Dingell started his tweetstorm by paraphrasing Trump, who was derided when he told a gathering of governors earlier this month that “nobody knew health care could be so complicated” before telling the story of how his father, former Rep. John Dingell Sr., proposed the first attempt to increase health care coverage for Americans in the 1940s.

He spent the decade prior fighting like hell to pass Social Security & see it signed into law. And he did. Big nose & mustache in the back. pic.twitter.com/NechCqycRI

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 21, 2017

But his effort wasn’t as successful in ’43. The Wagner-Murray-Dingell bill to create a national health program ultimately died in committee.

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 21, 2017

Dingell said his father “would never get to see universal health care become law” as he died at age 55. The younger Dingell ran for his father’s seat to continue his work.

In 1957–and every Congress thereafter–I’d reintroduce my father’s bill & work to create a national program to take care of those in need.

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 21, 2017

I was a pup at the time, but I began working with my colleagues on Medicare legislation. Cecil King. Aime Forand. My dear friend John Moss. pic.twitter.com/Q033Fw2XGV

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

It took years to work through, but then-Speaker McCormack brought our bill to the floor in 65 and gave me the honor of gaveling its passage. pic.twitter.com/Zg1R2I86xu

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

Dingell noted that his goal of universal health care was still incomplete. He continued to introduce his father’s bill every year and saw aspects of health care like establishing the National Institutes of Health and children’s health insurance programs.

We took another shot in the 90s but again came up short. You know who knew damn well how complicated health care could be?@HillaryClinton.

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

Nevertheless, we persisted. It was an honor to work with so many great champions of our nation in helping to craft the Affordable Care Act.

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

Hearing after hearing, amendment after amendment. We took the time to hear concerns from all.

Republicans were invited, too. They declined.

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

Dingell tweeted that the goal was to bring “certainty to an uncertain experience,” since no one hopes to need to use insurance, “But if you do, it needs be damn good.”

He also admitted that the 2010 law was not perfect but was a good start.

Was Obamacare perfect? Hell no. The only perfect law was handed to Moses on stone tablets by God himself. Obamacare was an important start.

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

7 years ago this week, I sat with @POTUS44 & others as decades of our collective hard work became law. Or as @JoeBiden called it: a big deal pic.twitter.com/PbO1R4L4oF

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

Dingell then turned his attention to the Republican repeal bill, which is itself facing numerous troubles.

They haven’t thought about the 24 million estimated to lose their coverage, or the millions more who have benefited from Medicaid expansion.

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

They spent nearly a decade doing everything they could to undermine the ACA, and now throw their hands up in the air and declare it broken.

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

The 90-year-old Dingell, who is the longest-serving member of Congress, also made a joke about his age before signing off.

Hell, I don’t even remember why I started telling this story, except to urge folks to call their Congressperson and demand more from them.

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017

Actual reforms can be made to improve the Affordable Care Act. This rushed, reckless repeal bill is not that. Too many people will be hurt.

— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) March 22, 2017