A senior advisor to President Joe Biden, Cedric Richmond, said that coronavirus pandemic would have been worse if not for the Affordable Care Act, which turned 11 this year.

“It would have been disastrous,” Richmond told DC Today host Del Walters. “it’s a disaster now. We’ve lost over 540,000 Americans; over 30 million people contracted the virus.”

Richmond said that he hopes the ACA is a permanent part of American history, adding that its passage has been a game-changer for states, such as Louisiana, which, thanks to the ACA, didn’t lose any rural hospitals and could insure half a million people.

“We doubled down on the Affordable Care Act,” Richmond said, adding that the recent covid relief bill, the American Rescue Plan, also enhanced healthcare costs.

Richmond also speaks to Walters on immigration and how the justice department will be fair under Attorney General Merrick Garland.
The White House reportedly won’t comment on if Garland will pursue any criminal charges against former President Donald Trump.

“[Biden] wanted someone who could restore credibility to the Department of Justice and its independence,” Richmond said. “The Department of Justice does not work for the president of the United States.”

Richmond added that the last four years have been chaotic regarding immigration, and the Biden administration is working toward addressing the crisis at the southern border.

“We’re going to address the unaccompanied minors that are coming into the United States,” he said. “We’re also going to help tackle the problems in their homeland that’s causing them to send their children on that long and dangerous journey in hopes for them living a better life.”