Chris Van Hollen: “on this day 60 years ago, President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the law that created Medicare and Medicaid, protecting…”

“on this day 60 years ago, President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the law that created Medicare and Medicaid, protecting the health and well-being of hundreds of millions of American families. Those were our predecessors here on the floor of the U.S. Senate, and they passed that bill by the overwhelming vote--at least by today's standards--of 68 to 21, with support from Senators of both parties. And they did that because they understood how vital access to affordable healthcare is for all Americans. It was 15 years ago that Democrats and President Obama built on that legacy with the Affordable Care Act, which expanded Medicaid and delivered affordable healthcare to 45 million more Americans. Taken together, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act are three parts of one promise, a promise of health and a measure of economic security for seniors, for people with disabilities, for the most vulnerable Americans, and for Americans working hard paycheck to paycheck. So 60 years ago, one Senator explained that the promise of Medicare and Medicaid meant this: We do not intend to kick you out on the street. We are going to see you through. You are not going to become forgotten people. That is how one Senator explained his vote to make sure we provided coverage under Medicare and Medicaid.”