WASHINGTON (KKCO) - On what many are calling an historic night, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed landmark but controversial health care legislation which now awaits President Obama's signature.

The vote came just before 9 p.m. Sunday after a long day of heated debate on the House floor. The bill passed in a 219 - 212 vote. All 178 Republicans voted against it, along with 34 Democrats.

This version of the health care bill, first passed by the Senate in December, now goes to the President's desk to be signed into law. However, its passage does not mark the end of the health care debate in Congress.

The House also passed a second bill Thursday night that makes several changes to the Senate version, many of which House Democratic leadership relied on to secure votes for the first bill. That "reconciliation bill" now heads to the Senate for approval. House Republicans unanimously opposed that bill as well.

After the vote, President Obama gave a brief address on the bill's passage, thanking supporters in Congress for "rising above the weight of our politics" and calling the landmark legislation "a victory for the American people."

"I want to thank every member of Congress who stood up with courage and conviction to make health care reform a reality," says Obama. "I know this wasn't an easy vote for a lot of people. But it was the right vote."

During his remarks, the President also hinted that he may not sign the Senate version of the bill into law until the reconciliation bill is also passed.

"As momentous as this day is, it's not the end of this journey," says Obama. "On Tuesday the Senate will take up revisions to this legislation that the House has embraced. These are revisions that have strengthened this law and have removed provisions that have no place in it."

Members of Colorado's Congressional delegation are also weighing in on the bill's passage.

Congressman Mike Coffman, (R) Colorado, who voted against the bill, issued the following statement: "Our health care system is in desperate need of reform, but this massive government takeover is not the answer. I cannot support a bill that burdens families and small businesses with half a trillion dollars in new job-killing taxes, strips half a trillion dollars from Medicare to fund a new entitlement program, drives up the deficit, and buries our national debt. The assumptions given to the Congressional Budget Office by Democrats are completely unrealistic and disingenuous -- the real cost is more than $2.6 trillion. Our nation simply cannot afford this bill and there are better, common sense solutions that Americans support."

Congressman John Salazar, (D) Coloardo, who voted for the bill, issued the following statement: "Because of today's vote our families and friends, our children and grandchildren won't have to suffer without health coverage or at the hands of a broken insurance system. Today marks the passing of a torch that was carried by Republicans like Teddy Roosevelt and Democrats like Bill Clinton. Now that torch lights the way for all Americans to enjoy a brighter, healthier future. Today, the House of Representatives passed landmark health care reform legislation so that all Americans can have access to quality, affordable medical care and I'm proud to have been a part of it."