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America stands on brink of 'historic' healthcare reform
Paul Thompson in Miami09.11.09
Barack Obama today urged the Senate to ensure the biggest shake-up in America's healthcare system is completed.
The president said the approval by the House of Representatives of a healthcare Bill that will bring medical cover to an extra 36million Americans was "historic".
He praised members for their "courageous" 220-214 vote and said he was certain the Senate would pass its own version.
The legislation will result in private insurance companies having their monopoly on healthcare challenged by a government-run scheme known as the "public option". Under the plan no one with a pre-existing condition will be denied treatment.
Mr Obama said: "The House brought us closer than we have ever been to comprehensive health insurance reform in America.
"Now it falls on the 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."
Attention will now focus on the 100-seat senate where the support of all 60 Democrat senators will be needed for the Bill to pass.
If it is passed, politicians from both houses will try to reconcile their versions before the president can sign the programme into law.
Mr Obama referred to cancer survivor Katie Gibson in his remarks at the White House yesterday. He said she was denied healthcare cover by her insurer because of a medical condition.
He said: "I told her that it was because of the extraordinary activism that she and people like her all across the country displayed that we are finally this close to getting reform done."
