Washington, March 24, 2010: Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, congratulated President Obama for the passage of the Health Care Reform bill which will expand insurance coverage to nearly all Americans. Dr. Singh joined President Obama and his cabinet in the celebration of this historic moment.
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| Dr. Rajwant Singh Congratulated President Obama on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 |
US President Barack Obama signed into law a bill to significantly alter the US health care system in a ceremony at the White House. This legislation passed by the House of Representatives by a margin of 219-212 on Sunday. Democratic Senators, Congressmen and health reform advocates celebrated in the East Room of the White House and President Obama addressed a larger group which included President's cabinet and political leaders from all over America.
In his brief conversation with President Barack Obama, Dr. Singh expressed, "This is a historic achievement and many millions of Americans are thankful to you for your determination and genuine leadership. This is an act of compassion towards the underprivileged among us". President Obama thanked Dr. Singh for joining in the celebration and his words of support. Dr. Rajwant Singh also thanked Obama for the first White House celebration of Guru Nanak's birth celebration last November.
President Obama had mentioned Guru Nanak's White House celebration in his welcoming remarks in honor of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the State Dinner last year.
The new health care law will expand the government health plan for the poor and prohibit insurance providers from denying coverage to children because of pre-existing conditions and dropping individuals from insurance plans because of illness, and will require all insurance providers to provide a rationale for proposed increases in premiums. Prior to signing the bill, Obama made a series of remarks, paying homage to the individuals past and present who had worked for reform in the health care system.
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| President Obama speaking at the Department of Interior celebration |
"We are done," President Obama said.
Before he signed the bill, Mr. Obama paid tribute to the lawmakers who fought for health reform over the past year, and the legislators and presidents who have advocated it since the early 20th century. "Today, after almost a century of trying; today, after over a year of debate; today, after all the votes have been tallied; health insurance reform becomes law in the United States of America," he said.
The House's action moves us closer to reform based on the principles for which we have firmly advocated: protection of low income and other vulnerable populations, higher quality and more affordable care, and a system based on a financially sustainable foundation. The bill adopted by the House is not perfect, but it is necessary - and will help us provide a healthy future for millions of Americans.
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| Rajwant Singh congratulated Vice-President Joe Biden for the historic bill passage |
Dr. Rajwant Singh said, "Guided by teachings of Sikh Gurus, we feel that health insurance reform that provides the highest quality of care for the greatest number of American, is necessary. He added, "From the beginning of his campaign until this moment, President Barack Obama has not wavered in his commitment to complete this paramount mission, for the benefit of every American."
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| Attorney General Eric Holder and Dr. Rajwant Singh during the celebration |
"As Sikh Americans are gearing towards the celebration of Vaisakhi which inspires us to stand for the defenseless, we will certainly celebrate that more than 30 million uninsured Americans will finally have health insurance coverage; that pre-existing conditions will no longer preclude Americans from getting insurance; and that millions of Americans will be able to stop choosing between food and medicine. said SCORE's statement.
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| U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin and Rajwant Singh |
The vote capped a year-long political battle with Republicans that consumed the U.S. Congress and dented Obama's approval ratings, and fulfilled a goal that had eluded many presidents for a century - most recently Democrat Bill Clinton in 1994.