The Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, is a comprehensive reform law passed by the 111th Congress in 2010. Its major goals are to expand access to health insurance, increase consumer protections, emphasize prevention and wellness, improve quality and system performance, and curb rising healthcare costs.
The ACA was signed into law on March 23, 2010. It includes premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions to help lower expenses for low-income individuals and families.
The White House
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. It’s a law that put in place comprehensive reforms to improve health insurance for everyone. It also makes sure consumers and doctors are in control of their health care dollars, not the insurance companies.
The ACA is helping millions of people get coverage for the first time, and giving them new rights and protections. It’s protecting young adults from being denied insurance based on their health status; it’s making prescription drugs more affordable for 12 million seniors; and it’s lowering insurance rates.
The Capitol
The Capitol is a symbol of the American people and their government, the meeting place for Congress, a museum of art and history, and a tourist attraction visited by millions each year. It is also the site of many historic events that have affected our nation’s history.
The building is a fine example of 19th-century neoclassical architecture that was designed to evoke the ideals of our founders as they framed our nation’s new republic. As our country grew, the Capitol had to be expanded to accommodate the growing number of representatives and senators.
The House Chamber, where Members of Congress debate and pass laws, first opened in 1857. It has evolved with changes in technology and decorative tastes.
The Oval Office
When you’ve seen photographs of President Obama playing with a baby on his Oval Office floor, negotiating nuclear disarmament with Mikhail Gorbachev, or comforting a nation devastated by September 11th, you know that the Oval Office is much more than just an office. It’s a place where the President hosts world leaders, diplomats, and senior staff as well as addressing the American public.
The oval-shaped room is the centerpiece of the President’s West Wing Executive Office and has four doors, including an atrium-style door leading out to the Rose Garden. It also has two built-in bookcases and a fireplace at the north end.
The Oval Office has become a symbol of the Presidency, and each President changes the decor in their own way. From statues, busts, and heads to paintings, prints, and Western bronzes, the Oval Office offers a glimpse of a President’s beliefs, personality, and values.
The Rose Garden
President Obama signs the Affordable Care Act into law, a landmark piece of legislation that expands health insurance coverage and regulates insurance industry practices. Before the law passed, many Americans were denied insurance or had their coverage quickly wiped out by a costly illness.
In 2008, when Obama was a candidate for the White House, he met families who had to rely on flimsy health care policies they couldn’t afford because they were denied insurance due to “pre-existing conditions.” He heard their stories and came to the White House determined to pass a reform that would make sure that everyone in America had access to quality, affordable health care.
The Rose Garden was an important part of that push. It was a space where the president could meet with the press, announce policy decisions or invite visitors for informal interviews.
