Good afternoon. Today, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could strike down the Affordable Care act in its entirety. If the Supreme Court agrees with the opponents of the act their , decision could take Health Care Away from 20 million americans. It could take away protections for more than 100 Million People with preexisting conditions. And hurt the millions of americans who have come to rely on the Affordable Care act. Getting rid of the Affordable Care act will take us backwards. To a time when people could charge a woman more for her health care than they could charge a man simply because she is a woman. To a time when pregnancy could be considered a preexisting condition. It will take away free Birth Control and contraceptive coverage for women. This is all happening at a moment when our country is suffering to a pandemic that has claimed more than 238,000 lives. And we all know that if the Affordable Care act is struck down, communities of color would be hit particularly hard. Blacks, asians, hispanics, native americans. They are at a greater risk of preexisting conditions. They are three times as likely to contract covid19 and twice as likely to die as others. I know we all know that we had an election, an election where health care was very much on the ballot. Our country had a clear choice in this election. Each and every vote for joe biden was a statement that health care in america should be a right and not a privilege. Each and every vote for joe biden was a vote to protect and expand the Affordable Care act, not to tear it away in the midst of a global pandemic. Joe biden won the election decisively with more votes than have ever been cast in american history. It amounts to 75 million voices and counting, calling on the Supreme Court to see this case for what it is a blatant attempt to overturn the will of the people. And the president elect and i cannot let that happen. And now it is my honor to introduce president elect joe biden. President elect biden thank you, good afternoon. This morning, as was stated, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the case of great importance to the American People. The case represents the latest attempt to do what they have been repeatedly failing to do for a long time, over the last decade, to eliminate the entirety of the Affordable Care act. Twice already, the Supreme Court has upheld the landmark law. In 2012 and again in 2015. Congress, expressing the popular will of the American People, has rejected numerous attempts, numerous efforts by President Trump to erase the law. In the middle of a deadly pandemic, that has infected more than 10 million americans, nearly one in every 32 americans with devastating consequences to their health, these ideologues are trying to strip Health Care Coverage away from the American People. The goal of the upcoming and administration is clear the goal of the out going administration is clear, quote, the entire aca must fall. End quote. I am not naive about the fact that health care is an issue that has divided americans in the past. The truth is, the American People are more united on this issue today than they are divided. Recently, a leading survey found the American People want to keep the Affordable Care act in place by an overwhelming margin of 58 to 36 . 79 of American People, including nine out of 10 democrats, eight out of 10 independents, and twothirds republicans want to keep the aca protections for people with preexisting conditions. Which would be eliminated if this would succeed. This does not need to be a partisan issue. It is a human issue that affects every single american family. We cannot subvert the growing consensus of the American People based on argument put forward seeking to invalidate the law that even many conservative scholars consider it to be ridiculous. The consequence of the Trump Administrations arguments are not academic. For Many Americans, they are a matter of life and death. This argument will determine whether Health Care Coverage of 20 million americans will be ripped away in the middle of the nations worst pandemic in a century. Over 100 Million People with preexisting conditions, like asthma, diabetes, cancer, could be denied coverage. Complications from covid19, like lung scarring and heart damage will be the next flood of preexisting conditions that could be used as an excuse to pump up premiums or deny coverage altogether. For millions of survivors who have struggled and fought the coronavirus, fought against the loss of their life. This argument will determine whether women will once again be charged higher premiums just because theyre women. Or seniors will see the Prescription Drug costs go up. Kids, whether or not they can stay on their parents plans until age 26. Whether annual lifetime benefits will be reimposed. So, someone could walk in and say, die in peace, you have run out of coverage. This is not hyperbole. It is real. As real as it gets. When a family is facing the awful news of a childs diagnosis of leukemia or a mom having to battle against breast cancer, it stops your heart. It stops your heart. It wrenches your entire world off its axis when that happens. Many of you know that from your own experiences. I know the feeling. Too Many American families do as well. The very last thing on your mind should be whether you can afford the treatment. The Affordable Care act was created to put a stop to that inhumanity. It was created to ensure that families thrust into the Worst Nightmare of their lives could focus not on money but on the fight that really matters. Obamacare is the law that every american should be proud of. That is why people with preexisting conditions are protected in this country. It is the law delivered vital coverage for 20 million americans who did not have coverage. Its a law that reduced Prescription Drug price costs for nearly 12 million seniors. This effort to bypass the will of the American People, the verdict of the courts in the past is simply cruel and needlessly divisive. Regardless of the outcome of this case, i promise you this, beginning on january 20, Vice President elect harris and i, we will do everything in our power to ease the burden of health care on you and your families. I promise you that. As i said, i will protect your Health Care Like it is my own family. We have been significant consumers of health care. That starts by building on the Affordable Care act. A dramatic expansion of Health Care Coverage and bold steps to Lower Health Care costs. My Transition Team will be starting its work to flush out the details so we can hit the ground running, tackling costs, increasing access, lowering the price of Prescription Drugs. Families are reeling right now. Youve interviewed a lot of these people as you have gone all over the world, all over the country. Its particularly the reporters in this room. Illnesses, faced with risky choices, over 10 Million People of already lost their employer plans. They need a lifeline and they need it now. They should not be in that position, waiting to see if the Supreme Court will wrench away peace of mind. They shouldnt have to hold their breath. That they have come to now rely on. So, we will get right to work, i promise you, addressing the issues that families are talking about around the kitchen tables, making sure they get to bed tonight with the peace of mind that they deserve. And fulfilling our moral obligation to ensure that here in america, health care is a right for all, not the privilege of the few. So come january, we will work quickly with the congress to ramp up health care protections, Lower Health Care costs as soon as humanly possible. That is the promise i make to you. We will fight for your familys Health Coverage the same way we fight for our own familys Health Care Coverage. If you are sick, if you are struggling, if you are worried about how you are going to get through the day, we will not abandon you. That is a promise. We will not leave you to face these challenges alone. We will get through this and we will get through it together. We will build Health Care System that puts you in your Families First and that every american can be proud of. I want to thank you all for listening and god bless you. May god keep you safe in this covid environment, and may god protect our troops. Now i am told we will take five questions. [inaudible] president elect biden ok. Thank you. During the campaign, you said you are not naive about how difficult it would be to unite the country. Three days after you were projected as the president elect, the president himself says he has won this election. His administration has not moved forward to give you access to what you need to begin the work of your transition. Just a few minutes ago, the secretary of state, when asked if he would cooperate with a smooth transition, he said there will be a smooth transition to a second Trump Administration. I wonder if you have a message to the president , who may well be watching right now, and how do you expect to be able to work with republicans when so many have thus far refused to even acknowledge a victory . President elect biden first of all, we are already beginning the transition. We are well underway. The ability for the administration in any way by failure to recognize us does not change the dynamic of what we are able to do. Weve announced yesterday, as you know, the health group we put together, we will be moving along in a consistent manner, putting together our administration, the white house, and reviewing who we will pick for the cabinet positions. Nothing will stop that. I am confident that the fact they are not willing to acknowledge we won is not of much consequence in our planning and what we are able to do between now and january 20. Your response to secretary pompeo . You said during the campaign that as the walls close on the president , he would behave more erratically. Yesterday, he fired his defense secretary on twitter. What are you saying to the World Leaders who are calling you at this point . Are you worried he is disabling the government . President elect biden first of all, i am letting them know that america is back. We are going to be back in the game. Ive had the opportunity to speak with six World Leaders. Its not america alone. The response has been very, fulsome, energetic. They are all looking forward to being able to from Great Britain to france, germany, canada, etc. , ireland. I feel good about the ability i said when we announced that the next president would inherit a divided country and the world in disarray. The reception and welcome we have gotten around the world from our allies and friends has been real. I feel confident that we will be able to put america back in the place of respect that it had before. I have a number of other calls to return. [inaudible] Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell has suggested today that he may not recognize the outcome of this election until the Electoral College meets next month. Have you spoken to your longtime friend in the senate . What do you make of his specific comments over the last 24 hours . President elect biden i have not had a chance to speak to mitch. My expectation is that i will do that in the nottoodistant future. I think that the whole Republican Party has been put in a position, with few notable exceptions, of being mildly intimidated by the sitting president. Theres only one president at the time, hes president. We will have the Electoral College they will be making their judgment in december. In the meantime, i hope i get a chance to speak to mitch. Without transition funding, will you be able to go through the proper transition that is needed . Will you authorize legal action, or would that be too divisive . President elect biden we can get through without the funding. We are in a position that we feel very good about there is nothing that slows up our efforts to put things together. Obviously, the pdb would be useful but it is not necessary. We do not see anything slowing us down, quite frankly. I am not the sitting president. Thank you. Thank you, congratulations. Have you tried to reach out to the president . If he is watching right now, what would you say to him . President elect biden mr. President , i look forward to speaking with you. You say you are able to move ahead without interruption. But you will need access to more classified information. What options are you considering . How will you move ahead if the president continues to refuse to concede . President elect biden well, look, access to classified information is useful. But i am not in a position to make any decisions on those issues anyway. As i said, theres one president at the time. He will be president until january 20. It would be nice to have it, but it is not critical. We are just going to proceed the way we have. We will do exactly what we would be doing if he had conceded and said we have won, which we have, and so there is nothing really changing. But not ruling out legal action . President elect biden i think legal action is we have seen it play out in the actions he has taking. I dont see a need for it. There is no evidence in many of the assertions made by the president or secretary of state pompeo. [laughter] secretary of state pompeo. Thank you. Democrats are on track to lose a handful of seats in the house. How does that impact your plans for what priorities you can get through this congress, especially if the Senate Remains in gop control . And during the lameduck, would you be coordinating with Speaker Pelosi . On how she should negotiate with republicans . President elect biden ive spoken to the minority leader in the house. One of the urgent things that need to be done is people need relief right now. Right now. Small businesses, people who are about to be evicted from their homes because they cannot pay their mortgage. Unemployment insurance. What is going to happen is, you will see what people dont realize is a failure to provide state and local assistance, you are going to see police officers, firefighters, First Responders laid off. And i think the pressure is going to build. The fact is, i would hope that the president at least has the sensitivity and knowledge to know a lot of people are in real trouble right now. Between now and the time we get elected, get swornin. It is my hope and expectation, i am sure the speaker of the house as well as the minority leader are working through the priorities they have laid out. Do you plan to be active in those negotiations . President elect biden we have been talking and they know my views. I support what they are doing. My second question was about the senate, do you plan to campaign in georgia before your inauguration to help democrats in the two runoff races . How important is a democratic run senate to your agenda . President elect biden it would be much better if we had a tie in the senate. That means the Vice President becomes incredibly important beyond what she already is. Does a Democratic Senate help your cabinet chances . Does that change how you consider who nominate . President elect biden i dont think so. I take mcconnell at his word. I understand he said he will make it clear who he is prepared to support and not to support. That is a negotiation that im sure well have. One of the things i would do as president elect and when i become president is to lay out who we will name for each cabinet position. I hope we will be in a position to let people know a couple of those we want before thanksgiving. And we will just work this out. I am not a pessimist, as you know. I think there are enough republicans who have already spoken out. I think there will be many more not many more but a larger number once the election is declared and i am sworn in to be able to get things done. I think they understand. For example, i cannot imagine there not being a willingness on the part of republicans, there will be significant pressure to deal with health care. Their own constituencies are in that position. I think we can get a lot done. Thank you. One last question . What do you say to the americans who are anxious over the fact that President Trump has yet to concede and what that might mean for the country . President elect biden i think it is an embarrassment, quite frankly. The only thing how can i say this tactfully . I think it will not help the president s legacy. I think that i know from my discussions with foreign leaders that they are hopeful the United States Democratic Institutions are viewed once again as being strong and enduring. But i think at the end of the day, it is all going to come to fruition on january 20. Between now and then, my hope and expectation is the American People do know and do understand there has been a transition. Even among republicans who are people who voted for the president , i understand the sense of loss. I think the majority of the people who voted for the president , a lot voted for him, i think they understand we have to come together. I think they are ready to unite, and i believe we can pull the country out of this bitter politics we have seen for the last five or six or seven years. To followup, how do you expect to work with republicans if they will not even acknowledge you as president elect . President elect biden they will. They will. Thank you very much. Thank you. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] president e biden as elect, stay with cspan for live coverage of the election process and transition of power. Cspan, your unfiltered view of politics. Coming up in an hour, Washington Post reporter and pbs Washington Week host robert costa on the latest in the postelection standoff between the Trump Administration and the biden campaign. Day and it 8 45, leo shane discusses the fallout from the defense secretarys firing. A week ago this morning, the results of the 2020 election were unknown. By saturday morning, joe biden had garnered enough electoral votes, and was declared the winner. President trump and his republican allies have been contesting that, but states are standing by the results, and legal efforts so far have yielded no change in votes. Good morning. It is veterans day, november 11, 2020. This is washington journal. We will talk about the continuing standoff in this first hour
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