Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010
Public Law 111-321 · H.R. 2965 · 111th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Barack Obama (D) on Dec 22, 2010 · Commerce
Major law
Sponsor: Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA-4)
Cosponsors (9): Rep. David Wu, Rep. Sam Graves,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 250 yea, 175 nay250–175
- SenateRecorded vote: 65 yea, 31 nay65–31
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 - Provides for repeal of the current Department of Defense (DOD) policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces, to be effective 60 days after the Secretary of Defense has received DOD's comprehensive review on the implementation of such repeal, and the President, Secretary, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) certify to the congressional defense committees that they have considered the report and proposed plan of action, that DOD has prepared the necessary policies and regulations to exercise the discretion provided by such repeal, and that implementation of such policies and regulations is consistent with the standards of military readiness and effectiveness, unit cohesion, and military recruiting and retention. Provides that, until such time as the above conditions are met, the current policy shall remain in effect.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 111th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 250 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
250 yea175 nay9 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(235)
Rep. Barbara LeeD-CA-9
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-22
Rep. Gwen MooreD-WI-4
Rep. Donna EdwardsD-MD-4
Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35
Rep. Marcia FudgeD-OH-11
Rep. Raúl GrijalvaD-AZ-7
Rep. Yvette ClarkeD-NY-11
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8
Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2
Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-51
Rep. Diane WatsonD-CA-33
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
Rep. Keith EllisonD-MN-5
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Mazie HironoD-HI-2
Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
Rep. Mike HondaD-CA-15
Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Linda SánchezD-CA-39
Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12
Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-31
Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-34
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-13
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
Rep. Carolyn KilpatrickD-MI-13
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-30
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. Judy ChuD-CA-32
Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
Rep. Bill DelahuntD-MA-10
Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
Rep. Jesse JacksonD-IL-2
Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
Rep. Grace NapolitanoD-CA-38
Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-14
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
Rep. Michael CapuanoD-MA-8
Rep. Niki TsongasD-MA-5
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Chellie PingreeD-ME-1
Rep. Doris MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
Rep. John GaramendiD-CA-10
Rep. André CarsonD-IN-7
Rep. Danny DavisD-IL-7
Rep. Peter WelchD-VT
Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-23
Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7
Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6
Rep. Emanuel CleaverD-MO-5
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
Rep. Wm. ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-27
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. John DingellD-MI-15
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. Betty McCollumD-MN-4
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-28
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
Rep. G.K. ButterfieldD-NC-1
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
Rep. Kathy CastorD-FL-11
Rep. Steve CohenD-TN-9
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
Rep. Diana DeGetteD-CO-1
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-4
Rep. Hank JohnsonD-GA-4
Rep. Al GreenD-TX-9
Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3
Rep. Phil HareD-IL-17
Rep. Debbie Wasserman SchultzD-FL-20
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Albio SiresD-NJ-13
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
Rep. Betty SuttonD-OH-13
Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
Rep. Jackie SpeierD-CA-12
Rep. Gregory MeeksD-NY-6
Rep. John SarbanesD-MD-3
Rep. Chris Van HollenD-MD-8
Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16
Rep. Tim RyanD-OH-17
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-5
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5
Rep. Paul TonkoD-NY-21
Rep. Anthony WeinerD-NY-9
Rep. Bruce BraleyD-IA-1
Rep. Ben LujánD-NM-3
Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15
Rep. David ScottD-GA-13
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
Rep. Brad MillerD-NC-13
Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20
Rep. Susan DavisD-CA-53
Rep. Adam SchiffD-CA-29
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
Rep. Rick LarsenD-WA-2
Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
Rep. Joe BacaD-CA-43
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Jim LangevinD-RI-2
Rep. Jared PolisD-CO-2
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
Rep. Steve IsraelD-NY-2
Rep. Steve KagenD-WI-8
Rep. Laura RichardsonD-CA-37
Rep. Ted DeutchD-FL-19
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
Rep. Brian HigginsD-NY-27
Rep. John YarmuthD-KY-3
Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-1
Rep. Ed PerlmutterD-CO-7
Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36
Rep. Stephen LynchD-MA-9
Rep. Joe CourtneyD-CT-2
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1
Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1
Rep. Alan GraysonD-FL-8
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Charles WilsonD-OH-6
Rep. Russ CarnahanD-MO-3
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
Rep. A. Dutch RuppersbergerD-MD-2
Rep. Allyson SchwartzD-PA-13
Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-47
Rep. Kendrick MeekD-FL-17
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
Rep. Carol Shea-PorterD-NH-1
Rep. Christopher MurphyD-CT-5
Rep. John HallD-NY-19
Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-25
Rep. David WuD-OR-1
Rep. Mary Jo KilroyD-OH-15
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
Rep. Ciro RodriguezD-TX-23
Rep. David LoebsackD-IA-2
Rep. Mike QuigleyD-IL-5
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6
Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2
Rep. Gerald ConnollyD-VA-11
Rep. John SalazarD-CO-3
Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND
Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2
Rep. Joe SestakD-PA-7
Rep. Timothy BishopD-NY-1
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Timothy WalzD-MN-1
Rep. Ron KleinD-FL-22
Rep. Dennis MooreD-KS-3
Rep. Kurt SchraderD-OR-5
Rep. Martin HeinrichD-NM-1
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-17
Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9
Rep. Patrick MurphyD-PA-8
Rep. Daniel LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. Larry KissellD-NC-8
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
Rep. Ben ChandlerD-KY-6
Rep. Daniel MaffeiD-NY-25
Rep. Dina TitusD-NV-3
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-17
Rep. Henry CuellarD-TX-28
Rep. Mark SchauerD-MI-7
Rep. Michael MichaudD-ME-2
Rep. Ron KindD-WI-3
Rep. Paul HodesD-NH-2
Rep. Jim CostaD-CA-20
Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2
Rep. Jim HimesD-CT-4
Rep. Jerry McNerneyD-CA-11
Rep. Betsy MarkeyD-CO-4
Rep. William OwensD-NY-23
Rep. John BarrowD-GA-12
Rep. Steve DriehausD-OH-1
Rep. Deborah HalvorsonD-IL-11
Rep. John BoccieriD-OH-16
Rep. Gary PetersD-MI-9
Rep. Kathleen DahlkemperD-PA-3
Rep. Melissa BeanD-IL-8
Rep. Bill FosterD-IL-14
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-5
Rep. Jim MathesonD-UT-2
Rep. Michael ArcuriD-NY-24
Rep. Suzanne KosmasD-FL-24
Rep. Zack SpaceD-OH-18
Rep. Michael McMahonD-NY-13
Rep. Christopher CarneyD-PA-10
Rep. Harry TeagueD-NM-2
Rep. Stephanie Herseth SandlinD-SD
Rep. Charles MelanconD-LA-3
Rep. Jason AltmireD-PA-4
Rep. Thomas PerrielloD-VA-5
Rep. John AdlerD-NJ-3
Rep. Scott MurphyD-NY-20
Rep. Brad EllsworthD-IN-8
Rep. Joe DonnellyD-IN-2
Rep. Gabrielle GiffordsD-AZ-8
Rep. Ann KirkpatrickD-AZ-1
Rep. Baron HillD-IN-9
Rep. Frank KratovilD-MD-1
Rep. Heath ShulerD-NC-11
Rep. Glenn NyeD-VA-2
Rep. Harry MitchellD-AZ-5
Rep. Walter MinnickD-ID-1
Republicans who voted yea(15)
Rep. Joseph CaoR-LA-2
Rep. David ReichertR-WA-8- Rep. Charles DjouR-HI-1
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
Rep. Charles DentR-PA-15
Rep. Todd PlattsR-PA-19
Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3
Rep. David DreierR-CA-26
Rep. Mary Bono MackR-CA-45
Rep. John CampbellR-CA-48
Rep. Jeff FlakeR-AZ-6
Rep. Ron PaulR-TX-14
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1621 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
- Science, Space, and Technology Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Technology Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Related bills
6 bills the Library of Congress relates to this one.
H.R. 6520Related bill
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010
H.Res. 610Procedurally-related
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2965) to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program, and for other purpos…
H.Res. 1764Related bill
Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2965) to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Progr…
S. 1233Procedurally-relatedRelated document
SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009
S. 4022Related bill
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010
S. 4023Related bill
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 72 actions.
- Dec 22, 2010Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 111-321.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Dec 21, 2010FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- Dec 18, 2010Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 65 - 31. Record Vote Number: 281.Senate roll call 281
- FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- FloorFloor · Reid motion to concur in the House amendment to Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 4827) withdrawn in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Motion by Senator Reid to refer to Senate Committee on Armed Services the House message to accompany the bill (HR 2965) with instructions to report back forthwith with amendment SA 4829 fell when cloture was invoked on the motion to agree to the House amendment to Senate amendme…
- FloorFloor · Cloture on the motion to agree to the House amendment to Senate amendment invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 63 - 33. Record Vote Number: 279.Senate roll call 279
- FloorFloor · Considered by Senate.
- OtherOther · Cleared for White House.
- OtherOther · Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 65 - 31. Record Vote Number: 281.Senate roll call 281
- Dec 16, 2010FloorFloor · Motion by Senator Reid to refer to Senate Committee on Armed Services the House message to accompany the bill (HR 2965) with instructions to report back forthwith with amendment SA 4829 made in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Reid motion to concur in the House amendment to Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 4827) made in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Cloture motion on the motion to agree to the House amendment to Senate amendment presented in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Reid motion to agree to House amendment to Senate amendment made in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Considered by Senate.
- FloorFloor · Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate amendment.
- Dec 15, 2010Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 250- 175 (Roll no. 638)House roll call 638
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mrs. Davis (CA) moved that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1764, the House proceeded with 1 hour of debate on the motion to agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2965 with an amendment.
- FloorFloor · Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1764, the Chair recognized Mrs. Davis of California for a motion.
- OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 250- 175 (Roll no. 638)House roll call 638
- Jul 14, 2009FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Jul 13, 2009FloorFloor · See also S. 1233.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1233 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · Senate struck all after the Enacting Clause and substituted the language of S. 1233 amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Jul 9, 2009CommitteeCommittee · Received in the Senate, read twice.
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
12 amendments offered to the bill, with the last recorded step of each.
- Offered, no vote recorded
S.Amdt. 4838SenateSen. John McCainR-AZ· offered Dec 17, 2010No vote recorded
Dec 17, 2010: Senate amendment submitted
- Offered, no vote recorded
S.Amdt. 4837SenateSen. John McCainR-AZ· offered Dec 17, 2010No vote recorded
Dec 17, 2010: Senate amendment submitted
- Fell
S.Amdt. 4831SenateSen. Harry ReidD-NV· offered Dec 16, 2010Fell
Of a perfecting nature.
Dec 18, 2010: SA 4831 fell when SA 4830 fell. (consideration: CR S10666)
- Fell
S.Amdt. 4830SenateSen. Harry ReidD-NV· offered Dec 16, 2010Fell
Of a perfecting nature.
Dec 18, 2010: SA 4830 fell when SA 4829 fell. (consideration: CR S10666)
- Fell
S.Amdt. 4829SenateSen. Harry ReidD-NV· offered Dec 16, 2010Fell
Of a perfecting nature.
Dec 18, 2010: SA 4829 fell when cloture invoked on the motion to agree to the House amendment to Senate amendment. (consideration: CR S10666)
- Fell
S.Amdt. 4828SenateSen. Harry ReidD-NV· offered Dec 16, 2010Fell
Of a perfecting nature.
Dec 18, 2010: SA 4828 fell when SA 4827 withdrawn. (consideration: CR S10684)
- Withdrawn
S.Amdt. 4827SenateSen. Harry ReidD-NV· offered Dec 16, 2010Withdrawn
Of a perfecting nature.
Dec 18, 2010: Proposed amendment SA 4827 withdrawn in Senate. (consideration: CR S10684)
- Agreed to
H.Amdt. 292HouseRep. Erik PaulsenR-MN-3· offered Jul 8, 2009Agreed to
An amendment numbered 5 printed in House Report 111-192 to add medical technology to the list of topics that deserve special consideration as SBIR research topics.
Jul 8, 2009: On agreeing to the Paulsen amendment (A005) Agreed to by voice vote.
- Agreed to
H.Amdt. 291HouseRep. David ReichertR-WA-8· offered Jul 8, 2009Agreed to
An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 111-192, as modified to give preference to organizations that are located in under represented states and regions, or are women-, service-disabled veterans- or minority-owned when awarding gr…
Jul 8, 2009: On agreeing to the Reichert amendment (A004) as modified Agreed to by voice vote. (text as modified: CR H7775)
- Agreed to
H.Amdt. 290HouseRep. Suzanne KosmasD-FL-24· offered Jul 8, 2009Agreed to
An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 111-192 to require commercialization programs established by agencies with space shuttle related activities to include efforts to help small businesses affected by the termination of the spac…
Jul 8, 2009: On agreeing to the Kosmas amendment (A003) as modified Agreed to by recorded vote: 427 - 4 (Roll no. 483). (text as modified: CR H7774)
- Agreed to
H.Amdt. 289HouseRep. Ginny Brown-WaiteR-FL-5· offered Jul 8, 2009Agreed to
An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 111-192 to require GAO to examine and report to Congress on the effect that the venture capital ownership restrictions in Section 102 (venture capital operating companies investment in small …
Jul 8, 2009: On agreeing to the Brown-Waite, Ginny amendment (A002) Agreed to by voice vote.
- Agreed to
H.Amdt. 288HouseRep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12· offered Jul 8, 2009Agreed to
An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 111-192, as modified, to authorize the Small Business Administration to establisha program to provide matching grants to minority serving educational institutions to develop programs that enc…
Jul 8, 2009: On agreeing to the Velazquez amendment (A001) as modified Agreed to by voice vote. (text as modified: CR H7772)
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.