Thread by @JohnDingell

Who knew health care could be so complicated?

In 1943, my father was one of the first people to introduce comprehensive health care reform in Congress, a single-payer system for all.

He spent the decade prior fighting like hell to pass Social Security & see it signed into law. And he did. Big nose & mustache in the back.

But his effort wasn't as successful in '43. The Wagner-Murray-Dingell bill to create a national health program ultimately died in committee.

He never would get to see universal health care become law. He passed in 55 and I decided to run to replace him, vowing to keep up his work.

In 1957--and every Congress thereafter--I'd reintroduce my father's bill & work to create a national program to take care of those in need.

I was a pup at the time, but I began working with my colleagues on Medicare legislation. Cecil King. Aime Forand. My dear friend John Moss.

It took years to work through, but then-Speaker McCormack brought our bill to the floor in 65 and gave me the honor of gaveling its passage.

It's tough to see in the photo, but I had McCormack & others sign the gavel. They made me sign too. All told, my pop would have been proud.

It was an accomplishment but was not my end goal. I continued to reintroduce my father's bill every year. As pieces of it slowly became law.

Over the years we'd create the National Institutes of Health, the Children's Health Insurance Program, & many other efforts to improve care.

We took another shot in the 90s but again came up short. You know who knew damn well how complicated health care could be?

@HillaryClinton.

Nevertheless, we persisted. It was an honor to work with so many great champions of our nation in helping to craft the Affordable Care Act.

Hearing after hearing, amendment after amendment. We took the time to hear concerns from all.

Republicans were invited, too. They declined.

Our bill aimed to bring certainty to an uncertain experience. You don't hope to have to use insurance. But if you do, it needs be damn good.

So we fought to expand coverage. We worked to lower costs. We wanted the American people to finally KNOW what their plan actually included.

Before this, many had to decide between bankruptcy or death. Children hit lifetime caps. Cancer & being a woman were preexisting conditions.

When the ACA was up in the House, leadership asked me to preside over part of the debate. I accepted with one term: I'm bringing my gavel.

[My friend Jon Stewart would go on to use that same gavel to enjoy a snack on @TheDailyShow program later that year] cc.com/video-clips/v2…

Was Obamacare perfect? Hell no. The only perfect law was handed to Moses on stone tablets by God himself. Obamacare was an important start.

Millions now have coverage they never had before. Lifesaving screenings. Preventive care. Affordable rates & subsidies that SCALE with cost.

7 years ago this week, I sat with @POTUS44 & others as decades of our collective hard work became law. Or as @JoeBiden called it: a big deal

This week, House Republicans are planning to vote to undo all that progress, taking us backward in the fight for universal, affordable care.

They haven't thought about the 24 million estimated to lose their coverage, or the millions more who have benefited from Medicaid expansion.

They spent nearly a decade doing everything they could to undermine the ACA, and now throw their hands up in the air and declare it broken.

Hell, I don't even remember why I started telling this story, except to urge folks to call their Congressperson and demand more from them.

Actual reforms can be made to improve the Affordable Care Act. This rushed, reckless repeal bill is not that. Too many people will be hurt.

Well, that's that. Goodnight.