U.S. Senate votes to move health care reform bill forward

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate voted on Saturday night to move an overhaul health care reform bill forward, removing the first procedural hurdle for the bill to be passed in the chamber.

Supported by all of the 60 Democratic and independent senators, the bill was voted to be in a full-scale debate in the Senate starting Nov. 30 after this year's Thanksgiving holiday.

However, all Republican senators said no to the Democrats-backed bill except one who missed the voting.

Earlier reports said that the debate over the bill was expected to last as long as three weeks before the Senate can vote on the legislation.

So far, the Democratic party has gained commitment of all the 60 Democratic and independent senators to the passage of the bill without further changes.

According to the 2,074- page bill unveiled on Wednesday, the overhaul health care reform bill would expand health insurance coverage to 30 million more Americans.