Vote is 219 to 212 for universal but private health care for all Americans

House Speaker Pelosi invoking the memory of Senator Ted Kennedy asking Congress to vote for health care reform

The devil is in the details but there is no doubt tonight that US citizens will have universal health care. The battle was contentious down to the end with Republicans calling it a big mistake.

President Barack Obama is expected to quickly sign the bill into law.

Reconciliation of the Senate and Congressional bills is expected to take several weeks.

The pivotal negotiations for swing Democrats removed abortion funding from the bill. There are thousands of details that will need to be determined but the bill has passed and Americans will have universal health care.

178 Republicans opposed the bill along with 34 Democrats. (CNN)