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US Congress approves 'historic' health care overhaul bill | US Congress has approved a legislation over the nation's health care system along the lines proposed by US
President Barack Obama that would provide medical coverage to millions of uninsured Americans. The bill cleared the House on a 219-212 vote, with Republicans unanimous
in opposition. Congressional officials said that they expected Obama, whose crusade
for such legislation has been a hallmark of his presidency, to sign the bill as
early as Tuesday. Obama had earlier spoken with 92 lawmakers, either in person
or by telephone, for passing the bill, the White House said. The House also passed
a package of changes to the bill and sent it to the Senate, which has promised
to take it up in the coming week. The Democrats hailed the votes as historic and
a long overdue step forward in social justice, comparable to the establishment
of Medicare and Social Security. "This is the civil rights act of the 21st century,"
The New York Times quoted James E. Clyburn, Representative of South Carolina,
as saying. Democrats said that in expanding access to health coverage for uninsured
Americans, the government was creating a new program as important as Social Security
and Medicare, while also putting downward pressure on rising health care costs
and reining in federal budget deficits. According to the Congressional Budget
Office, the health care bill would require most Americans to have health insurance,
would add 16 million people to the Medicaid rolls and would subsidize private
coverage for low- and middle-income people, at a cost to the government of 938
billion dollars over 10 years. It would also require many employers to offer coverage
to employees or pay a penalty. The budget office estimates that the bill would
provide coverage to 32 million uninsured people, but still leave 23 million uninsured
in 2019. Meanwhile, Republicans said the plan would saddle the nation with unaffordable
levels of debt, leave states with expensive new obligations, weaken Medicare and
give the government a huge new role in the health care system. |
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