The Senate health care bill mandates that all companies must provide their employees with health coverage.  The one exemption to that mandate is that small businesses, companies with 50 employees or less, are not subject to that health care requirement.  Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) proposed an amendment which excludes construction firms (and only construction firms) from the small business exemption.  The Merkley Amendment 's language was never voted on, but was added to the health care bill at the last minute.  The Senate will vote on the entire health care package on Christmas Eve.

In other words, construction firms with five employees or more will now be required, by federal law, to provide their employees with health coverage.