US House passes historic health care reform bill
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The U.S. House of Representatives on Sunday night passed the comprehensive health care reform legislation, presenting President Barack Obama a major victory in his key domestic agenda.
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U.S. President Barack Obama addresses a press conference after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the comprehensive health care reform legislation at the White House in Washington, capital of the United States, on March 21, 2010. The U.S. House of Representatives on Sunday night passed the comprehensive health care reform legislation, presenting President Barack Obama a major victory in his key domestic agenda. [Zhang Jun/Xinhua] |
![U.S. President Barack Obama addresses a press conference after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the comprehensive health care reform legislation at the White House in Washington, capital of the United States, on March 21, 2010. The U.S. House of Representatives on Sunday night passed the comprehensive health care reform legislation, presenting President Barack Obama a major victory in his key domestic agenda. [Zhang Jun/Xinhua]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20100322/000cf1bdd03f0d1147873a.jpg "U.S. President Barack Obama addresses a press conference after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the comprehensive health care reform legislation at the White House in Washington, capital of the United States, on March 21, 2010. The U.S. House of Representatives on Sunday night passed the comprehensive health care reform legislation, presenting President Barack Obama a major victory in his key domestic agenda. [Zhang Jun/Xinhua]")
The House approved a "fix-it" bill of the health insurance reform with a 220-211 vote after it passed the Senate version of the health care bill passed earlier.
Thirty-three Democrats and all 178 House Republicans opposed the "fix-it" bill. The Senate version of the health reform bill cleared the House in a 219 to 212 vote earlier.
The "fix-it" bill will then head to the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he has rounded enough votes to pass it in the upper chamber.
Even if the "fix-it" bill can not pass the Senate, which seems less likely, the Senate bill as it is still marks the most profound changes in the U.S. social welfare system since the enactment of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare in 1965.
President Barack Obama hailed the passage of the comprehensive healthcare overhaul bills shortly after they cleared the House.
Speaking in the White House East Room with Vice President Joseph Biden by his side, Obama said the House vote was a tough one, but was the "right vote."
"We can still tackle big things," he said.
The bill will not solve every problem in the healthcare system, but "moves us in the right direction," said Obama.
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U.S. President Barack Obama (R) gestures to Vice President Joseph Biden after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the comprehensive health care reform legislation at the White House in Washington, capital of the United States, on March 21, 2010. [Zhang Jun/Xinhua] |
![U.S. President Barack Obama (R) gestures to Vice President Joseph Biden after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the comprehensive health care reform legislation at the White House in Washington, capital of the United States, on March 21, 2010. [Zhang Jun/Xinhua]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20100322/000cf1bdd03f0d1147d640.jpg "U.S. President Barack Obama (R) gestures to Vice President Joseph Biden after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the comprehensive health care reform legislation at the White House in Washington, capital of the United States, on March 21, 2010. [Zhang Jun/Xinhua]")
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