This was a procedural vote on a resolution setting a time limit for debate and prohibiting amendments to legislation repealing a major health care law enacted in 2010 which provided health insurance to more than 30 million uninsured Americans, prohibited health insurance companies from denying coverage to people with preexisting medical conditions, and required nearly all Americans to obtain health insurance. If passed, this particular procedural motion -- known as the “previous question" -- effectively ends debate and brings the pending legislation to an immediate vote.

President Obama signed the health care reform measure into law in March 2010 over fierce Republican opposition. No Republicans in the House or Senate voted for the legislation. During the 2010 midterm election campaign – which culminated in the Democrats losing control of the House of Representatives – Republicans vowed to hold a vote on repealing the health care reform law.

Rep. David Dreier (R-CA) urged support for the resolution and the underlying bill repealing health care reform: “Just as predicted, the so-called [health care reform] reform bill [law] is having very real negative consequences for our economy and our job market. It is putting enormous burdens on job creators, particularly small businesses, at a time that is already one of the most difficult that we have faced, imposing significant new burdens and penalties while the unemployment rate remains above 9 percent….So we still are dealing with very, very serious economic challenges, and that's why we need to take a commonsense approach to, first, repeal this measure and then deal with solutions.”

 Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) urged opposition to the resolution and the underlying bill: “This is what the Republicans are after, what their repeal would mean: It would take away from millions of Americans coverage for kids with pre-existing conditions, coverage for young adults under 26. Recommended preventive care would be taken away. It would take away lower drug costs for seniors….It would give back to insurance companies unreasonable premium increases, unjust policy terminations, rescissions [in which a health insurance company terminates one’s coverage, usually when that person becomes sick]. It would take away this. It would give back profits and CEO salaries to insurance companies...”

The House agreed to the previous question motion by a vote of 236-182. All 234 Republicans present and 2 Democrats voted “yea.” 182 Democrats voted “nay.” As a result, the House proceeded to a final vote on a resolution setting a time limit for debate and prohibiting amendments to legislation repealing a major health care law enacted in 2010 which provided health insurance to 30 million uninsured Americans, prohibited health insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions, and required nearly all Americans to obtain health insurance.