This Tuesday, President Obama will deliver his annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. Just weeks after the President delivered his second-term inaugural address, where the President outlined a fairly progressive agenda for his second term, the President will once again have the opportunity to outline to the entire nation the trajectory of his future policy decisions.

Historically, American President’s have utilized the State of the Union as a means of setting the framework for future policy decision or administrative actions. Whether it be President Johnson’s 1964 address, where he introduced his “war on poverty” legislation, or President Bush’s 2002 address, where he identified Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as the “axis of evil”, the State of the Union is the ideal platform for any President to outline their future administrative decisions.

The issues President Obama chooses to address in his upcoming State of the Union Address will have massive implication on the policy decisions the President decides to take up this coming year. Given this, I have included a list of some of the pressing issues the President should touch on in his upcoming address.

The Economy/Jobs

President Obama has consistently made mention of the economy and jobs in his past State of the Union addresses. And reason still stands that Obama will likely make the economy and jobs a hallmark of his speech. The national unemployment rate recently rose up to 7.9%.

Given that the President Obama has addressed the economy and jobs in each of his past State of the Union address, it is important that the President differentiate his focus on the economy from past addresses. The President could do this by focusing on issues that inhibit the future viability of the American economy. This discussion could focus on things such as increasing green jobs and research into green technology, assisting students with the high costs of college, modernizing America’s aging infrastructure, or attracting high-skill workers from around the world.

Likewise, Obama should reemphasize the importance of the American middle class, as he did in his inaugural address where he stated that America “is not a nation of takers.” The President should stress the need for government spending in job creation, especially in fields such as green technology and American infrastructure, as previously mentioned.

Above all, the President should make mention of the consequences that may result if Congress fails to deal with the “sequester.” With just three weeks away from when these across-the-board cuts are slated to take effect, the President must demand swift action before this self-inflicted wound profoundly affects the lives of the American people.

The Environment

Never has a time been more pressing for the President to address the issue of climate change. America continues to experience what scientists are calling the effects of climate change, with 2012 marked by drought and extreme weather conditions, such as Hurricane Sandy. Moreover, there is near consensus within the scientific community about the validity of climate change. President should make use of his address to call for both policy change and administrative action on the environment.

In regards to policy, the President could call on Congress to pass legislation that would promote lower fossil fuel emissions, create green jobs, and increase the nation’s use of renewable energy resources.

Given the contentious political nature of the current Congress, as well as the Congress’ past failures in passing a cap-and-trade bill in 2010, it appears unlikely that Congress will be willing to bring up the environment. Because of this, the President should announce in his speech an expansion of his administrative capacities regarding the environment. This could include things such things as expanding the administrative powers of the EPA.

Immigration

Building upon his current momentum, the President must solidify his intent of passing comprehensive immigration reform by once again outlining to the American public the details of his immigration proposal. Given the President’s large support by Hispanic voters in the 2012 President election, President Obama has the chance to make a clear drive towards overhauling our immigration system.

The President, already having praised the bipartisan “gang of 8’s” outline for immigration reform, could maximize on this opportunity by reaffirming his belief in a bipartisan push for the passage of comprehensive immigration reform. With the GOP leadership now supporting many of the proposed changes in immigration, it would not be too difficult for the President to gain greater bipartisan support.

Immigration measures that the President currently supports include a pathway for citizenship, strengthening border security, streamlining the immigration process for desirable immigrants such as STEM students, and cracking down on employers of illegal immigrants. By outlining these basic principles, the President could very well secure future passage of his immigration proposal.

Foreign Policy

President Obama is currently facing a great deal of criticism from both parties due to the disclosure of a memo from the Justice Department that justifies the U.S. military’s and CIA’s dramatic expansion in the use of military drone strikes. Of increased interest is the memo’s justification for the killings of American citizens, such as Anwar al-Awlaki.

Although the President maintains that drones are a weapon of precision that are of increasingly necessary in combating al-Qaida, questions as to whether the legal and ethical justifications for the continued used of drone attacks have plagued the President.

Regardless of how the President decides to proceed with his use of the drone program, President Obama should take time in his state of the union speech to justify whichever course of action he decides to take regarding this policy.

Likewise, President Obama should also outline the American conclusion of the War with Afghanistan. With the President planning to draw military forces out from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, the President must discuss the steps he plans to take in withdrawing American military forces.

Gun Control

Following the atrocities that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary school this past December, the President should utilize this opportunity to discuss the policy decisions the he plans to take regarding gun control in America. With many critics arguing that the drive for gun control legislation is waning, the President should reignite the motivation towards passing gun reform legislation.

Outside calls towards passing gun reform legislation are still evident. Former-representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head during a shooting in Tuscon, is planning to hold a fundraiser hours before the State of the Union in support of her super PAC, Americans for Responsible Resolutions. Many other congressmen have pledged to bring gun violence victims and families as guests to the State of the Union.

In the interest of the memory of the victims at Sandy Hook, and all other victims of gun violence in America, it is paramount that President Obama finalizes a call for the passage of gun reform.

Reach Staff Reporter Edward Loera here and follow him on Twitter here