The House of Representatives voted 234-194 to approve an amendment to a defense funding bill that would allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces. Hours earlier, a Senate committee passed a similar measure. The full Senate will likely consider the repeal next month.

As Reuters reports, even if the bill passes it would still require President Obama, SecDef Robert Gates, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to sign off that the bill will not negatively impact the military in order for it to take effect.