2014 Event President Barack Obama proposes a plan to cut carbon emissions from power plants up to 25% over 15 years in order to address climate change; the legislation would give states the freedom to determine how to implement the emission reductions 2014 Event U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry criticizes Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, for legislation he signed last week to ban same-sex marriage and criminalize gay rights groups and their activities; the law includes penalties of up to 14 years imprisonment 2013 Event As long-term federal unemployment benefits expire, leaving 1.3 million unemployed Americans without aid, lawmakers discuss bipartisan legislation to extend unemployment benefits 2013 Event A vote by the General Synod of the Church of England approves legislation allowing women bishops to be ordained by 2014 2012 Event Thousands of union employees protest outside of the capital building in Lansing, Michigan, as Michigan's government passes legislation, becoming the nation's 24th right-to-work state, and most highly unionized state in the U.S. to have such laws 2012 Event Australia's High Court upholds legislation providing for cigarettes to have plain packaging 2012 Event The U.S. Congress passes legislation to expand the use of drone aircraft in the country 2012 Event In the state of Washington, the State Senate passes legislation allowing same sex marriage 2012 Event The English Wikipedia protests anti-piracy legislation proposed by the U.S. Congress by shutting down its website 2011 Event At its conference in Sydney, Australia's Labor Party turns to support gay marriage, laying the groundwork for legislation 2011 Event President Obama signs legislation to raise the U.S. debt ceiling, narrowly averting the debt ceiling crisis 2011 Event The U.S. Senate fails to pass legislation lifting the debt ceiling; compromise talks continue 2011 Event The General Assembly of Rhode Island passes legislation allowing same-sex couples to enter civil unions 2011 Event The U.S. Texas Senate approves amended legislation allowing students in Texas to carry handguns on campus 1984 Event During a radio voice test President Reagan joked he "signed legislation that would outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in 5 minutes" 1979 Event President Carter signs legislation creating Department of Education 1954 Event Michigan rep Ruth Thompson (R) introduces legislation to ban mailing "obscene, lewd, lascivious or filthy" phonograph (rock and roll) records 1926 Birthday Gerrit van Niekerk Viljoen, South African minister of Legislation 1909 Event 1st federal legislation prohibiting narcotics (opium) 1893 Event 1st federal railroad legislation passed; required safety features 1883 Event 1st state labor union legislation; New Jersey legalizes unions 1881 Event California becomes 1st state to pass plant quarantine legislation 1867 Event Legislation gives suffrage to DC blacks, despite President Johnson's veto 1864 Event Congress passes legislation equalizing pay for Black soldiers 1832 Event President Jackson vetoed legislation to re-charter 2nd Bank of US 1813 Event 1st federal vaccination legislation enacted 1810 Event Illinois passes 1st state vaccination legislation in U.S. 1799 Event 1st federal forestry legislation authorizes purchase of timber land 1799 Event Congress passes 1st federal quarantine legislation 1630 Event 1st colonial legislation prohibiting gambling enacted (Boston) 1614 Event 2nd parliament of King James I, dissolves passing no legislation 1232 Event Kioto Staatsraad accept Joei Legislation
