The Next Steps Forward Toward Health Insurance Reform
While we are well on our way to achieving fiscally responsible health insurance reform that cuts costs, protects patients’ choice of their doctors, and ensures quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans, there are still a number of steps that Senator Reid and the Senate must take before we can really begin to celebrate.
Below, you will find a general guide to help you follow along as the bill moves through the Senate. It's important for you to know, this is only a general guideline and does not take into account every procedural possibility in the Senate. But we think it's an informative, step-by-step guide that outlines the general path of this critical legislation.
Check back frequently, as we'll be updating this post as the bill moves though the Senate.
1: COMPLETE Congressional Budget Office confirms Senate bill cuts federal deficit, expands affordable healthcare coverage
2: COMPLETE Senator Reid files a motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill on the Senate floor (“Invoke cloture” is just a fancy way of saying the Senate is avoiding a filibuster)
3: COMPLETE Wait two days to give all Senators another opportunity to read the bill (This is required by Senate rules)
4: COMPLETE The Senate votes on whether to invoke cloture and begin debate on the motion to proceed to the bill (This requires 60 votes)
5: COMPLETE The Senate begins debate on the motion to proceed to the bill for up to 30 hours
6: COMPLETE After debate ends, the Senate will vote on the motion to proceed to the bill (This requires 51 votes)
7: COMPLETE If the motion to proceed to a vote to the bill passes, Senator Reid will offer the text of the bill (also known as the substitute amendment) to the Senate chamber and the clerk will report the legislation by number
8: COMPLETE Senators have the right to have the entire bill read aloud, or skip additional readings by unanimous consent
9: COMPLETE Senators then have the opportunity to offer amendments to the bill (This part will take a while because we expect a lot of amendments and prolonged debate on some of the more controversial ones)
10: COMPLETE As we get ready to wrap up debate, the Senate will vote to invoke cloture on the overall bill (This requires 60 votes)
11: COMPLETE Once cloture is invoked, there will be a final 30 hours of debate on the bill with a chance to offer more amendments
12: COMPLETE The Senate votes on passage of the legislation (This requires 51 votes)
After the Senate passes the legislation, the Senate and House version must be merged and approved by both chambers before heading to the White House for President Obama’s signature.
And then we can really celebrate!
The Next Steps Forward Toward Health Insurance Reform
While we are well on our way to achieving fiscally responsible health insurance reform that cuts costs, protects patients’ choice of their doctors, and ensures quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans, there are still a number of steps that Senator Reid and the Senate must take before we can really begin to celebrate.
Below, you will find a general guide to help you follow along as the bill moves through the Senate. It's important for you to know, this is only a general guideline and does not take into account every procedural possibility in the Senate. But we think it's an informative, step-by-step guide that outlines the general path of this critical legislation.
Check back frequently, as we'll be updating this post as the bill moves though the Senate.
1: COMPLETE Congressional Budget Office confirms Senate bill cuts federal deficit, expands affordable healthcare coverage
2: COMPLETE Senator Reid files a motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill on the Senate floor (“Invoke cloture” is just a fancy way of saying the Senate is avoiding a filibuster)
3: COMPLETE Wait two days to give all Senators another opportunity to read the bill (This is required by Senate rules)
4: COMPLETE The Senate votes on whether to invoke cloture and begin debate on the motion to proceed to the bill (This requires 60 votes)
5: COMPLETE The Senate begins debate on the motion to proceed to the bill for up to 30 hours
6: COMPLETE After debate ends, the Senate will vote on the motion to proceed to the bill (This requires 51 votes)
7: COMPLETE If the motion to proceed to a vote to the bill passes, Senator Reid will offer the text of the bill (also known as the substitute amendment) to the Senate chamber and the clerk will report the legislation by number
8: COMPLETE Senators have the right to have the entire bill read aloud, or skip additional readings by unanimous consent
9: COMPLETE Senators then have the opportunity to offer amendments to the bill (This part will take a while because we expect a lot of amendments and prolonged debate on some of the more controversial ones)
10: COMPLETE As we get ready to wrap up debate, the Senate will vote to invoke cloture on the overall bill (This requires 60 votes)
11: COMPLETE Once cloture is invoked, there will be a final 30 hours of debate on the bill with a chance to offer more amendments
12: COMPLETE The Senate votes on passage of the legislation (This requires 51 votes)
After the Senate passes the legislation, the Senate and House version must be merged and approved by both chambers before heading to the White House for President Obama’s signature.
And then we can really celebrate!
