Other Initiatives

• New federal funding for science and research labs (2009)

• Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program (2009)

• Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program (2009)

• Signed Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (April 21, 2009)

• Ordered the DEA to stop raids on medical marijuana usage (2009)

• Ordered a review of existing “mandatory minimum” prison sentencing (2009)

• Signed an order to limit airport tarmac delays and the time passengers had to sit in the plane/on the tarmac during delays (2009)

• Restored the EPA to “Cabinet level” status (2009) * Note: Bush removed the EPA from this status

• Beginning discussions with Congress for comprehensive immigration reform (2010-2011) * Note: Much of Obama’s immigration reform had been stalled by opposition in Congress

• Commissioned expert panels and reports from NASA; announced a new direction for human space flight that involves funding a new heavy lift-launcher and jettisoning the Ares 1 program; boosting NASA’s budget by $1 billion in 2011 (2010)

• Signed a bill so that members of Congress would NOT receive a cost of living adjustment in FY 2011 (May 14, 2010)

• Signed Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act (May 17, 2010)

• Ordered a ban on text-messaging for all commercial truck and bus drivers (2010)

• Signed Special Agent Samuel Hicks Families of Fallen Heroes Act (June 8, 2010)

• Signed FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act (2010)

• Executive Order to seize transactions/property of criminal organizations (July 25, 2011)

• Signed Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (Sept 20, 2011)