US Congress passes historic health care bill

Congress extended health care to tens of millions of uninsured Americans with a historic vote that capped a century-long quest for near universal coverage and handed a massive triumph to Barack Obama's young presidency.

The stakes could not have been higher for Obama. Opposition Republicans hoped that by blocking the legislation, they would be able to thwart the president's ambitious domestic agenda, including immigration reform and climate change legislation.

Widely viewed as dead two months ago, the Senate-passed bill cleared the House on Sunday night on a 219-212 vote, with Republicans unanimous in opposition. Congressional officials said they expected Obama to sign the bill as early as Tuesday.

Obama watched the vote in the White House's Roosevelt Room with Vice President Joe Biden and about 40 staff aides. When the long sought 216th vote came in - the magic number needed for passage - the room burst into applause and hugs. An exultant president exchanged a high-five with his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.

"We proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things," the president said a short while later in televised remarks. "We proved that this government - a government of the people and by the people - still works for the people."

Immediately following the vote, Democrats turned back a Republican move to undo the bill by a vote of 219-212. Republicans argued the legislation would permit the use of federal money to pay for abortions.

"We will be joining those who established Social Security, Medicare and now, tonight, health care for all Americans," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi before the vote, referring the government's pension program and health insurance for the elderly established nearly 50 years ago.

Under the legislation, most Americans would be required to purchase insurance, and face penalties if they refused. Much of the money in the bill would be devoted to subsidies to help families at incomes of up to $88,000 a year pay their premiums.

The legislation would also usher in a significant expansion of Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor.

The insurance industry would come under new federal regulation. They would be forbidden from placing lifetime dollar limits on policies, from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions and from canceling policies when a policyholder becomes ill.

Parents would be able to keep older children on their coverage up to age 26. A new high-risk pool would offer coverage to uninsured people with medical problems until 2014, when the coverage expansion goes into high gear.

Obama hails healthcare vote as historic victory

Obama on Sunday hailed the vote as a victory for the American people that answered the call of history.

"Today's vote answers the prayers of every American who has hoped deeply for something to be done about a healthcare system that works for insurance companies but not for ordinary people," Obama told reporters in the White House East Room.

He called the vote "another stone firmly laid in the foundation of the American dream" and said it would help people who lack insurance get access to coverage but would also help those who already have insurance.

"If you have health insurance this reform just gave you more control by reining the worst excesses and abuses of the insurance industry with some of the toughest consumer protections this country has ever known so that you are actually getting what you pay for," he said.