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The House rejected a procedural effort by Democrats to send a health care bill back to committee. This failed vote allowed the bill, which expands health insurance options for small businesses, to move to a final vote.
This vote was a procedural challenge to H.R. 6703, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act. The bill proposes changes to federal law to allow small businesses and self-employed individuals to form 'Association Health Plans.' This would allow different types of businesses to join together to purchase health insurance as a single group, potentially lowering costs for their employees. A 'Motion to Recommit' is a tool used by the minority party to make a final attempt to stop a bill before it passes. Under current House rules, this motion simply seeks to send the bill back to a committee for further review. If successful, it usually ends the bill's chances of moving forward in its current form. The motion failed on a strict party-line vote of 210 to 218. Because the motion was defeated, the House was able to proceed immediately to a final vote on the bill itself. All voting Democrats supported the move to delay the bill, while all but one Republican voted to move forward.
Immediately following this vote, the House held a final vote on H.R. 6703, which passed and was subsequently sent to the Senate for consideration.
OPEN BILL →Democrats. The Democratic caucus voted unanimously 'yes' to send the bill back to committee, acting as a unified opposition.
Republicans. The Republican caucus voted 'no' to defeat the motion and protect the bill's path to final passage.
The House rejected a procedural effort by Democrats to send a health care bill back to committee.
This failed vote allowed the bill, which expands health insurance options for small businesses, to move to a final vote.
A Motion to Recommit is the minority party's last-ditch effort to stall a bill. In the current era, it is a procedural move to send the bill back to committee, which effectively kills or indefinitely delays the legislation.
Immediately following this vote, the House held a final vote on H.R. 6703, which passed and was subsequently sent to the Senate for consideration.
The vote was entirely partisan, with Democrats united in trying to block the bill and Republicans united in moving it forward.
The Democratic caucus voted unanimously 'yes' to send the bill back to committee, acting as a unified opposition.
The Republican caucus voted 'no' to defeat the motion and protect the bill's path to final passage.
The lone independent member voted with the Republican majority to reject the motion.