Obama on Dingell’s death: He led ‘the charge on so much of the progress we take for granted today’

Former President Barack Obama paid tribute to former Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) on Thursday after news of the lawmaker’s death, crediting the late Democrat with leading “the charge on so much of the progress we take for granted today.”

“John Dingell’s life reminds us that change does not always come with a flash, but instead with steady, determined effort. Over the course of the longest congressional career in history, John led the charge on so much of the progress we take for granted today,” Obama wrote in a statement shared to Twitter on late Thursday. 

“He presided over the vote for Medicare – changing the lives of America’s seniors. He helped lead the fight for the Civil Rights Act – opening new doors for countless citizens. Ten years ago, in a moment of peril, he helped us rescue the American auto industry – saving the livelihoods of one million Americans,” he continued.

“John sat beside me when I signed the Affordable Care Act – a law that cut in half the uninsured rate in America,” Obama wrote. “He had a long tradition of introducing legislation on the first day of each new Congress to guarantee health care for every single American.”

Because of him, we’ve come close to that vision than ever before. And when we finally achieve it – and we will – we’ll owe him our gratitude,” Obama added. “Michelle and I send our warmest sympathies to Debbie, the entire Dingell family, and all the Michiganders and Americans whose lives are better because of his lifetime of service.”

My statement on the passing of former Congressman John Dingell: pic.twitter.com/gjBYHHImzB

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 8, 2019

Dingell died on Thursday at the age of 92 after entering hospice care following a cancer diagnosis. He served in the House of Representatives from 1955 to 2015. 

He is survived by his wife and successor, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), a brother, a sister, three children and three grandchildren.