In President Obama’s July 22 nationally televised address to the country, he said that health care reform is key to restoring the economy and that without immediate congressional action, “We are guaranteed to see Medicare and Medicaid basically break the federal budget,” The Washington Post reports.

Obama aims to extend health coverage to the 46 million Americans who cannot afford it, as well as to lower the skyrocketing cost of health care. Obama challenged Congress to send him a health reform bill that will broaden coverage, limit cost increases over the long term and remain deficit neutral. He is pushing to get the legislation through both chambers of Congress before the August 7 summer recess.

“This debate is not a game…[and Americans] can’t afford to wait any longer for reform. They’re counting on us to get this done,” Obama said. “They’re looking to us for leadership. And we can’t let them down.”