Concept Application: Passing the Affordable Care Act and Congressional Processes

Americans had experienced decades of rising healthcare costs when President Barack Obama entered office in January 2009. Previous presidents could not solve this issue, even when their party controlled Congress. President Obama made it part of his early legislative agenda to have Congress pass the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The act proposed many things, such as paying for some health insurance premiums for low-income Americans. 

Parallel bills made their way through the House and Senate before reaching a conference committee. Republicans in the Senate threatened to filibuster any House bill that made buying health insurance a requirement for Americans. However, off-year elections gave Democrats 60 seats, ending the possibility of a filibuster. 

The final ACA bill passed the Senate 60-39 and 219-212 in the House. President Obama signed the ACA into law on March 23, 2010.