This was a final vote on the passage of Senate Bill 331 (S. 331). After a period of debate and consideration of potential changes, the Senate moved to decide whether the bill as a whole should be approved. In the U.S. Senate, a vote on passage is the final step for a piece of legislation in that chamber. It signifies that a majority of Senators agree with the bill's provisions and want it to move forward in the legislative process. Because this was a standard bill, it required a simple majority of those present to pass. The bill passed with overwhelming support from both parties, with 84 senators voting in favor and 16 against. Having cleared this hurdle, the bill will now be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. If the House passes an identical version, the bill can then be sent to the President to be signed into law.