Step 5: House and Senate Bills Reconciled and Passed
(this step has been completed)
Overview of the Process
The House and Senate have passed different versions of a health care bill. Now, these bills will go through a process called a "conference," where they will reconcile the different pieces of legislation into one bill. That one bill will then go back to the House and to the Senate for final passage. If the legislation is modified in the next round of votes by the House or the Senate, the alternate body will then need to vote on the amended legislation (or a subsequent conference will need to be held). Alternatively, one body could amend the other one's bill and then pass it, sending it back to the first body for final passage.
In another formulation of the process, one House of Congress could pass a set of "fixes" to their or the other Houses's bill. For example, the House could pass fixes to the Senate bill, send those fixes to the Senate for approval, after which the House would approve the original Senate health care bill and send both bills to the President's desk for signatures.
The legislation will need a majority of support in each house to pass, and the final bill would be subject to a filibuster in the Senate if it is moved through "regular order," which means 60 votes will be needed to cut off debate and proceed, but would not be subject to a filibuster if the Senate uses the "budget reconciliation" process to pass a bill.
Where We Are Now
The House of Representatives passed their health care bill on Novermber 7th, 2009 with a vote of 220-215 (roll call, full bill). The bill has the choice of a public health insurance option, tax credits to make health care affordable, asks employers to pitch in their fair share, and covers 96% of Americans according to the CBO (5 million more than the Senate bill). This is the first time in our country's history that the House has passed a comprehensive health care bill. (You can find out how your Representative voted by clicking here.)
Two amendments were offered in the House, a Republican substitute amendment which failed to pass, 176-258 (roll call), and an amendment offered by Congressman Stupak (D-MI) which would prohibit any health care plan in the new Exchange from offering abortion coverage. The Stupak amendment passed, 240-194 (roll call).
Similarly, the Senate passed their health care bill on December 24th, 2009 with a vote of 60-39 (roll call, full bill). The bill lacks a public health insurance option, doesn't provide enough tax credits to make health care affordable for low- and moderate-income families, taxes health benefits to pay for reform, and doesn't ask employers to cover employees with good health insurance. It covers 94% of Americans according to the CBO.
On March 21st, the House passed the Senate bill with a vote of 219-212 (roll call). The President signed that bill into law on March 23rd. The House also passed a package of improvement (full bill [pdf]) to the Senate bill which have been taken up by the Senate. The improvements in the Senate make health insurance more affordable for the middle class, repeal the "special deals" in the original Senate bill, and dramatically lessen the burden of the excise tax on working families.
On March 25th, the Senate approved the House's improvements with a vote of 56-43 (roll call). The House then approved the package once again (a few technical changes were made in the Senate, necessitating another House vote) on March 25th with a vote of 220-207 (roll call).
Where We Are Going
The improvements are being sent to President Obama for his signature. We expect this step to be completed by March 30th.
What You Can Do To Help
We will need all the tools in our arsenal to ensure the Health Care for America Now principles make it into the final, reconciled bill and that this bill passes both the House and the Senate. Our efforts are focused around our letter, which outlines what we need to see in a final bill. Here's how you can help:
- Call your Representative - The House may vote as soon as the week of March 15th. Call your Representative and urge them to vote YES.
- Sign the letter - Join national organizations, experts, and thousands of grassroots supporters. Sign the letter asking for changes and send it to President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Majority Leader Reid.
- Call Congress - Congress must get the message that we need to finish reform, finish it right, and finish it now. Call them to tell them today!
- Forward the letter to friends - It's crucial that leaders in Congress and the President hear from as many people as possible about the changes that must be made.
- Donate to the campaign - We're raising money to put an ad on the air pressuring Congress and the President to finish reform right and make the changes we need.
- Volunteer in your state - Health Care for America Now has grassroots offices in 42 states and grassroots supporters in all 50. Get involved in the effort in your state and in your community to help us pressure Congress and win quality, affordable health care for all in 2009.
