The 220-215 vote cleared the way for the Senate to begin debate on the issue that has come to overshadow all others in Congress.
A triumphant Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened the legislation to the passage of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare 30 years later.
“It provides coverage for 96 percent of Americans. It offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable health care when they need it,” said Rep. John Dingell, the 83-year-old Michigan lawmaker who has introduced national health insurance in every Congress since succeeding his father in 1955.
U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Marietta, voted against the measure.
"Today’s vote was a tremendously disappointing example of how Speaker Pelosi is willing to ignore the input of the American public and ram a government takeover of our nation’s health care system through Congress," Gingrey said in the press statement. "Both Republicans and Democrats attempted to offer commonsense solutions to this 2,000 page bill written behind closed doors. Unfortunately for the American public, their Democratic leadership was not listening.
“Simply put, this $1.2 trillion bill is just bad for America – particularly at a time when the United States has its highest unemployment rate in the last 26 years and our economy and American families are struggling to recover. H.R. 3962 raises taxes, kills jobs, increases our nation’s debt, cuts benefits for seniors, and puts government bureaucrats between patients and their doctors. That is not what I would call reform.
“However, today’s vote is not our last chance to stop this legislation – and I can promise every American who is deeply concerned about their health care after today’s vote that Republicans remain committed to fighting this government takeover every step of the way. We cannot allow Speaker Pelosi to takeover our health care.”
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