Remarks by the President and Dr. Jill Biden at Signing of Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act

Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria, Virginia

11:04 A.M. EDT

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Fired up!

THE PRESIDENT:  Fired up!  (Laughter.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Obama!  (Laughter.)   

DR. BIDEN:  Good morning, everyone, and thank you for being here today.  I’m Jill Biden and I am honored to be a community college instructor. (Applause.)  I have been a teacher for almost three decades and a community college instructor for the past 16 years.  In fact, I’m an English teacher right here on this campus.  (Applause.)  It’s my great pleasure to welcome you all to Northern Virginia Community College.  (Applause.) 

Last week, our President signed an historic health care bill that will provide quality, affordable medical care for millions of Americans.  (Applause.)  Today we are here to celebrate another historic piece of legislation -- one that will make a college education a reality for millions of middle-class Americans.  (Applause.) 

All of us here today know that higher education is essential to the success of our children and vital to the economic future of our country.  But too many American families, they’ve had to take on crushing debt to pursue a college degree.  I see every day in my classroom just how hard my students work in order to pay their tuition bills.  Often their family budgets are stretched to the limit.  And when things get tough -- someone loses a job or a family member gets sick -- a college education is the first thing to go.

Thanks to the leadership of President Obama, our Vice President, and members of Congress here today, families across the country will find it a little easier to get to college and stay in college.  (Applause.)   

I am pleased to say that the reforms in this bill will make a huge difference to those Americans who need it most.  The expansions in Pell Grants will provide critical financial support to millions of middle-class Americans who are struggling with the costs of college.  The caps on student loan repayments will ensure that our students don’t go broke because they chose to pursue a college education.  And I am particularly thrilled that this bill invests in community colleges across our country so that more students can gain the knowledge and technical job skills that they need to compete and succeed.

I have seen firsthand the power of community colleges to change lives and serve as a gateway to opportunity for students at all stages of their lives and careers.  This bill increases investments in community colleges around the country to help these institutions do what they do best -- prepare our students for the workforce of today and tomorrow.

The President has set an ambitious goal for higher education in this country.  By 2020, we want America once again to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.  (Applause.)  To make this happen, we’ll need to invest in these students and invest in the colleges that they will attend.

The bill that President Obama will sign here today is a huge step forward toward meeting our goal.  I can't think of a better investment in America’s future.

I’m proud to be here as a community college instructor, and I am especially proud and honored to introduce a President who is making higher education a reality for millions more Americans.

Please welcome President Barack Obama.  (Applause.) 

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Alexandria!  Thank you very much. (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you so much.  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)  Please, have a seat.

Thank you, Dr. Biden, for that outstanding introduction and for putting up with Joe.  (Laughter.)  I want to also thank Dr. Biden for being one of the thousands of instructors all across the country who make such a difference in the lives of students each and every day.  So we are very proud of you for that.  (Applause.)

I want to thank President Templin and the entire NOVA Community College family for hosting us here today -- you can applaud for that.  (Applause.)

On stage we’ve got a couple of my outstanding Cabinet members:  Secretary Sebelius and Secretary Arne Duncan -- please give them a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  In the audience we’ve got Secretary Salazar of Interior; Secretary Donovan of HUD; and Ambassador Ron Kirk, our U.S. Trade Representative -- please give them a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

To all the outstanding members of Congress who made this day possible -- and I'm going to mainly single out the amazing Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.  (Applause.) 

Today, we mark an important milestone on the road to health insurance reform and higher education reform.  But, more broadly, this day affirms our ability to overcome the challenges of our politics and meet the challenges of our time.

When I took office, one of the questions we needed to answer was whether it was still possible to make government responsive to the needs of everyday people, middle-class Americans, the backbone of this country; or whether the special interests and their lobbyists would continue to hold sway, like they’ve done so many times before.  And that’s a test we met one week ago, when health insurance reform became the law of the land in the United States of America.  (Applause.) 

And it’s a test we met later in the week when Congress passed higher education reforms that will have a tremendous impact on working families -- and America’s future.  That’s two major victories in one week that will improve the lives of our people for generations to come.  (Applause.)

Now, I’ve said before and I’ve repeated this week the health insurance reform bill I signed won’t fix every problem in our health care system in one fell swoop.  But it does represent some of the toughest insurance reforms in history.  It represents a major step forward towards giving Americans with insurance -– and those without -– a sense of security when it comes to their health care.  It enshrines the principle that when you get sick, you’ve got a society there, a community, that is going to help you get back on your feet.  It represents meaningful progress for the American people.

And today, I’m signing a bill that will make a number of improvements to these core reforms.  We’ll increase the size of tax credits to help middle-class families and small businesses pay for their health insurance.  (Applause.)

We’re going to offer $250 to seniors who fall in the Medicare coverage gap known as the doughnut hole to help them pay for prescriptions, and that’s a first step towards closing that gap completely.  (Applause.) 

We’ll make a significant new investment in community health centers all across America that can provide high-quality primary care to people who need it most.  (Applause.)  And we’ll strengthen efforts to combat waste and fraud and abuse, to make sure your dollars aren’t lining the pockets of insurance companies when they should be making your health care better.  (Applause.)

Now, the debate on health care reform is one that’s gone on for generations, and I’m glad -- I’m gratified that we were able to get it done last week.  But what’s gotten overlooked amid all the hoopla, all the drama of last week, is what happened in education -- when a great battle pitting the interests of the banks and financial institutions against the interests of students finally came to an end.  (Applause.) 

You see, for almost two decades, we’ve been trying to fix a sweetheart deal in federal law that essentially gave billions of dollars to banks to act as unnecessary middlemen in administering student loans.  So those are billions of dollars that could have been spent helping more of our students attend and complete college; that could have been spent advancing the dreams of our children; that could have been spent easing the burden of tuition on middle-class families.  Instead, that money was spent padding student lenders’ profits.

Now, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that the big banks and financial institutions hired a army of lobbyists to protect the status quo.  In fact, Sallie Mae, America’s biggest student lender, spent more than $3 million on lobbying last year alone.

But I didn’t stand with the banks and the financial industries in this fight.  That’s not why I came to Washington.  And neither did any of the members of Congress who are here today.  We stood with you.  We stood with America’s students.  (Applause.)  And together, we finally won that battle. 

I don’t have to tell folks here at NOVA why this victory matters.  In the 21st century, when the success of every American hinges more than ever on the quality of their education, and when America’s success as a nation rests more than ever on an educated workforce that is second to none, we can’t afford to waste billions of dollars on giveaways to banks.

We need to invest that money in our students.  We need to invest in our community colleges.  We need to invest in the future of this country.  We need to meet the goal I set last year and graduate more of our students than any other nation by the year 2020.  And through the extraordinary leadership of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, that’s what the reforms I’m signing today will help us do.  (Applause.) 

     By cutting out the middleman, we’ll save American taxpayers $68 billion in the coming years -- $68 billion.  That’s real money -- (laughter) -- real savings that we’ll reinvest to help improve the quality of higher education and make it more affordable.

Now, we’ve already taken a number of steps through the Recovery Act and through my budget to significantly increase the support provided to young people attending colleges and universities all across the country. 

And I just -- President Templin handed me a sheet just as I walked in.  Just in case you’re wondering whether this makes a difference, so far this year -- and the year isn’t over -- right here at NOVA, Pell Grant recipients increased by 41 percent over last year.  (Applause.)  The total dollar amount of Pell Grants increased by 59 percent.  The number of federally guaranteed loans increased by 43 percent and loan awards increased by 68 percent.  That’s right here at this one community college, because of the steps that we had already taken.  (Applause.)

So using the $68 billion that we’re saving, that had been going to the banks, here’s what we’re going to be able to do.  First, we will reinvest a portion of those savings to upgrade our community colleges, which are one of the great, undervalued assets in our education system.  (Applause.) 

Community colleges like NOVA are incredibly important because they serve a varied group of learners, from recent high school grads seeking a pathway to a college degree, to adults seeking training for the jobs of tomorrow.  By forging private sector partnerships, community colleges can offer students the education and training they need to find a good job when they graduate -- and it helps offer businesses the assurance they need that graduates will be ready for the jobs that they’re hired to do.

And because community colleges like NOVA are so essential to a competitive workforce, I’ve asked your outstanding professor, Dr. Jill Biden -- who does not have enough to do -- (laughter) -- to host a summit on community colleges at the White House this fall.  And we’re going to bring everybody together, from educators to students, experts to business leaders.  (Applause.) We are going to bring everybody together to share innovative ideas about how we can help students earn degrees and credentials, and to forge private sector partnerships so we can better prepare America’s workforce and America’s workers to succeed in the 21st century.

Now, to help open the doors of higher education to more students, we’ll also reinvest part of that $68 billion in savings in Pell Grants, one of the most popular forms of financial aid.  Pell Grants once covered more than three-quarters of the cost of going to college.  But now, because the cost of college has skyrocketed, the amount Pell Grants cover is about one-third.
 
Today, students hoping to attend college on a Pell Grant are going to be able to feel more secure, because not only are we going to offer over 800,000 additional Pell awards over the next 10 years, we’re also going to raise the amount they’re worth to almost $6,000, so that inflation doesn’t erode the value of your grant.  (Applause.) 

And we’ll put the entire Pell Grant program on firmer footing for years to come.  Altogether, we are more than doubling the amount of Pell Grant funding that was available when I took office –- it’s one of the most significant investments in higher education since the G.I. Bill.  (Applause.)

Now, third, we’re going to restore a measure of fairness to how students repay their loans.  Today, two out of every three students graduates with help from a loan, and often they take on a mountain of debt as a result.  Here in Virginia, the typical student carries almost $20,000 in debt.  Across the country, the average student graduates with over $23,000 in debt.  I know what that’s like.  Michelle and I had big debts coming out of school  -- debts we weren’t able to fully repay until just a few years before I started running for office.

Today, we’re making it easier for responsible students to pay off their loans.  Right now, if you’re a borrower, you don’t have to spend more than 15 percent of your income on loans.  But starting in 2014, you won’t have to pay more than 10 percent of your income in repaying your student loans.  (Applause.)  That will make a meaningful difference for over one million more students.  We’re also going to give students an incentive to do what’s right -- if you pay your loans on time, you’ll only have to pay them off for 20 years.  And you’ll only have to pay them off for 10 years if you repay them with service to your community, and to our country, as a teacher or a nurse or a member of our Armed Forces.  (Applause.) 

Finally, we’ll reinvest some of the $68 billion in savings to strengthen our Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions.  (Applause.)  These are institutions that have struggled more than most in these tough economic times.

The reforms in this bill are significant, but they’re just part of a broader effort to strengthen our entire higher education system.  We’re putting college tuition tax credits in the pockets of millions of students from working families to help them pay for college.  We’ve taken steps to simplify the federal college assistance form -– called the FAFSA -– because it shouldn’t take a PhD to apply for financial aid.  (Applause.)  And we’re helping ensure that America’s high school graduates are ready for college.  All of this is paid for.  We’re redirecting money that was poorly spent to make sure we’re making investments in our future.

Now, this won’t solve all of our problems in higher education.  We continue to expect colleges and universities to do their part to hold down tuition increases.  (Applause.)  That has to happen.  We’ve got to work on that.  And we also need to take greater initiative not only to help more students enter college, we’ve got to make sure that we see more students successfully earn a college degree.  But what we’ve done over the past year represents enormous progress.

So I’ll close by saying this.  For a long time, our student loan system has worked for banks and financial institutions. Today, we’re finally making our student loan system work for students and our families.  But we’re also doing something more.
From the moment I was sworn into office, I’ve spoken about the urgent need for us to lay a new foundation for our economy and for our future.  And two pillars of that foundation are health care and education, and each has long suffered from problems that we chose to kick down the road.

With the bill I signed last week, we finally undertook meaningful reform of our health care system.  With this bill, and other steps we’ve pursued over the last year, we are finally undertaking meaningful reform in our higher education system.  So this week, we can rightly say the foundation on which America’s future will be built is stronger than it was one year ago.  (Applause.) 

And so at the end of this extraordinary week, I want to acknowledge some of the people who made it possible.  There isn’t time to single out everyone who’s here, the outstanding members of Congress, but I want to make sure I once again say this would not have happened had it not been for the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- (applause) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid  -- (applause) -- Senator Dick Durbin and Congressman Steny Hoyer. All provided outstanding leadership that our nation needed.  (Applause.) 

On health care, Max Baucus, Chris Dodd, Henry Waxman, Charlie Rangel, and so many others offered invaluable expertise throughout the year.  (Applause.)  Congressmen George Miller, Jim Clyburn, Dale Kildee, Ruben Hinojosa led the way in the House on education reforms that I sign today.  (Applause.) 

Senator Tom Harkin’s dedication ensured that the Senate would include these reforms in this bill.  (Applause.)  Virginia’s own Bobby Scott, and an outstanding freshman, Tom Perriello helped to make this thing possible.  (Applause.)  We are grateful to them.

Courage is an essential ingredient in any landmark legislation, particularly when the attacks are as fierce and unrelenting -- and inaccurate -- (laughter) -- as they have been over the past year.  I just want to commend members of Congress who had the courage to do what’s right -- (applause) -- and to say a special thank you to all of the newer members.  (Applause.) 
The past couple of years have brought one challenge after another, and you’ve risen to the moment each time.  I could not be prouder of the work that all of you have done.  And it would not have happened had it not been for the incredible persistence and stick-to-itiveness of all the folks in the audience here today. 

Ultimately, Congress responds to the voices that they’re hearing in their communities, and so many of you have written letters and come to meetings and let people know of the ordinary struggles that people are going through each and every day.  You’re what provided members of Congress the courage that they needed to do what was right.  And so on behalf of all of us who are serving in Washington, we want to thank you, the American people, for your outstanding leadership.  (Applause.)  

And with that, I’m going to sign this bill.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)

(The bill is signed.)  (Applause.) 

END
11:32 A.M. EDT

Remarks by the President to the Troops

Clamshell, Bagram Airfield

11:13 P.M. (Local)

     THE PRESIDENT:  How’s it going, Bagram?  (Applause.)  Well, you know, it turns out that the American people, they let me use this plane called Air Force One.  And so I thought I’d come over and say hello.  (Applause.)  

     Couple of people I want to thank, in addition to Sergeant Major Eric Johnson for the outstanding introduction and his great service.  I want to thank Major General Mike Scaparrotti.  (Applause.)  Thank you for your great work as commanding general.  I want to thank Ms. Dawn Liberi, who is the senior civilian representative of Regional Command East, for her outstanding work; and Brigadier General Steven Kwast, commander -- (applause) -- commander 455th Air Expeditionary Wing.  Thank you all for your outstanding service.  Give them a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

     Thank you for the unbelievable welcome.  I know this was on a little bit of short notice.  

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  No worries.

THE PRESIDENT:  No worries.  (Laughter.)  It is great to be here at Bagram, and it’s great to see all the services.  We’ve got Air Force, we’ve got Army -- (applause) -- we’ve got Navy -- (applause) -- we’ve got some Marines in the house.  (Applause.)  And we’ve got a lot of civilians here too -- (applause) -- who are making an outstanding contribution to this effort, and I’m honored to be joined by America’s outstanding civilian military leadership team here in Afghanistan, Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, who’s doing outstanding work, and the commander of our 43-nation coalition, General Stan McChrystal.  The two of them together have paired up to do an extraordinarily difficult task, but they are doing it extraordinarily well and we are proud of them.  Please give your outstanding team a big round of applause.  They’ve got my full confidence and my full support.  (Applause.)  

     We’re also joined by troops from some of our coalition partners, because this is not simply an American mission or even just a NATO mission.  Al Qaeda and their extremist allies are a threat to the people of Afghanistan and a threat to the people of America, but they’re also a threat to people all around the world, and that’s why we’re so proud to have our coalition partners here with us.  Thank you very much for the great work that you do.  We salute you and we honor you for all the sacrifices you make, and you are a true friend of the United States of America.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)

     And we also salute the members of the Afghan National Army who are fighting alongside all of you.  They’re risking their lives to protect their country.  And as I told President Karzai today, the United States is a partner but our intent is to make sure that the Afghans have the capacity to provide for their own security.  That is core to our mission, and we are proud of the work that they are doing and the continuing increased capacity that we’re seeing out of Afghan national security forces.  So thank you very much for the great work you’re doing to take responsibility for security here in your own country.

     And to the Afghan people, I want to say that I’m honored to be a guest in your country.  Now, the Afghans have suffered for decades -- decades of war.  But we are here to help Afghans forge a hard-won peace while realizing the extraordinary potential of the Afghan people, Afghanistan’s sons and daughters, from the soldiers and the police to the farmers and the young students.  And we want to build a lasting partnership founded upon mutual interests and mutual respect, and I’m looking forward to returning to Afghanistan many times in the years to come.

     Now, I know for most of you, you didn’t get a lot of notice that I was coming.  But I want you to understand, there’s no visit that I considered more important than this visit I’m making right now, because I have no greater honor than serving as your Commander-in-Chief.  And it is a privilege to look out and see the extraordinary efforts of America’s sons and daughters here in Afghanistan.  So my main job here today is to say thank you on behalf of the entire American people.  (Applause.)

     You are part of the finest military in the history of the world, and we are proud of you.  And so I want you to know that everybody back home is proud of you.  Everybody back home is grateful.  And everybody understands the sacrifices that you have made and your families have made to keep America safe and to keep America secure in this vital mission.

     And I know it’s not easy.  You’re far away from home.  You miss your kids.  You miss your spouses, your family, your friends.  Some of you, this is your second or your third or your fourth tour of duty.  I’ll tell you right now the same thing that I said at West Point last December.  If I thought for a minute that America’s vital interests were not served, were not at stake here in Afghanistan, I would order all of you home right away.  

     So I want you to know, I want every American serving in Afghanistan, military and civilian, to know, whether you’re working the flight line here at Bagram or patrolling a village down in Helmand, whether you’re standing watch at a forward operating base or training our Afghan partners or working with the Afghan government, your services are absolutely necessary, absolutely essential to America’s safety and security.  Those folks back home are relying on you.

     We can’t forget why we’re here.  We did not choose this war.  This was not an act of America wanting to expand its influence; of us wanting to meddle in somebody else’s business.  We were attacked viciously on 9/11.  Thousands of our fellow countrymen and women were killed.  And this is the region where the perpetrators of that crime, al Qaeda, still base their leadership.  Plots against our homeland, plots against our allies, plots against the Afghan and Pakistani people are taking place as we speak right here.  And if this region slides backwards, if the Taliban retakes this country and al Qaeda can operate with impunity, then more American lives will be at stake.  The Afghan people will lose their chance at progress and prosperity.  And the world will be significantly less secure.

     And as long as I’m your Commander-in-Chief, I am not going to let that happen.  That’s why you are here.  I’ve made a promise to all of you who serve.  I will never send you into harm’s way unless it’s absolutely necessary.  I anguish in thinking about the sacrifices that so many of you make.  That’s why I promise I will never send you out unless it is necessary.

     But that’s only part of the promise, because the other part of the promise is that when it is absolutely necessary, you will be backed up by a clear mission and the right strategy to finish the job, to get the job done.  And I am confident all of you are going to get the job done right here in Afghanistan.  I am confident of that.  (Applause.)   

     That’s why I ordered more troops and civilians here into Afghanistan shortly after taking office.  That’s why we took a hard look and forged a new strategy and committed more resources in December.  That’s why we pushed our friends and allies and partners to pony up more resources themselves, more commitments of aid, and additional forces and trainers.  

     Our broad mission is clear:  We are going to disrupt and dismantle, defeat and destroy al Qaeda and its extremist allies.  That is our mission.  And to accomplish that goal, our objectives here in Afghanistan are also clear:  We’re going to deny al Qaeda safe haven.  We’re going to reverse the Taliban’s momentum.  We’re going to strengthen the capacity of Afghan security forces and the Afghan government so that they can begin taking responsibility and gain confidence of the Afghan people.  

     And our strategy includes a military effort that takes the fight to the Taliban while creating the conditions for greater security and a transition to the Afghans; but also a civilian effort that improves the daily lives of the Afghan people, and combats corruption; and a partnership with Pakistan and its people, because we can’t uproot extremists and advance security and opportunity unless we succeed on both sides of the border.  Most of you understand that.  

     Many of the troops that I ordered to Afghanistan have begun to arrive, and more are on the way.  And we’ll continue to work with Congress to make sure that you’ve got the equipment that you need, particularly as we complete our drawdown in Iraq.  We’re providing more helicopters, we’re providing more intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities, more special operations forces, more armored vehicles that can save lives.  

And here in Afghanistan you’ve gone on the offensive.  And the American people back home are noticing.  We have seen a huge increase in support in -- stateside, because people understand the kinds of sacrifices that you guys are making, and the clarity of mission that you’re bringing to bear.  

And together with our coalition and Afghan partners, our troops have pushed the Taliban out of their stronghold in Marja.  We’ve changed the way we operate and interact with the Afghan people.  We see Afghans reclaiming their communities, and we see new partnerships that will help them build their own future and increase their security.

And across the border, Pakistan is mounting major offensives.  We’ve seen violent extremists pushed out of their sanctuaries.  We’ve struck major blows against al Qaeda leadership as well as the Taliban’s.  They are hunkered down.  They’re worried about their own safety.  It’s harder for them to move, it’s harder for them to train and to plot and to attack, and all of that makes America safer.  And we are going to keep them on the run because that is what’s going to be required in order to assure that our families back home have the security that they need.  That’s the work that you are doing.

So thanks to you, there’s been progress these last several months.  But we know there are going to be some difficult days ahead.  There’s going to be setbacks.  We face a determined enemy.  But we also know this:  The United States of America does not quit once it starts on something.  (Applause.)  You don’t quit, the American armed services does not quit, we keep at it, we persevere, and together with our partners we will prevail.  I am absolutely confident of that.  (Applause.)

And I also want you to know that as you’re doing your duty here, we’re going to do right by you back home.  We’re going to help take care of your families, and that’s why the First Lady Michelle Obama visited with military families and makes sure that their needs are met.  That’s why she stays after me once she gets home, when I’m at the White House.  And we’re going to make sure that we are keeping to improve your pay and your benefits, but also things like childcare and support that ensure that you’ve got a little bit of security knowing your family is being looked after back home.

And we’ll be there for your when you come home.  It’s why we’re improving care for our wounded warriors, especially those with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.  We’re moving forward with the Post-9/11 GI Bill so you and your families can pursue your dreams.  And we’ve made the biggest increase in the VA budget in 30 years, because we’re going to keep our sacred trust with all those who serve.

You’ve been there for us, tour after tour, year after year, at a time when too many American institutions have let us down, when too many institutions have put short-term gain in front of a commitment to duty and a commitment to what’s right.  You’ve met your responsibilities, you’ve done your duty -- not just when it’s easy.  That’s why you’ve inspired your fellow Americans.  That’s why you inspire me.  That’s why you’ve earned your place next to the very greatest of American generations.  

And all of you represent the virtues and the values that America so desperately needs right now:  sacrifice and selflessness, honor and decency.  That’s why you’re here today.  That’s what you represent.

I’ve seen your sense of purpose and your willingness to step forward and serve in a time of danger.  I’ve seen it from the Marines I’ve met at Camp Lejeune to the cadets at West Point, from the midshipmen at Annapolis to the troops I’ve met in Iraq, and at bases across America and here in Afghanistan.  I’ve seen your courage and your heroism and the story of a young Sergeant First Class named Jared Monti who gave his life here in Afghanistan to save his fellow soldiers and his parents.  I was proud to present with our nation’s highest military declaration, the Medal of Honor.  I’ve seen your tenacity -- (applause) -- I’ve seen your tenacity and determination in our wounded warriors in Landstuhl and Walter Reed -- Americans fighting to stand again and to walk again and to get back with -- get back with their units; incredible dedication, incredible focus, incredible pride.  And I’ve been humbled by your sacrifice and the solemn homecoming of flag-draped coffins at Dover, to the headstones in Section 60 at Arlington where the fallen from this war rest in peace alongside the fellow heroes of America’s story.

     So here in Afghanistan each one of you is part of an unbroken line of American servicemembers who’ve sacrificed for over two centuries.  You’re protecting your fellow citizens from danger.  You’re serving alongside old allies and new friends.  You’re bringing hope and opportunity to a people who have known a lot of pain and a lot of suffering.

     And I know that sometimes when you’re watching TV, the politics back home may look a little messy, and people are yelling and hollering, and Democrats this and Republicans that.  I want you to understand this:  There’s no daylight when it comes to support of all of you.  There’s no daylight when it comes to supporting our troops.  That brings us together.  We are all incredibly proud.  We all honor what you do.  And all of you show all of America what’s possible when people come together, not based on color or creed, not based on faith or station, but based on a commitment to serve together, to bleed together and to succeed together as one people, as Americans.

     Make no mistake, this fight matters to us.  It matters to us, it matters to our allies, it matters to the Afghan people.  Al Qaeda and the violent extremists who you’re fighting against want to destroy.  But all of you want to build -- and that is something essential about America.  They’ve got no respect for human life.  You see dignity in every human being.  That’s part of what we value as Americans.  They want to drive races and regions and religions apart.  You want to bring people together and see the world move forward together.  They offer fear, in other words, and you offer hope.

And that’s why it is so important that you know that the entire country stands behind you.  That’s why you put on that uniform, because in an uncertain world, the United States of America will always stand up for the security of nations and the dignity of human beings.  That’s who we are.  That is what we do.  

Much has happened to our country and to the world since 9/11.  But I’m confident that so long as brave men and women like you -- Americans who are willing to serve selflessly half a world away on behalf of their fellow citizens and the dreams of people they’ve never met -- so long as there are folks like you, then I’m confident that our nation will endure, and hope will overcome fear.  And I am confident that better days lie ahead.

So thank you very much, everybody.  (Applause.)  God bless you.  God bless the United States Armed Forces.  And God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)   

                   END           11:33 P.M. (Local)

MENSAJE SEMANAL: Las reformas acabarán con subsidios a bancos por préstamos estudiantiles y ampliarán el acceso a la educación superior

WASHINGTON – En su mensaje semanal, el Presidente Barack Obama elogió las audaces reformas al sistema de educación superior aprobadas por el Congreso esta semana. Estas reformas les ahorrarán a los contribuyentes $68,000 millones en la próxima década al poner fin a los subsidios otorgados a los bancos e intermediarios que manejan los préstamos educativos. El dinero ahorrado ayudará a expandir y fortalecer el programa de Becas Pell. Las reformas también establecerán un límite de 10% de los ingresos de los graduados para las amortizaciones anuales de los préstamos educativos, revitalizarán las instituciones comunitarias de enseñanza superior y aumentarán el respaldo para las instituciones que prestan servicios a grupos minoritarios.

El audio completo del mensaje esta AQUI. El video puede verse por Internet en www.whitehouse.gov.
 
Declaraciones del Presidente Barack Obama
Mensaje semanal
The White House
27 de marzo, 2009

Ésta fue una semana histórica para Estados Unidos. Fue una semana en la que, juntos, dimos pasos audaces hacia la restauración de la seguridad económica de nuestra clase media y la reconstrucción de cimientos más firmes para nuestro futuro. Fue una semana en la que algunos de los cambios por los que varias generaciones lucharon y soñaron finalmente se hicieron realidad en Estados Unidos.

Comenzó con la aprobación de la reforma integral del seguro médico que empezará a poner fin a las peores prácticas del sector de seguros, a frenar el creciente déficit y, con el tiempo, a ofrecerles cuidado de salud de calidad y bajo precio a millones de familias y pequeñas empresas, y la seguridad y tranquilidad que resultan de ello.

Y terminó con la votación final del Congreso para aprobar otra ley que logrará lo que venimos pidiendo hace décadas: una ley que reforme el sistema de préstamos educativos y que nos ayude a educar a todos los estadounidenses para que compitan y tengan éxito en el siglo XXI.
 
Año tras año, vimos el gasto de miles de millones de dólares de los contribuyentes en subsidios a banqueros e intermediarios que manejan los préstamos educativos federales, cuando ese dinero debió haber ido a promover los sueños de nuestros estudiantes y las familias trabajadoras. Y sin embargo, todos los intentos de solucionar este problema y reformar este programa fueron frustrados por intereses particulares que lucharon con uñas y dientes para preservar este regalo exclusivo para ellos.
 
Pero dijimos que esta vez sería diferente. Dijimos que nos opondríamos a los intereses especiales y que respaldaríamos los intereses de estudiantes y familias. Eso fue lo que ocurrió esta semana. Y aplaudo a los senadores y congresistas que hicieron lo correcto.
 
La reforma del programa federal de préstamos educativos les ahorrará a los contribuyentes $68,000 millones en la próxima década. Y con esta ley, usaremos ese dinero para lograr la meta que propuse para Estados Unidos: que para fines de esta década, volvamos a tener la proporción más alta de graduados universitarios en el mundo.
 
Para hacer que la universidad les cueste menos a millones de estadounidenses de clase media, para quienes el costo de la educación superior se ha convertido en una carga abrumadora, estamos aumentando las becas federales Pell para los estudiantes: sus montos incrementarán con la inflación en los próximos años, y el programa tendrá mayor solidez financiera. En total, estamos aumentando al doble el programa federal de becas Pell para ayudar a los estudiantes que dependen de ellas.
 
Para asegurarnos de que nuestros estudiantes no se vayan a la quiebra porque escogieron ir a la universidad, estamos haciendo más fácil que los graduados paguen sus préstamos educativos. Hoy, casi 2 de cada 3 graduados piden préstamos educativos para pagar la matrícula. El alumno promedio termina su carrera con una deuda de más de $23,000. Entonces, cuando este cambio entre en vigor en el 2014, el límite para las amortizaciones anuales de préstamos educativos por los graduados será de 10 por ciento de sus ingresos.

Para ayudar a 5 millones estadounidenses adicionales a obtener diplomas y certificados en la próxima década, estamos revitalizando los programas en nuestras instituciones comunitarias de enseñanza superior, el vehículo de aprendizaje profesional para millones de desempleados y familias trabajadoras de todo el país. Estas instituciones son centros de aprendizaje donde los alumnos, jóvenes y no tan jóvenes, pueden adquirir la capacitación y destreza técnica que necesitan para los empleos de hoy y mañana. Son centros que ofrecen oportunidades para forjar lazos de colaboración entre estudiantes y empresas a fin de que todas las comunidades puedan recobrar la fuerza de trabajo que necesita. Y son cruciales para nuestro futuro económico.

Y para asegurarnos de que todos nuestros estudiantes tengan la oportunidad de lograr su pleno potencial, esta ley también otorga apoyo a las instituciones que prestan servicios a grupos minoritarios, entre ellas, las universidades e instituciones de enseñanza superior que históricamente han educado a afroamericanos, a fin de preservar, más que nunca, su solidez en este nuevo siglo.
 
Educación. Seguro médico. Dos de los pilares más importantes de la fortaleza de Estados Unidos, son más sólidos esta semana. Estos logros no representan el fin de nuestros desafíos ni significan el fin del esfuerzo que este país requiere. Pero sí representan una reforma real y trascendental. Demuestran es que somos un país capaz de hacer cosas significativas. Demuestran que todo es posible cuando nos unimos para derrotar la politiquería del momento, detener la influencia de los intereses especiales y pensar más allá de las próximas elecciones para hacer lo correcto a favor de la próxima generación.
 
Ése es el espíritu con el que continuamos llevando a cabo las tareas más trascendentales que nos atañen a todos: la reactivación de la economía, la revitalización del mercado laboral, la renovación del Sueño Americano... para toda nuestra gente.
 
Muchas gracias.
 

Remarks by the President on Health Insurance Reform, University of Iowa Field House, Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa Field House,Iowa City, Iowa

1:08 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Iowa!  (Applause.)  Are you fired up?  (Applause.)  Oh, it is good to be back in Iowa.  (Applause.)  I got to take off my jacket when I'm in Iowa.  (Applause.)  It is good to be back in Iowa.  It’s a little colder than it is in D.C., I got to admit.  (Laughter.)  But I can feel spring coming.

I want to make a couple of acknowledgements.  First of all, University of Iowa President Dr. Sally Mason and the entire Hawkeye community, thanks for hosting us.  (Applause.)  The outstanding governor of the great state of Iowa, Chet Culver and First Lady Mari Culver.  (Applause.)  There he is back there.

A couple of great friends, Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge.  (Applause.)  The cochairs of my campaign here in Iowa, Attorney General Tom Miller and Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald.  (Applause.)  The former governor of Iowa who is now I think going to end up being one of the greatest Secretaries of Agriculture in history, Tom Vilsack is in the house.  (Applause.)

I want to acknowledge Iowa City Mayor Matt Hayek.  (Applause.)  The entire Iowa delegation could not be here because they are still busy finishing business, crossing “T’s” and dotting “I’s” in Washington.  But I want every single person to know that this celebration would not be happening if it were not for your members of Congress, Leonard Boswell, Bruce Braley, your own personal congressman, Dave Loebsack -- (applause) -- and Senator Tom Harkin.  (Applause.)

Now, thank you Secretary Sebelius for the introduction, but more importantly, for all the amazing and tireless work that you’ve done to make health care reform a reality.  I, too, feel your pain because in my bracket -- (laughter) -- I had Kansas winning it all.  I feel a little bitter.  The President of Northern Ireland came here and he was just, big smile, he was gloating -- (laughter and applause) -- I now -- I’m sold.  I want to congratulate all the Northern Iowa fans in this part of the state on their big win.  (Applause.)  And since you ruined my bracket I'm rooting for you now.  I want you to just go ahead and take it.  (Laughter.)  Go all the way.

I also want to start things off -- oh, there’s one other thing.  Some of you know that I have a military aide that travels with me wherever I go.  This is one of the things the President does, is carries a big satchel with all kinds of important stuff in there.  And the military aide I have with me today is a guy named Lieutenant Colonel Dave Kalinske.  And Dave was strong safety for the Hawkeyes.  (Applause.)  There he is right there -- there’s Dave Kalinske.  (Applause.)  Strong safety.  See, that briefcase is big so you got to have a former strong safety carrying it.  (Laughter.)

I want to start off by telling folks here how inspired that I’ve been by your continued resilience in the wake of the floods that devastated this region a few years back.  And I remember traveling here right after they happened and how tough things were.

I know -- I know the rebuilding has been difficult, but you should know that you always have a committed partner in this administration to support the road to recovery.  (Applause.)  And we know that Iowa City is going to be as good as new and better; Cedar Rapids, all across the state we're seeing that rebuilding take place.

So it’s just good to be back in Iowa.  This is the state that first believed in our campaign.  (Applause.)  When all the pundits had written us off, when we were down in the polls, this is the state that inspired us to keep on going, even when the path was uncertain.  And because of you, this is the place where change began.  (Applause.) 

Three years ago, I came here to this campus to make a promise.  Just a few months into our campaign, I stood at the University of Iowa hospital right around the corner and I promised that by the end of my first term in office, I would sign legislation to reform our health insurance system.  (Applause.)

On Tuesday, after a year of debate, a century of trying, after so many of you shared your stories and your heartaches and your hopes, that promise was finally fulfilled.  (Applause.)  And today, health insurance reform is the law of the land all across America.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Yes we did!  Yes we did!  Yes we did!  Yes we did!  Yes we did!  Yes we did!  Yes we did!

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, we did.  Yes, we did.  Just like the campaign that led us here, this historic change didn’t start in Washington.  It began in places like Iowa City, places just like this, with Americans just like you.

It began when people had the courage to stand up in town hall meetings and talk about how insurance companies were denying their families coverage because of a preexisting condition.

It began when folks wrote letters about how premium hikes of 40 and 50 and a hundred percent were forcing them to give up their insurance.

It began when countless small business owners and families and doctors shared stories about a health care system that works better for the insurance industry than it does for the American people.

So this is your victory, because when the special interests sent an army of lobbyists to Congress, they blanketed the airwaves with millions of dollars of negative ads, you mobilized and you organized and you refused to give up.  And when the pundits were obsessing over who was up and who was down and how is this affecting the Obama administration and what’s going on over in the House, you never lost sight of what was right and what was wrong.  You knew this was not about the fortunes of one party -- this was about the future of our country.  (Applause.)  And today, because of what you did, that future looks stronger and more hopeful and brighter than it has in some time -- because of you.  (Applause.)

Three years ago, we made a promise.  That promise has been kept.  Of course -- of course, over the last year, there’s been a lot of misinformation spread about health care reform.  There’s been plenty of fear-mongering, plenty of overheated rhetoric.  You turn on the news, you’ll see the same folks are still shouting about there’s going to be an end of the world because this bill passed.  (Laughter.)  I’m not exaggerating.  Leaders of the Republican Party, they called the passage of this bill “Armageddon.”  (Laughter.)  Armageddon.  “End of freedom as we know it.”

So after I signed the bill, I looked around to see if there any -- (laughter) -- asteroids falling or -- (applause) -- some cracks opening up in the Earth.  (Laughter.)  It turned out it was a nice day.  (Laughter.)  Birds were chirping.  Folks were strolling down the Mall.  People still have their doctors.

From this day forward, all of the cynics, all the naysayers -- they’re going to have to confront the reality of what this reform is and what it isn’t.  They’ll have to finally acknowledge this isn’t a government takeover of our health care system.  They’ll see that if Americans like their doctor, they’ll be keeping their doctor.  You like your plan?  You’ll be keeping your plan.  No one is taking that away from you.  Three months from now, six months from now you’re going to look around.  You’re going to be sitting in a doctor’s office reading through the old People magazines.  (Laughter.)  And you’ll say, hey, this is the same doctor, same plan.  It wasn’t Armageddon.

What this reform does is build on the system of private health insurance that we already have.  So does that mean that it’s going to solve every health care problem that we have?  No.  But it finally tells -- oops, it looks like somebody may have fainted.  That happens sometimes in the crowd.  Just give him some space.  If the medics can make sure to check on them, in the meantime just make sure that they’ve got some air.  And if anybody has some water down there, that’d be great.  They’ll be all right.

But here’s what the bill does.  It finally tells the insurance companies that in exchange for all the new customers they’re about to get, they’ve got to start playing by a new set of rules that treats everybody honestly and treats everybody fairly.  (Applause.)  The days of the insurance industry running roughshod over the American people are over.

So if you already -- if you already have insurance, this reform will make it more secure and more affordable.  If you can’t afford insurance right now or if you’ve been denied coverage -- and I'll bet there are some folks here who don't have insurance or can’t afford it or have been denied coverage -- you’re going to finally be able to get it.  Costs will come down for families, and businesses, and the federal government, reducing our deficit by more than $1 trillion over the next two decades.  That’s what reform is going to do.  (Applause.)

Now, it’s going to take about four years to implement this entire plan -- because we’ve got to do it responsibly and we need to do it right.  So I just want to be clear:  that means that health care costs won’t go down overnight; not all the changes are going to be in place; there are still going to be aspects of the health care system that are very frustrating over the next several years.

But we have built into law all sorts of measures that in the years to come, health care inflation, which has been rising about three times as fast as people’s wages, is finally going to start slowing down.  We’ll start reducing the waste in the system, from unnecessary tests to unwarranted insurance subsidies.  So that over time, Americans are going to save money.

And meanwhile, there are a set of reforms that begin to take into effect this year, so I want to talk about this.  This year, millions of small business owners will be eligible for tax credits that will help them cover the cost of insurance for their employees.  (Applause.)  This year, millions of small businesses will benefit.

So let me talk to you about what this means for a business like your own Prairie Lights Bookstore downtown.  (Applause.)  This is a small business that’s been offering coverage to their full-time employees for the last 20 years.  Last year their premiums went up 35 percent, which made it a lot harder for them to offer the same coverage.  On Tuesday, I was joined at the bill signing by Ryan Smith, who runs a small business with five employees.  His premiums are going up too.  He’s worried about having to stop offering health insurance to his workers.

So starting now, small business owners like Ryan and the folks at Prairie Light, they’re going to have the security of knowing that they’ll qualify for a tax credit that covers up to 35 percent of their employees’ health insurance.  (Applause.)  Starting today, starting today, small business owners -- (applause) -- so starting today, small business owners can sit down at the end of the week, look at their expenses, and they can begin calculating how much money they’re going to save.  And maybe they can even use those savings to not only provide insurance but also create jobs.  This health care tax credit is pro-jobs, it is pro-business, and it starts this year, and it’s starting because of you.  (Applause.)

Starting this year, tens of thousands of uninsured Americans with a preexisting condition and parents whose children have a preexisting condition will finally be able to purchase the coverage they need.  (Applause.)

On Tuesday, right after I signed the bill, I met David Gallagher, whose daughter Lauren had written me a letter last year.  And when Lauren’s mom lost her job, the entire family lost their health insurance.  And when they tried to get new insurance, David was denied coverage because he once had a complication-free hernia surgery.

So Lauren’s been worried sick about what would happen if her father became ill or injured.  But now, because of this reform, David Gallagher can finally have access to health insurance again.  That starts this year -- because of you and the work that you did.  (Applause.)

This year, insurance companies will no longer be able to drop people’s coverage when they get sick, or place lifetime limits or restrictive annual limits on the amount of care they can receive.  (Applause.)

This year, all new insurance plans will be required to offer free preventive care.  And by the way, for all the students who are here today -- (applause) -- starting this year, if you don’t have insurance or if you’re about to graduate and you’re not sure what your next job is going to be or there’s a little gap between getting that job with insurance, all new plans and some current ones will allow you to stay on your parents’ insurance policy until you’re 26 years old, starting this year.  (Applause.)  Because as you start your lives and your careers, the last thing you should worry about is whether you go broke just because you get sick.

This year, for the seniors who are in the audience, if you fall in the coverage gap known as the doughnut hole, you’re going to receive $250 to help pay for prescriptions, which will be the first step toward closing that doughnut hole, that gap completely.  (Applause.)  And I want seniors to know that despite what some have said, these reforms will not cut your guaranteed benefits.  In fact, under this law, Americans on Medicare will receive free preventive care without co-payments and deductibles.

Darlyne Neff is here today.  She’s a breast cancer survivor.  She has fought her heart out for reform over the last few years.  Today, the preventive care she needs will finally be covered without charge.  That’s what this reform will do.  That’s what’s happening because of you.  (Applause.)

And once this reform is implemented, then health insurance exchanges are going to be created.  This is the core -- the core aspect of this bill that is going to be so important to Americans who are looking for coverage.  Basically, we set up a competitive marketplace where people without insurance, small businesses, people who were having to pay through the teeth because they’re just buying insurance on their own, maybe you’re self-employed -- you’re finally going to be able to purchase quality, affordable, health insurance because you’re going to be part of a big pool -- by the way, with members of Congress.  So you will be able to get the same good deal that they’re getting, because if you’re paying their salary, you should have health insurance that’s at least as good as theirs.  (Applause.)

That’s what’s going to happen in the next few years.  And when this exchange is up and running, millions of people are going to be getting tax breaks to help them afford coverage.  And the credits add up to the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history.

This is a -- that’s the basic aspects of reform.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  What about the public option?

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s not in it.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Why not?

THE PRESIDENT:  Because we couldn’t get it through Congress, that’s why.  So they -- let’s -- there’s no need to shout, young man, no need to shout.

Thirty-two people -- 32 million people are going to have health insurance because of this legislation.  That’s what this work is about.  (Applause.)  So that’s what’s going to happen.

Now, I want to just make this point.  This legislation is not perfect, as you just heard.  (Laughter.)  This young man is dissatisfied with an aspect of it, which is fine.  I mean, that’s part of what democracy is about.  But what this is, is a historic step to enshrine the principle that everybody gets health care coverage in this country, every single person.  (Applause.)

And it’s absolutely true -- it’s absolutely true this is a middle-of-the-road bill.  This isn’t single-payer, which some people wanted.  It’s also not what the Republicans were looking for, which was basically to deregulate the insurance industry, arguing that somehow this would cut down costs -- something that defies the experience of everybody who’s dealt with an insurance company out there.  (Laughter.)

So, yes, this is a common-sense bill.  It doesn’t do everything that everybody wants, but it moves us in the direction of universal health care coverage in this country and that's why everybody here fought so hard for it.  (Applause.)

This is the reform that some folks in Washington are still hollering about, still shouting about.  Now that they passed it -- now that we passed it, they’re already promising to repeal it.  They’re actually going to run on a platform of repeal in November.  You’ve been hearing that.  And my attitude is:  Go for it.  (Applause.)

If these congressmen in Washington want to come here in Iowa and tell small business owners that they plan to take away their tax credits and essentially raise their taxes, be my guest.  If they want to look Lauren Gallagher in the eye and tell her they plan to take away her father’s health insurance, that’s their right.  If they want to make Darlyne Neff pay more money for her check-ups, her mammograms, they can run on that platform.  If this young man out here thinks this is a bad bill, he can run to repeal it.  If they want to have that fight, we can have it.  Because I don’t believe that the American people are going to put the insurance industry back in the driver’s seat.  We’ve already been there.  We're not going back.  This country is moving forward.  (Applause.)

The road to this victory, Iowa, has been long, it has been difficult.  It’s a struggle that a lot of brave Americans have waged for years.  For others, like our friend Ted Kennedy, it’s a struggle that was waged for nearly a lifetime.  (Applause.)

But what this struggle has taught us -- about ourselves and about this country -- is so much bigger than any one issue, because it’s reminded us what so many of us learned all those months ago on a cold January night here in Iowa, and that’s that change is never easy, but it’s always possible.  (Applause.)  It comes not from the halls of power, but from the hearts of our people.  Amid setbacks, it requires perseverance.  Amid calls for delay, it requires the fierce urgency of now.  In the face of unrelenting cynicism, it requires unyielding hope.

And when I came here three years ago, I told the story of when Lyndon Johnson stood with Harry Truman and signed Medicare into law.  That wasn’t perfect either.  I’m sure there was somebody who was dissatisfied with it at the time.  And as he looked out over the crowd in Independence, Missouri, that day, he said, “History shapes men, but it is a necessary faith of leadership that men can shape history.”

What this generation has proven today is that we still have the power to shape history.  (Applause.)  In the United States of America, it is still a necessary faith that our destiny is written by us, not for us.  Our future is what we make it.  Our future is what we make it.  Look, this is not the end of difficult times for America.  From creating jobs to reducing deficits to making sure every child has a decent education, we still face enormous challenges in this country.  And as we meet those challenges, we’re going to face more resistance.  We’re going to face more doubt, we’re going to face more cynicism.  We’re going to hear more voices who will warn us that we’re reaching too far, that we’re going too fast; who are going to tell us that we can’t, who are going to just make wild accusations about what we’re trying to do.

And when that happens, we’ve got to remember the promise that we have already fulfilled, and the people who fulfilled it, and the generations before us who made it possible.  We’re going to have to respond with the creed that continues to define the character of this country we love, and it’s my favorite memory of Iowa, that creed that says:  Yes, we can.  (Applause.)

Iowa -- yes, we did, because of you.  (Applause.)  And it’s because of you that we are going to keep on going to make sure that we fulfill every promise to every child in this country for a brighter future.  Thank you.  God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

END
1:37 P.M. CDT