President Barack Obama is sending Congress his proposed budget for the new fiscal year and traveling to a community college outside the capital to promote the plan.

It amounts to a quick start for the president this week, although top advisers previewed his fiscal 2013 budget in a series of appearances over the weekend.

Obama's budget rollout comes almost three weeks after his State of the Union address to Congress. He will travel to Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, Va., to discuss the plan.

In the afternoon, Obama presides over the National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal ceremonies at the White House. Actor Al Pacino and country singer Mel Tillis are among those to be honored.