And I remember my dad - I could see he - you could hear he was just restless. And I - I remember one - I was, like, 14 years old. I said earlier - and my friends heard me say this before - I can remember we lived in a three-bedroom, split-level home, and my bedroom was up against the wall where my parents’ bedroom was in the - and my dad’s headboard was there. Remember when millions of low- and middle-income families, especially who were - particularly those families who were locked out - locked out of health insurance because there was no way they could afford it? None. Remember the donut hole when seniors on Medicare reached a point every year when they had to pay the full cost of their drugs out-of-pocket? Remember when a 22-year-old kid could be kicked off his parents’ plan because he graduated from college? Remember when you couldn’t leave a dead-end job because you couldn’t risk losing your health insurance? It’s - say it today to people and they look at you like, “You’re kidding me.” But that was the case. Remember when women had to pay more for insurance because they had pre-existing condition - they were a woman? (Laughter.) Not a joke. Remember when a parent with a heart disease or diabetes or a child with asthma couldn’t get coverage because of a pre-existing condition? Thirteen years later, it’s easy to forget what life was like for hardworking families before the Affordable Care Act. And there’s millions and millions of people who owe you because you stuck with it and you keep defending it. And I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Look, so many of you here worked so hard to make history that 13 years ago today, and I just want to start by saying thank you. You brought a - you both brought cases to defend it.Īnd I also want to thank Kamala for her leadership in the fight to protect reproductive rights for women. If it weren’t for the Speaker’s relentless push to get this law passed and then defend it at every - every single turn that - we wouldn’t be here today.Īnd, Kamala, I want to thank you for everything you’ve done to defend this law as Vice President - (applause) - as a United States Senator and as attorney general - (applause) - along with my son, Beau Biden. Nance, it’s no exaggeration to say this would not be law without you. You know, and no one has more in her spine and - than the greatest Speaker in the history of this country, Nancy Pelosi. History is made when women decide that there’s a greater risk in accepting a situation they cannot bear than steeling our spine and embracing the promise of change. You know, it doesn’t begin or end with the stroke of a pen. It’s also - I also called it at that time “a historic day,” because history is not merely what’s painted and printed on walls and in - in textbooks. (Laughter.) And I stand by the fact it was a big deal. (Laughter.) I thought it was - (applause) - I thought it was a big deal. And I remember the three words I used at the time. Many of you joined us that day after fighting for decades to make it happen. And while the Affordable Care Act has been called a lot of things, “Obamacare” is the most fitting description. We did a little thing together.Īnd it’s an extraordinary achievement by President Obama. Most - I think it was the most conse- I think most people would agree: the most consequential piece of healthcare legislation since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. Hard to believe 13 days ag- 13 years ago. Look, 13 years ago today, we gathered in this room as President Obama signed into law the Affordable Health Care Act. I said on the way out - I said, “If it gets confusing, just say, ‘Here’s Joe.’” (Laughter.) She said, “I think I’ll be okay.” THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Get Involved Show submenu for “Get Involved””.The White House Show submenu for “The White House””.Office of the United States Trade Representative.Office of Science and Technology Policy.Executive Offices Show submenu for “Executive Offices””.Administration Show submenu for “Administration””.
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