The House of Representatives passed the historic health care reform bill on March 21, following a compromise restricting women's access to insurance for abortions, in order to gain the votes of anti-choice Democrats needed for passage of the bill. That group of legislators includes Bart Stupak, the author of the highly restrictive Stupak amendment. The somewhat less restrictive Nelson admendment is now law, as it was part of the Senate health reform bill passed by the House.
President Obama agreed to issue an executive order clarifying that the Hyde amendment annual ban on the use of federal funds for abortion would apply to the health reform bill, promising not to rescind the order during his term of office. The President signed the health reform bill into law on March 23.
The House also passed a "reconciliation" bill to revise and improve the health reform legislation. The next step is for the Senate to consider the reconciliation bill. Opponents, mainly Republicans, promise to do all they can to undercut Democratic efforts to quickly pass the bill.
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