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.