The U. S. House this week again passed a measure to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and all eyes have turned to the Senate as the end of the session closes in.
Advocates are urging the Senate to approve the measure before Congress recesses for the holidays, or else it could face a tougher battle next year, when Republicans take control of the House.
As of press time, a vote on repeal had not yet been scheduled in the Senate, but Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said this week he may ask legislators to return to session in the week between Christmas and New Year’s, and even work up until Jan. 4, if important measures still need to be addressed.
The House voted 250-175 Dec. 15 in favor of the repeal legislation. Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th Dist.) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) introduced the bill the day before.
The House bill was put forth under the header Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009, a measure the Senate already passed. By doing so, the House can now send the bill back to the Senate and circumvent a committee vote. Since the Senate already approved the business measure, the bill will be given “privileged status” and be considered before other measures.
The House approved the same repeal measure, sponsored by Murphy, in May as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, 234-194.
However, the defense bill stalled in the Senate this month after procedural squabbling led to the failure of a cloture vote, with nearly all Republicans voting against proceeding on the measure, many of whom said the Senate must first address the tax-cut proposal.
Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the stand-alone repeal measure on Dec. 10.
The Senate bill has 44 cosponsors, including Pennsylvania Sens. Arlen Specter and Bob Casey.
After voting on the tax-cuts measure Wednesday, the Senate voted to begin debate on the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.
In the one-hour debate on the measure prior to Wednesday’s House vote, supporters and opponents picked apart the recent Pentagon report on the law, as well as remarks made by military leaders in Senate hearings.
Several Republicans said Congress was rushing the repeal effort, and that there were more pressing issues lawmakers should focus on, while supporters of the bill commented on the importance and urgency of lifting the law.
Murphy urged his fellow lawmakers to “do what’s right for national security.”
“Enough of the games. Enough of the politics,” Murphy said. “Our troops are the best of the best and deserve a Congress that puts our safety and national security over rigid partisan interests and closed-minded ideology.”