First the Senate leadership said it would blow past President Barack Obama's deadline for passing health-care legislation by Congress's August recess.

Now the House is saying it will follow suit.

NPR's David Welna filed the following report for the network's newscast:

WELNA: House Majority leader Steny Hoyer's announcement that the House won't vote on a health care bill before September follows a similar health care vote postponement by the Senate's Majority leader, Harry Reid.

President Obama had hoped that both chambers of Congress would not leave for the August recess without first passing health care bills.

But Hoyer said there's not enough time to allow proper consideration of such legislation before leaving, since one House committee has yet to approve a health care bill that two other committees have already considered. Hoyer promised that the third committee will complete the bill before the August break.

 

HOYER: And we have every intention of passing a health care reform bill and sending it to President Obama for his signature by the fall.

WELNA: President Obama has said he wants to sign a revamping of healthcare by the end of the year.

The House's leadership is also reluctant to move forward before the Senate does, fearing that if the other chamber fails to pass a bill, House Democrats could be left vulnerable because of their yes votes, especially Democrats in more moderate or conservative districts.