美国国会参议院更加接近于本星期晚些时候通过一项具有里程碑意义的医保改革法案。
星期二早些时候，参议院占多数的民主党人和他们的独立派盟友获得中断对此议案进行辩论的60张多数票，将议案的通过又向前推进一步。他们还通过了一些其他改革方案。这项议案将于圣诞节的除夕夜星期四表决。星期三还将进行另外一轮程序性表决。
奥巴马总统一直将这一法案的通过作为国内工作的重点之一。 他星期二对记者说，在参议院完成医保改革法案之前，他不会离开华盛顿去过圣诞节。
参议院目前仍在对这项医保改革法案进行辩论，共和党人认为，这项议案费用过于庞大。这项议案将向目前没有医疗保险的3100万美国人提供保险，并禁止保险公司以原有病状为由拒绝承保。
The U.S. Senate is moving closer to passing landmark health care reform legislation later this week.
Early Tuesday, majority Democrats and their independent allies got the 60 votes needed to cut off debate on the bill, and help move the legislation forward. They also approved a package of changes.The measure is advancing toward a final vote late Thursday, Christmas Eve. There will be another procedural vote on Wednesday.
President Barack Obama has made passing health care reform a top domestic priority. He told reporters Tuesday he will not leave Washington for the holiday until the Senate finishes its work on health care.
Debate on the measure continues in the Senate, with minority Republicans arguing that the legislation is too expensive.The proposed legislation would extend coverage to 31 million Americans now without health insurance, and ban insurance companies from denying benefits because of pre-existing medical conditions.