Washington DC:
US President Barack Obama and his family departed for his home state of Hawaii on Thursday where they will spend Christmas.
Obama, US First lady Michelle Obama and their daughters, Malia, 11, and Sasha, eight, boarded Air Force One shortly after Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill in a climactic Christmas Eve vote.
The vote could define Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in United States history.
The bill passed in a 60-39 vote, capping months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate.
Obama hailed the Senate passage of the bill and said his government was now "poised to deliver on the promise" of overhauling the troubled health care system.
Before Obama boarded the plane to Hawaii, he delivered holiday messages to members of the US military.
He wished the troops a merry Christmas and thanked them for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Obama, US First lady Michelle Obama and their daughters, Malia, 11, and Sasha, eight, boarded Air Force One shortly after Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill in a climactic Christmas Eve vote.
The vote could define Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in United States history.
The bill passed in a 60-39 vote, capping months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate.
Obama hailed the Senate passage of the bill and said his government was now "poised to deliver on the promise" of overhauling the troubled health care system.
Before Obama boarded the plane to Hawaii, he delivered holiday messages to members of the US military.
He wished the troops a merry Christmas and thanked them for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
