Yesterday afternoon H.R. 6331 was passed by unanimous consent after a veto-proof cloture motion of 69 to 30. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), who was not expected to be back until after the August recess, returned for the vote.

Washington, DC-Yesterday afternoon H.R. 6331 was passed by unanimous consent after a veto-proof cloture motion of 69 to 30. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), who was not expected to be back until after the August recess, returned for the vote.

President Bush had threatened to veto the bill, however, it is now veto-proof, according to a statement issued by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Under the terms of a previous unanimous consent agreement, the bill was agreed to and passed after the successful cloture vote. The 18 Republicans who voted for cloture were Sens. Lamar Alexander (TN), Saxby Chambliss (GA), Norm Coleman (MN), Susan Collins (ME), Bob Corker (TN), James Cornyn (TX), Elizabeth Dole (NC), Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), Johnny Isakson (GA), Mel Martinez (FL), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Pat Roberts (KS), Gordon Smith (OR), Olympia Snowe (ME), Arlen Specter (PA), Ted Stevens (AK), George Voinovich (OH), and John Warner (VA) The bill now goes to President Bush for his signature.