CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire's House took two steps Wednesday toward implementing President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law, voting to accept a $5.3 million grant to help consumers understand the law and attempting to salvage a bill that would align state insurance rules with the federal changes.

The federal grant was awarded to the state Insurance Department in April, but legislative approval is required to accept it. It was tacked onto an unrelated bill Wednesday, approved by the House on a vote of 179-132 and sent back to the Senate. In a 170-113 vote, the House also re-affirmed its support for bringing state insurance rules in line with the federal law. After passing a bill in March, the House added that bill's language as an amendment to an unrelated measure Wednesday as a backup given that the Senate appears poised to kill the original.

Opponents of accepting the grant money argued that public outreach should be left to the federal government. But supporters argued that the community health centers, hospitals and other organizations that know New Hampshire's uninsured population best should play a leading role in educating them about the complicated law.