By Ahmad Jallow

NC Newsline

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Raleigh on Tuesday to highlight their administration’s efforts to expand access to affordable healthcare, as Democrats aim to contrast their approach with that of Republicans on the issue.

This month, Democrats are celebrating the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, along with the 21 million individuals who enrolled in coverage under its plan this year — marking the highest enrollment since the law’s enactment in 2010.

On Tuesday at Chavis Community Center on the city’s southeast side, Biden, who helped pass the Affordable Care Act 14 years ago, said the law is “the most consequential health care since Medicare and Medicaid.”

“I stood by President Obama when he signed the Affordable Care Act into law, and as many of you know, I thought it was a big deal,” Biden said. “It’s even a bigger deal today.”

Biden seized upon this milestone to criticize Republicans, highlighting their persistent efforts over the past decade to repeal either portions or the entirety of the law. “They’ve tried to repeal it 50 times and we’ve stopped them every time,” he said.

Before beginning her speech, Harris paused to address the collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, after a massive container ship lost power and crashed into it early Tuesday morning. Currently, at least six people, believed to be members of a construction crew repairing potholes on the bridge, are still unaccounted for.

Harris said she spoke to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore this morning and has directed the federal government to assist with the search and rescue mission. “We are all praying for the families of those who are missing and all those who have been touched by this tragedy.”

The president’s remarks were briefly interrupted by a few pro-Palestinian protesters who shouted: “What about healthcare in Gaza?” The women continued to shout “Ceasefire now” as they were escorted out of the venue.

“They have a point,” Biden said. “We need to get a lot more care into Gaza.”

Since Biden took office, North Carolina, along with three other states, has expanded Medicaid after several years of resistance from the state’s Republican-led legislature. The American Rescue Plan, a pandemic recovery measure signed by Biden, provided financial incentives for states to extend Medicaid coverage to low-income residents. In a speech introducing the president and vice president, Governor Roy Cooper said the $1.6 billion from this plan helped garner support from Republican lawmakers for the expansion.

According to the governor, more than 350,000 people have signed up for the newly expanded Medicaid in North Carolina and that number is expected to reach 600,000.

“With all of this momentum it is our job to protect this healthcare from politicians who want to take it away and they are out there,” Cooper said. “Fortunately, we have a president who isn’t just protecting it, but is working to expand it.”