LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor joined fellow Democrats as the U.S. Senate passed a landmark health care bill.
The Christmas Eve vote was 60-39 with 58 Democrats and two independents voting “yes” while Republicans unanimously voted “no.”
Lincoln said in a statement that the legislation is a large step toward extending health insurance coverage to 400,000 Arkansans and 31 million Americans.
Pryor said in a statement that he believes it will make health coverage more affordable, reliable and accessible.
The bill must still be merged with legislation passed by the House before President Obama could sign a final bill in the new year.