Pelosi marks 70th birthday by sending final healthcare legislation to Obama

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is marking her 70th birthday by sending to President Obama the final piece of legislation to overhaul the nation’s healthcare system.

The measure contains fixes to the sweeping healthcare bill that Obama signed into law on Tuesday, including better benefits for seniors and low-income families.

Pelosi praised the legislation during an enrollment ceremony, the last procedure before a bill goes to the president. Cheering supporters presented her with a chocolate cake and sang “Happy Birthday.”

The legislation includes a far-reaching transformation of college education aid, taking away the middleman role of banks in federal student loans and putting the government in charge. The savings will increase Pell Grants to needy students and make it easier for many college graduates to repay loans, officials said.

-- Associated Press