The 15-7 vote Thursday evening in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee comes a month after President Barack Obama expressed frustration with Congress' inability to fix the law despite widespread agreement that it's flawed. He said states could seek waivers around some of its requirements if they meet certain requirements.
The committee vote is one of the most significant efforts to update the law since it was passed in 2002.
Committee Chairman Tom Harkin of Iowa says the Senate is expected to take up the measure later this year.
