The US Congress has given its final approval to President Barack Obama's landmark health care bill. It is the most significant piece of US social legislation for decades and provides health insurance to more than 30 million Americans for the first time. The President will now sign the bill into law. Jubilant at the passage of the bill by the House of Representatives, Obama said it is a major reform and a victory for the American people, shortly before the historic bill was passed by 219 to 212 votes.Obama, who put his presidency at stake and postponed his foreign trips for the passage of the bill, congratulated the Congress for passing his signature legislative goal, which is sweeping overhaul of the American health insurance system as it will provide coverage for nearly all Americans.The Democratic lawmakers said that in expanding access to health coverage for uninsured Americans, they were creating a new program every bit as important as Social Security and Medicare.Republicans said the plan would saddle the nation with unaffordable levels of debt, leave states with expensive new obligations, weaken Medicare and give the government a huge new role in the health care system.