Senate timeline

We keep saying it every week: We're closer than ever to making health reform history. But, today, we could not mean it more. Really. We are on the brink of seeing comprehensive health reform legislation passed in the United States Senate.

So exactly where are we in the process? Well, to be honest, even those of us who work on health reform have a hard time keeping up. But we thought we'd try our best to fill you in on how things are shaping up as we move closer to the Christmas holiday.

It is important to point out that the Senate has many technical rules it has to abide by. One of these rules requires senators to vote to end debate. The minority party has used every tool at its disposal to prolong this debate, so in order for the Senate to vote on a final bill, it must go through three procedural hurdles first to actually end the debate. Each hurdle-or cloture vote-requires 60 senators to pass. The final bill will only require a simple majority-or 51 votes-to pass.

With this in mind, here is an anticipated timeline. We expect the Senate to take arguably its most critical vote Monday, December 21. This will be a procedural vote that requires 60 senators to agree to in order for it to pass. The Senate will then need to take a couple additional procedural votes, followed by an up or down vote on the final bill. This means that there could be four votes that take place before the bill will pass, and senators might just have to wake up on Christmas Eve, Christmas or even the morning after Christmas day, December 26, to cast their votes for the final passage of this bill.

Keep in mind that timelines in Washington are always subject to change. That's why it's so vitally important that you continue to call your senators to remind them what's on your holiday wish list: Historic legislation that would provide stable, quality, affordable health coverage to more Americans. We cannot afford to wait. Call the Capitol Switchboard today at 1-800-828-0498 and ask to speak to your senator.