WASHINGTON (March 21, 2010)—U.S. House Democratic leaders were predicting Sunday the health care bill will get at least the 216 votes it needs to pass later in the day, even though they're still nailing down commitments.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told NBC's "Meet the Press" that some members are still "trying to make up their minds."

The Democrats' vote-counting whip in the House, James Clyburn of South Carolina, said some of the undecided lawmakers want greater assurances that no federal money would be used for elective abortions.

Democrats have raised the possibility that those concerns could be alleviated if President Barack Obama issued an executive order reiterating long-standing law barring federal aid for abortions except in cases of rape, incest and a threat to the life of the mother.

Clyburn said more will be known about that possibility by Sunday afternoon.

One Democrat who had been concerned about the abortion issue, Ohio's Marcy Kaptur, says she has decided to vote for the bill.

She said she's convinced it will maintain existing law on abortion.

The potentially historic House session to decide the fate of the health care overhaul involves not one vote, but three.

The first will be on a "rule" to establish debate guidelines.

The next will consider a package of changes to a Senate-passed bill, including deletion of special Medicaid benefits for Nebraska.

The last will be an up or down vote on the bill already approved by the Senate, which has been the focus of intense national debate for months.

If it passes President Barack Obama would sign that bill, and the Senate would vote on the changes measure approved by the House.

House Democrats need 216 votes each time, and the legislation's fate lies in the hands of about 20 Democrats who remained uncommitted.

Republicans remain resolutely opposed to the measure, and don't concede defeat, but warn they will make Democrats pay dearly in the fall elections if the fiercely debated measure becomes law.