Welfare Reform Act of 1996 and the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act of 2012 President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama had two important laws signed into legislation during their presidential term. The Welform Reform Act of 1996 was signed by President Clinton and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare was signed by President Obama in 2012. Both of these laws were signed to bring a positive change for the American People. The idea of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 was to change the climate of the welfare system. This acts primary goal was to put a system in place where people were not dependent on welfare but became self-sufficient. The target program was the Welfare to Work Program which had requirements.