{"id":138793,"date":"2022-04-05T20:26:23","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T03:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=138793"},"modified":"2022-04-05T20:26:23","modified_gmt":"2022-04-06T03:26:23","slug":"president-biden-vice-president-harris-and-former-president-obama-on-the-affordable-care-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=138793","title":{"rendered":"President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Former President Obama on the Affordable Care Act"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;Good afternoon.  Indeed, it is a good afternoon.  Good afternoon.  Please have a seat, everybody.  Please have a seat.  Thank you.  It feels good, doesn\u2019t it?  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  President Biden, President Obama, members of Congress, and my fellow Americans: On March 23rd, 2010, the Affordable Care Act was signed into law.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6BV0MKL07es\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In the 12 years since, the ACA has delivered high-quality,<br \/>\naffordable healthcare to more than 30 million Americans \u2013(applause) \u2014 yes.  And those Americans are working parents and young children, college students and older Americans \u2014 millions of people who had never been able to afford coverage before or who had been denied coverage altogether, often because of a category of denial called \u201cpre-existing conditions\u201d \u2014 conditions such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, or even asthma. <\/p>\n<p>The ACA is the most consequential healthcare legislation passed in generations in our country.  (Applause.) <\/p>\n<p>And it is something more.  The ACA is a statement of purpose; a statement about the nation we must be, where all people \u2014 no matter who they are, where they live, or how much they earn \u2014 can access the healthcare they need, no matter the cost. <\/p>\n<p>You know, when I served as Attorney General of California, it was that purpose that led our office and 10 other state attorneys general to submit a brief to the United States Supreme Court in defense of the ACA.  <\/p>\n<p>And it is that purpose that brings us all together today to continue to expand affordable healthcare and its coverage to families across our nation, and to call on Congress to take action to pass legislation that simply allows Medicare to directly negotiate prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And if there\u2019s any question why, I\u2019ll explain.  More than 60 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare.  That would give Medicare significant bargaining power to negotiate prices for all those Americans.  So instead of forcing individual patients to negotiate by themselves, to require them to pay whatever price the drug companies set, they would have that kind of representation to stand there with their fellow Americans and negotiate those prices so that they would just simply be fair.<\/p>\n<p>So, today, we also call on Congress to make permanent the ACA subsidies that are included in the American Rescue Plan \u2014 (applause) \u2014 subsidies that are currently lowering insurance premiums for millions of Americans and which are set to expire in December.  And more must be done. <\/p>\n<p>Currently, there are 12 states in our nation that refuse to expand Medicaid for no reason other than petty partisan obstruction.  As a result, 4 million people in our country are locked out of coverage, and that comes at a cost. <\/p>\n<p>For example, women who do not have healthcare coverage and are, therefore, less likely to have access during pregnancy, or before or after, to pelvic exams or vaccinations, prenatal check-ups, postpartum depression screenings, and all the other essential care they need to be safe and healthy before, during, and after birth. <\/p>\n<p>We know that expanding Medicaid coverage significantly reduces the number of mothers who die as a result of pregnancy.  (Applause.)  So the sooner coverage is expanded in those 12 states, the more lives we will save. <\/p>\n<p>Protecting the health and wellbeing of the people of our nation should not be a partisan issue.  Every person in our nation should be able to access and afford the healthcare they need to thrive \u2014 not as a privilege, but as a right. <\/p>\n<p>And that is why our administration will continue to use every tool at our disposal to strengthen the ACA.<\/p>\n<p>And with that \u2014 (applause) \u2014 it is now my great pleasure to introduce the man whose vision and leadership led us to this day, whose unwavering commitment to the people of our nation laid the foundation for this groundbreaking legislation; a leader who showed us the way forward on this important issue.<\/p>\n<p>Please welcome President Barack Obama.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)  Thank you, everybody.  Have a seat.  Have a seat.  Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Vice President Biden, Vice President \u2014 (laughter) \u2014 that was a joke.  (Applause.)  (President Obama hugs President Biden.)  That was all set up.  (Laughter.) <\/p>\n<p>My President, Joe Biden; Vice President Harris \u2014 (applause) \u2014 our dear friend, Madam Speaker, Nancy Pelosi \u2014 (applause) \u2014 all the members of Congress who are in attendance today, the members of the Cabinet: It is good to be back in the White House.  (Applause.)  It\u2019s been a while. <\/p>\n<p>I confess I heard some changes have been made \u2014 (laughter) \u2014 by the current President, since I was last here.  Apparently, Secret Service agents have to wear aviator glasses now.  (Laughter.)  The Navy Mess has been replaced by a Baskin Robbins.  (Laughter.)  And there\u2019s \u2014 there\u2019s a cat running around \u2014 (laughter) \u2014 which I guarantee you Bo and Sunny would have been very unhappy about.  (Laughter.) <\/p>\n<p>But coming back \u2014 even if I have to wear a tie, which I very rarely do these days \u2014 (laughter) \u2014 gives me a chance to visit with some of the incredible people who serve this White House and who serve this country every single day, a lot of times out of the limelight.  They make this government function, and they help people in ways big and small. <\/p>\n<p>And \u2014 and from the outside, sometimes people don\u2019t understand just how grueling this is and how many sacrifices people make, because those of us who are in front of the cameras oftentimes get the credit.  But it\u2019s a lot of people who are devoted day in, day out to making this country better that matter, and a lot of them are represented here.  And that\u2019s not just in the West Wing, by the way.  It\u2019s also in the Residence.  There were a lot of people who looked after our families that I will always be grateful to. <\/p>\n<p>So, it\u2019s wonderful to be back to say thank you to all of you.  But most of all, coming back here gives me a chance to say thank you and spend some time with an extraordinary friend and partner who was by my side for eight years.<\/p>\n<p>Joe Biden and I did a lot together.  (Applause.)  We helped save the global economy, made record investments in clean energy.  We put guardrails on our financial system.  We helped turn the auto industry around.  Repealed \u201cDon\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell.\u201d  But nothing made me prouder than providing better healthcare and more protections to millions of people across this country.  (Applause.) <\/p>\n<p>So \u2014 so when President Biden said he was not going to just celebrate the ACA, but also announce actions that would make it even better, I had to show up.  (Laughter.)<\/p>\n<p>I think it\u2019s been well documented just how difficult it was to pass the ACA.  (Laughter.)  There \u2014 there\u2019s \u2014 you can get a lot of testimony here, in case folks haven\u2019t heard.<\/p>\n<p>As a country, we had been talking about reforming healthcare for 100 years.  Unlike almost every other advanced economy on Earth, we didn\u2019t have a system that guaranteed access to healthcare for all of its citizens.  Millions of people didn\u2019t have health insurance, often because their employers didn\u2019t provide it or because it was too expensive.<\/p>\n<p>But despite the fact that our healthcare system didn\u2019t work well, it was hard to change.  Healthcare represents about one-fifth of our economy; that\u2019s trillions of dollars that are involved.  So there were a lot of different economic interests that were vying to maintain the status quo.<\/p>\n<p>And because the majority of Americans did have healthcare, some people naturally worried that they\u2019d lose what they had.  The media was skeptical of past failures.  There was a lot of misinformation, to say the least, flying around.  And it\u2019s fair to say that most Republicans showed little interest in working with us to get anything done.  (Laughter.)  That\u2019s fair to say.<\/p>\n<p>But despite great odds, Joe and I were determined, because we\u2019d met too many people on the campaign trail who\u2019d shared their stories, and our own families had been touched by illness.<\/p>\n<p>And as I said to our dear friend Harry Reid, who is missed \u2014 wish he was here today, because he took great pride in what we did \u2014 I intended to get healthcare passed even if it cost me reelection \u2014 which, for a while, it looked like it might.  (Laughter.)  <\/p>\n<p>But for all of us \u2014 for Joe, for Harry, for Nancy Pelosi, for others \u2014 the ACA was an example of why you run for office in the first place, why all of you sign up for doing jobs that pay you less than you can make someplace else; why you\u2019re away from home sometimes and you miss some soccer practices or some dance recitals.<\/p>\n<p>Because we don\u2019t \u2014 we\u2019re not supposed to do this just to occupy a seat or to hang on to power.  We\u2019re supposed to do this because it\u2019s making a difference in the lives of the people who sent us here. <\/p>\n<p>And because of so many people, including a lot of people who are here today, made enormous sacrifices; because members of Congress took courageous votes, including some who knew that their vote would likely cost them their seat; because of the incredible leadership of Nancy and Harry, we got the ACA across the finish line together.  (Applause.) <\/p>\n<p>And the night we passed the ACA \u2014 I\u2019ve said it before \u2014 it was a high point of my time here, because it reminded me and it reminded us of what is possible.<\/p>\n<p>But, of course, our work was not finished.  Republicans tried to repeal what we had done \u2014 again, and again, and again.  (Laughter.)  And they filed lawsuits that went all the way to the Supreme Court three times.  I see Don Verrilli here who had to defend a couple of them.  (Applause.) <\/p>\n<p>They tried explicitly to make it harder for people to sign up for coverage. <\/p>\n<p>And let\u2019s face it: It didn\u2019t help that when we first rolled out the ACA, the website didn\u2019t work.  (Laughter.)  That was not one of my happiest moments.  (Laughter.)<\/p>\n<p>So, given all the noise and the controversy and the skepticism, it took a while for the American people to understand what we had done.  But lo and behold, a little later than I\u2019d expected, a lot of folks, including many who had initially opposed healthcare reform, came around.  <\/p>\n<p>And today, the ACA hasn\u2019t just survived; it\u2019s pretty darn popular.  And the reason is because it\u2019s done what it was supposed to do.  It\u2019s made a difference.<\/p>\n<p>First, 20 million and now 30 million people have gotten covered thanks to the ACA.  (Applause.) <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s \u2014 it\u2019s prevented insurance companies from denying people coverage based on a pre-existing condition.  It\u2019s lowered prescription drug costs for 12 million seniors.  It\u2019s allowed young people to stay on their parents\u2019 plan until they\u2019re 26.  It\u2019s eliminated lifetime limits on benefits that often put people in a jam.<\/p>\n<p>So, we are incredibly proud of that work. <\/p>\n<p>But the reason we\u2019re here today is because President Biden, Vice President Harris, everybody who has worked on this thing understood from the start that the ACA wasn\u2019t perfect.  To get the bill passed, we had to make compromises.  We didn\u2019t get everything we wanted.  That wasn\u2019t a reason not to do it.  If you can get millions of people health coverage and better protection, it is \u2014 to quote a famous American \u2014 a pretty \u201cbig deal.\u201d  (Laughter and applause.)  That\u2019s what it is.  (Applause.)  A big deal.<\/p>\n<p>But there were gaps to be filled.  Even today, some patients still pay too much for their prescriptions.  Some poor Americans are still falling through the cracks.  In some cases, healthcare subsidies aren\u2019t where we want them to be, which means that some working families are still having trouble paying for their coverage.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s the thing: That\u2019s not unusual when we make major progress in this country.  The original Social Security Act left out entire categories of people, like domestic workers and farm workers.  That had to be changed.  In the beginning, Medicare didn\u2019t provide all the benefits that it does today.  That had to be changed.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout history, what you see is that it\u2019s important to get something started, to plant a flag, to lay a foundation for further progress.<\/p>\n<p>The analogy I\u2019ve used about the ACA before is that: In the same way that was true for early forms of Social Security and Medicare, it was a starter home.  (Laughter.)  It secured the principle of universal healthcare, provided help immediately to families.  But it required us to continually build on it and make it better.<\/p>\n<p>And President Biden understands that.  And that\u2019s what he\u2019s done since the day he took office.  As part of the American Rescue Plan, he lowered the cost of healthcare even further for millions of people.  He made signing up easier.  He made outreach to those who didn\u2019t know they could get covered \u2014 make sure that they knew; made that a priority. <\/p>\n<p>And as a result of these actions, he helped a record 14.5 million Americans get covered during the most recent enrollment period.  (Applause.) <\/p>\n<p>That, ladies and gentlemen, is what happens when you have an administration that\u2019s committed to making a program work.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And today \u2014 today, the Biden-Harris administration is going even further by moving to fix a glitch in the regulations that will lower premiums for nearly 1 million people who need it and allow 200,000 more uninsured Americans get access to coverage. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m a private citizen now, but I still take more than a passing interest in the course of our democracy.  (Laughter.)  But I\u2019m outside the arena, and I know how discouraged people can get with Washington \u2014 Democrats, Republicans, independents.  Everybody feels frustrated sometimes about what takes place in this town.  Progress feels way too slow sometimes.  Victories are often incomplete.  And in a country as big and as diverse as ours, consensus never comes easily. <\/p>\n<p>But what the Affordable Care Act shows is that if you are driven by the core idea that, together, we can improve the lives of this generation and the next, and if you\u2019re persistent \u2014 if you stay with it and are willing to work through the obstacles and the criticism and continually improve where you fall short, you can make America better \u2014 you can have an impact on millions of lives.  You can help make sure folks don\u2019t have to lose their homes when they get sick, that they don\u2019t have to worry whether a loved one is going to get the treatment they need.<\/p>\n<p>President Joe Biden understands that.  He has dedicated his life to the proposition that there\u2019s something worthy about public service and that the reason to run for office is for days like today.<\/p>\n<p>So, I could not be more honored to be here with him as he writes the next chapter in our story of progress.  I\u2019m grateful for all the people who have been involved in continuing to make the ACA everything it can be.  <\/p>\n<p>And it is now my great privilege to introduce the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden.  (Applause.) <\/p>\n<p>PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Please.  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Please.  Tha- \u2014 (applause.)  Please.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  Please.<\/p>\n<p>My name is Joe Biden, and I\u2019m Barack Obama\u2019s Vice President.  (Laughter and applause.)  And I\u2019m Jill Biden\u2019s husband.  (Laughter.)  By the way, the only reason Jill is not here today: She\u2019s working.  (Laughter.)  She\u2019s teaching. <\/p>\n<p>PRESIDENT OBAMA:  I hear you. <\/p>\n<p>PRESIDENT BIDEN:  And so I just want you to know that\u2019s why she\u2019s not here.<\/p>\n<p>Good afternoon, everyone.  Mr. President, welcome back to the White House, man.  It feels like the good old days.  (Applause.)  Being here with you brings back so many good memories.  We just had lunch together, and we weren\u2019t sure who was supposed to sit where.  (Laughter.) <\/p>\n<p>Look, it\u2019s fitting that the first time you return to the White House is to celebrate a law \u2014 a law that\u2019s transforming millions of lives because of you.  And I say \u201cbecause of you.\u201d  We had a lot of help \u2014 the staff and I helped a little bit \u2014 but it was because of you.  A law that shows hope leads to change.  And you did that.  You did it.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s be honest: The Affordable Care Act has been called a lot of things, but \u201cObamacare\u201d is the most fitting.  (Laughter and applause.) \u201cObamacare.\u201d  It\u2019s true. <\/p>\n<p>I can tell you all how much Barack Obama cared about getting this done.  Throughout the countless hours of negotiations and the relentless political attacks, he never, ever, ever gave up.  And I guarantee you that.  <\/p>\n<p>If I had time, I could tell you all the times when he\u2019d say, \u201cShould we compromise, should we do\u2026\u201d  And I\u2019d say, \u201cWell, we ought to think about that.\u201d  \u201cNo, if I do that, then so and so won\u2019t get covered.  This group of people won\u2019t get covered.\u201d  <\/p>\n<p>And whether it was after meeting or \u2014 or during our weekly lunch \u2014 and we met every single day \u2014 he\u2019d remind me why we were doing this in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>We were doing this, in the first place, for people who needed it and deserved to be treated with dignity.  Dignity.  The idea that when you can\u2019t afford health insurance for your children, for your spouse, male or female \u2014 it doesn\u2019t matter: Not only are they in trouble, but you\u2019re deprived of your dignity.  <\/p>\n<p>Barack, you talked about the idea that it was important that we make sure that you couldn\u2019t outrun your insurance.  I can remember there with \u2014 with Beau, thinking to myself, \u201cWhat would I do if they walked in and said \u2018You\u2019ve outrun your time here,\u2019 and there was still 35 days to live?\u201d  The things that change people\u2019s lives. <\/p>\n<p>We both understood the Affordable Care Act wasn\u2019t about a single president or the presidency.  It was about the countless \u2014 countless Americans lying in bed at night, staring at the ceiling, wondering, \u201cMy God \u2014 my God, what if I get really sick?  What am I going to do?  What is my family going to do?  Will I lose the house?\u201d  Discussions we had in my house with my dad when he lost his health insurance \u2014 \u201cWho\u2019s going to pay for it?  Who\u2019s going to take care of my family?\u201d  <\/p>\n<p>You know, in America, healthcare \u2014 as we all three said, will have now said \u2014 healthcare should be a right, not a privilege.<\/p>\n<p>And \u2014 (applause) \u2014 with \u2014 with the help of members of Congress, especially Nancy, and the advocates for families who are here today, 12 years ago last month \u2014 12 years ago, we made a good effort toward that proposition \u2014 that it should be a right.  <\/p>\n<p>When \u2014 and, Barack, when you signed the Affordable Care Act into law, it became the most consequential piece of health insurance \u2014 most consequential piece of legislation, in my view \u2014 since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.  It made a difference in people\u2019s lives every day. <\/p>\n<p>You just talked about where we were before the Affordable Care Act and what happened in the past 12 years to make life a lot better for people.<\/p>\n<p>Well, I\u2019d like to talk about where we go from here, because \u2014 because we knew back then, as Barack \u2014 as the President said, we knew that we had to keep strengthening this legislation.<\/p>\n<p>Look, that\u2019s why I ran for President and I promised to protect and build upon the Affordable Care Act.<\/p>\n<p>As soon as I entered office, that\u2019s exactly what Kamala and I did and what our administration and the Democrats in Congress here today did.  We passed the landmark American Rescue Plan, which not only helped us on the COVID-19 \u2014 get it under control and our economy back on track, it got millions more people insured under the Affordable Care Act.<\/p>\n<p>It made it easier for people to sign up for coverage in the middle of a pandemic.  It opened a special enrollment people [period] and gave millions and millions of Americans more time to enroll.  It quadrupled the number of navigators out there in the communities helping people to sign up for coverage because it was confusing to people.  It\u2019s confusing. <\/p>\n<p>The President has heard me say when we worked together \u2014 you know how they\u2019d say, \u201cWell, Biden and Obama are doing great on foreign policy.\u201d  I said, \u201cYou want to do something difficult?  Try healthcare.\u201d  (Laughter.)  Not a joke.  Not a joke.<\/p>\n<p>So we continue to expand Medicaid.  Missouri and Oklahoma became the 37th and 38th states to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.  (Applause.)  <\/p>\n<p>And as has been mentioned, over 31 million people now have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.  Four out of five Americans can find quality coverage for under $10 a month.<\/p>\n<p>The average family \u2014 (applause) \u2014 the average family is saving $2,400 a year on their premiums.  That\u2019s $200 every single month available for other needs in their lives \u2014 from gas to groceries, to other basic necessities.<\/p>\n<p>The bottom line is this: The Affordable Care Act is stronger now than it has ever been.   <\/p>\n<p>And today \u2014 (applause) \u2014 and I\u2019m not even talking about what your former Chief of Staff is doing to make sure healthcare is available to all our veterans in the way he did.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Yeah. <\/p>\n<p>PRESIDENT BIDEN:  And today, we\u2019re strengthening it even further.  In a moment, I\u2019m going to sign an executive order building on one of those that I signed last year.<\/p>\n<p>It directs federal agencies to continue doing everything in their power \u2014 everything in their power to expand quality and affordable healthcare coverage: making it easier for people to enroll in and keep their coverage; helping people better understand their coverage options and to pick \u2014 to be able to pick the best option for that family; taking steps to strengthen benefits, lower costs, and expand eligibility; protecting Americans from low-quality coverage that can lead to a mountain of medical debt.<\/p>\n<p>And, folks \u2014 and, separately, it\u2019s time to fix what we refer to as the \u201cfamily glitch.\u201d  Now, the family glitch, to all \u2014 everybody in this room probably knows what it is.  (Laughter.)  But it\u2019s a common issue facing 5 million Americans who can\u2019t get financial help to get coverage under the Affordable Care Act.<\/p>\n<p>And here\u2019s the problem: Under the current rules, a working mom is told: As long as she can afford employer-based coverage for herself, she can\u2019t qualify for premium subsidies to afford coverage for her family.  It\u2019ll cover her, but not her family.  <\/p>\n<p>But we\u2019re going to change that.  Once today\u2019s proposed rule is finalized, starting next year, working families in America will get the help they need to afford full family coverage \u2014 everyone in the family.  (Applause.) <\/p>\n<p>As \u2014 as a redult [sic] \u2014 as a result, families will be saving hundreds of dollars a month.  With this change, it\u2019s estimated that 200,000 presently uninsured Americans are going to gain coverage.<\/p>\n<p>Nearly 1 million Americans will see their coverage become more affordable.  This is considered one of the biggest things my administration can do: lower costs and expand coverage.  And we\u2019re taking steps today to get that done. <\/p>\n<p>So, look, folks \u2014 but we need \u2014 we need to keep up the fight.  Our Republican colleagues, as they say in southern Delaware, \u201cThey haven\u2019t changed a whole hell of a lot.\u201d  (Laughter.)  Good folks, but they haven\u2019t changed a lot.  They continue to attack the Affordable Care Act.  They\u2019re unrelenting.  Unrelenting.  They haven\u2019t stopped.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. President, since you signed the law, they haven\u2019t stopped for one second.  Multiple court challenges, you mentioned.  Sabotage from the previous administration.  Over 70 attempts to repeal the law by Republicans in Congress. <\/p>\n<p>In fact, just last month, the distinguished senator from Wisconsin said: If Republicans get back in power, they should try to repeal the Affordable Care Act again \u2014 again try.<\/p>\n<p>Today, 12 years later, Republicans have not stopped their attacks on this lifesaving law.<\/p>\n<p>So, pay very close attention, folks: If Republicans have their way, it means 100 million Americans with pre-existing conditions can once again be denied healthcare coverage by their insurance companies.  That\u2019s what the law was before Obamacare. <\/p>\n<p>In addition, tens of millions of Americans could lose their coverage, including young people who will no longer be able to stay on their parents\u2019 insurance policy to age 26.  Premiums are going to go through the roof. <\/p>\n<p>Well, I got a better idea: Instead of destroying the Affordable Care Act, let\u2019s keep building on it.  (Applause.)  Let\u2019s extend it.  Extend.  (Applause.) <\/p>\n<p>And because of all the \u2014 all the folks in this room, the members of Congress, the American Rescue Plan subsidies \u2014 subsidizes that are lowering premiums \u2014 subsidies are lowering premiums and extending coverage. <\/p>\n<p>And I got a little practice when you gave me that other act, you know, when we were President \u2014 when you were President and I was with you.  (Laughter.)<\/p>\n<p>Look, close the Medicaid coverage gap that locks nearly 4 million Americans out of coverage just because their state has refused to expand Medicaid.  Lower prescription drug costs, which was mentioned already, by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for drugs that are on the market.<\/p>\n<p>We can do this.  We should do this.  We have to do this.<\/p>\n<p>But let me close with this: Twelve years ago, at a bill signing of the Affordable Care Act, President Obama said, quote, \u201cWe\u2019re a nation that does what is hard, what is necessary, and what is right.\u201d  That\u2019s exactly what he did.  Exactly what he did. <\/p>\n<p>And, folks, that\u2019s what we have to do.  It\u2019s what we do as Americans.  You know, it\u2019s what all of you did here in making the Affordable Care Act possible.  I really mean it. <\/p>\n<p>We just keep it \u2014 we just got to keep it going and keep building on it.  We need to keep the faith.  And we need to remember: We\u2019re the United States of America, and there\u2019s simply \u2014 literally \u2014 nothing beyond our capacity when we\u2019re united and do it together. <\/p>\n<p>So, God bless you all, and may God protect our troops.  And now I\u2019m going to sign an executive order. <\/p>\n<p>And, Barack, let me remind you: It\u2019s a hot mic.  (Laughter and applause.)<\/p>\n<p>I have to admit one thing I haven\u2019t gotten down \u2014 Barack Obama could sign his name using nine different pens.  (Laughter.)  But I\u2019m going to use one.<\/p>\n<p>(The executive order is signed.)  (Applause.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;Good afternoon. Indeed, it is a good afternoon. Good afternoon. Please have a seat, everybody. Please have a seat. Thank you. It feels good, doesn\u2019t it? (Laughs.) (Applause.) President Biden, President Obama, members of Congress, and my fellow Americans: On March 23rd, 2010, the Affordable Care Act was signed into law. (Applause.) In the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":138794,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-138793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-government","category-news","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Fullscreen-capture-452022-82549-PM.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=138793"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138793\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":138795,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138793\/revisions\/138795"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/138794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=138793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=138793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=138793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}