U.S. House passes comprehensive healthcare legislation

WASHINGTON, March 21 (Xinhua) -- After nearly 11 hours of floor debate and multiple votes, U.S. House of Representatives on Sunday night gave its green light to the final healthcare bills, marking a historic victory for President Obama's efforts to reform the nation's healthcare system.

U.S. President Barack Obama addresses a press conference after the U.S. House of  Representatives passed the comprehensive health care reform legislation at the White House in Washington, capital of the United States, on March 21, 2010. The U.S. House of Representatives on Sunday night passed the comprehensive health care reform  legislation, presenting President Barack Obama a major victory in his key domestic  agenda.

In a political two-step, the House firstly passed the Senate version of health insurance reform bill in a completely party-line vote with a margin of 219 to 212. Among the "no" votes, 34 are from defected Democrats.

And it was soon followed by another vote on a "fix-it" bill, also called "reconciliation bill," which includes numerous changes to the Senate bill demanded by congressional Democrats.

The "fix-it" bill cleared the chamber in a 220 to 211 vote, with 33 Democrats defected. It will then head to the Senate, where a floor vote is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he has rounded enough votes to pass it in the upper chamber.

Since the Senate bill has already cleared both chambers, it is now waiting for the president' signature to become law of land. Therefore, no matter if the "fix-it" bill can or can not pass the Senate, the Senate bill as it is still marks the most profound changes in U.S. social welfare system since the enactment of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare in 1965.