“In Pakistan, al Qaeda’s leadership is under more pressure than at any point since 2001. Their leaders and operatives are being removed from the battlefield. Their safe havens are shrinking.”
Under President Obama, the U.S. military has systematically targeted and eliminated al Qaeda leaders across the globe. On May 1, the President ordered the mission that brought Osama bin Laden to justice.
“This year, our civilians will forge a lasting partnership with the Iraqi people, while we finish the job of bringing our troops out of Iraq. America’s commitment has been kept. The Iraq War is coming to an end.”
In December 2011, the last Americans troops left Iraq and our mission in that country came to its official end.
“This year, we will work with nearly 50 countries to begin a transition to an Afghan lead. And this July, we will begin to bring our troops home.”
In 2011, around 10,000 U.S. troops returned home. The President has announced that a total of 33,000 will return by the end of summer 2012. The Afghan government began taking the lead for security in July, starting a process that will lead to full Afghan responsibility.
"Let us serve [our veterans] as well as they’ve served us … by providing them with the care and benefits that they have earned, and by enlisting our veterans in the great task of building our own nation."
Over 600,000 vets have gone back to school using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and in November, the President signed a new law to provide a tax cut to every business that hires an unemployed veteran.
“[Let] us speak with one voice in reaffirming that our nation is united in support of our troops and their families.”
Joining Forces was launched in April and continues to mobilize all sectors of society to support America’s military families and veterans through programs on employment, education, and wellness.
“The only way to tackle our deficit is to cut excessive spending wherever we find it.”
The law the President signed in August will reduce the deficit by around $1 trillion—with $350 billion of those savings from defense. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Affordable Care Act will reduce the deficit by $143 billion over its first 10 years and by $1 trillion over the next two decades.
“The Secretary of Defense has also agreed to cut tens of billions of dollars in spending that he and his generals believe our military can do without.”
The President called for a comprehensive defense review to clarify our strategic interests in a fast-changing world. On January 5, he outlined a new Global Military Strategy that is leaner but maintains our military superiority.
"[The Affordable Care Act] is making prescription drugs cheaper for seniors and giving uninsured students a chance to stay on their parents’ coverage."
At least 2.5 million young Americans now have health insurance through their parents’ health care plans until 26 years of age. As of November, more than 2.2 million people with Medicare had saved more than $1.2 billion on prescriptions.
“I am proposing that … we bring discretionary spending to the lowest share of our economy since Dwight Eisenhower was President. ”
The bipartisan agreement President Obama signed in August will bring discretionary spending to its lowest level as a share of the economy since Eisenhower was President, while protecting critical investments that are critical to our long-term competitiveness.
“[Because] the American people deserve to know that special interests aren’t larding up legislation with pet projects, both parties in Congress should know this: If a bill comes to my desk with earmarks inside, I will veto it.”
Congress has held true to its ban on earmarks made in November 2010.
“Because you deserve to know exactly how and where your tax dollars are being spent, you’ll be able to go to a website and get that information for the very first time in history.”
Right now, any taxpayer can visit WhiteHouse.gov, enter three figures from his or her tax return, and see a receipt that details how the federal government uses those tax dollars.
“Before we take money away from our schools or scholarships away from our students, we should ask millionaires to give up their tax break.”
The President has promised to let the Bush tax cuts for millionaires expire at the end of 2012.
“I made it clear that we would enforce our trade agreements, and that I would only sign deals that keep faith with American workers and promote American jobs.”
On October 21, President Obama signed trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea that will make it easier to sell Made-in-the-USA products to consumers in these countries.
“My Administration will develop a proposal to merge, consolidate, and reorganize the federal government in a way that best serves the goal of a more competitive America.”
In January of 2012, President Obama proposed combining six federal departments or agencies that focus on business or trade into a single department tasked with boosting American competitiveness.
“I’ve ordered a review of government regulations. When we find rules that put an unnecessary burden on businesses, we will fix them.”
In August, all federal agencies released final regulatory reform plans that included hundreds of initiatives that will reduce costs, simplify the system, and eliminate redundancy and inconsistency.
“We can start right now by correcting a flaw in the legislation that has placed an unnecessary bookkeeping burden on small businesses.”
On April 14, the President signed the Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011 into law, repealing the earlier flawed legislation.
“[Over] the next 10 years…we want to prepare 100,000 new teachers in the fields of science and technology and engineering and math.”
President Obama’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign helps students improve their performance and participation in STEM subjects. This effort is built on a partnership between the federal government and leading companies, foundations and non-profits.
“[We’ll] become the first country to have a million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.”
The Administration has invested billions to advance domestic manufacturing and fund research in advanced lithium-ion battery technology—and established tax credits for purchasing electric vehicles and proposed transforming those tax credits into a rebate available immediately at the point of sale.
"We’ll make it possible for businesses to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of all Americans."
The President unveiled an ambitious blueprint to use $18 billion in federal funds to get 98 percent of the nation connected to the Internet on smartphones and tablet computers in five years.