Health Care

President Commends Bill Passage

Thanks Reid, Pelosi for ending "struggle."

President Obama is pleased as punch about the Senate's historic passage of the health-care reform bill. In a brief speech from the White House Thursday morning following the vote, he pointed out that presidents since Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 have been attempting to overhaul medical care. With the passage of the Senate bill, Obama said, the government "has moved toward the end of a nearly century-long struggle" and is "finally poised to deliver on the promise" of reform with a bill that "includes the toughest measures ever taken to hold the insurance industry accountable." He also singled out Sen. Harry Reid and Speaker Pelosi for their help, adding, “As I've said before, these are not small reforms; these are big reforms.” Then he wished Americans a merry Christmas, happy new year, and, when prompted by a journalist, thanked U.S. troops for their service.