Charmer-in-Chief President Obama, Saturday March 20th 2010 on Capitol Hill, to address House Democrats in an extraordinary session, for a final appeal for a Yes vot
e on the Health Care Bill. Picture from the Huffington Post
We made history
For the first time in our nation’s history, Congress has passed comprehensive health care reform. America waited a hundred years and fought for decades to reach this moment. Tonight, thanks to you, we are finally here.
Consider the staggering scope of what you have just accomplished:
Because of you, every American will finally be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage.
Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will now be gone forever.
And we’ll finally start reducing the cost of care — creating millions of jobs, preventing families and businesses from plunging into bankruptcy, and removing over a trillion dollars of debt from the backs of our children.
But the victory that matters most tonight goes beyond the laws and far past the numbers.
It is the peace of mind enjoyed by every American, no longer one injury or illness away from catastrophe.
It is the workers and entrepreneurs who are now freed to pursue their slice of the American dream without fear of losing coverage or facing a crippling bill.
And it is the immeasurable joy of families in every part of this great nation, living happier, healthier lives together because they can finally receive the vital care they need.
This is what change looks like.
My gratitude tonight is profound. I am thankful for those in past generations whose heroic efforts brought this great goal within reach for our times. I am thankful for the members of Congress whose months of effort and brave votes made it possible to take this final step. But most of all, I am thankful for you.
This day is not the end of this journey. Much hard work remains, and we have a solemn responsibility to do it right. But we can face that work together with the confidence of those who have moved mountains.
Our journey began three years ago, driven by a shared belief that fundamental change is indeed still possible. We have worked hard together every day since to deliver on that belief.
We have shared moments of tremendous hope, and we’ve faced setbacks and doubt. We have all been forced to ask if our politics had simply become too polarized and too short-sighted to meet the pressing challenges of our time. This struggle became a test of whether the American people could still rally together when the cause was right — and actually create the change we believe in.
Tonight, thanks to your mighty efforts, the answer is indisputable: Yes we can.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
Graphic shows how House members voted on the health care bill
Total in Congress=435 Vacancies=4 Current total in Congress=431 Democrats=253 Republicans= 178 Simple majority needed 431/2= 216
An overall view of the U.S. House of Representatives chamber is pictured in this video grab, taken on March 21, 2010, after the House voted to give approval to a sweeping healthcare overhaul on Sunday, expanding insurance coverage to nearly all Americans and handing President Barack Obama a landmark victory. REUTERS/House TV/Handout
House Democratic leaders celebrate healthcare bill passage after vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 22, 2010. From L-R are: Democratic Caucus Chair John Larson, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosiand Rep. Rosa DeLauro.
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel (L) and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius listen as U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a statement about the House of Representatives’ final passage of healthcare legislation, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, March 21, 2010. The legislation would usher in the most sweeping changes to the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare system in decades.
REUTERS/Jason Reed