The Obama Diary

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The Detroit News

Michigan Democrat John Dingell, the longest-serving member ever of Congress who helped write most of the nation’s major environmental and energy laws, died Thursday, his wife said. He was 92.

The Dearborn statesman was a champion of the auto industry and was credited with increasing access to health care, among other accomplishments. Dingell helped write most of America’s major environmental and energy laws.

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My statement on the passing of former Congressman John Dingell: https://t.co/gjBYHHImzB

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Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 08, 2019

John Dingell was the Dean of the House. He earned that title — not just because he was there the longest — but beca… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) February 08, 2019

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Who knew health care could be so complicated?

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 21, 2017

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

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 21, 2017

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He spent the decade prior fighting like hell to pass Social Security & see it signed into law. And he did. Big nose… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 21, 2017

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

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 21, 2017

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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.

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 21, 2017

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.

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 21, 2017

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I was a pup at the time, but I began working with my colleagues on Medicare legislation. Cecil King. Aime Forand. M… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

It took years to work through, but then-Speaker McCormack brought our bill to the floor in 65 and gave me the honor… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

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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.

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

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.

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

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

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

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.

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

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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.

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

Hearing after hearing, amendment after amendment. We took the time to hear concerns from all. Republicans were invited, too. They declined.

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

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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.

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

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

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

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

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

When the ACA was up in the House, leadership asked me to preside over part of the debate. I accepted with one term:… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…

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John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017