PRESIDENT Barack Obama said last night it was time for the Senate to take action after the House narrowly passed a far-reaching plan for overhauling the US health care system.
"For years we've been told that this couldn't be done," Mr Obama said in a brief statement from the White House Rose Garden. "But last night the House proved different."
The Democratic-controlled House late on Saturday passed its health care refor
m legislation, 220-215, but the road ahead in the Senate for Mr Obama's top domestic priority promises to be tougher.
The president said the House vote took courage for many lawmakers because of the heated and often misleading rhetoric that accompanied debate over how the legislation would change the system. He made a rare Saturday visit to Capitol Hill hours before the vote to lobby wavering Democrats.
"Now it falls on the United States Senate to take the baton and bring this effort to the finish line on behalf of the American people, and I'm absolutely confident that they will," Mr Obama said.
"I'm equally convinced that on the day that we gather here at the White House and I sign comprehensive health insurance reform legislation into law, they'll be able to join their House colleagues and say this was their finest moment in public service."
Republicans have vowed to do all they can to stop the Democratic plan, which they contend will cost jobs, raise insurance rates and lead to huge tax increases. The Senate has yet to schedule debate on its version of health care reform.
House Republicans were nearly unanimous in opposing the plan that would expand coverage to tens of millions of Americans who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. But in the Senate, more than a simple majority is needed for passage, and several centrist Democrats still have reservations.
"The House bill is dead on arrival in the Senate," Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said. "It was a bill written by liberals for liberals."
A Democratic colleague, Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, predicted an overhaul would pass the Senate because "it's essential" to the country's economic success and people's quality of life. "It will take time," he added.
The House bill is projected to expand coverage to 36 million uninsured, or 96 per cent of Americans. The United States is the only developed nation that does not have a comprehensive national health care plan.
A triumphant House Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened the legislation to the passage of the government's Social Security pension program in 1935 and Medicare health insurance for the elderly 30 years later.
Republicans detailed their objections across hours of debate on the 1,990-page, ten-year $1.2 trillion legislation.
"We are going to have a complete government takeover of our health care system faster than you can say, 'this is making me sick,"' said Republican Candice Miller of Michigan.
In the run-up to a final vote, conservatives from the two political parties joined forces to impose tough new restrictions on abortion coverage in insurance policies to be sold to many individuals and small groups.
The legislation would require most Americans to carry insurance and provide federal subsidies to those who otherwise could not afford it. Large companies would have to offer coverage to their employees.
Insurance industry practices such as denying coverage because of medical conditions would be banned.
