US House passes healthcare legislation

The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives has narrowly approved a controversial US healthcare overhaul that would give insurance to millions of uninsured Americans.

Lawmakers on Saturday voted 220-215 for a 10-year, trillion-dollar plan to extend health coverage to some 36 million Americans.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened the legislation to the passage of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare 30 years later.

Rep. John Dingell, the longest serving Representative who has introduced national health insurance in every Congress since succeeding his father in 1955 said that "the bill provides coverage for 96 percent of Americans. It offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable health care when they need it."

The chamber's Democrats erupted in loud cheers and triumphant applause the moment the bill had the 218 votes needed for passage.

The battle now moves to the US Senate, which is working on its own version that has stalled there for weeks as Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid searches for an approach that can win the 60 votes it needs.

If, as expected, the two chambers pass rival versions of health care legislation, they will need to thrash out a compromise version and approve it in order to send it to US President Barack Obama to sign into law.

The United States is the only industrialized democracy that does not ensure all of its citizens.