Outgoing Pennsylvania Representative
Patrick Murphy has introduced a standalone bill in the House that
would repeal “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.”
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has
said he would bring the bill that seeks to end the military's
prohibition on gay and bisexual troops serving openly to a vote
“soon.”
“I look forward to bringing this bill
to the House floor soon, and I hope the Senate will swiftly take
action as well so that the bill can be signed into law as soon as
possible,” Hoyer said in a statement.
“This discriminatory and harmful
policy has weakened America's security by depriving us of the work of
tens of thousands of gay and lesbian troops who have served their
country honorably,” he added.
The
move comes after Senate Republicans last week blocked an annual
defense bill, which included an amendment to repeal the policy,
from moving forward. After
the defeat, a bipartisan group of senators – led by Connecticut
Senator Joe Lieberman – announced plans to back a standalone bill.
Murphy, a military veteran who served
in Iraq, has already played a prominent role in the fight to repeal
the 1993 law. He is the lead sponsor of the House bill that found
its way into the defense bill approved last spring by the chamber.
Voters
in his district decided to replace Murphy with Republican Mike
Fitzpatrick on November 2.
Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), the largest group
lobbying for repeal, said the measure faces an uncertain future in
the Senate, where backers need to find two additional GOP votes.
“Time remains the enemy and senators
need to complete the bill before leaving for holiday vacation,” he
said.