1/28/14: Today, President Obama gave his State of the Union address to Congress. Here's a recap of the priorities the President outlined in his speech — and some related proposals already pending before Congress. Weigh in with POPVOX!
State of the Union History
The Constitution requires the President to "from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." George Washington delivered the first message before Congress on Jan. 8, 1790. Thomas Jefferson discontinued the practice of delivering the address in person; he saw it as too monarchical. Instead, a written version was sent to Congress to be read by a clerk — until Woodrow Wilson in 1913. Some Presidents during the latter half of the 20th century have sent written addresses. The last President to do this was Jimmy Carter in 1981.
The President's 2014 Address: "Let’s make this a year of action."
We've taken excerpts from the President's speech and added related bills already proposed by Congress. Share your voice with your lawmakers — then alert your friends and networks. (Read his full speech.)
Addressing Economic Inequality
"Today, after four years of economic growth, corporate profits and stock prices have rarely been higher, and those at the top have never done better. But average wages have barely budged. Inequality has deepened. Upward mobility has stalled. The cold, hard fact is that even in the midst of recovery, too many Americans are working more than ever just to get by – let alone get ahead. And too many still aren’t working at all…Our job is to reverse these tides.”
- HR 1010
(And S 460 in the Senate.) To provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage to $10.10.
"…we can help Americans return to the workforce faster by reforming unemployment insurance so that it's more effective in today's economy. But first, this Congress needs to restore the unemployment insurance you just let expire for 1.6 million people.”
- S 1845
Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act
To provide for the extension of certain unemployment benefits.
Women in the Workplace
"You know, today, women make up about half our workforce, but they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns. That is wrong, and in 2014, it's an embarrassment. Women deserve equal pay for equal work."
- HR 377
"Would require employers to show pay disparity is truly related to job-performance – not gender. It prohibits employer retaliation for sharing salary information with coworkers. Under current law employers can sue and punish employees for sharing such information. In addition, it strengthens remedies for pay discrimination by increasing compensation women can seek, allowing them to not only seek back pay, but also punitive damages for pay discrimination," according to bill sponsors.
- S 168
(And HR 438 in the House.) To prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin. (Allows payment of different wages under seniority systems, merit systems, systems that measure earnings by quantity or quality of production, or differentials based on bona fide factors that the employer demonstrates are job-related or further legitimate business interests.)
"You know, she deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job. A mother deserves a day off to care for a sick child or sick parent without running into hardship. And you know what, a father does too. It is time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a "Mad Men" episode. This year let's all come together, Congress, the White House, businesses from Wall Street to Main Street, to give every woman the opportunity she deserves, because I believe when women succeed, America succeeds."
- S 1810
Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act (The FAMILY Act)
(HR 3712 in the House.) To provide paid family and medical leave benefits to certain individuals. "Would create an independent trust fund within the Social Security Administration to collect fees and provide benefits. This trust would be funded by employee and employer contributions of 0.2 percent of wages each, creating a self-sufficient program that would not add to the federal budget. The expected cost to the average worker would be similar to the expense of one tall latte a week. Benefit levels, based on existing successful state programs in New Jersey and California, would equal 66 percent of an individual’s typical monthly wages up to a capped monthly amount that would be indexed for inflation," according to bills sponsors.
- HR 1286
(S 631 in the Senate) To allow Americans to earn paid sick time so that they can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families.
Foreign Trade
"And when 98 percent of our exporters are small businesses, new trade partnerships with Europe and the Asia-Pacific will help them create even more jobs. We need to work together on tools like bipartisan trade promotion authority to protect our workers, protect our environment and open new markets to new goods stamped 'Made in the USA.’”
- Trade
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
A vehicle for Asia-Pacific-wide economic integration, which will strengthen US ties to the robust economies of this region. As a group, the TPP countries are the largest goods and services export market of the United States. US goods exports to the broader Asia-Pacific totaled $942 billion in 2012, representing 61% of total exports, according to the US Trade Representative.
- S 1900
Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act
(And HR 3830 in the House.) Also called "fast track" negotiating authority, which allows the President to negotiate trade agreements that Congress can approve but not amend or filibuster. "Establishes 21st century Congressional negotiating objectives and rules for the Administration to follow when engaged in trade talks, including strict requirements for Congressional consultations and access to information. Provided the Administration follows the rules, special procedures apply when moving a negotiated deal that satisfies the objectives through the Senate and House of Representatives," according to bill sponsors.
Veterans
"As this time of war draws to a close, a new generation of heroes returns to civilian life. We’ll keep slashing that backlog so our veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned, and our wounded warriors receive the health care – including the mental health care – that they need. We’ll keep working to help all our veterans translate their skills and leadership into jobs here at home. And we all continue to join forces to honor and support our remarkable military families."
- HR 1725
Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act
"Currently, veterans face a five-year window in which they must seek treatment for mental illnesses before losing their higher priority status. This legislation would eliminate the five-year window and allow veterans to seek treatment for service-connected mental illnesses, regardless of when their conditions manifest themselves," according to bill sponsor.
- HR 241
Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act
Would "ensure that veterans seeking primary and specialty care from a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility will receive an appointment within 30 days," according to bill sponsor.
- HR 3453
Putting Our Veterans Back to Work Act
To reauthorize the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, to provide assistance to small businesses owned by veterans, to improve enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services. "Aims to provide veterans with training and opportunities to help them succeed in a job market where 246,000 post-9/11 era veterans are currently unemployed," according to bill sponsor.
Innovation
"An entrepreneur flipped on the lights in her tech startup and did her part to add to the more than 8 million new jobs our businesses have created over the past four years."
- S 1468
Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act
"Designed to bring together industry, universities and community colleges, federal agencies and all levels of government to accelerate manufacturing innovation in technologies with commercial applications. It would establish public-private institutes to leverage resources to bridge the gap between basic research and product development," according to bill sponsors.
- S 310
To jump-start economic recovery through the formation and growth of new businesses. "The Entrepreneur Visa created by Startup Act 3.0 has the potential to add, conservatively, between 500,000 and 1.6 million new jobs for Americans over the next 10 years," according to the bill sponsors.
Voting Rights
"Last year, part of the Voting Rights Act was weakened. But conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats are working together to strengthen it; and the bipartisan commission I appointed last year has offered reforms so that no one has to wait more than a half hour to vote. Let’s support these efforts. It should be the power of our vote, not the size of our bank account, that drives our democracy."
- HR 3899
(And S 1945 in the Senate.) Would update the Section 4 formula of the Voting Rights Act, placing any state with five violations of federal voting rights law in the last 15 years back on "pre-clearance" by courts or the Justice Dept. in order to make any future voting changes.
- HR 12
To modernize voter registration, promote access to voting for individuals with disabilities, protect the ability of individuals to exercise the right to vote in elections for Federal office.
Clean Energy
"The shift to a cleaner energy economy won't happen overnight, and it will require some tough choices along the way. But the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact. And when our children's children look us in the eye and ask if we did all we could to leave them a safer, more stable world, with new sources of energy, I want us to be able to say yes, we did."
- HR 3574
To eliminate certain subsidies for fossil-fuel production.
- S 1225
Solar Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) Act
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that solar energy property need not be located on the property with respect to which it is generating electricity in order to qualify for the residential energy efficient property credit.
Immigration Reform
"Independent economists say immigration reform will grow our economy and shrink our deficits by almost $1 trillion in the next two decades. And for good reason: when people come here to fulfill their dreams – to study, invent, and contribute to our culture – they make our country a more attractive place for businesses to locate and create jobs for everyone. So let’s get immigration reform done this year."
- S 744
Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act
Comprehensive immigration reform bill, which passed the Senate.
- HR 3163
Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity (CIR ASAP) Act
To provide for comprehensive immigration reform.
International Diplomacy
"In a world of complex threats, our security and leadership depends on all elements of our power – including strong and principled diplomacy."
- HR 783
Prevent Iran from Acquiring Nuclear Weapons and Stop War Through Diplomacy Act
To enhance diplomacy with Iran to peacefully prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
- S 1714
Syria Sanctions Enhancement Act
To impose sanctions with respect to Syria, to expand existing sanctions with respect to Syria.
- HRes 365
Israeli-Palestinian Two-state solution Resolution
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives commending efforts by the United States to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a negotiated two-state solution.
@POPVOX: A Recap of our Tweets for #SOTU
In case you weren't on Twitter, here's a look at our tweets. Join us next time by following us @POPVOX!
Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.
