In April 2009, the Obama Administration announced its plan to lift financial restrictions on stem cell researched. Not all restrictions will be lifted, but they will alleviate some implemented during the Bush era.

The lifted restrictions would allow surplus embryos from fertility clinics to be used for research.

As reported in The New York Times article “Some Restrictions Lifted on Stem Cell Research,” health institutes financed 260 research projects, at a total cost of $88 million, that involved stem cell lines approved by President Bush.

By lifting the restrictions, the number of research projects will be drastically increased, making headway in the cure for various diseases.

“Sometimes [stereotypes] suggest that America has become selfish and crass, or that we don’t care about the world beyond us. And I’m here to tell you that that’s not the country that I know and it’s not the country that I love.”  

Even with the president’s good word, Americans have a lot to do to overcome this overseas stereotype. Travel experts Chris Baker and Beth Whitman give 5 handy tips for traveling abroad in the CNN article: 

• 1) Research the area and its culture before you travel to your destination. Read guidebooks to learn about the region. 
• 2) Learn some basic words in the language of the region you are traveling to. Don’t expect everyone to speak English.
• 3) Travel with a desire to experience the local cuisine. Don’t expect to get a hamburger. 
• 4) Don’t flash around money or expensive items like cell phones and cameras. 
• 5) Try to really experience the culture. You are less likely to offend if you understand.

In April 2009, the Obama administration announced its plans to advance its efforts in immigration reform. The reform will focus on getting undocumented immigrant workers essential American legalization.

Pro-immigration supporters are pleased with the announcement, however it’s important to note that the reform is not a promise to push a bill, but rather to get the ball rolling on immigration debate in Congress.

Illegal workers suffer a slew of uncertainty in working conditions, as pay is less than average and have little to no ability to report abuses in the workplace.

Though reforming immigrant workers’ policy on legalization is a step in the right direction for legal reasons, many opposed to immigration argue these illegal immigrants cut-into much-needed jobs in the American workplace. 

According to The New York Times article “With Pledges to Troops and Iraqis, Obama Details Pullout,” the majority of the 142,000 troops currently in Iraq will be withdrawn by the summer of next year. A total of 35,000 to 50,000 troops will remain to train and advise Iraqi security forces. 

Though many in DC and the entire nation are pleased with the plan to bring troops home from an expensive, and unsuccessful, war,  the plan is not without its critics. Nancy Pelosi, House speaker, argues leaving up to 50,000 troops until the end of 2011 to train Iraqi forces is too large of a figure. 

Still, the plan marks the beginning of the end of an unnecessary war, and for that, there is much justification to be pleased with the withdrawal plan.