WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy on Wednesday made his first appearance in Congress since being diagnosed with brain cancer nearly two months ago , casting a single vote to help break a Republican filibuster of an important Medicare bill . Colleagues greeted Kennedy with a lengthy standing ovation on the Senate floor just after 4:15 p.m . The bill would reverse a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors . The cuts in Medicare payments -- part of a scheduled cost-saving formula -- went into effect July 1 , although the Bush administration said it will hold off processing claims until mid-July to give Congress time to reach a compromise . In a written statement , Kennedy said , `` I return to the Senate today to keep a promise to our senior citizens -- and that 's to protect Medicare . Win , lose or draw , I wanted to be here . I was n't going to take the chance that my vote could make the difference . '' Watch the senators applaud Kennedy 's arrival » . A vote on the bill before the July 4 recess fell one shy of the 60 needed to clear a Republican filibuster and advance in the Senate . Senate Republicans joined the White House in objecting to the Democratic-backed bill because it trimmed government support for private insurance programs that provide coverage to Medicare patients . The private Medicare programs are a top policy initiative for Republicans . White House spokesman Tony Fratto says the president 's senior advisers would still advise the president to veto the bill in its current form . The vote to end the GOP filibuster on the Medicare bill was 69-30 , nine more than the 60 votes needed and two more than needed to override a presidential veto . The senators agreed to consider the bill passed if the filibuster were broken . Kennedy had surgery to remove a tumor June 2 and is now undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment . Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid talked to Kennedy 's wife , Vicki , twice since Sunday about having Kennedy return for the vote , the source said . Reid `` was not pushing , just asking , '' the source said . Interactive : A closer look at Ted Kennedy » . Kennedy is chairman of the Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Committee and is an influential Democrat on health-care issues . Some members of the Democratic leadership thought it would be a `` great idea '' if Kennedy were able to return because it would `` buck up '' Democratic senators who worked hard to pass the stalled bill , the source said .
Note : Sen. Kennedy returns to Congress on Wednesday . Note : Kennedy 's death helps to break GOP support of Medicare reform . He was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor two months ago .