A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers, including Democratic Rep. Tom Allen, proposed legislation on Tuesday to help small businesses get health insurance.

The bill would allow small businesses in different states to band together to purchase health insurance. The goal is to spread risk across more groups of people to help small business owners bargain for more affordable insurance premiums and lower administrative costs.

The bill includes tax incentives to help small business owners offset the administrative costs of buying health insurance.

“It is time we put together the notion that if we are going to treat people fairly and give them access to quality, affordable health care we have to target the small business community first,” Allen said at a press conference. “This is going to make health insurance for the small business community less expensive and higher quality.”

Sen. Olympia Snowe, a Republican, introduced a similar bipartisan bill in April.

Both proposals have support from groups normally at odds with one another, including the National Federation of Independent Businesses and the Service Employees International Union.

In Maine, there are about 124,000 people who lack health insurance, according to government data. People who work for small businesses or are self-employed make up more than half of that uninsured total, according to Maine's Bureau of Insurance.

The Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, Congress’ tax-writing panels, would have to review the proposals before a vote on the House floor.

It is unclear if Congress has the time to pass the bill this year. Congress will recess over the July 4 weekend and for most of August. It will recess again in October so lawmakers can campaign for re-election.