Newsman: former President Barack Obama returned to the White House on Tuesday to join President Joe Biden – in promoting the Affordable Health Care Act he signed into law 12 years ago. This is the first time President Obama returned to the white house since leaving office. Joe Biden was his Vice president for consecutive two terms of his Presidency.
Obama joined Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to deliver remarks on the Affordable Care Act, with Harris speaking first to applaud the anniversary and introduce the former president. Obama received a standing ovation and told a packed East Room, “It’s good to be back at the White House.”
Before addressing the landmark legislation of his presidency, Obama cracked a few jokes, opening his remarks by thanking “Vice President Biden.”
“That was a joke. That was all set-up,” Obama said to laughter, walking back to give Biden a hug.
President Biden also took the opportunity in his speech “My name is Joe Biden, and I’m Barack Obama’s vice president” which prompted more laughter in the East room of the White House.
“I confess I heard some changes have been made by the current president since I was last here” Former President Obama continued in his speech.”Apparently, Secret Service agents have to wear Aviator glasses now. The Navy mess has been replaced by a Baskin-Robbins. And there’s a cat running around, which I guarantee Beau and Sunny would have been very unhappy about,” he said to laughter, referring to the Obamas’ dogs.
The former president said to celebrate 12 years of the Affordable Care Act, it’s “an example of why you run for office in the first place.”
“We’re not supposed to do this just to occupy a seat or to hang on to power. We’re supposed to do this because it’s making a difference in the lives of the people who sent us here,” Obama said, before introducing Biden.
“My name is Joe Biden, and I’m Barack Obama’s vice president,” Biden said, prompting more laughter in the room. “It feels like the good old days — being here with you brings back so many good memories.”
“Let’s be honest, the Affordable Care Act has been called a lot of things, but Obamacare is the most fitting,” Biden added with apparent pride, “Obamacare.”
He went on announcing new steps the Biden administration is taking to build on the Affordable Care Act, including a new executive order directing federal agencies “to do everything in their power” to expand coverage and make it easier to enroll, which he signed after his remarks, as well as a proposed rule from the Treasury Department to fix the ACA’s so-called “family glitch.”
“Once today’s proposed rule is finalized, starting next year, working families in America will get the help they need to afford full family coverage,” Biden said. “With this change, it’s estimated that 200,000 presently uninsured Americans are going to gain coverage. Nearly one million Americans will see their coverage become more affordable.”
Biden also urged Congress to take action to keep the expansions his administration has put in place under the American Rescue Plan intact and pitched to Americans to keep up the fight to prevent Republicans from trying, again, to repeal the ACA.
“We need to keep up the fight,” he added, calling out the GOP for its “unrelenting” campaign against the ACA.
Biden went back to poking fun at himself before signing the executive order, recalling back to when he was caught on hot mic back in 2010 telling Obama the ACA was “a big f****** deal.”
“And Barack, let me remind you — it’s a hot mic,” Biden said to laughter.
