Obama hails health care victory
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US President Barack Obama has scored the biggest victory of his presidency as Congress approved his signature health care reform bill, bringing near-universal coverage to a wealthy country in which tens of millions of people are uninsured.
The measure passed by the House of Representatives last night represents the biggest expansion of the US federal government's social safety net since Medicare and Medicaid were enacted in the 1960s during President Lyndon B Johnson's administration to provide government-funded health care coverage to the elderly and poor.
Although the bill does not provide universal health care, it should expand coverage to about 95% of eligible Americans, compared with 83% today.
The stakes could not have been higher for Obama, who has pushed health care as his top priority since taking office in January 2009.
The issue was seen as pivotal to other issues on the president's ambitious domestic agenda, including immigration reform and climate change legislation.
"I want to thank every member of Congress who stood up with courage and conviction to make health care reform a reality," Obama said.
"I know this wasn't an easy vote for a lot of people. But it was the right vote."
The health care issue is likely to shape the November congressional election, when Republicans try to capture control of both chambers. Democrats will campaign on having overhauled a system that has made both health care and insurance unaffordable for many.
Republicans say the bill will ultimately increase taxes and damage the quality of health care and has little public support.
Widely viewed as dead two months ago, the Senate-passed bill cleared the House on a 219-212 vote, with Republicans unanimous in opposition.
Press Association
