11:33 A.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  Thank you all.  Please, sit.  Rest.  (Laughter.)  First of all, good morning.  I am so thrilled to see so many of you here this morning at the White House.  Welcome.  And that's including my good friend, Dr. Dorothy Height.  (Applause.)  You know, she is always there, for the past eight months and before.  If there was a big event, an important event, she finds a way to be here.  She is my inspiration, and it is wonderful to see you again today.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)
     
Thank you all for joining us today for the outstanding work you're doing every day on behalf of women and families all across this country.  I have to thank our extraordinary Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, for taking the time to be here.  (Applause.)  And for her tireless efforts to keep our nation healthy.  And that includes not just pushing for health insurance reform but preparing us for H1N1, pursuing cutting-edge research to find treatments and cures for tomorrow.  Clearly this is not the easiest portfolio she could have, but she is doing a terrific job, and we are grateful for her leadership.

And I also want to thank Tina Tchen, who you all know, for emceeing today.  (Applause.)  She, too, is doing a fabulous job as Director of our Office of Public Engagement, and she played a critical role in pulling together today's event -- not just as an emcee but as a key figurehead, making sure that we're all aware of what's going on.

And finally, I want to thank the three women behind me -- to Debi, Easter, and Roxi.  (Applause.)  It is not easy to come here and tell your story.  And these stories aren't new.  You know, these stories are happening all over this country, not just for thousands of women -- for millions of them.  For two years on the campaign trail, this was what I heard from women, that they were being crushed, crushed by the current structure of our health care.  Crushed.  But these stories that we've heard today, and all of us -- if we're not experiencing it, we know someone who is.  These are the stories that remind us about what's at stake in this debate.  This is really all that matters.  This is why we are fighting so hard for health insurance reform.  This is it.  This is the face of the fight.

And that's why I'd like to talk to you today.  That's why I'm here.  That's why reform is so critical in this country -- not tomorrow, not in a few years, but right now.  People are hurting in this country right now.

But there is also a reason why I invited this particular group to talk today.  There's a reason why we've invited the leaders not only from family advocacy groups and health care advocacy groups, but for so many organizations that have been fighting for decades for empowerment for women.  And that's because when it comes to health care, as the Secretary said, as we all know, women play a unique and increasingly significant role in our families.  We know the pain, because we are usually the ones dealing with it.

Eight in 10 women, mothers, report that they're the ones responsible for choosing their children's doctor, for getting them to their checkups, for managing that follow-up care.  Women are the ones to do it.  Mothers are the ones that do it.  And many women find themselves doing the same thing for their spouses.  (Laughter.)  And more than 10 percent of women in this country are currently caring for a sick or elderly relative.  It's often a parent, but it could a grandparent, or a mother -- or a relative of some sort -- but it's often a parent.  So they're making critical health care decisions for those family members as well.

In other words, being part of the sandwich generation, is what we are now finding, raising kids while caring for a sick or elderly parent, that's not just a work/family balance issue anymore.  It's not just an economic issue anymore.  More and more it is a health care issue.  It's something that I have thought a great deal about as a mother.

I will never forget the time eight years ago when Sasha was four months that she would not stop crying.  And she was not a crier, so we knew something was wrong.  So we fortunately were able to take her to our pediatrician that next morning.  He examined her and same something's wrong.  We didn't know what.  But he told us that she could have meningitis.  So we were terrified.  He said, get to the emergency room right away.

And fortunately for us, things worked out, because she is now the Sasha that we all know and love today -- (laughter) -- who is causing me great -- excitement.  (Laughter.) 

But it is that moment in our lives that flashes through my head every time we engage in this health insurance conversation.  It's that moment in my life.  Because I think about what on earth would we have done if we had not had insurance.  What would have happened to that beautiful little girl if we hadn't been able to get to a pediatrician who was able to get us to an emergency room?  The consequences I can't even imagine.  She could have lost her hearing.  She could have lost her life if we had had to wait because of insurance.

And it was also fortunate that we happened to have good insurance, right?  Because if we hadn't had good insurance, like many of the panelists up here, we would have been saddled with costs for covering that emergency room visit for her two days in the hospital.  We would have still been paying off those bills.

And this issue isn't something that I've thought about as a mother.  I think about it as a daughter.  As many of you know, my father had multiple sclerosis.  He contracted it in his twenties.  And as you all know, my father was a rock.  He was able to get up and go to work every day, even though it got harder for him as he got sicker and more debilitated.  And I find myself thinking, what would we have done as a family on the South Side of Chicago if my father hadn't had insurance, if he hadn't been able to cover his treatments?  What would it have done to him to think that his illness could have put his entire family into bankruptcy?  And what if he had lost his job, which fortunately he never did?  What if his company had changed insurance, which fortunately never happened, and we became one of the millions of Americans, families, who can't get insurance because of a preexisting condition?

So these are the thoughts that run through my mind as I watch this debate and hope that we get it right.

But let's be clear:  Women aren't just disproportionately affected by this issue because of the roles that we play in families.  As Tina and Kathleen mentioned, women are affected because of the jobs that we do in this economy.  We all know that women are more likely to work part-time, or to work in small companies or businesses that don't provide any insurance at all. 

Women are affected because, as we heard, in many states, insurance companies can still discriminate because of gender.  And this is still shocking to me.  These are the kind of facts that still wake me up at night; that women in this country have been denied coverage because of preexisting conditions like having a C-section or having had a baby.  In some states, it is still legal to deny a woman coverage because she's been the victim of domestic violence.

And a recent study showed that 25-year-old women are charged up to 45 percent more for insurance than 25-year-old men for the exact same coverage.  And as the age goes up, you get to 40, that disparity increases to 48 percent -- 48 percent difference for women for the exact same coverage in this country.

But it's not just women without insurance, as we've heard, as we know who are affected.  Plenty of women have insurance.  But it doesn't cover basic women's health services like maternity care or preventative care like mammograms or pap smears, which we all know we have to have.  We can't go without these basic services.  But many insurance policies don't even cover it.

Or policies cap the amount of coverage that you can receive, as you've heard, or it drops coverage when people get sick and they really need the care.  Or maybe people have coverage but they're worried about losing it if they lose their jobs or if they change jobs or if the company changes insurance carriers.  Out-of-pocket costs get higher and higher.  It's hard to be able to plan your monthly bills when you don't know what your premiums are going to be.  So a lot of people find they have to drop their insurance because they can no longer afford it.

Just think about it.  Many women are being charged more in health care coverage, but as we all know, women are earning less.  We all know that women earn 78 cents on the dollar to every men -- to a man.  So it's not exactly surprising when we hear statistics that more than half of women report putting off needed medical care simply because they can't afford it.

Now, we have trouble putting ourselves first when we have the resources -- just making the appointment when you have insurance to get your regular screenings, to take care of those illnesses, those bumps and lumps and pains that we tend to ignore.  But then not to be able to do it because you can't have insurance, you don't have insurance -- it's not surprising that so many millions of women around this country are simply going without insurance at all.

See, and the thing that we all know is that the current state -- this current situation is unacceptable.  It is unacceptable.  (Applause.)  No one in this country should be treated that way.  It's not fair.  It's not right.  And these are hard-working people we're talking about, right?  People who care about their kids, care about their lives.  And these circumstances could happen to any of us.  This is one of those, "There but for the grace of God go I" kind of situations.  None of us are exempt -- ever.

So I think it's clear that health insurance reform and what it means for our families is very much a women's issue.  It is very much a women's issue.

And if we want to achieve true equality for women, if that is our goal; if we want to ensure that women have opportunities that they deserve, if that is our goal; if we want women to be able to care for their families and pursue things that they could never imagine, then we have to reform the system.  We have to reform the system.  The status quo is unacceptable.  It is holding women and families back, and we know it.

Fortunately, that is exactly what my husband's plan proposes to do, and it's important for us to understand some of the basic principles of that plan.  Under his plan, if you don't have insurance now, or you lose your insurance at some point in the future, you'll be able to purchase affordable coverage through an insurance exchange -- a marketplace with a variety of options that will let you compare prices and benefits.  This is exactly the approach that is used to provide members of Congress with insurance.  So the thought is that if it's good enough for members of Congress, it should be good enough for the people who vote them in.  (Applause.)

And this is also an important part of the plan.  If you already have insurance -- and it seems that there are a lot of people who are worried that they'll lose what they have under this plan -- but under this plan, if you already have insurance, you're set.  Nothing changes.  You keep your insurance, you keep your doctors -- and you're blessed.  (Laughter.)  This plan just puts in place some basic rules of the road to protect you from the kinds of abuses and unfair practices that we've heard. 

Under this plan, insurance companies will never again be allowed to deny people like Debi and her son coverage for preexisting conditions.  Sounds like a good thing.  So whether you have breast cancer, diabetes, asthma, or hypertension -- or even just had a C-section, or some mental health treatment that you had in your past -- none of that will be a reason to refuse you coverage under the plan that my husband is proposing.  Because when you're fighting an illness, he believes that you shouldn't also have to be in the process of fighting the insurance companies at the same time.  (Applause.)  It's a basic idea.

Under this plan, insurance companies will no longer be able to drop your coverage when you get too sick, or refuse to pay for the care that you need, or to set a cap on the amount of coverage that you can get.  And it will limit how much they can charge you for out-of-pocket expenses, because getting sick in this country shouldn't mean that you go bankrupt.  That's a basic principle of this plan.

And finally, this plan will require insurance companies to cover basic preventative care.  Seems simple.  (Applause.)  From routine checkups, to mammograms, to pap smears -- and this would come at no extra charge to the patient, so folks like Roxi can get the chance to get the kind of screenings that she needs to save her life, because we already know that if we catch diseases like cancer early -- we know this -- it's much less costly to treat, and we might just be able to save some lives.  We know this. 

So, under this plan, we can save lives and we can save money.  It's not just good medicine but it's good economics as well.

So I think this is a pretty reasonable plan.  I don't know about you.  (Applause.)  But I know many of you believe it's a good plan as well.  And I know that many of the groups that you represent believe that what we're doing here, this fight, is important.  It's important to this country, it's important to women, it's important to families that we succeed.

And now more than ever, as Tina said, as Secretary Sebelius said, we need to act.  No longer can we sit by and watch the debate take on a life of its own.  It is up to us to get involved, because what we have to remember is that now more than ever, we have to channel our passions into change. 

That's nothing that you all haven't done before, right?  (Laughter.)  You all have been the driving force behind so many of our greatest health care achievements, whether it's been children's health insurance; to funding breast cancer research, stem cell research; to passing the Family Medical Leave Act.  The folks in this room, you're the ones that made those phone calls, right?  That you wrote those letters, you knocked on those doors.  You're the ones that helped make that happen. 

And that's exactly what we need you to do today for health insurance reform.  We are going to need you over the next few weeks to mobilize like you've never mobilized before.  We need you to educate your members about what the plan really is and what it isn't, because education is the key to understanding, and it's going to take phone calls to explain, to talk things through, to make sure that people understand not just what's at stake but what this all means.

And we know there will be all sorts of myths and misconceptions about what the plan is and isn't, so it's so important that you make sure that people know the facts, and at least they make their decisions based on the truth of what this plan is and isn't.  We need you to make your voices heard right here in Washington.  And you all know how to do that.  (Laughter.) 

And no, it won't be easy, because there are always folks who are a little afraid of change.  We all understand that.  We talked about this all during the campaign.  Change is hard.  Sometimes the status quo, even if it isn't right, feels comfortable because it's what we know.  So it is understandable that people are cautious about moving into a new place in this society.  There will always be folks who will want things to stay just the way they are, to settle for the world as it is.  We talked about that so much.  This is one of those times.

But look, I am here today, standing before you as the First Lady of the United States of America, because you all didn't settle for the world as it is, right?  (Applause.)  You refused to settle.  And as a result of many of your efforts, as a young girl, I was able to dream in ways that I could have never imagined, that my mother could never have imagined, that my grandmother could never have imagined.  And thanks to so many of you, I am raising these beautiful young women, you know -- (applause) -- who are going to be able to think so differently about their place in the world because of the work that you've done.
     
Health care reform is part of that movement.  Health insurance reform is the next step.  So we're going to need you all, focused and clear, picking up the phones, talking, calling, writing your congressmen and women, making this something that is the highest priority for all of us, so that we can make sure that every single family in this country can move forward as we hope that they can; that they don't have to worry about whether they can insure themselves.  They don't have to worry about whether their kids are going to break an arm.  That's what kids do, they break stuff.  (Laughter.) 

So I am grateful for all of you, for the work that you've done, and for what I know that we can do together over the next several weeks.  But we have to be, what, fired up and what?

AUDIENCE:  Ready to go!

MRS. OBAMA:  And ready to go.  A little fired up and ready to go.  So thank you so much.  God bless you all, and God bless America.  (Applause.)

END                                      
11:57 A.M. EDT
 

2:00 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Please be seated. Good afternoon, and welcome to the White House.

Of all the privileges serving as President, there's no greater honor than serving as Commander-in-Chief of the finest military that the world has ever known. And of all the military decorations that a President and a nation can bestow, there is none higher than the Medal of Honor.

It has been nearly 150 years since our nation first presented this medal for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. And in those nearly 150 years -- through civil war and two world wars, Korea and Vietnam, Desert Storm and Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq, and countless battles in between -- tens of millions of Americans have worn the uniform. But fewer than 3,500 have been recognized with the Medal of Honor. And in our time, these remarkable Americans are literally one in a million. And today we recognize another -- Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti.

The Medal of Honor reflects the admiration and gratitude of the nation. So we are joined by members of Congress -- including from Sergeant Monti's home state of Massachusetts, Senator John Kerry and Congressman Barney Frank. We're joined by our Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, and leaders from across the Armed Forces.

We are joined by the leaders of the Army to which Sergeant Monti dedicated his life: Secretary Pete Geren; our incoming Secretary -- confirmed by the Senate last night -- John McHugh; Chief of Staff General George Casey; Sergeant Major of the Army Ken Preston; and Jared's fellow soldiers and commanders from the legendary 10th Mountain Division. And we are joined by those who now welcome Sergeant Monti into their storied ranks -- members of the Medal of Honor Society.

But today is not about high officials and those with stars on their shoulders. It's a celebration of a young soldier and those who loved him, who made him into the man he was and who join us today. His mother Janet; his father Paul; his brother Tim; and his sister Niccole -- and from his grandmother Marjorie to his six-year old niece Carys, and cousins and aunts and uncles from across America -- more than 120 proud family and friends.

Duty. Honor. Country. Service. Sacrifice. Heroism. These are words of weight. But as people -- as a people and as a culture, we often invoke them lightly. We toss them around freely. But do we really grasp the meaning of these values? Do we truly understand the nature of these virtues? To serve, and to sacrifice. Jared Monti knew. The Monti family knows. And they know that the actions we honor today were not a passing moment of courage. They were the culmination of a life of character and commitment.

There was Jared's compassion. He was the kid at school who, upon seeing a student eating lunch alone, would walk over and befriend him. He was the teenager who cut down a spruce tree in his yard so a single mom in town would have a Christmas tree for her children. He even bought the ornaments and the presents. He was the soldier in Afghanistan who received care packages, including fresh clothes, and gave them away to Afghan children who needed them more.

There was Jared's perseverance. Cut from the high school basketball team, he came back the next year, and the next year, and the next year -- three times -- finally making varsity and outscoring some of the top players. Told he was too young for the military, he joined the National Guard's delayed entry program as a junior in high school. And that summer, while other kids were at the beach, Jared was doing drills.

There was Jared's strength and skill -- the championship wrestler and triathlete who went off to basic training, just 18 years old, and then served with distinction as a forward observer, with the heavy responsibility of calling in air strikes. He returned from his first tour in Afghanistan highly decorated, including a Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal for valor.

And there was Jared's deep and abiding love for his fellow soldiers. Maybe it came from his mom, who was a nurse. Maybe it came from his dad, a teacher. Guided by the lessons he learned at home, Jared became the consummate NCO -- the noncommissioned officer caring for his soldiers and teaching his troops. He called them his "boys." And although obviously he was still young himself, some of them called him "grandpa." (Laughter.)

Compassion. Perseverance. Strength. A love for his fellow soldiers. Those are the values that defined Jared Monti's life -- and the values he displayed in the actions that we recognize here today.

It was June 21st, 2006, in the remotest northeast of Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan. Sergeant Monti was a team leader on a 16-man patrol. They'd been on the move for three days -- down dirt roads; sloshing through rivers; hiking up steep mountain trails, their heavy gear on their backs; moving at night and in the early morning to avoid the scorching 100-degree heat. Their mission: to keep watch on the valley down below in advance of an operation to clear the area of militants.

Those who were there remember that evening on the mountain -- a rocky ridge, not much bigger than this room. Some were standing guard, knowing they had been spotted by a man in the valley. Some were passing out MREs and water. There was talk of home and plans for leave. Jared was overheard remembering his time serving in Korea. Then, just before dark, there was a shuffle of feet in the woods. And that's when the treeline exploded in a wall of fire.

One member of the patrol said it was "like thousands of rifles crackling." Bullets and heavy machine gunfire ricocheting across the rocks. Rocket-propelled grenades raining down. Fire so intense that weapons were shot right out of their hands. Within minutes, one soldier was killed; another was wounded. Everyone dove for cover. Behind a tree. A rock. A stone wall. This patrol of 16 men was facing a force of some 50 fighters. Outnumbered, the risk was real. They might be overrun. They might not make it out alive.

That's when Jared Monti did what he was trained to do. With the enemy advancing -- so close they could hear their voices -- he got on his radio and started calling in artillery. When the enemy tried to flank them, he grabbed a gun and drove them back. And when they came back again, he tossed a grenade and drove them back again. And when these American soldiers saw one of their own -- wounded, lying in the open, some 20 yards away, exposed to the approaching enemy -- Jared Monti did something no amount of training can instill. His patrol leader said he'd go, but Jared said, "No, he is my soldier, I'm going to get him."

It was written long ago that "the bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet, notwithstanding, go out to meet it." Jared Monti saw the danger before him. And he went out to meet it.

He handed off his radio. He tightened his chin strap. And with his men providing cover, Jared rose and started to run. Into all those incoming bullets. Into all those rockets. Upon seeing Jared, the enemy in the woods unleashed a firestorm. He moved low and fast, yard after yard, then dove behind a stone wall.

A moment later, he rose again. And again they fired everything they had at him, forcing him back. Faced with overwhelming enemy fire, Jared could have stayed where he was, behind that wall. But that was not the kind of soldier Jared Monti was. He embodied that creed all soldiers strive to meet: "I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade." And so, for a third time, he rose. For a third time, he ran toward his fallen comrade. Said his patrol leader, it "was the bravest thing I had ever seen a soldier do."

They say it was a rocket-propelled grenade; that Jared made it within a few yards of his wounded soldier. They say that his final words, there on that ridge far from home, were of his faith and his family: "I've made peace with God. Tell my family that I love them."

And then, as the artillery that Jared had called in came down, the enemy fire slowed, then stopped. The patrol had defeated the attack. They had held on -- but not without a price. By the end of the night, Jared and three others, including the soldier he died trying to save, had given their lives.

I'm told that Jared was a very humble guy; that he would have been uncomfortable with all this attention; that he'd say he was just doing his job; and that he'd want to share this moment with others who were there that day. And so, as Jared would have wanted, we also pay tribute to those who fell alongside him: Staff Sergeant Patrick Lybert. Private First Class Brian Bradbury. Staff Sergeant Heathe Craig.

And we honor all the soldiers he loved and who loved him back -- among them noncommissioned officers who remind us why the Army has designated this "The Year of the NCO" in honor of all those sergeants who are the backbone of America's Army. They are Jared's friends and fellow soldiers watching this ceremony today in Afghanistan. They are the soldiers who this morning held their own ceremony on an Afghan mountain at the post that now bears his name -- Combat Outpost Monti. And they are his "boys" -- surviving members of Jared's patrol, from the 10th Mountain Division -- who are here with us today. And I would ask them all to please stand. (Applause.)

Like Jared, these soldiers know the meaning of duty, and of honor, of country. Like Jared, they remind us all that the price of freedom is great. And by their deeds they challenge every American to ask this question: What we can do to be better citizens? What can we do to be worthy of such service and such sacrifice?

Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti. In his proud hometown of Raynham, his name graces streets and scholarships. Across a grateful nation, it graces parks and military posts. From this day forward, it will grace the memorials to our Medal of Honor heroes. And this week, when Jared Monti would have celebrated his 34th birthday, we know that his name and legacy will live forever, and shine brightest, in the hearts of his family and friends who will love him always.

May God bless Jared Monti, and may He comfort the entire Monti family. And may God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)

Janet, Paul, would you please join me at the podium for the reading of the citation.

MILITARY AIDE: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3rd, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Jared C. Monti, United States Army.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Staff Sergeant Jared C. Monti distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a team leader with Headquarters and Headquarters troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, in connection with combat operations against an enemy in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, on June 21st, 2006. While Staff Sergeant Monti was leading a mission aimed at gathering intelligence and directing fire against the enemy, his 16-man patrol was attacked by as many as 50 enemy fighters. On the verge of being overrun, Staff Sergeant Monti quickly directed his men to set up a defensive position behind a rock formation. He then called for indirect fire support, accurately targeting the rounds upon the enemy who had closed to within 50 meters of his position. While still directing fire, Staff Sergeant Monti personally engaged the enemy with his rifle and a grenade, successfully disrupting an attempt to flank his patrol. Staff Sergeant Monti then realized that one on his soldier was lying wounding in the open ground between the advancing enemy and the patrol's position. With complete disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Monti twice attempted to move from behind the cover of the rocks into the face of relentless enemy fire to rescue his fallen comrade. Determined not to leave his soldier, Staff Sergeant Monti made a third attempt to cross open terrain through intense enemy fire. On this final attempt, he was mortally wounded, sacrificing his own life in an effort to save his fellow soldier. Staff Sergeant Monti's selfless acts of heroism inspired his patrol to fight off the larger enemy force. Staff Sergeant Monti's immeasurable courage and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and the United States Army.

(The Medal of Honor is awarded.)

END
2:17 P.M. EDT

* This release has been corrected.

11:49 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Maryland! (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you, College Park. (Applause.) Thank you so much. It is good to be back at the University of Maryland. (Applause.) I want to start by wishing The Fridge and the Terps good luck on the game this weekend. (Applause.) Maybe I’ll even rub Testudo’s nose before I leave. (Applause.)

We've got a number of extraordinary elected officials who are here. I just want to introduce them real quick. Your Governor, Martin O'Malley, is in the house. (Applause.) The two outstanding senators from Maryland, Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin are in the house. (Applause.) One of the finest leaders that we have in Congress, Steny Hoyer is in the house. (Applause.) Lt. Governor Anthony Brown is here. (Applause.) Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson is here. (Applause.) Mayor Stephen Brayman is here. (Applause.) State Senate Majority Leader Tom Miller is in the house. (Applause.) Congresswoman Donna Edwards is here. (Applause.) Congressman Elijah Cummings. (Applause.) Congressman Chris Van Hollen. (Applause.) Congressman Sarbanes is here. (Applause.) Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger is here. (Applause.)

And to your president, Dan Mote, President of the University of Maryland, thank you so much. (Applause.)

You know --

AUDIENCE MEMBER: -- (inaudible) --

THE PRESIDENT: Who? (Applause.)

You know, the last time I was here it was in the heat of a very long and very tough campaign. (Applause.) And in that campaign, I promised to be a President who -- you guys can sit down, by the way. (Laughter and applause.)

In that campaign I promised to be a President who didn’t just clean up yesterday’s crises; I didn’t want to be a President who was just content with standing still. I promised to be a President who would build a better future; who would move this nation forward; who would ensure that this generation -- your generation -- had the same chances and the same opportunities that our parents gave us. (Applause.) That’s what I’m here to do. That's why I ran for President of the United States of America. (Applause.)

I ran for President because of people like Rachel. Did she not do an outstanding job in the introduction? (Applause.)

Part of that promise is an economy that leads the world in science and technology and innovation. Part of that promise is a clean energy revolution that protects our planet -- (applause) -- protects our security, creates jobs of the future right here in the United States of America. Part of it is giving every citizen the skills and the education they need to compete with any worker in the world -- just like you’re getting right here at the University of Maryland. (Applause.) And today, we are on the cusp of taking another big step forward towards fulfilling that promise.

A few miles from here, the House of Representatives will soon be voting on a plan that would finally make the student loan process simpler and more affordable for millions of young Americans. (Applause.)

This plan would end the billions upon billions of dollars in unwarranted subsidies that we hand out to banks and financial institutions -- money that doesn’t do anything to make your loans any cheaper. Instead we're going to use that money to guarantee access to low-cost loans no matter what the economy looks like. We'll use it to strengthen Pell Grants and Perkins loans to make college more affordable. (Applause.) We'll shore up our system of community colleges. And we will simplify the complicated, convoluted financial aid forms so it’s easier for you to apply for help and get the finances that you need. (Applause.)

These are reforms that have been talked about for years, but they’re always blocked by special interests and their lobbyists. Well, because you voted for change in November -- (applause) -- we're going to bring change in the House of Representatives today. (Applause.) And then we will take this battle for America’s students and America’s working families to the Senate. And then I intend to sign this bill into law. Because that's the change you worked for. That's the change you voted for. That's the change we're going to deliver. (Applause.)

But, Terps, we can’t stop there. There are still those in Washington who are resistant to change -- who are more willing to defend the status quo then address the real concerns of the American people.

AUDIENCE: Booo!

THE PRESIDENT: What can I tell you? (Laughter.) They're still out there. We’re facing the same kind of resistance on another defining struggle of this generation -- and that's the issue of health insurance reform. (Applause.)

Now, let me say, when you’re young, I know this isn’t always an issue that you have at the top of your mind. You think you're invulnerable. That's how I thought.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, Obama!

THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.)

I'm sure that some of you wondered why this college required that all new students have health insurance this semester. Well, here's why. Here's why. Every day, the one in three adults -- one in three young adults who don't have health insurance live one accident or one illness away from bankruptcy. Think about what would have happened with Rachel if she hadn’t had health insurance. Nearly half of these young people have trouble paying their medical bills. Nearly 40 percent are in debt because of them. I mean, think about adding the debt you already have for college -- on top of that, another $10,000 or $20,000 or $30,000 or $50,000 worth of debt because you get sick.

Some of these Americans don’t get insurance because they feel young and healthy. But some work part-time or for small businesses, where you aren’t offered health insurance. And it’s just too expensive to buy coverage on your own.

Even if you have coverage, insurance companies today, they can drop it or water it down when you’re sick and you need it the most. Or they can decide that they won’t pay the full cost of your care and make you pay the rest of it out of pocket, even if it’s thousands upon thousands of dollars. That’s why more than one-third of all young adults -- including those with insurance – have had trouble paying their medical bills. That's why one-fourth of all young adults are paying off medical debt.

And we’ve heard some horror stories during the course of this debate. There’s the young father I met in Colorado -- his child was diagnosed with severe hemophilia the day after he was born. And they had insurance, but because there was a cap on their coverage, as one child’s medical bills piled up, this father was left frantically to search for another option, or face tens of thousands of dollars of debt. (Audience interruption.)

Another woman from Texas was about to get a double mastectomy when her insurance company canceled her policy because she forgot to declare a case of acne. By the time she had her insurance reinstated, her breast cancer -- (audience interruption.) What's going on, guys? We're doing okay. Relax. Everybody is all right. We're doing fine. (Applause.)

I want everybody to understand this. You had a young woman who was diagnosed with cancer, but because she had a case of acne that the insurance company said hadn’t been declared, they decided they wouldn't cover her. By the time her insurance was reinstated, her breast cancer had more than doubled in size. The

Now, these stories are heartbreaking; they are wrong. Nobody in America should be treated that way. And we are going to bring about change this year. (Applause.)

Now, at its core -- listen up. At its core, that’s what this issue is about. Health care is about more than the details of a policy. It’s about what kind of country you want to be. Young people, it's about what kind of country you want to be. We are the only nation on Earth that leaves millions of people without health insurance. We spend more than any country on Earth, and we're not any healthier for it. So this is about what kind of country you want your children to grow up in.

A lot of you here today and a lot of young people across the country gave your time and your effort to this campaign because you believed that America can still do great things. (Applause.) You believed that in this country, we don't fear the future; we shape the future. (Applause.) We don't feed on division and anger; we feed on hope and possibility. That's what America is about. (Applause.) that's what we're called to affirm right now.

It has now been nearly a century since Teddy Roosevelt first called for health care reform. It's been attempted by nearly every President and every Congress since. And our failure to get it done -- year after year, and decade after decade -- has placed a burden on families and on businesses and on taxpayers that we can no longer sustain. So I may not be the first President to take up the cause of health care reform; I am determined to be the last, with your help. (Applause.)

The good news is, we are now closer to reform than we've ever been. After debating this issue for the better part of a year, there's now agreement in Congress on about 80 percent of what needs to be done. Four out of five committees in Congress have completed their work. Yesterday, the Finance Committee, under the leadership of Max Baucus, put out its own bill. Each bill has its strengths, and there are a lot of similarities between them. And our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of hospitals and seniors’ groups, businesses, drug companies even. Most importantly, drugs -- doctors and nurses are supporting this effort. (Applause.) We've got doctors -- medical students right here in the house. (Applause.)

See, I just want to point out, I think it’s telling, some of the people who are most enthusiastic about health care reform are the very medical professionals who have firsthand knowledge about how badly the system needs to change. (Applause.) So don’t -- stop paying attention to the folks who are spreading false charges, crazy rumors about our plan. Pay attention to the health care experts -- the doctors and the nurses who know our system best. (Applause.)

Now, I think it's fine that we've been hearing constructive criticism about these issues over the last several months because this is a big deal. That's how our democracy works. No one has all the right answers. We've all got a stake in getting this right. That's why I've said I will embrace good ideas, wherever they come from. We already have. But too often during this important debate we’ve also seen the same partisan spectacle that has left so many people disappointed about Washington. Too many engage in scare tactics instead of honest debates. Too many use this as an opportunity to score short-term political points instead of working together to solve a long-term challenge. I’ve heard a lot of Republicans say they want to "kill Obamacare." Some may even raise money off it. But when you ask these folks what exactly my plan does, they’ve got it all wrong. When you ask them what their solution is, it amounts to the same old, same old -- (applause) -- the same status quo that's given us higher costs and more uninsured, and less security than you've ever had. (Applause.) It's more of the same.

Well, look, I will not accept the status quo as a solution. Not this time. Not now. The time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed. (Applause.) Now is the season for action. Now is the time to deliver on health care reform for the American people. (Applause.)

So just to make sure you're clear, here’s what you need to know about our plan. For those who have health insurance, you'll have more security and stability. It will provide insurance to those who don’t have insurance. It will slow the growth of health care costs for our families and our businesses and our government.

Let me say, if you already have health insurance, nothing in this plan will require you to change what you have. What this plan will do is make the insurance you have work better for you. (Applause.) Because under this plan -- listen up, young people -- under my plan, if your parents have health insurance and you’re currently on their policy, you will automatically be able to keep your coverage until you’re 26 years old. (Applause.) that means you will know that you've got health insurance. (Applause.) If your parents don’t have access to health insurance, one of the ideas on the table is to give folks under 25 the chance to buy low-cost insurance that will protect you from financial ruin if you get seriously ill.

Now, under this plan, it will also be against the law for insurance companies to deny you coverage because of a preexisting condition. (Applause.) You just heard Rachel's story. She's okay right now, she's thriving. But when she goes into the workforce and their insurance companies start asking, well, have you been sick before, right now she'd have trouble getting insurance. Under the bill that we sign she will still be able to get coverage. (Applause.)

When I sign this bill, it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick, water it down when you need it the most. (Applause.) They'll no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given lifetime or a given year. We'll place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses. In the United States, nobody should go broke because they get sick. (Applause.) And insurance companies will be required to cover, with no extra charge, routine checkups and preventive care -- because there’s no reason we shouldn’t be catching treatable illnesses, treatable diseases, before they get worse. That makes sense. That saves money and it saves lives. (Applause.)

Now, if you don't have health insurance, the second part of this plan will finally afford -- offer you quality, affordable choices. So if you lose your job or you change jobs, you'll be able to get coverage. If you decide you want to start your own business, you'll still be able to get coverage. We'll do this by creating a new insurance exchange -- a marketplace where individuals and small businesses will be able to shop for an affordable health insurance plan that works for them. That's how large companies and government employees get affordable insurance. That's how I and everyone in Congress get affordable insurance. You should have the same thing that Congress has. (Applause.)

Now, I've also said that one of the options in the insurance exchange should be a public insurance option. (Applause.) Let me be clear -- let me be clear. It would only be an option. No one would be forced to choose it. No one with insurance would be affected by it. But what it would do is provide more choice and more competition, and put pressure on private insurers to make their policies affordable and treat their customers better. (Applause.)

Now, think about it. There's some folks who've said, well, this is a government takeover of health care. We've got public universities and private universities; nobody says that we're taking over private colleges. (Applause.) What we're doing is giving students a choice. You should have a choice the same way in your health care. (Applause.)

Of course, the only way this plan works is if everybody fulfills their responsibility -- not just government, not just insurance companies, but employees and individuals. This school should be proud that every student is required to have health insurance. Since our plan will make sure that insurance is affordable for everybody, we're going to also say everybody needs to get insurance. Because if there are affordable options and people don’t sign up, then the rest of us pay for somebody else's expensive emergency room care. And that’s not fair. Improving our health care system only works if everybody does their part. And I think Americans are willing and ready to take on that responsibility. (Applause.)

Now, a lot of you may be asking, you know, this plan sounds pretty good, but how are you going to pay for it? How do we make sure this doesn’t add to the deficit that the next generation is going to have to be paying? So here is what you need to know:

First, I won't sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficit -- either now or in the future. Period. (Applause.) Part of the reason I faced a trillion-dollar-plus deficit when I walked into the door of the White House is because too many initiatives over the last decade were not paid for -- from the Iraq war to tax breaks for the wealthy. I won't make that same mistake when it comes to health care. (Applause.)

Second, we’ve estimated that most of this plan can be paid for by finding savings within the existing health care system -- there's all kinds of waste and abuse. The doctors and nurses know this. Right now, too much of the hard-earned savings and tax dollars we spend on health care doesn’t make you healthier. That’s especially true when it comes to Medicare and Medicaid. So without taking any money from the Medicare trust fund that gives benefits to your grandparents -- they depend on it for their health care -- we're going to eliminate hundreds of billions of dollars of waste and fraud and subsidies to insurance companies that pad their profits but don't do anything to make seniors healthier. (Applause.)

Now, some of my Republican colleagues have also supported reforming our medical malpractice laws as a way to cut down health care costs. (Applause.) I don’t think this is a silver bullet, but I want to explore the idea. So today I directed my Secretary of Health and Human Services to move forward with programs that will help us put patient safety first while allowing doctors to focus on practicing medicine instead of defending against lawsuits. (Applause.)

So, Maryland, this is the plan I’m proposing. It’s a plan that incorporates ideas from Democrats and Republicans. And I'm going to seek common ground in the weeks ahead. If you come to me with a set of serious proposals, I will be there to listen. My door is always open. But know this: I will not waste time with those who've made the calculation that it’s better to kill health reform than to improve our health care system. (Applause.) I won't stand by while special interests do the same old tricks to keep things exactly the way they are. And I said last week at the speech to the joint session, if you misrepresent what’s in the plan, we'll call you out. (Applause.) We will call you out. (Applause.)

Now, I said we're closer to reform than we've ever been. But this is the hard part. This is when the special interests gear up. This is when the folks who want to kill reform fight back with everything they’ve got. This is when they spread all kinds of rumors to scare and intimidate Americans. This is what they always do.

That’s why I need your help. When I was running for President, I never said change would be easy. Change is hard. It's always been hard. Civil rights was hard. Getting women the right to vote, that was hard. (Applause.) Making sure that Social Security was there for our seniors, that was hard. (Applause.) Getting Medicare in place, that was hard. (Applause.) I know there are doubts that creep into people’s minds. I know there’s a tendency during tough times for folks to turn on each other and get mad and get angry. But our history tells us that each and every time we faced a choice between the easy road that leads to slow decline or the hard road that leads to something better, something higher, we take the higher road. (Applause.)

That's how Americans are, we refuse to stand still. We always want to move forward. (Applause.) And that journey doesn’t take -- that doesn’t start in Washington, D.C. It begins right here in College Park. It begins on campuses like this one. (Applause.) It always has. Just like the change that began in our campaign, it starts with people -- especially young people -- who are determined to take this nation’s destiny into their own hands. (Applause.)

You know, some of you remember during the campaign we had a slogan, "Fired Up!"

AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Ready to go!

THE PRESIDENT: Ready to go! (Applause.) Not everybody here knows how this story came about, so I'm going to tell it again. (Applause.) Because it bears on health care reform. This is early in the campaign when none of you knew how to pronounce my name. (Laughter.) I had just announced and I was looking for support. I had to go down to South Carolina -- it was an early primary state. I went down to Greenville for a legislative dinner. And I was sitting next to a state representative there, and I wanted her support. I needed some endorsements, nobody supported me at the time.

So I said, "Madam Representative, I need your endorsement." She said, "I will give you my endorsement -- if you come to my home town, Greenwood, South Carolina." And I said -- I'd had a glass of wine -- I said, "Fine." (Laughter.) "I promise." Come to find out that Greenwood is an hour and a half from everyplace else. (Laughter.) It's in the middle of nowhere.

So about a month later I fly back into Greenville, and I'm tired, I'm sleepy, and I've been campaigning for two weeks straight. I'm dragging my bags to my hotel room, and suddenly I get a tap on my shoulder -- my staffers -- I said, "What?" They said, "We've got to be in the car at 6:30 tomorrow morning." I said, "Why?" (Laughter.) Six-thirty? Why? "Because we've got to go to Greenwood like you promised." (Laughter.)

So the next morning I wake up and I feel terrible, dragging out of bed -- feel like a college student. (Applause.) Feel like I'm back in college and don't want to wake up. Feel like I've been staying up late doing who knows what. (Laughter.) I know, I remember how you all are. (Laughter.) So I just feel -- I'm exhausted. I go over to the curtains to try to get some sunlight, wake myself up -- it's pouring down rain outside. (Laughter.) Miserable day. I go to get some coffee, I open up the newspaper -- there's a bad story about me in The New York Times. (Laughter.)

I go downstairs, and my umbrella busts open. (Laughter.) and I get poured on. So by the time I'm in the car I'm wet and I'm sleepy and I'm tired and I'm mad. (Laughter.)

And we start driving, and we're driving and we're driving, and it's an hour and a half -- and I realized I'm going to have to drive an hour and a half back. (Laughter.) And finally we get to Greenwood -- although you don't know you're in Greenwood right away. (Laughter.) But there's a little park district building. We go into this park fieldhouse -- I get a little more wet -- get inside, and after this long drive, waking up at 6:30 a.m., there are only about 20 people in the room. (Laughter.) Twenty people. And they're all kind of damp and they don't look that excited to see me. (Laughter.) They don't really know how to pronounce my name either. (Laughter.)

But, you know, I'm running for president, so I'm shaking hands -- "How do you do? Nice to meet you." Suddenly I hear this voice behind me shout out, "Fired up?" (Laughter.) And I'm startled. (Laughter.) But everybody around me, they just think this is normal. They say, "Fired up!" And suddenly I hear this voice, "Ready to go?" And everybody goes, "Ready to go!" I say, what's going on? I look behind me -- there's this small woman, she's about 5', 5'2". She's about 50, 60 years old. And she's dressed like she just came from church -- she's got a big church hat. (Laughter.) And she's looking at me, she's smiling, and she says, "Fired up?" (Laughter.)

Come to find out that this is a city council member from Greenwood. She also, by the way, moonlights as a private detective -- true story. (Laughter.) True, true story. But she's mainly known for her chant. She does this everywhere she goes. Everywhere, at any event -- football game, at a city council meeting -- she says, "Fired up?" And everybody says, "Fired up!" And "Ready to go?" -- everybody says, "Ready to go!"

So for the next five minutes, she keeps on doing this -- she says, "Fired up?" "Fired up!" "Ready to go?" "Ready to go!" and I realize I'm being upstaged -- (laughter) -- by this woman. So I'm looking at my staff, asking what's going on here? When is this going to stop? (Laughter.) And they're shrugging their shoulders, they don't know. (Laughter.)

But here's the thing, Maryland. After about a minute, a couple minutes of this, suddenly I realize I'm feeling kind of fired up. (Laughter and applause.) I'm feeling like I'm ready to go. (Applause.) So I start joining in the chant. And for the rest of the day, wherever we went, whenever I saw my staff I said, "Are you fired up?" They'd say, "I'm fired up, boss." "Are you ready to go?" They'd say, "I'm ready to go!"

So it goes to show you -- and this is so important for young people -- it goes to show you, one voice can change a room. (Applause.) And if a voice can change a room, it can change a city. And if it can change a city, it can change a state. (Applause.) If it can change a state, it can change a nation. (Applause.) if it can change a nation, it can change the world. (Applause.)

We will change the world with your voice. (Applause.) We need the voices of young people to transform this nation -- (applause) -- to meet up to the meaning of its dream. (Applause.) I need your voice. (Applause.) So I want to know -- are you fired up?

AUDIENCE: Fired up! (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Ready to go?

AUDIENCE: Ready to go!

THE PRESIDENT: Fired up?

AUDIENCE: Fired up!

THE PRESIDENT: Ready to go?

AUDIENCE: Ready to go!

THE PRESIDENT: Fired up?

AUDIENCE: Fired up!

THE PRESIDENT: Ready to go?

AUDIENCE: Ready to go!

THE PRESIDENT: Let's go change the world.

Thank you, everybody. (Applause.)

END
12:15 P.M. EDT

8:09 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you so much, everyone.  Thank you.  Thank you so much.  What an extraordinary honor to be here tonight.  Thank you.  Thank you so much.

Let me -- let me begin by thanking all of you for supporting this wonderful organization.  I want to say how much I appreciate my former colleague and great friend Senator Bob Menendez and all the members of the Hispanic Caucus for their outstanding work.  (Applause.)

I want to thank the chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Nydia Velazquez, for her extraordinary dedication and leadership.  (Applause.)  Our great Speaker, who has been a partner in every single tough fight that we have had so far and none of them have been easy, but she is helping to move this country forward, Nancy Pelosi.  (Applause.)  To all the House leadership, I'm grateful to you.  To a couple of people who I stole from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus -- they were just too good to leave alone -- my great Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis.  (Applause.)  And my outstanding Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar.  (Applause.)

I want to acknowledge the presence of her Royal Highness Infanta Cristina of Spain, who is here.  (Applause.)  And our own royalty, somebody who we have become so extraordinarily proud of, somebody who I've just come to adore and who is going to make us proud for many, many years to come because she is not term limited, the newest justice of the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor.  (Applause.)  Thank you.

Well, Michelle and I are so pleased to be here among such good friends.  I want to congratulate Marc Anthony, not only because it's his birthday -- (applause) -- but also because he's being honored tonight as an artist who has shared not only his music but his heritage with all of us.  I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that Nydia has a crush on you -- (laughter) -- that you were provided this award.  She's not along -- I'm telling you, J.Lo, watch out.  (Laughter and applause.)

I'm also pleased to have the opportunity to be here as you mark the start of Hispanic Heritage Month.  I want you to know that my administration is marking this occasion, as well.  Later this week, Secretary Salazar will lead the first meeting of a commission to look at the creation of a national museum to honor the historic contributions of Latinos and Latinas to our country.  (Applause.)

Everybody here understands how important those contributions have been and will be.  For more than 30 years, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute has through scholarships and fellowships and internships sought to lift up the next generation of Latino leaders.  I came here one year ago as a candidate and said this was a goal I shared.  Today, I am here as a President to say that this is a goal my administration is helping to meet.  (Applause.)

You don't have to take my word for it.  You can ask Ken or Hilda or any of the many young Latinos and Latinas -- including four from CHCI fellows -- who work tirelessly in the White House and throughout my administration every single day.  I don't mean to brag, but the number of Latinos and Latinas I've nominated to senior positions at this point exceeds that of any administration in history -- and we are not finished yet.  (Applause.)  Nearly half of those appointments, by the way, are Latinas.  (Applause.)  And every single one of them wasn't just the best Latino for the job, but the best person for the job.  (Applause.)

And obviously one of my proudest moments as President -- in fact, probably the proudest moment as President that I've had was the day that Justice Sotomayor formally ascended to our nation's highest court.  (Applause.)  We stood where generations of justices had served, in that ornate chamber.  And as she lifted her right hand to take the oath, our nation took one step closer to fully realizing the founding ideals that the Court itself was established to defend.  And across America, millions of children's sights are now set higher.  Their dreams are a little bigger.  That benefits all of us.

Now, we face enormous challenges as a nation.  Many of those challenges are felt far more acutely by Latinos.  But our ability to solve any of the problems we face -- from health care to education, from economic recovery to immigration reform -- depends on our willingness to recognize that our destiny is shared.  We've seen this starkly throughout this economic crisis, as fortunes linked the small business owner on Main Street and the bond trader on Wall Street, the young family looking to refinance a mortgage to the large bank whose profits depend on their staying out of foreclosure.  But this has always been true, in good times and bad.  Our success has long depended on our willingness to see our challenges as ones we have to face together; our willingness to live up to a simple ideal:  Todos somos Americanos.  We are all Americans.  (Applause.)

Because when there's a young Latina stuck in a crumbling school, who starts to actually believe she's worth less because she doesn't have more, that isn't just a problem for that child.  That isn't just a problem for the Hispanic community.  That's a problem for a nation.  That's why I've challenged states to raise the bar across their early education programs, so that more of our children enter kindergarten ready to learn.  That's why I've called for a new race to the top to reform America's schools and provide students with the knowledge and skills they'll need for the 21st century.  That's why we will address the dropout crisis that plagues far too many communities, and commit to increasing access to college -- and success at college -- so that America can once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.  That depends in part on making sure that Latinos and Latinas have access to higher education and that's a commitment of our administration.  (Applause.)

We'll provide a complete and competitive education for every student, because our prosperity as a nation requires that we harness the talents of all our people, not just some -- Todos somos Americanos.  (Applause.)

When the unemployment rate for Latinos and Latinas is higher than 10 percent, it isn't just a problem for families worried about paying the bills or keeping their home.  This is not just a problem for the Hispanic community.  It's a problem for a nation.  And that's why the Recovery Act is providing a tax cut for working families and extended unemployment and health insurance for folks who have lost their jobs.  That's why we are not only seeking to revive this economy -- but to rebuild it stronger than before.  By investing in the clean energy jobs of tomorrow.  By preparing our children to outcompete workers around the world.  And by giving every American the security and stability of quality, affordable health insurance.  Todos somos Americanos.  (Applause.)

You know how important it is to pass health insurance reform.  You know that Hispanics are more likely to be uninsured and Hispanic small business owners, like all small business owners, are struggling with higher health care costs than large companies -- costs that are rising all the time.  So I'm grateful to so many of you for the support you've shown from the beginning of this effort.  But the problems in our health care system aren't just a Hispanic American problem, they're an American problem.

That's why we'll offer a tax credit to individuals to help them afford coverage and to small business owners to help them provide coverage for their workers.  That's why we'll provide greater security and stability to those who already have insurance.  Because no one in America should have to worry that their coverage will be dropped the moment they need it most.  (Applause.)  No one in America should be denied health insurance because of a preexisting condition.  No one in America should go broke because they got sick.  That's a basic principle that we seek to uphold.  (Applause.)

Now, as you know, there's been a little controversy about who exactly will be covered under reform.  I want to be clear:  If someone is here illegally, they won't be covered under this plan.  That's a commitment I've made.  But I also want to make this clear:  Even though I do not believe we can extend coverage to those who are here illegally, I also don't simply believe we can simply ignore the fact that our immigration system is broken.  (Applause.)  That's why I strongly support making sure folks who are here legally have access to affordable, quality health insurance under this plan, just like everybody else.  (Applause.)  And we certainly should not let this debate on health care -- one so essential to Hispanic Americans and all Americans -- get sidetracked by those looking to exploit divisions and kill reform at any cost.  That's what they always try to do.

If anything, this debate underscores the necessity of passing comprehensive immigration reform and resolving the issue of 12 million undocumented people living and working in this country once and for all.  That's what I've said from the start.  That's what I say tonight.  (Applause.)

I've asked Secretary Janet Napolitano to lead the conversation with stakeholders both on and off Capitol Hill.  And I know that she's met with many of you.  This is a tough issue -- we all know that -- which is why it is so important that we develop the strategy and the policy that's going to get us over the finish line.  My commitment is real and so is my desire to get this done.  In fact, the changes we've made administratively are already making a difference.  The American people did not send us to Washington to ignore problems just because they're tough.  They sent us here to solve them.  And that's what we can and must do on immigration reform.  (Applause.)

On all -- on all these issues you understand what's at stake because you see it, you experience it in your communities every single day.  Whether it's health insurance reform or immigration reform, fixing our schools or reviving our economy, it is essential that we put aside the petty and the partisan, that we don't fall prey to arguments that would divide us, that would suggest that progress in America is a zero-sum game.  We know the opposite is the truth.  We know that here, in America, we can only prosper as one nation, as one people.  We know that here in America we rise or fall together.  Todos somos Americanos.  (Applause.)

We are called to rise above the politics of the moment to meet the challenges of our time.  That's why I'm here.  That's why the Congressional Hispanic Caucus is here.  That's why all of you are here.  Because I know and you know that this new generation of Hispanic leaders -- the focus of this gathering and this organization -- all of you know you haven't worked so hard and come so far just to watch history.  You came here to make history.  (Applause.)  Together, that's what we can do.  Together, that's what we must do.  That's what we're already beginning to do.

I am absolutely confident that if all of us work together, if all of us support the extraordinary efforts of the members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, if you support the efforts of this administration to finally fix our immigration system and put our kids into college and make sure that folks can stay in their homes and that job opportunities exist for everybody and not just some; if we can lift the tone of the debate so that we're not scoring political points just by turning on each other, but we're instead scoring points for all of America by solving problems -- if that's our attitude, nothing can stop us.  Think about how far we have come -- but we have so much more to do, we have so much more -- such a longer road to travel.  It's going to be up to all of you.  And I am grateful for the opportunity to be your partner in this extraordinary journey.

Thank you very much, everybody.  God bless you and God bless the United States of America.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

END              
8:26 P.M. EDT