Big day for Kennedy

Even without him there in person, it was a big day on Capitol Hill for Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

His bill to extend federal hate crimes protections to gays and the disabled made it to the Senate floor with its best prospects since Kennedy, who is fighting brain cancer, first introduced the bill in 1997.

Democrats control both the Senate and House, which passed a version in April, and President Obama supports the legislation as well. The bill, named for Matthew Shepard, the gay Wyoming college student who was beaten to death, would add gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability to current hate crimes law, which applies to acts of violence motivated by prejudice against a person's race, color, national origin, or religion.

Earlier in the day, the Senate health committee became the first congressional panel to pass a healthcare bill this year -- a measure designed to expand insurance coverage, rein in costs, and stop private insurers from discriminating against people based on their medical history.

“This is an historic day for the cause of health care reform that is the cause of Senator Kennedy’s life," Senator John F. Kerry, Kennedy's fellow Massachusetts Democrat, said in a statement.

"Each day I work beside Ted Kennedy is an honor, a privilege, and an education in what it means to be a legislator, and of those thousands of days, none have been sweeter or longer in coming than today’s giant step forward in providing affordable healthcare to all Americans. The HELP Committee under Ted and Chris Dodd’s extraordinary guidance passed a plan that will help all those struggling under the weight of mounting costs by encouraging competition and offering a robust public choice that empowers consumers and keeps the big interests honest. The Senate under Ted Kennedy’s leadership is committed to a healthcare plan that drives down costs, strengthens coverage, and preserves personal choice. This is Teddy’s mission, and we’re committed to making his dream a reality.”