House could work on healthcare reform bill into late December

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Wednesday that he is prepared to extend the House healthcare schedule into late December in order to pass healthcare reform.

Two weeks ago, Hoyer said that the House could work as late as Nov. 24 in order to pass healthcare reform. Now he says that the House could be in session as late as Dec. 22 to vote on a final bill should it emerge from conference.

"As action on health insurance reform legislation moves to the Senate, the House is updating its schedule for November and December to reflect that, and to ensure there is time to complete our work on other important issues," Hoyer said in a statement.

The House passed its version of healthcare reform legislation on Saturday. Now the Senate must pass its healthcare bill. Should the bill pass the Senate, a conference committee composed of lawmakers from both chambers will produce a conference report, or final bill, which the House and Senate must approve for the bill to become law.