US President Barack Obama pressed Congress to hold an up-or-down vote "in the next few weeks" on his historic health care overhaul, with or without support from his Republican foes.
"I believe the United States Congress owes the American people a final vote on health care reform. We have debated this issue thoroughly, not just for the past year, but for decades," he said in a speech at the White House.
Obama signalled his support for Democrats to rely on a parliamentary method, dubbed "reconciliation," that requires a simple majority for passage, blunting the Republicans' ability to kill the bill with delaying tactics.
"I therefore ask leaders in both houses of Congress to finish their work and schedule the vote in the next few weeks," said the president, who made the overhaul his top domestic priority last year.
Democratic congressional aides have said they hope to pass a final bill before the start of a two-week Easter recess at the end of the day on March 26, enabling lawmakers to focus more on the sour US jobs picture in the months ahead of November mid-term elections.
