On Sunday, President Obama spoke about healthcare reform from the church pulpit of the Vermont Avenue Baptist Church in Washington D.C., calling the impending bill a victory for "decency."
"This will be a victory not for Democrats," Obama said. "It will be a victory for dignity and decency, and for our common humanity. It will be a victory for the United States of America."
The president also acknowledged his sense of frustration with the slow pace of change seen in his first year in office.
Looking back, Obama recalled his hope that "life would be better from the moment I swore that oath," he said, quoted by CNN.com. "We know the promise of that moment has not been fully filled."
Meanwhile, Democrats working with the president have agreed to exempt union workers from the 40 percent "Cadillac" tax on expensive insurance plans that will help pay for healthcare reform, Fox News reports.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the "special deal" exemption will encourage people to join unions and is unfair to 92 percent of the private sector workforce. 