiry from teachers and adults that teachers demand from their students. They deserve to know that the adults and teachers in their lives are willing to be open and truthful; and have the hard conversations with and guiding them that are necessary for their survival, protection, development, well-being, and success. The political interests of the adults in their lives should be secondary here.Why offer them anything less, and then to add insult to injury, justify the act of censorship and suppression with elaborate moral and religious defenses? Telling kids it’s in their interest to remain ignorant, or that they can’t be trusted to make good decisions, just at the age they start to think about and reflect on how to make good decisions and what kind of people they want to be, is simply hypocritical and unnecessarily cruel. It’s also a way to dominate and control those who can’t always speak up for themselves and creates a rather unhealthy environment of secrecy and fear, and silent coercion. None of which we should want in our schools.Kids deserve guides and protectors who are committed to setting them up for success, not pain or damage or disaster; and protecting their best interests rather than flouting or hiding them for their own ideological reasons. They deserve an education that is rigorous, capacious and tolerant - indeed, encouraging - of critical analysis and skepticism, not suppressive or destructive of those habits. They deserve to have sincere intellectual integrity, curiosity, and honesty modeled for and taught them. That this is even an issue shows tremendous lack of respect for the flourishing, intelligence, health and even basic protection of vulnerable, in many ways defenseless innocents. It’s inexcusable, and harms both individuals and societies/communities as a whole deeply, and in ways that are both omnipresent and hard to fix or address - especially from within the culture of silence they promote. How can kids make good decisions for themselves and their lives when adults refuse to give them the tools and information necessary to do so? Depriving youth of necessary and medically relevant guidance is deeply morally questionable, and constitutes a severe betrayal. It also leaves the next generation vulnerable to all kinds of problems, and without a strong conceptual framework or moral vocabulary with which to confront or analyze some serious social issues - or even the choices of their own individual lives. It’s child neglect, couched in moralizing terms.Indeed, this condescending paternalism is an attitude and set of values that is definitely not pro-life, but rather destructive of and callous to it. It’s a real shame and hypocrisy that blanket bans on sex ed are often justified through and with the rhetoric, and ideas of the pro-life movement; and often with its explicit approval and encouragement as well. What a shame, and how embarrassing for a social movement that claims to want to create a culture of reverence for life and compassion for its sanctity. Such attitudes and values are hardly promoted by these policy positions, sadly. Humiliating kids over their budding impulses, hiding relevant information from young people, or neglecting society’s most vulnerable for political reasons - these are not the actions of a person, or social movement, which is truly pro-life. Rather, they express a casual, even in some measures hostile valuation of it - in practice and implicit message if not in supposed “theory.” Their actions and preferred policies are often quite the reverse of the values system they claim to represent, and seek to protect, evangelize and cultivate.And of course, pro-life conservatives who support sex ed bans give credibility to the common, and effective, pro-choice argument that pro-lifers are more interested in controlling women (or girls or young people) than saving lives. It’s hard to un-see what’s right in front of you or deny its importance without elaborate rationalizations and self-delusion. And what most pro-choicers see is a social movement more willing to focus on the uplifting rhetoric and pretty symbolism of saving lives than the hard and sometimes challenging moral choices necessary to actually save them. This gap in theory and practice does paint the pro-life movement, if not all pro-lifers, as fairly hypocritical at best and callously unconcerned with life - or how to create a culture in which its sanctity is valued, and reverence for life a social norm - at worst.In addition: moral and religious defenses for promoting youthful ignorance, especially about a subject as vital and influential as human sexuality, are disgraceful. It is an embarrassment to many religious persons, and the good name of faith; and a cruel attempt to justify censorship, negligence and repression in the name of faith. The use of religion to control and stifle others historically never ended well. And the mixing of faith with political power does not have a good history either for religion or power, or society for that matter. I am saddened to think of a young man or woman with important questions being told that he mustn’t ask them “because ignorance is what G-d demands of you.” Can’t you see how controlling that is? How repressive, abusive, degrading and hurtful? Teachers and educators should encourage open inquiry and critical thinking, not shut it down. And there’s something hypocritical about adults demanding children remain ignorant, on sensitive or controversial subjects, while claiming to educate them and manipulating the flow of information to which they have access. It is deeply controlling, and treats the children as a means to the end of maintaining power, and the success of a certain ideological agenda. Shouldn’t teachers and adults try to maintain at least as high an intellectual standard of honesty and seriousness and rigor as they demand from their students, in their own teaching - and certainly in their interactions with students?Indeed, telling kids ignorance is for their own good is deeply paternalistic and symptomatic of an overarching patriarchal attitude. It uses the children as a means to an ideological agenda, and instrumentalists their health and fate to push politics and adult self-interest. It also expresses contempt for young people’s reasoning abilities and judgment right at the moment that they are starting to think idealistically about their lives, consider their societies, and think about how they fit in. It is a tragic waste of opportunity, and a deeply unethical betrayal, that implicitly teaches kids their health, access to knowledge, and potentially even lives are less important than the political agenda their elders currently favor. I can’t think of anything more harmful and erosive of trust, nor likelier to breed cynicism. And of course, teaching an explicitly culturally or religiously specific vision of sexual ethics in a public school violates the religious liberties of students who do not believe in that tradition. Religious liberty and the values of tolerance and pluralism are ideas that extend in more than one way, and it is further hypocritical to claim the mantle of liberty for oneself while trying to deny it to others with whom one disagrees or dislikes. That, too, is a terrible PR move for faith communities.Young people deserve an educational system that helps them understand and navigates the world and human interaction, rather than undermines those abilities. In addition, a culture of silence around sex is necessarily also a culture of silence around sexual abuse and assault, and turning the other way as children are molested or raped, or claiming that truthful allegations are evidence of unfair or unnecessary anger or some kind of personal fault, is a horrific act for educational or religious institutions. But expect more betrayals of society’s most vulnerable members, even by highly prestigious communities/authority figures, as long as a culture of silence and censorship around sex is the expected norm. One simply cannot teach kids effectively about healthy sexual consent without addressing, well, sex. (It’s funny how that works. What a shocker!) There can be terrible consequences to denying kids effective and scientifically grounded sex education and/or access to contraception. Kids deserve accurate information in schools claiming to offer, and be about, it: that shouldn’t even be controversial! We have so many twisted ideas and norms present in our culture surrounding sexuality and issues of consent. We already have a double standard for men and women; a tendency to blame women for being immodest before we blame abusers for abusing people; a sense that premarital sex - especially for girls/women - is somehow dishonoring or evidence of deep moral or spiritual unworthiness. These are problems that schools can help address or even in some ways solve; and which they should certainly not be trying to make worse! That is the reverse of their proper duty; and the power schools and teachers wield over impressionable young people is considerable, and something they should use wisely. With great power comes great responsibility.And equally important to remember: in the absence of source of information and education on these matters is not entirely absent, but rather a culture that is concerned much less with the morals that religious educators claim to care so much about, and rather more about the somewhat less noble values of fame, money and more money. Is that how and where we want the next generation to absorb important messages and values relating to sexual ethics, their bodies, or their health? From a vulgar ad in a magazine, the latest sitcom or nutty reality TV show, or the gossip circling the block? Or porn magazines? Something a predator tells them to manipulate them? I think that minimal or highly limited sex ed is a sufficient problem that we don’t need to think of utilitarian reasons to justify pushing for better sex ed programs. Yes, a drop in the abortion rate, and teen pregnancy rate as well for that matter, might well be a consequence, but sex ed is important because kids have a right to it already, without an accompanying benefit to these policies. Kids deserve a good education.Though the accompanying utilitarian benefits strengthens and adds to the argument for these open educational policies, it is only one - though admittedly an important - part of it. The bigger issue is that kids deserve a solid and scientific education, without apology or equivocation or coercion, even around controversial issues or those difficult to discuss. In fact, it’s especially important to offer grounded, analytical and scholarly education to kids on sensitive or controversial subjects, where they really need them. That’s where guidance and guided discussion moderation can really help, and everyone can use a sophisticated vocabulary and accurate information for thinking through sensitive/controversial facts and concepts. After all, teachers should be resources and guides for their students, not the thought police there to control and suppress them.Here’s some information on states that lack contraception access or reliable, scientific sex ed programs. As you can see, many of the problems with sexual health, teen pregnancy, and medical complications for both mother and offspring are concentrated in conservative Southern states.The findings reflect differences in access to medically accurate information about sex, one expert said.They are important because teen parents are less likely to pursue higher education, their children are less likely to be healthy, and they earn less on average than people who have children later.Teenage birth rates by state ranged from a low of 25 babies per 1,000 females aged 15-19 in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont to a high of 60 babies per 1,000 teens in Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.Teen birth rates are typically higher among blacks and Hispanics, with Hispanic teens giving birth at a rate of nearly three times the rate of whites, and blacks giving birth at nearly two times the rate of white teens in 2007.But population differences alone cannot not explain the regional differences in birth rates, the CDC researchers said.Education and income, sexual activity and contraceptive use, and attitudes among teens toward pregnancy and childbearing are all factors, the CDC researchers said.Birth rates for white teens in 2007 ranged from 4.3 per 1,000 in the District of Columbia to 54.8 births per 1,000 in Mississippi.For black teens, birth rates ranged from 17.4 in Hawaii to 95.1 in Wisconsin. And for Hispanic teens, birth rates ranged from 31.1 in Maine to 188.3 in Alabama.U.S. states with the lowest teen birth rates include North Dakota, Minnesota, Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Connecticut.“This new CDC report makes it crystal clear that the teen birthrate is lower in states that provide students with comprehensive, evidence-based sex education,” Leslie Kantor, National Director of Education, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement.She said the surest way to cut teen pregnancy is to give young people — especially blacks and Hispanics — comprehensive sex education.The Obama administration’s 2010 budget included $155 million in funding for medically accurate information about sex and eliminated spending for abstinence-only programs favored by many social conservatives who oppose the teaching of contraception to teens in U.S. schools. Such programs received about $1.3 billion in federal funds since the late 1990s.Teen birth rates in the United States are higher than in a number of other developed countries. In Canada the teen birth rate is 13 per 1,000, one-third the U.S. rate. And in Germany, the teen birth rate is 10 per 1,000.Teen birth rates highest in southern statesAnd here’s some more information on the way bad sex ed or lack of sex ed entirely, plus lack of contraception access, affects young people. This article focuses on Colorado, which drastically reduced teen pregnancy rates by implementing a comprehensive family planning and reproductive health program, which, yes, includes birth control.“It’s remarkable that teen pregnancy rates are going down pretty much everywhere in the country,” said John Santelli, professor of population and family health and pediatrics at Columbia University who has done extensive research on the subject. “Since 2007, in our data, virtually all the change is because of improved contraceptive use; and the most recent study suggests it’s improved use of LARCs [long-acting reversible contraception], though that’s a pretty small proportion of all adolescent users.”Research shows comprehensive sex education also matters. What public schools tell children about sex has varied over the years. These days, what they learn depends in large part on where they live, Santelli said.In many parts of the South, for example—in many states where lawmakers are banning and restricting abortion access—sex education is mostly abstinence-only education. “We used to say that as sex ed got better or got worse, it would be reflected in the birth rates,” Santelli said. “There are still parts of the country that more often focus on abstinence education, and those parts of the country have higher teen birth rates.”They also have higher rates of rural poverty, lack economic opportunities for young people and investment in family planning, he said. “So it’s a combination of public policy but also poverty.”Still, across the country, there are hopeful signs. High school dropout rates are declining, and more young people are going to college, Santelli said. “In the long haul, opportunities for young, poor, minority people are better. Kids realize that having a pregnancy and teen birth will slow their education.”How Colorado Did ItColorado had been providing family planning services at dozens of federally qualified clinics across the state for almost 40 years when it received the $28 million anonymous donation.With that money, the state health department created the Colorado Family Planning Initiative to expand family planning services to federal Title X clients, many of whom are low-income and uninsured. It gave them access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), which includes IUDs and subdermal hormonal implants.The devices can cost as much as $800 each, an expense that “prohibited widespread use” at federally funded clinics. The extra funding removed the financial barrier for low-income women across the state, providing access at the same level available to those with insurance or Medicaid, Camp said.Here’s more information about what they did, how it worked and why it was so successful. There’s also an explanation of some important consequences of their success lowering the abortion and teen pregnancy rate so drastically:As part of the initiative, the state launched a public awareness, multilingual campaign called BeforePlay, with websites and catchy billboards, to try to normalize the conversation around sex and encourage young people make healthy decisions.Through 2018, the initiative had provided LARCs to more than 45,000 women of all ages.The birth rate among women, 20 to 24, dropped 30 percent between 2009 and 2016; the abortion rate dropped 41 percent.Repeat teen births—defined as teens under 18 giving birth for the second or third time—dropped by 39 percent between 2009 and 2018, from 9.3 percent to 5.7 percent.Births to women without a high school education dropped 38 percent.In 2009, 19 of 64 Colorado counties had rates of 50 births or higher per 1,000 teens, while 20 had rates below 25. By 2014, just two counties had rates of 50 births or higher and 31 counties had rates below 25 births.“Taking the unintended out of pregnancy has helped empower thousands of young women to continue their education, further their careers and choose when to start a family,” the state reports.In short, this was the rare and intelligently crafted policy that both lowered abortion rates AND supported and protected women. And they did it all by emphasizing access to information, medical guidance and support, and making the system more available and accessible and easier to use, not harder. There’s something here for everyone to support, and benefits to multiple communities; for both individuals, as well as societies and communities at large. That’s a pretty powerful and far-reaching policy plan. The transparency really helps people make good decisions, it turns out. Who knew? Censorship really does damage lives, not only inhibits conversation; though it does both highly effectively, of course.How Colorado Halved Abortion and Teen Birth RatesAnd also interesting, here’s some information on how abortion bans play into these dynamics. States that ban abortions tend to have higher teen pregnancy, but that is not all; they even have higher rates of maternal and infant mortality, as well as sexually transmitted diseases, medical complications from pregnancy, and forced births of babies that live miserably brief, compromised, agonizing lives of short hellish helplessness. There is little to recommend them as pro-life except the title, and the recent abortion ban legislation even had significant errors in it relating to the medical science surrounding pregnancy and childbirth - which went so far that one bill invented a fictional medical procedure and included it in the law. It’s pretty clear they haven’t thought through at all the actual implications and necessary consequences of the state interfering in a woman’s private medical decisions in such a categorical, rigid and narrowly shaming way.In fact, when a woman is denied access to an abortion, research has shown that she faces threats to not only her physical but also emotional and mental well-being for long after.When a woman is denied access to an abortion, she may face threats to her mental or financial well-being. A new study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, suggests her physical health may suffer, too.“There’s a good deal of research that shows, in the short term, having an abortion is much safer than childbirth, but there isn’t much research over the long-term,” says study co-author Lauren Ralph, an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. “Our study demonstrates that having an abortion is not detrimental to women’s health, but being denied access to a wanted one likely is.”The researchers found that women who were denied abortions were more likely than those who had them to report chronic diseases, persistent pain and poor overall health five years later.This is very pertinent information, suggesting that not only do abortion bans lower maternal and infant mortality rates but also harm women’s health in permanent and continuing ways, some of which are quite harmful, painful and profound. Since some “pro-life” thinkers argue that abortions can be traumatic to women, this is also an important study as it shows that denial of abortion access is the more common source of injury and trauma to women - and quite a lasting one at that. The article goes on to explain:At the study’s outset, about 20% of women who had a first-trimester abortion described their pre-pregnancy health as fair or poor, compared to 17.5% of those who had a second-trimester abortion and about 18% of those who were turned away. After the five years of follow-up, about 20% of women who had an abortion at either stage of pregnancy reported fair or poor health—but among women who went on to give birth, the share of those reporting fair or poor health had risen to 27%.Women who gave birth also reported slightly higher rates of chronic conditions including headaches, joint pain, asthma and high cholesterol. Two women who ended up giving birth also died from maternal causes, which “could have been avoided had these women had access to the health care they had sought,” Ralph says.These disparities, Ralph says, can largely be attributed to the inherent risks associated with pregnancy and birth. Complications can include both relatively rare, life-threatening issues, such as excessive bleeding during delivery, and chronic conditions such as perinatal depression, gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension, which each affect about 10% of mothers.About 700 American women die from pregnancy-related complications each year, according to federal estimates, and the maternal mortality rate of about 17.2 deaths per 100,000 live births in the U.S. is worst in the developed world.Women Who Are Denied Abortions May Face Long-Lasting Health Problems, Study SaysIn short, we don’t need the idea that access to contraception and sex ed leads to a drop in the abortion rate, or teen pregnancy rate, to justify a solid argument for these policies. Kids deserve good sex ed and access to contraception, full stop; that shouldn’t even be controversial. If protecting innocent children or supporting or protecting life were really the goal, we would all agree and make strong efforts towards making these basic educational rights mandatory, reliable and intelligently executed. Scientific accuracy and commitment to the truth would be the standard, not the ethics or beliefs of a particular religion, especially in public schools obligated not to preference a particular faith and to instill critical thinking in their students in as neutral a way as possible. Surely religious schools that want to encourage abstinence could still do so; but not by controlling young people by denying them access to information and enforcing an unhealthy, controlling, and legally mandated ignorance. Teaching of all kinds should be based on openness to ideas, not fear of them; support and guidance of the students, not control or coercion of them. There is something pernicious about telling young people they don’t need or deserve medically necessary information for religious reasons; and that their ignorance is a more beautiful and godly thing than their education or enlightenment. It teaches cynicism: of authority, of kids themselves, of the world around them, of their ability to trust the people who say they’re on their side - and shuts down healthy critical reasoning and discussion. And that’s a major part of what schools should be in the business of teaching and inculcating. But in an environment where certain ideas are feared more than anything, where bad ideas are viewed as more dangerous or even immoral than bad behavior, and people asking inconvenient questions are kept silenced or isolated or shamed or shunned; I doubt learning can really grow in a healthy and sustainable manner.Of course, kids who want to know and understand more about sexuality and their bodies will not, not in this society at least, refrain from learning. They will seek out other, less reliable or ethically sensitive sources of information, eschewing scientific accuracy, medical realism, specificity and nuance, and ethical sensitivity for…whatever happens to be out there. Is that what the pro-life community really wants? If so, they need to do some thinking. Lying to kids by omission or commission about such an important subject is just not pro-life. Censoring and suppressing medically vital information in the name of purity culture is even less so.Here’s Elizabeth Smart’s words, assault survivor, writer, activist and lawyer, talking about how devastating it was for her to hear as an assault survivor that sex made women impure and disgusting. Her words are heartbreaking, and powerful testimony. Of course, it’s also important to note neglecting to educate and help kids talk about consent inevitably leads to more sexual abuse and assaults, as well as a culture that promotes the interests of abusers more than their innocent victims, and frowns on frank discussion of these matters. But equally important, and poignant, may be the way purity culture and abstinence only sex ed relates to women, girls or others who have been assaulted. The psychological, spiritual and social damage their words and arguments often cause for survivors, and/or women generally, is horrible to read. From the Huffington Post:In 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her Salt Lake City home, held captive in the mountains, and raped repeatedly for nine months.* Since her escape, she has emerged as an advocate for human trafficking victims—and recently, a critic of abstinence-only sex education. When Smart spoke at a Johns Hopkins University panel last week, she explained one of the factors deterring her from escaping her attacker: She felt so worthless after being raped that she felt unfit to return to her society, which had communicated some hard and fast rules about premarital sexual contact.“I remember in school one time, I had a teacher who was talking about abstinence,” Smart told the panel. “And she said, ‘Imagine you’re a stick of gum. When you engage in sex, that’s like getting chewed. And if you do that lots of times, you’re going to become an old piece of gum, and who is going to want you after that?’ Well, that’s terrible. No one should ever say that. But for me, I thought, ‘I’m that chewed-up piece of gum.’ Nobody re-chews a piece of gum. You throw it away. And that’s how easy it is to feel you no longer have worth. Your life no longer has value.”And, she wanted to explain publicly how these words and ideas impact children by sharing her own story.Speaking to an audience at Johns Hopkins about issues of human trafficking and sexual violence, Smart recently offered an answer to that question. She explained that some human trafficking victims don’t run away because they feel worthless after being raped, particularly if they have been raised in conservative cultures that push abstinence-only education and emphasize sexual purity:Smart said she “felt so dirty and so filthy” after she was raped by her captor, and she understands why someone wouldn’t run “because of that alone.”Smart spoke at a Johns Hopkins human trafficking forum, saying she was raised in a religious household and recalled a school teacher who spoke once about abstinence and compared sex to chewing gum.The Think Progress article backs up her words, continuing:Social psychologists and sexual abuse counselors agree that comprehensive sex education can help prevent sexual crimes. Teaching children about their bodies gives them the tools to describe acts of abuse without feeling as embarrassed or uncomfortable, and it also helps elevate their self-confidence and sense of bodily autonomy. A shame-based approach to genitalia and sexuality, on the other hand, sends kids the message that they can’t discuss or ask questions about any of those issues.Nonethless, abstinence-only education programs have a long history of imparting harmful messages that shame youth about their sexuality instead of teaching them the facts they need to safeguard their health. A high school in West Virginia recently made national headlines after hosting a conservative religious speaker who allegedly told students “if you take birth control, your mother probably hates you” and “I could look at any one of you in the eyes right now and tell if you’re going to be promiscuous.” In Smart’s home state of Utah — which is home to a large religiously conservative Mormon community — sex education is currently mandated, but lawmakers have repeatedly pushed to weaken the state law and reinstate an abstinence-only curriculum.Elizabeth Smart: Abstinence Education Teaches Rape Victims They’re Worthless, Dirty, And FilthyUnfortunately, shaming language, especially in relation to girls and women, is very common in abstinence only sex “education” and purity culture. The double standards surrounding sex that have for so long made it extra difficult for women rape survivors to come forward, the stigma of female sexuality and the idea or implication that female desire is somehow more sinful or problematic than actual violent sexual assault all contribute to a powerful environment of shame, censorship and repression in these contexts. This is not what we should be teaching our young people.The idea that it’s a woman’s job to say no and a man’s job to push her is an outmoded and harmful mentality about gender and sexuality, that educators should if anything push back against rather than actively promote or encourage. And there is enough in contemporary culture, film, and fiction that already stigmatizes women for being sexual (though usually, rather hypocritically not boys and men, and sometimes celebrates male womanizing as evidence of virility or masculinity or successful conquest/mating themes). Schools hardly need to, and should not be concerned with, adding to this dynamic - which only compounds and worsens current societal problems, and makes frank conversations harder.Indeed, a great deal of abstinence only education uses vividly and explicitly shaming language and metaphors. Some of this language is bizarrely explicit and incredibly shaming. The idea that a person who has premarital sex is worthless is reinforced repeatedly, and in powerfully sensory language and experience, through social games and with poetic metaphor. It’s pretty clear that kids are meant to take away from these lessons that premarital sex makes a person unworthy or disgusting. Some examples include making kids spit, or having tape attached to and then painfully torn from an arm. From the same Think Progress website:5 Offensive Analogies Abstinence-Only Lessons Use To Tell Teens Sex Makes Them DirtyThe above article describes kids being made to spit into a cup and asked if they would like a clean cup or a cup filled with human spit to symbolize their future wife. It’s a vivid and theatrical reenactment of illicit exchange of bodily fluids, meant to inspire fear, repulsion, shame, and disgust. They clearly try to activate their instinctive sense of disgust and to use metaphor and imagery to get kids to relate to sex as something abhorrent or unnatural; often especially for women. In another exercise, the teenagers are asked to tear petals off a rose, and then asked who would want a petal with all its flowers torn - which apparently symbolizes a woman who has premarital sex. It’s bizarrely explicit, humiliating and degrading by turns; and more focused on getting the students to feel upset and disgusted than making them think or understand about something. It’s clearly emotionally manipulative, and in some cases emotionally or physically abusive as well. It’s sickening to see abuses like these being justified in the name of religious faith! I guess these kids and their lives matter enough to be used as political pawns for the sake of the greater good, but not enough to actually treat them with consideration, honesty or respect - that seems to be the implicit message of such training. No wonder it can breed disillusionment, fear, mistrust or cynicism. And would likely discourage many abuse and assault survivors from coming forward as well; especially problematic, when underreporting sexual crimes is already a problem especially in many religious communities, ironically enough.In sum: denying kids access to important medical information, much of which could potentially save a life/lives, is not pro-life. It is callous to, repressive and destructive of it. That much is abundantly clear. Besides, we owe the next generation the very highest standards of openness to information, ability to investigate and explore new ideas even and especially when controversial, and rigorous critical inquiry and education. Anything less is an abdication of educational duty - an especially important one in this area, because it could save lives, and prevent much damage and harm. If that sounds to you worth doing - then you should support access to sex ed and contraception. Of course, the effects on abortion and teen pregnancy are also a big part of what makes these policies important, but that is by no means their sole justification. It really is that simple. As the Jewish saying has it: He who saves one life, it is as though he saved the entire world. Let’s teach kids reverence for life and reason, respect for the human form, not distrust of them. Why are we shaming and suppressing them when we could teach and inspire instead, again?? At any rate: yes, sex ed and contraception programs do decrease abortion and teen pregnancy rates, often substantially. Abortion bans do not, and in fact cause higher maternal and infant mortality as well as teen pregnancy rates (plus make medical complications for both mother and baby more common, as well as, in some states, STDs. There’s nothing pro-life about abortion bans, especially those similar to the recent draconian bills). They benefit society and young people by making everyone safer, and often benefit the next generation of children as well as teen pregnancy is generally correlated with poverty and poorer socioeconomic/educational outcome(s), and sometimes other problems as well. But that is hardly their sole - or even necessarily primary - justification. There are sound social and moral reasons to support sex ed and contraception, and to doubt the positive impact and value of abstinence only programs, quite apart from these admittedly powerful pragmatic considerations. Which indeed affect both individuals and the social support networks and communities/societies of which they are a part quite profoundly and lastingly.Finally: It’s doubly ironic that many of the same people who complain about snowflakes and triggers here are very much on the side of censorship, and passionately try to protect it; even at risk, and inevitable cost, to their own self-stated moral and political goals. I guess it’s one of life’s great ironies that it’s often hard to face the fact that harsh realities exist, and they don’t care about anyone’s moral or religious feelings. In the name of sensitivity to which, we are denying kids the truth. And that is never justifiable, least of all within a specifically educational, ostensibly scholarly context. Let’s educate our kids; not censor or silence them. Let’s open up conversations to difficult questions or truths; not ignore them. That’s the kind of education I know I, and many others, want for kids. The kind that saves, protects, and honors human life, rather than cruelly and harmfully shutting down its freedom, safety, and basic expression. Kids are society’s most vulnerable demographic. Pro-life ad pro-choice should be able to unite around protecting and supporting them, rather than shaming and endangering them over basic human impulses. And yes, to answer the implicit question: making sex ed and contraception more widely available does, indeed, lower the abortion and teen birth rate more effectively than pretty much anything else - including abortion bans, which often endanger the very demographic it supposedly exists to represent and protect. Instead of using life and lives as political pawns to be manipulated for the sake of the greater good, we should be trying to safeguard, cultivate and #protect them instead. Such an attitude is an area of common ground between citizens with differing views on other political topics, and something from which we all - and most especially the youngest and most vulnerable among us - stand to benefit.Citations:Huffington PostThink ProgressReutersPEACE & JUSTICE

Most, if not all, presidents have accomplished more than one goal. Presidents will come in with an agenda of several items they consider important.Here's a list of Obama accomplishments. It seems clear he already had some things in mind such as limiting undue outside influence on the legislative process. Some of these were not entirely through his own efforts.Within his first week, he signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse. Executive Order -- Economy in Government ContractingCreated the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money. Obama Names Chief Performance OfficerOn his first full day, he froze White House salaries for the duration of the Great Recession. MSNBC: news, video and progressive community. Lean Forward.He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending and efficiency. CIO Council - Chief Information Officers CouncilHe 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/fz8GAdHe created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. President orders debt panel, names chairmenSigned an Executive Order instructing federal agencies to review all federal regulations and remove any unnecessary and/or burdensome regulations from the books. Executive Order -- Identifying and Reducing Regulatory BurdensDismantled the Minerals Management Service, thereby cutting ties between energy companies and the government. Obama Officials Seek Better Policing of Oil IndustryBanned gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch. Ban lobbyist gifts to executive employeesBanned anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years and placed strict limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House. Obama Outlines Lobbying Restrictions Held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public. http://bit.ly/gVNSgXBecame the first president to stream every White House event, live. Live EventsEstablished a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities. United We ServeRestored 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. Executive Order 13489 -- Presidential RecordsImproved the Freedom of Information Act and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent when processing FOIA requests. Freedom of Information ActStreamline the Department of Education’s procurement policies and made them more transparent. http://bit.ly/1r9oQvhProvided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history. http://1.usa.gov/hQ7Signed a law to completely reform NSA Data Collection program and keep phone records in the hands of the phone company. Obama signs overhauled NSA phone-records bill into lawPushed through and signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as “the stimulus package.” He also launched http://recovery.gov, a website that allows taxpayers to track spending from the Act. http://1.usa.gov/ibiFSshttp://1.usa.gov/e3BJMkBy the end of his first year, the economy created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy by 3.5%. UPDATE 2-US stimulus added up to 2.1 mln jobs in Q4 2009-CBOHe 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/eCNrD6He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan. HomeIn 2010, more jobs were created than had been created during the previous eight years. It’s Official: More Private Sector Jobs Created In 2010 Than During Entire Bush YearsHe pushed through and implemented an auto industry rescue plan that saved as many as 1 million jobs and possibly the entire auto industry. Obama unveils plan to help U.S. auto industry_English_Xinhua The Bailout That WorkedThrough his investment in GM, returned to the company to its place as the premiere car company in the world. General Motors is world's sales leaderDoubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, to improve manufacturing efficiency. Double funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a program that encourages manufacturing efficiencyIncreased infrastructure spending after years of neglect. http://bit.ly/f77aOwSigned 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/eEpLFnSigned an Executive Order creating jobs immediately by instructing them to reduce the time needed for review and permitting of infrastructure projects. Executive Order -- Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure ProjectsThrough 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. FEDERALHOUSINGTAXCREDIT.COM The Federal Home Buyer Tax Credit Program (Military Edition)Played a lead role in getting the G-20 Summit to commit to a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis. G-20 Pact Has New Rules and $1.1 Trillion for Loans and TradeThrough 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/ez30DWith 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. Increase funding for local emergency planningChina’s largest manufacturer, Foxconn, is building a large plant in Pennsylvania Foxconn to build plant in PennsylvaniaWorked 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 Apple's $100m made-in-the-USA Mac facility will be in Texas | ZDNet and one in Arizona Apple creates 2,000 jobs shifting production back to USCreated an institute to invest in more manufacturing jobs in the technology fields of the future. Obama Announces Institute to Create Manufacturing JobsOrdered all federal contractors to pay a minimum wage of $10.10 per hour, leading the way to a national increase. Obama to raise minimum wage for government contract workersOrdered 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 medium-sized businesses set up the export of US goods. Obama Inks Executive Order to Streamline Import and Export Process for BusinessesSpecific Examples of Economic ImprovementAs of January 2016, a record 64 consecutive months of overall job growth. Unemployment rate drops below 5%, reaches 8-year lowAs of January 2016, Unemployment drops below 5% for the first time in eight years and without a significant bubble. 4.9% Unemployment rate drops below 5%, reaches 8-year lowAs of January 2016, there have been 71 consecutive months of private sector job growth. Unemployment rate drops below 5%, reaches 8-year lowSince February 2010, when job numbers hit their lowest point, 13.7 non-farm jobs have been created. Bureau of Labor Statistics Data (Republican budget cuts reduced public employment by about 700,000)Oversaw a reduction in the federal budget deficit by two-thirds since taking office. US Federal Deficit DefinitionReduced the federal budget deficit from 9.8% of GDP in Fiscal Year 2009 under Bush, to 2.9% of GDP in FY 2014. An Update to the Budget and Economic Outlook: 2014 to 2024Scolds 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. Obama signs $305B highway billSigned 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. Obama Signs Housing and Fraud Bill, Praises Congress for "Most Productive" Period Ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money. Pay Czar Cuts Salaries For 65 Bailout ExecutivesAlong 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/geHpcDCreated and implemented rules to reduce the influence of speculators in the oil market. http://bit.ly/MDnA1tCreated and implemented rules so banks can no longer use depositors’ money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against depositors’ interests. Wall Street Reform: A Summary of What's In the BillSupported the concept of allowing stockholders to vote on executive compensation. Wall Street Reform: A Summary of What's In the BillEndorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes. http://bit.ly/esOdfB http://bit.ly/eG4DPMNegotiated a deal with Swiss banks permitting the US government to gain access to bank records of criminals and tax evaders. Routine MaintenanceSigned 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/bd1RTqThanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, inflation in the healthcare sector dropped to its lowest point in 50 years. Medical-Price Inflation Is at Slowest Pace in 50 YearsSigned the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices. Fact Sheet: Reforms to Protect American Credit Card HoldersGuided the housing market all the way back from total collapse, which led to a rally for housing starts. U.S. housing data signals economic strength; manufacturing weak U.S. housing data signals economic strength; manufacturing weakBrought airline industry back to their highest profitability since before the recession. Airlines report $9.3 billion net profits, highest since 2006Blocked a monopolistic merger of Staples and Office Depot, to preserve at least some competition. Staples Goes On the Attack in Attempt to Win Office DepotStock market has reached record highs, restoring most of the economic losses felt during the Recession. Dow Jones Industrial Average Last 10 Years | MacroTrendsCreated and Implemented the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau THOMAS (Library of Congress) Wall Street Reform: A Summary of What's In the BillConsumer confidence continues to inch up to its highest level more than a decade. United States Consumer Confidence Grows to 3-Month HighInitiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses. Remarks by the President to small business owners community lenders and members of CongressCreated BusinessUSA, to allow online collaboration between small businesses and experts re managing a business. (The program has since merged with U.S. Small Business Administration.) BusinessUSATook steps to improve minority access to capital. Increase minority access to capitalUsed recovered TARP money to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan. MSNBC: news, video and progressive community. Lean Forward.Crafted and signed an executive order establishing the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans. Executive Order 13530Oversaw the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression. http://thedc.com/gxkCtPThrough 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. Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act Expands the False Claims ActSet up rules for banks in handling legal marijuana money. Legal Marijuana Businesses Should Have Access to Banks, Holder SaysAdded greater protections to consumer financial transactions to reduce identity theft. Executive Order --Improving the Security of Consumer Financial TransactionsTook steps to prevent pirate fishing and protect fish populations, and ordered stricter labeling requirements on labeling of seafood products in stores. New Recommendations to End Pirate Fishing and Seafood FraudSigned the RAISE Act, which should encourage more people to open small businesses and help improve the economy. Flash: Obama Signs New Small Business Initiatives Into LawSigned 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. Flash: Obama Signs New Small Business Initiatives Into LawWorked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families. Provide affordable, high-quality child careThrough the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, cut taxes for 95% of America’s working families. A credit for workers cuts taxes for middle classTax rates for average working families are the lowest since 1950. http://bit.ly/f74pD8Extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years. Alternative Minimum Tax Reform Now Part of the Senate StimulusExtended 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 President extends unemployment benefits by up to 20 weeks Obama compromises with GOP to extend tax cuts, unemployment benefitsProvided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps). Food StampsSigned an Executive Order that established the White House Office of Urban Affairs. New White House Office to Redefine Urban PolicyIncluded 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/19PkdQoUsed 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. You Can Get $10,000 Per Child In College Tax Credits, Thanks To The Fiscal Cliff DealIncreased protections for the unemployed who are seeking a government job. Presidential Memorandum -- Enhancing Safeguards to Prevent the Undue Denial of Federal Employment Opportunities to the Unemployed and Those Facing Financial Difficulty Through no Fault of Their OwnUpdated and modernized overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Presidential Memorandum -- Updating and Modernizing Overtime RegulationsSigned and implemented the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, to improve nutrition in schools and make children healthier. Healthy Hunger-Free Kids ActTo make college more affordable and accountable, will begin rating colleges with regard to affordability and value. Obama proposes college-rating system in bid to increase affordabilityInitiated a reform of federal job training programs, to make them more relevant to the current economy and the job market. Presidential Memorandum -- Job-Driven Training for WorkersUnder 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. Federal Income Taxes on Middle-Income Families Remain Near Historic LowsSigned 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. WHfamilyleavefacts2014 marked the first time since 1984 that unemployment dropped in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Regional and State Unemployment, 2014 Annual Average SummaryTook steps to improve workplace safety by creating an Advisory Board to study workers’ exposure to toxic substances. Executive Order -- Establishing the Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker HealthChanged overtime rules to make it far more difficult for employers to avoid paying overtime to workers. Obama overtime rule could raise wages for 5 millionChanged rules for federal contractors, guaranteeing that all workers earn paid leave; this should affect about 300,000 workers. Executive Order -- Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal ContractorsNegotiated 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. Obama signs new education act into law, replaces No Child Left Behind Formed a commission to examine and make recommendations for fixing the broken voting system. The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and HeadlinesAt a press conference August 9, 2013, gave up a small measure of executive power, promising to create adversarial process in FISA regarding NSA surveillance. President Obama Holds a Press ConferenceProposed rules to enhance Fair Housing Laws, to give HUD and other enforcement agencies more enforcement power. http://bit.ly/1qkz4uQOrdered a review of capital punishment policies after several botched executions. Obama Orders Policy Review on ExecutionsAppointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. Vice President Joe Biden Announces Kareem Dale As Special Assistant to the President for Disability PolicyConcentrated immigration enforcement on those who commit crimes, and vowed to stop breaking up families. Presidential Memorandum -- Creating Welcoming Communities and Fully Integrating Immigrants and RefugeesStreamlined the visa process, to make it more responsive and humane for those who want to be here legally. Presidential Memorandum -- Modernizing and Streamlining the U.S. Immigrant Visa System for the 21st CenturyTook 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. Executive Order -- Federal Support for Local Law Enforcement Equipment AcquisitionChanged fair housing rules to make more affordable housing available to more people. Obama administration announces new fair housing rulesHelped Democrats in Congress pass and signed the Civil Rights History Act. H.R.586 - Civil Rights History Project Act of 2009, a bill on OpenCongressEstablished the White House Council of Native American Affairs, to improve government-to-government relations with Native American nations. Executive Order -- Establishing the White House Council on Native American AffairsLimited local police acquisitions of military-style equipment, to reduce the likelihood of overkill. Obama To Limit Police Acquisition Of Some Military-Style Equipment Signed Blue Alert Law, which provides police officers with more information when they are threatened. President Obama Signs Pascrell Blue Alert Bill Into LawHe 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. Board issues Final Rule to require posting of NLRA rightsObama’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission clarified and strengthened rules prohibiting discrimination against pregnant workers. http://alj.am/1mo0kjVRequired 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. Executive Order --Fair Pay and Safe WorkplacesMade it illegal for federal contractors with more than $1 million in contracts to force employees into arbitration in workplace discrimination accusations. Executive Order --Fair Pay and Safe WorkplacesVetoed Republican bill that would have blocked new NLRB rules that were designed to speed up the time it takes workers to unionize. Obama vetoes Republican bid to block union election rules He also added a Memorandum of Disagreement to make his reasons for the veto clear and made a major statement in support of unions. Memorandum of Disapproval Regarding S.J. Res. 8Cracked 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. U.S. Cracks Down on ‘Contractors’ as a Tax DodgeSigned 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. Obama signs hate crimes bill into lawOversaw and implemented the repeal of the reprehensible “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy. http://bit.ly/fdahuHhttp://bit.ly/mZV4PzExtended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. Presidential Memorandum-Extension of Benefits to Same-Sex Domestic Partners of Federal EmployeesAppointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history. Obama has appointed most U.S. gay officialsAppointed first openly transgender Cabinet Official in History. Transgender woman appointed to Commerce DepartmentAdvocated that United Nations adopt a policy supporting gay rights worldwide. Obama and gay rights: U.S. urges United Nations Human Rights Council to support gay rightsAs soon as the Supreme Court invalidated the Defense of Marriage Act, he moved to extend federal benefits to same-sex couples. Obama administration extends federal-employee benefits to same-sex couplesIssued an order requiring hospitals to allow visitation by same-sex couples. Obama makes hospitals allow gay visitation rightsChanged HUD rules to prohibit gender and sexual orientation-based discrimination in housing HUD clarifies LGBT housing discrimination protectionsChanged his mind and publicly expressed support for same-sex marriage. http://bit.ly/JsiFKpIssued a Presidential Memorandum reaffirming the rights of gay couples to make medical decisions for each other. Presidential Memorandum - Hospital VisitationAppointed 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/1fckN9hDepartment of Agriculture propagated new rules to better enforce non-discrimination when it comes to USDA investigations and to extend non-discrimination to gender identity. http://bit.ly/1yChJhiBanned all federal contractors from discriminating against gay workers. Executive Order -- Further Amendments to Executive Order 11478, Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal Government, and Executive Order 11246, Equal Employment OpportunityPersevered with his campaign to turn “gay marriage” into “marriage” and won in the Supreme Court. Crowds Celebrate Same-Sex Marriage Ruling At Historic Stonewall InnEstablishing 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. Obama's Council on Women and Girls http://1.usa.gov/rFfqMMImplemented the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restored basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. President Obama Signs the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay ActEliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and rescinded the global gag rule. US teen pregnancy and syphilis rates rose sharply during George Bush's presidency, Centres for Disease Control finds Obama Rescinds “Global Gag Rule,” Commits to Funding UNFPAImproved 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. Obama To Sign Executive Orders On Equal PaySigned an Executive Order pledging support for efforts to end the global problem of violence against women and girls. Executive Order -- Preventing and Responding to Violence Against Women and Girls GloballyShattered another glass ceiling by naming Janet Yellen chair of the Federal Reserve beginning Feb. 1, 2014. David Marsh: Tests looming for Janet YellenExpanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act. 2010 Budget and Performance SummaryOrdered companies with 100 employees or more to disclose pay data based on race and gender, to address the pay gap. Obama's New Equal-Pay RulesAddressed Criminal Justice Failings and the Gun CultureMade significant reductions in drug sentencing guidelines for current prisoners. Drug Sentencing Guidelines Reduced For Current PrisonersOversaw the first drop in the federal prison population in 32 years. Federal prison population drops for first time in 3 decades, Eric Holder saysIncreased his use of clemency to release thousands of non-violent drug offenders from prison. Obama Plans Broader Use of Clemency to Free Nonviolent Drug OffendersOrdered a ban on solitary confinement for juvenile offenders in federal prisons. http://bit.ly/20ObRzATook executive action to promote smart gun technology, to make them safer. Memorandum -- Promoting Smart Gun TechnologyAfter a failure by Congress to act, proposed executive orders to create more background checks and to fully staff the background check system. Obama executive action: New gun control ordersRelaxed HIPAA rules enough to allow for more information to be available to the background check system. List: Obama’s 23 Executive Actions on Gun ViolenceOrdered the tracing of guns as part of criminal investigations to provide data to researchers. List: Obama’s 23 Executive Actions on Gun ViolenceOrder 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. Here Are The 23 Executive Orders On Gun Safety Signed Today By The PresidentExpanded the definitions of gun dealers and expanded the information available and required in background checks for firearm purchases. President Obama’s 2015 Executive Actions on Gun ControlSet up a task force to figure out what other measures can be taken to limit gun violence in the wake of Congressional inaction. President Obama Announces New Measures to Prevent Gun ViolenceImproved Treatment of Soldiers and VeteransProvided active combat troops with better body armor. http://bit.ly/hzSv2hCreated 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. "The Care They Were Promised and the Benefits That They Have Earned"Put an end to the Bush-era stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan beyond their enlistment date. ‘Stop-Loss’ Will All but End by 2011, Gates SaysSigned and implemented Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, making more money available to enable better medical care for veterans. Remarks by the President at signing of the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency ActWith Congressional Democrats, oversaw largest spending increase in 30 years for Department of Veterans Affairs, for improved medical and extended care facilities for veterans. Office of Public and Intergovernmental AffairsImplemented the Green Vet Initiative, which provides special funding to provide veterans with training in green jobs. Create a 'Green Vet Initiative' to promote environmental jobs for veteransInitiated and signed a recruitment and employment plan to get more veterans into government jobs. http://bit.ly/b48coiOversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals. Annual Budget SubmissionSigned 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. President Signs Military Spouses Residency Relief ActOrdered improvements to access to mental health care for veterans, military personnel and their families. Executive Order -- Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Veterans, Service Members, and Military FamiliesGot Syria to dismantle its chemical weapons without military firing a single shot or dropping a single bomb. U.S. and Russia Reach Deal to Destroy Syria’s Chemical ArmsAlong 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. Pentagon Will Help Families Travel to Dover US war dead media blackout liftedFunded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans’ services. Veterans & Military FamiliesSigned 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. Obama Signs Capps's Military Mom Health-Care Bill Signed into law a bill that makes it easier for military dogs to retire at home with their handlers. Military Overseas Dogs Are Now Guaranteed Retirement in the United States—With Their Former HandlersVisited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office. Chain e-mail claims Obama has visited more countries in first six months of presidency than predecessorsAs he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration. Text: Obama’s Speech in CairoMade a speech at a US mosque to demonstrate his commitment to religious rights and send a message to Muslims around the world. Obama rebuts GOP Muslim rhetoric in first U.S. mosque visitRestored America’s reputation around the world as a global leader. http://bit.ly/h743y7http://bit.ly/ho4TCrRe-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues. Afghanistan and NATOClosed a number of secret detention facilities. Obama Orders Secret Prisons and Detention Camps ClosedImproved relations with Middle East countries by appointing special envoys. http://1.usa.gov/tiGAGePushed forward the first realistic Middle East peace strategy in more than a decade, without abandoning the two-state solution. With marathon talks, Kerry shows zeal on Middle East peacePushed for military to emphasize greater development of foreign language skills. Bolster the military's ability to speak different languagesOffered $400 million to the people living in Gaza, while calling on both Israel and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence. Obama offers Abbas $400m in extra aid for Gaza in flotilla aftermathRefused to give Israel the green light to attack Iran over their possible nuclear program. http://bit.ly/xVmSZKOrdered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay, although blocked by Congress. Barack Obama abandons Guantánamo closure plan after Congress vetoOrdered a review of our detention and interrogation policy and prohibited the use of “enhanced interrogation.” Obama signs order to close Guantanamo Bay facilityOrdered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed. CIA shuts down its secret prisonsReleased the Bush torture memos. Barack Obama releases Bush administration torture memosOn 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/hzWWysIn 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. Create a rapid response fund for emerging democraciesEnded the F-22 program, saving $4 billion. Though the 187 aircraft cost $358 million each to build, it had never flown a combat mission. The remarkable vote to kill the F-22 and what it means for America's military future.Passed the Iran Sanctions Act, to prevent war and encourage the Iranian government to give up their nuclear program. http://1.usa.gov/wLtNjbEnded the Iraq War. Po.stWorked to keep our withdrawal from Afghanistan on track, despite GOP opposition. Obama says managing Afghanistan exit is a priority Reiterated that commitment in 2014. What the State of the Union Address Means for 2014Conducted a secret mission by SEAL Team Six to rescue two hostages held by Somali pirates. SEAL Team 6 Rescues Hostages in Secret MissionThrough United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, helped negotiate a peaceful split of Sudan into two countries, creating an independent South Sudan. Obama grants U.S. recognition of South SudanHelped make donations to Haiti tax deductible in 2009. Donations To Haiti Are Tax Deductible: Obama Signs Bill For Haiti Earthquake ContributionsEstablished a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. Statement On Bilateral Meeting With President Hu Of ChinaIssued Executive Order blocking interference and helping to stabilize Somalia. http://1.usa.gov/hxdf8UEstablished new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba, such as allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families and send money to support them. Obama Eases Limits On Cuba Travel, Remittances Obama to Loosen Restrictions on Policy With CubaThe new policies in Cuba led to thawed relations and the first US Embassy in Cuba in more than 55 years. Obama: US, Cuban Embassies Start ‘New Chapter’Negotiated a deal with Iran that will prevent them from getting a nuclear weapon anytime soon, without firing a shot or invading the country. Landmark deal reached on Iran nuclear programAs a result of the Iran agreement, Iran shipped pretty much all of it nuclear material to Russia. Iran Hands Over Stockpile of Enriched Uranium to RussiaBecame 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. Jamaica signs energy agreement with USChanged US Approach to “Defense” and National SecurityCreated a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat. Remarks By President Barack Obama In Prague As DeliveredAuthorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010. Pentagon unveils $533.7 billion budgetRestarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush. Obama wins passage of nuclear nonproliferation resolution at U.N.Signed and got ratification of a new SALT Treaty. New SALT Treaty Ratified, 71-26Negotiated and signed a new START Treaty that will stay in force until at least 2021. President Obama Announces the New START TreatyCommitted the US to no permanent military bases in Iraq. No permanent bases in IraqDeveloped 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. Obama Announces Strategy for Afghanistan, PakistanRe-focused on Afghanistan, stabilized the country, and began the process of withdrawing troops from the country. Obama to withdraw troops from AfghanistanNegotiated a deal with Afghan government, to withdraw troops and military support, while assisting in rebuilding and modernizing of the country. Obama’s Plan to Announce Afghanistan Withdrawal at NATO Summit Is Shrewd PoliticsTook steps to severely weaken al Qaeda and limited their ability to terrorize the world. US general: al-Qaida in Iraq severely weakenedNegotiated and signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty with India. Presidential Memorandum - United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement ActWorked with NATO to limit the slaughter of innocents in Libya, so that Libyans could topple the despotic Khadaffy government and determine their own fate. Obama leads rousing UN welcome for Libyan NTCGot Egyptian President/dictator Mubarak to leave the Egyptian government to the people, to determine their own fate. Americas - Obama presses Hosni Mubarak to make 'right decision' and step downIn 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. The Obama Administration's Pivot to AsiaRestored 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/h8Xj7zIncreased border security More border security and patrols under Obama than previous presidents, says Debbie Wasserman SchultzOrdered and oversaw the Navy SEALS operation that killed Osama bin Laden. We will kill bin LadenEstablished 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.” Executive Order -- Establishing the White House Homeland Security Partnership CouncilSigned agreement with Afghanistan to end war, turn security over to Afghans. Mending Alliance, U.S. and Afghanistan Sign Long-Term Security AgreementBreaking 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. Obama orders release of report justifying Syria strikeInstead of holding hearings and creating a political football, he quietly captured a suspect who actually committed the Benghazi terrorist attack. U.S. captured Benghazi suspect in secret raid He is also getting a lot of useful information from the suspect. Benghazi Suspect Said to Corroborate Important Details of AttacksInstituted rules to order sanctions against individuals and groups that threaten national cybersecurity. Executive Order -- "Blocking the Property of Certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities"Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, invested heavily in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. EducationCreated 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/NHtZ7LOversaw major expansion of broadband availability in K-12 schools nationwide. http://bit.ly/fNDcj3Oversaw major expansion in school construction. Obama: Education Money Must Come With ReformThrough the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, put $5 billion into early education, including Head Start. Education Jobs and ReformSigned the Democratic-sponsored Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as GI Bill 2.0, to improve veterans’ access to education. EducationOversaw expansion of the Pell Grants program, to expand opportunity for low and middle income students to go to college. Expand Pell grants for low-income studentsSigned and implemented the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds. IDEA Recovery Funds for Services to Children and Youths with DisabilitiesTook 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. Obama Administration Announces New Steps to Protect Students from Ineffective Career College ProgramsRepeatedly increased funding for student financial aid, and at the same time cut the banks completely out of the process, thus us creating greater accountability. Expand Pell grants for low-income students Obama’s Budget: Supporting Students, Not Banks Proposed Federal Budget Will Increase Financial Aid Funding by $300 Million for 2011Reformed student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate. Obama Signs Overhaul of Student Loan ProgramCreated a rating system for colleges, so that those applying for student financial aid know better what they’re paying for. Obama proposes college-rating system in bid to increase affordabilityRestored the Adult View on Science and TechnologyCreated a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making. Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies 3-9-09Opened up the process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects. Green Innovation Getting More Support from Fast Patent Approval ProcessThrough the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs. The Science of Spending Stimulus Money WiselyObama 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. EPA Reverses Controversial ‘Human Guinea Pig’ RuleConducted a cyberspace policy review. Statement by the Press Secretary on Conclusion of the Cyberspace ReviewProvided financial support for private sector space programs. NASA Announces Plan to Invest in Commercial Crew ConceptsOversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use. Enhance earth mappingThrough American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs. Expand funding to train primary care providers and public health practitionersIncreased funding for community-based prevention programs. Increase funding to expand community based prevention programsExpanded space exploration and discovery options to include more players. http://1.usa.gov/13qmZpmThrough 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 FCC Finalizes Effort to Make Available $485M For Rural Broadband in USF Reform EffortIn the wake of the West Fertilizer tragedy, formed the Chemical Safety and Security Working Group, to work on measures to prevent another such events. Executive Order -- Improving Chemical Facility Safety and SecurityEstablished a Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center, a recommendation made by the 9/11 Commission, to coordinate efforts to fight cyber-crime and terrorism. New Threat Center to Integrate Cyber IntelligenceThe Obama FCC, with his leadership, adopted strong net neutrality rules, to keep the Internet open and equal for everyone. FCC Adopts Strong, Sustainable Rules to Protect the Open InternetOrdered rules to speed up deployment of a more comprehensive broadband infrastructure. Executive Order -- Accelerating Broadband Infrastructure DeploymentSet up a National Strategic Computing Initiative, to “maximize benefits of high-performance computing (HPC) research, development, and deployment.” Executive Order -- Creating a National Strategic Computing InitiativeOrdered a federal level change in national earthquake standards. Executive Order: Establishing a Federal Earthquake Risk Management StandardEliminated 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/edezgeSigned Democratic-sponsored Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis. 404 ErrorExpanded the Nurse-Family Partnership program, which provides home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families, to cover more first-time mothers. Expand the Nurse-Family Partnership to all low-income, first-time mothersAlong 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.” MSNBC: news, video and progressive community. Lean Forward.Has overseen a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors. Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (2010 - H.R. 4872) Seniors Already Seeing Lower Prescription Drug CostsEliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price. US govt will negotiate Medicare drug prices, says ObamaTwo 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/fDEzGvUrged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. http://yhoo.it/e8Tj9CPushed through and signed Affordable Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage greatly and ended many detrimental insurance company practices. He also established Get 2016 health coverage. Health Insurance Marketplace . Get 2016 health coverage. Health Insurance Marketplace Through ACA, allowed children to be covered under their parents’ policy until they turned 26. Obama Signs Bill on Student Loans and Health CareThrough the ACA, provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small businesses to provide health insurance to their employees. Obama Signs Bill on Student Loans and Health CareThrough the ACA, millions of people receive help in paying their health insurance company premiums. Obama Signs Bill on Student Loans and Health CareThrough the ACA, expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. For Consumers, Some Clarity on Health Care Changes (Note: except for those states whose Republicans refused to take the extra money.)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. Number of uninsured Americans drops againThe Affordable Care Act has increased the life expectancy of Medicare greatly. Medicare, Social Security Disability Fund Headed in Different DirectionsThrough the ACA, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care. Obama Signs Bill on Student Loans and Health CareMedicare costs actually declined slightly, for the first time in decades in 2011, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Monthly Budget ReviewSince passage of the ACA, health care inflation is at its lowest level since 1960. http://1.usa.gov/1vXR0LdCreated 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. Executive Order -- HIV Care Continuum InitiativeSigned bill that will provide health insurance premium support to workers who lose their health insurance due to foreign competition. http://bit.ly/1evvVDFIn 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. Birth Control Coverage Rules Announced by Obama AdministrationImplemented 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. Executive Order -- Implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States for 2015-2020Signed and will implement new child safety standards for e-cigarettes. Obama signs child-proof packaging standards for e-cigsSet up a White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force, in order to implement ways to develop a cure for cancer. Memorandum -- White House Cancer Moonshot Task ForceDoubled federal spending on clean energy research. Double federal spending for research on clean fuelsPushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars. Enact tax credit for consumers for plug-in hybrid carsCreated 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/fgfRWqReengaged 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 YouTube Obama Says He’ll Push for Clean Energy BillFully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide. Obama Shifts U.S. Policy to Back Global Mercury Control TreatyRequired states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption. Require states to provide incentives for utilities to reduce energy consumptionUnder Obama, our dependence on foreign oil has dropped to its lowest rate since 1985, and continues to drop. How much oil consumed by the United States comes from foreign sources?Meanwhile, oil consumption is way down because of reduced driving and higher mileage standards. Why Are U.S. Oil Imports Falling? Improved siting, review and permitting stations for power plants, in an attempt to seriously improve the nation’s electric grid. Presidential Memorandum -- Transforming our Nation's Electric Grid Through Improved Siting, Permitting, and ReviewReengaged in a number of treaties and agreements designed to protect the Antarctic. http://bit.ly/fzQUFOCreated tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid and electric vehicles. Hybrid Car Tax Credits: Incentives Fade into Memory - HybridCars.comEstablished a quadrennial review of our energy infrastructure, to encourage a modernization of the grid, and to encourage the transition away from fossil fuel use. Presidential Memorandum -- Establishing a Quadrennial Energy ReviewMandated 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 GSA Drives Innovative, Job-Creating Sustainable Industries http://bit.ly/h5KZqyEncouraged 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. BP agrees to $20 billion fund for gulf oil spill claims (Note: it took 20 years to get $1.3 billion for the Exxon Valdez spill. )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. Bill Summary & StatusActively tried to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to eliminate the liability limits for those companies responsible for large oil spills. White House Proposes Bill to Lift Caps on Offshore Oil Spill LiabilityBecame 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. Executive Order -- Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate ChangeInitiated Criminal and Civil inquiries into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. U.S. Opens Criminal Inquiry Into Oil SpillAsserted federal legal supremacy to bar Texas from authorizing new refinery permits on its http://own.http://bit.ly/ww8eMdSet up new, stricter standards limiting power plant emissions. Presidential Memorandum -- Power Sector Carbon Pollution StandardsStrengthened the Endangered Species Act. http://bit.ly/hscjsHStrengthened protection for wildlife, and expanded enforcement of laws against wildlife trafficking. Executive Order -- Combating Wildlife TraffickingObama EPA improved boiler safety standards to improve air quality, and save 6500 lives per year. New EPA Boiler Standards Will Save 6,500 Lives Per YearThrough the EPA, attemped to take steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans. FDA takes steps to limit use of antibiotics in livestockThrough 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. Obama praises EPA mercury rule, calls for steps to ensure grid reliabilityIncreased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10% http://bit.ly/fbJPjYAnnounced greatly improved commercial fuel efficiency standards. President Obama Announces First Ever Fuel Economy Standards for Commercial VehiclesAnnounced 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 President Obama Announces New Fuel Economy StandardsFacilitated investment in industrial energy efficiency to create jobs and strengthen US manufacturing while saving businesses $100 billion over a decade. Executive Order -- Accelerating Investment in Industrial Energy EfficiencySet 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. Executive Order -- Gulf Coast Ecosystem RestorationEngaged in the most comprehensive plan to combat climate change in a generation. http://bit.ly/13lXhETOrdered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021. Lawmakers turn to public on Obama clean energy planOversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers. Establish program to convert manufacturing centers into clean technology leadersGuided a 418% increase in solar power capacity between 2010 and 2014. US Solar Energy Capacity Grew An Astounding 418% From 2010-2014As of May 2015, 74% of new electrical capacity was provided by solar and wind power. Solar + Wind = 74% of New US Electricity Capacity January–May 2015 (Exclusive)Bypassed Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions. http://bit.ly/froaP5Oversaw a tripling in the use of wind power to generate electricity. The US now leads the world in increased wind power capacity. Wind Power Continues Rapid RiseOrdered the federal government to incorporate climate resilience and climate science into all international development in which the United States engages. Executive Order -- Climate-Resilient International DevelopmentFast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact fuel efficiency standards that exceeded federal standards. Obama’s Order Is Likely to Tighten Auto StandardsFast-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. Obama announces new fuel standardsOversaw establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, to create more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies. Establish an Energy Partnership for the AmericasObama EPA reversed a Bush-era decision to allow the largest mountaintop removal project in US history. Obama Administration Reverses Largest Appalachian Mountaintop Removal Permit in US HistoryOrdered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances. Appliance Efficiency StandardsObama EPA ruled that excess CO2 is a pollutant. EPA Wields Timely Stick: Ruling CO2 a Public Danger Before Copenhagen Climate DecisionClosed a deal with China to limit carbon emissions to slow down climate change. U.S. and China Reach Climate Accord After Months of TalksBlocked all oil and gas drilling in Bristol Bay, Alaska, one of the most pristine environments in North America Obama protects Alaska's Bristol Bay from oil and gas drillingSigned 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. George W. Bush says library 'a place to lay out facts'Vetoed a bill to fast track construction of the parallel Keystone XL pipeline. Senate Fails to Override Obama's Keystone XL VetoExpanded clean water regulations to more stringently protect all of the nation’s waterways, even when states fail in their duty. Obama announces new rule limiting water pollution - The Boston GlobeSigned an Executive Order committing the federal government to lead the way in building a sustainable economy. It’s his fifth doing just that. Executive Order -- Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next DecadeBanned the use of antibiotics in food served in US Government-run cafeterias and ordered agencies to only use antibiotic-free meat. It’s about time: President Obama Bans Antibiotics in Government Run Cafeterias Obama directs agencies to serve antibiotic-free meat and poultryDeveloped new rules to address climate change and to create a significant boost to clean energy. Obama toughens climate change planNegotiated and signed a virtually Republican-Proof global agreement on climate change, with 190 countries signing on. How US negotiators ensured landmark Paris climate deal was Republican-proofBecame one of 196 countries that signed onto a UN Framework on Climate Change. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeOrdered a moratorium on new coal leasing on federal land, and they will examine the whole leasing process. Obama halts new coal leasing on federal land, orders sweeping reviewNominated 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/i02wgPAppointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president. http://bit.ly/dX6vNBLoosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference. New Medical Marijuana Policy: Obama Administration Will Not Seek Arrests For People Following State LawsSigned national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program. http://bit.ly/idgQH5Signed a bill that provided $4.3 billion in additional assistance to 9/11 first responders. http://bit.ly/o7cWYSSigned 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. President Obama Signs the Claims Resolution Act of 2010To 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. Executive Order -- Establishing the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task ForceProduced 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. List: Obama’s 23 Executive Actions on Gun ViolenceExpanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements in trade pacts like NAFTA. Include environmental and labor standards in trade agreementsOversaw 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. Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Most Smithsonian funding intact under budget dealOversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the http://Arts.http://bit.ly/dFb8qFDespite 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%. CQ: Obama's Winning Streak On Hill UnprecedentedDespite the odds, became the first black president and then, was reelected by a wide margin.