US Congress Passes Historic Health Care Bill

The United States has taken a major step toward providing near-universal medical coverage for all its citizens. On Sunday the US Congress voted 219-212 to send a bill to President Obama's desk that would expand coverage to millions of Americans, prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to people with "pre-existing" conditions, and (theoretically at least) reduce deficits over the next few decades.

The bill, once signed into law, could completely transform the country and cause huge changes in the Amercian insurance and health care industries. According to President Obama:

"This is what change looks like... We proved that this government — a government of the people and by the people — still works for the people."

Learn some mo': House sends health care bill to Obama's desk