国际英语新闻:Obama hails Supreme Court decision to uphold healthcare overhaul

WASHINGTON, June 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday hailed the Supreme Court's decision to uphold healthcare overhaul, saying the law would benefit millions of Americans once it goes into effect in entirety in 2014.

In a statement delivered from the White House, Obama said the decision is a "victory" for people across the United States.

"Whatever the politics, today's decision was a victory for people all over this country whose lives are more secure because of this law and the Supreme Court's decision to uphold it," said Obama.

He continued to list the benefits to the American people once the Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010, goes into effect in 2014, saying people wouldn't face bankruptcy because of illness, and people with pre-existing medical conditions will not be discriminated against and people will be able to afford quality healthcare.

Obama said it's now time to implement the law and improve it, saying "the highest court in the land has now spoken. We will continue to implement this law and we'll work together to improve on it where we can."

He warned that the country cannot afford to "re-fight the political battles of two years ago or go back to the way things were," and "it's time for us to move forward."

But Republicans are clearly in no mood to cede the battle in an election year. Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican candidate, said after the ruling that although the Supreme Court upheld the reform's constitutionality, he would still repeal it once elected into the White House, claiming it would blow up deficit and kill American jobs.

"It's important for us to repeal and replace Obamacare," said Romney, using the nickname Republican use to describe the Affordable Care Act. "If we want to get rid of Obamacare, we're going to have to replace President Obama."

Congressional Republicans have also indicated they will push ahead repeal motions in both chambers, but they would likely be blocked by Democrats who control the Senate.