Obama, House Democrats Eye Health Reform Action in July
President Barack Obama and House Democratic leaders on Wednesday agreed to work to complete health care reform legislation in the House by the August recess.Emerging from an Oval Office meeting that included Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and the chairmen of several committees that will be involved in writing the legislation, Obama declared that “we don’t have any excuses— for not completing a bill.“The stars are aligned,— Obama said in a statement outside the Oval Office as the lawmakers looked on. “We have got to get it done this year, both in the House and the Senate.— Pelosi indicated she was optimistic the House would meet the ambitious target of moving the bill before Congress departs for its summer vacation. “Our legislation will be on the floor by the end of July, I am quite certain,— she said.