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Video: President Obama Signs Health Care Reform Into Law
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 23, 2010
Modified Mar 23, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 23, 2010
Modified Mar 23, 2010
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President Obama put his signature on health care reform today, saying, "The bill I am signing will set in motion reforms that generations of Americans have fought for and marched for and hungered to see.... We are not a nation that scales back its aspirations. We are not a nation that falls prey to doubt or mistrust. We don't fall prey to fear. We are not a nation that does what's easy. It's not who we are. It's not how we got here. We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities."
The NY Times reports, "Mr. Obama affixed his curlicue signature, almost letter by letter, to the measure, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, surrounded by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid and a raft of other lawmakers who spent the past year on a legislative roller-coaster ride trying to pass it. Aides said he would pass out the 20 pens he used as mementoes."
Obama also acknowledged Pelosi and Reid, "We are blessed by leaders in each chamber who not only do their jobs very well, but who never lost sight of the larger mission. They didn't play for the short term. They didn't play to the polls or the politics."
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Vice-President Biden said, "Mr. President, you're the guy that made it happen," and he also went blue, calling it a "big fucking deal." The bill goes to the Senate floor at 2:15 p.m., where at least 20 hours of debate must occur.
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health care
health care reform
law
president obama
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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