The House and Senate versions of a bill must be "similar" before the bill goes to the president.
Here's why:
1. When a bill is passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate, both chambers need to agree on the same version of the bill before it can be sent to the president for approval or veto.
2. While the House and Senate versions don't need to be identical word-for-word, they do need to have similar provisions, goals, and intentions to ensure that both chambers are in agreement on the key aspects of the bill.
3. If the versions of the bill passed by the House and Senate are too different, a conference committee may be formed to reconcile the differences and create a compromise version that both chambers can approve before sending it to the president.
In conclusion, for a bill to move forward to the president's desk, the House and Senate versions must be similar in content and purpose.
