Editor’s Note: For an alternative viewpoint, please see: Counterpoint: Flimsiness of President Obama’s Regulatory Legacy Demonstrates Deeper Problems
With just days left in President Barack Obama’s presidency, many Americans are reflecting upon the administration’s historic achievements and attempting to measure the legacy that his administration will leave behind. How history will remember Obama’s presidency can only be revealed with time. But one indisputable fact remains: President Obama and his administration have tirelessly worked to make our communities safer, our families healthier and our nation more prosperous.
Upon entering the Oval Office, President Obama inherited an economy that was on the brink of collapse, and millions of American lost their jobs — 2.6 million jobs were lost in 2008 alone. Yet through bold action and progressive policies, President Obama has led the nation through 81 months of consecutive job growth, to the tune of 15 million private-sector jobs.
Arguably President Obama’s biggest legislative achievement was the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Presidents have tried for more than a century to marshal support for universal healthcare legislation, and all of them fell short — until President Obama.
Prior to the ACA, millions of Americans struggled to afford their medical care, and many were left without insurance or access to preventive health services. Today, thanks to the ACA, the nation’s uninsured rate has fallen below 10 percent for the first time, more than 20 million Americans have gained coverage, and individuals can no longer be denied insurance for having pre-existing medical conditions. As the nation ushers in a new administration and Congress, we must fight any attempt to erase this historic progress.
As part of his plan to boost America’s economy, President Obama also placed a premium on education — helping to ensure that today’s students are prepared to become tomorrow’s workforce. The Obama administration has invested in early learning opportunities for more families, supported states as they implemented systemic education reform, doubled funding for Pell grants, and expanded apprenticeships and job training programs to help American workers of all ages adapt to a 21st-century economy.
Of course, President Obama also understood that our nation’s health is intrinsically linked with the health of our environment. That’s why he has taken unprecedented action to combat the threat of climate change and protect our planet for future generations. Through historic international climate deals and investments in clean energy jobs in the United States, the Obama administration has made significant strides toward making our air cleaner, our environment safer, and our energy future more secure and sustainable.
Importantly, the Obama administration has also improved our nation’s standing abroad, forging critical diplomatic achievements in the process. This includes the Iran Deal — which has placed Iran’s nuclear program under intense international scrutiny, putting the United States in an even stronger position to respond forcefully to Iran’s destabilizing behavior.
Finally, the Obama administration has taken great strides to make our nation more just and equal for all Americans. From advocating on behalf of women’s equality and expanding protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, to facilitating a national dialogue on race in America and confronting our nation’s discriminatory criminal justice system, President Obama has been an unwavering voice for millions of marginalized Americans.
Of course, there is much work that remains. While our nation is far better off than we were eight years ago, too many Americans still live in poverty or on the brink of poverty; too many workers are still looking for a good job that pays a decent wage; too many families are still struggling for the most basic opportunities of a middle-class life: access to child care, affordable housing and healthcare, and a path to a secure retirement. Too many people across the country feel like the deck is stacked against them.
Meanwhile, violent extremism continues to be a real threat to the United States and its allies. And far too many Americans live in fear for their safety and well-being, whether because of the color of their skin, their religion, their gender or gender identity, their sexual orientation, or their immigration status.
So we must keep fighting. But while there are challenges ahead, there is no denying that the progress driven by President Obama and his administration has made America safer, healthier and more prosperous. As Americans prepare to bid farewell to the nation’s first African-American president, we must remain focused on moving our nation forward, and we must resist any effort to dismantle or roll back the progress of the last eight years.
