English subtitles for clip: File:2009-10-10 President Obama's Weekly Address.ogv

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The historic movement to bring real, meaningful health insurance reform to the American people gathered momentum this week

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as we approach the final days of this debate.

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Having worked on this issue for the better part of a year,

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the Senate Finance Committee is finishing deliberations on their version of a health insurance reform bill

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that will soon be merged with other reform bills produced by other Congressional committees.

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After evaluating the Finance Committee's bill,

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the Congressional Budget Office – an office that provides independent, nonpartisan analysis –

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concluded that the legislation would make coverage affordable for millions of Americans who don't have it today.

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It will bring greater security to Americans who have coverage, with new insurance protections.

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And, by attacking waste and fraud within the system,

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it will slow the growth in health care costs, without adding a dime to our deficits.

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This is another milestone on what has been a long, hard road toward health insurance reform.

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In recent months, we've heard every side of every argument from both sides of the aisle.

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And rightly so – health insurance reform is a complex and critical issue that deserves a vigorous national debate, and we've had one. 

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The approach that is emerging includes the best ideas from Republicans and Democrats, and people across the political spectrum.

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In fact, what's remarkable is not that we've had a spirited debate about health insurance reform,

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but the unprecedented consensus that has come together behind it.

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This consensus encompasses everyone from doctors and nurses to hospitals and drug manufacturers.

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And earlier this week, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg

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came out in support of reform,

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joining two former Republican Senate Majority Leaders:

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Bob Dole and Dr. Bill Frist, himself a cardiac surgeon.

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Dr. Louis Sullivan, Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George H.W. Bush, supports reform.

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As does Republican Tommy Thompson, a former Wisconsin governor and

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Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush.

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These distinguished leaders understand that health insurance reform isn't a Democratic issue or a Republican issue,

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but an American issue that demands a solution.

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Still, there are some in Washington today who seem determined to play the same old partisan politics,

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working to score political points, even if it means burdening this country with an unsustainable status quo.

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A status quo of rising health care costs that are crushing our families, our businesses, and our government.

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A status quo of diminishing coverage

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that's denying millions of hardworking Americans the insurance they need.

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A status quo that gives big insurance companies the power to make arbitrary decisions about your health care.

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That is a status quo I reject. And that is a status quo the American people reject.

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The distinguished former Congressional leaders who urged us to act on health insurance reform

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spoke of the historic moment at hand

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and reminded us that this moment will not soon come again.

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They called on members of both parties to seize this opportunity to finally confront a problem that has plagued us for far too long.

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That is what we are called to do at this moment.

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That is the spirit of national purpose that we must summon right now.

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Now's the time to rise above the politics of the moment.

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Now's the time to come together as Americans.

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Now's the time to meet our responsibilities to ourselves and to our children,

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and secure a better, healthier future for generations to come.

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That future is within our grasp. So, let's go finish the job. Thanks.