The Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, is a landmark piece of legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010. It contains numerous provisions designed to make health coverage more accessible and affordable for millions of Americans.
The law also seeks to enhance the quality and efficiency of healthcare. It encourages new approaches for cost reduction, such as testing alternative payment and delivery models.
President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama, born of parents from Kenya and Kansas, holds to the values of the American story: hard work, education as the key to success, close family ties, and the conviction that service to others should be our highest goal. These convictions have guided his years in public service – from serving as a state senator in Illinois to being elected 44th president of the United States.
As president, he used his leadership skills to unify the country around a politics of purpose; leading to the first major ethics reform in 25 years and cutting taxes for working families while expanding health care coverage. Furthermore, he passed groundbreaking lobbying reform and secured some of the world’s most dangerous weapons while bringing transparency to government by putting federal spending online. Moreover, as commander in chief he helped wind down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, decimate al Qaeda networks, shut down Iran’s nuclear program, open a new chapter with Cuba while working to combat climate change.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, served as the driving force behind President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Her reforms ended insurance industry abuses and provided millions with access to affordable coverage.
She collaborated with doctors, nurses and hospital administrators to slow the rise in healthcare costs. Furthermore, she formed partnerships with other government agencies to enhance education about food safety practices and senior lives.
Her tenure as governor of Kansas was marked by her impressive ability to work collaboratively with legislators from both parties. She was an outspoken champion for women’s rights and reproductive health issues, making her a beloved leader.
In Washington, however, she faced mounting criticism for her handling of the Obamacare rollout – which proved more troubled than anticipated. Her resignation came at a critical juncture for the administration; it was hoped that her departure would enable it to move past its early issues and persuade an uncertain public of its long-lasting benefits.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi is the first female Speaker of the House and an influential advocate for American families. As chief architect of landmark legislation under two Democratic administrations – including healthcare reform – Nancy has set herself apart as a force in Washington D.C.
She has spearheaded the fight to safeguard America’s LGBTQ communities, passing landmark equality laws such as the Equality Act and Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Additionally, she was instrumental in repealing the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy which allowed gay and lesbian Americans to serve openly in the military.
In the 114th Congress, she achieved important legislative successes for Democrats by overturning Republican majorities on important bills such as Medicare strengthening by moving away from expensive “Doc Fix” patches and creating a system that rewards value and quality while guaranteeing patients get quality care at an affordable cost. Furthermore, Republicans were unable to defeat President Obama’s Iran Nuclear Agreement, an important element of American national security strategy.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
In an age of partisan warfare and dysfunction, Reid proved a master at behind-the-scenes maneuvering. His skills enabled Senate Democrats to secure a 60-vote majority despite having only six seats, reshaping politics in such a way that President Barack Obama easily won reelection.
But he also fuelled the flames of partisan warfare, particularly in the chamber over executive branch nominations. In 2013, he used the “nuclear option” to change Senate rules so presidential nominees could no longer be filibustered.
He made seismic changes that transformed the politics of the Senate, turning it into a bitterly divided chamber and undermining trust among members. As a result, many Democrats began to view their party and its leadership with disdain.
Reid also contributed to the growth of an online community known as the Netroots, which emerged out of Howard Dean’s 2004 challenge for the Democratic presidential nomination.
