Obamacare revision bill clears first hurdle in House committee

Washington

A KEY committee in the US House of Representatives approved a Republican proposal to replace the Affordable Care Act before dawn on Thursday morning after roughly 18 hours of debate, awarding the bill its first procedural victory even as opposition mounted from conservatives, Democrats and health care industry groups.

The House Ways and Means Committee voted 23-16 to advance the American Health Care Act shortly before 4.30am. Committee chairman Kevin Brady called the move historic and praised President Donald Trump, who has vowed to counter resistance to the bill with his own campaign-style effort.