HR 2965 · 111th Congress 2009–2011, ended

Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010

Introduced Jun 19, 2009 Originated House Became Public Law 111-321 Sponsor Jason Altmire D-PA

Latest action · Dec 22, 2010 Became Public Law No: 111-321.

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

IntroducedJun 19, 2009
Passed HouseJul 8, 2009
Passed SenateJul 13, 2009
To the PresidentDec 21, 2010
Became lawDec 22, 2010Public Law 111-321

Summary

(This measure has not been amended since the House agreed to the Senate amendment with an amendment on December 15, 2010. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

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.

Recorded votes 7

Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.

Roll call	Question	Result	Date
Senate 281	On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2965)	Motion Agreed to65–31	Dec 18, 2010

Senate 279	On the Cloture Motion H.R. 2965	Cloture Motion Agreed to63–33	Dec 18, 2010

House 638	On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment with an Amendment	Passed250–175	Dec 15, 2010

House 486	On Passage	Passed386–41	Jul 8, 2009

House 485	Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair	Passed246–181	Jul 8, 2009

Show all 7 votes

Cosponsors 9

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Jun 19, 2009 to Jun 26, 2009; 7 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.

Seat	Cosponsor		Signed on
R-IL	Aaron Schock	Original	Jun 19, 2009
D-AL	Bobby Bright	Original	Jun 19, 2009
D-OR	David Wu	Original	Jun 19, 2009
D-IL	Deborah L. Halvorson	Original	Jun 19, 2009
D-VA	Glenn C. Nye	Original	Jun 19, 2009
D-NY	Nydia M. Velázquez	Original	Jun 19, 2009
R-MO	Sam Graves	Original	Jun 19, 2009
D-NM	Ben Ray Luján		Jun 26, 2009
R-IL	Judy Biggert		Jun 26, 2009

Committees 2

Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.

Chamber	Committee	What it did
House	Science, Space, and Technology Committee	Referred Jun 19, 2009Markup Jun 24, 2009Reported Jul 7, 2009
	Technology Subcommittee	Hearings Apr 23, 2009
House	Small Business Committee	Referred Jun 19, 2009Markup Jun 25, 2009Reported Jun 27, 2009

Actions 69

Everything that happened, newest first.

Dec 22, 2010Signed by President.
Dec 22, 2010Became Public Law No: 111-321.
Dec 21, 2010Presented to President.
Dec 18, 2010Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10666-10667, S10668-10684)
Dec 18, 2010Cloture 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. (consideration: CR S10666-10667; text: CR S10666)
Dec 18, 2010Motion 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 amendment in Senate.
Dec 18, 2010Reid motion to concur in the House amendment to Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 4827) withdrawn in Senate. (consideration: CR S10684)
Dec 18, 2010Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 65 - 31. Record Vote Number: 281. (consideration: CR S10684)
Dec 18, 2010Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 18, 2010Cleared for White House.
Dec 16, 2010Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate amendment.
Dec 16, 2010Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10386-10387)
Dec 16, 2010Reid motion to agree to House amendment to Senate amendment made in Senate.
Dec 16, 2010Cloture motion on the motion to agree to the House amendment to Senate amendment presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S10386; text: CR S10386)
Dec 16, 2010Reid motion to concur in the House amendment to Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 4827) made in Senate.
Dec 16, 2010Motion 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.
Dec 15, 2010Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1764, the Chair recognized Mrs. Davis of California for a motion.
Dec 15, 2010Mrs. Davis (CA) moved that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H8390-8410)
Dec 15, 2010DEBATE - 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.
Dec 15, 2010The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H8410)
Dec 15, 2010Resolving 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) (text as House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment: CR H8390-8396)
Dec 15, 2010Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 14, 2009Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jul 13, 2009Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7433-7439)
Jul 13, 2009Senate struck all after the Enacting Clause and substituted the language of S. 1233 amended.
Jul 13, 2009Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1233 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S7433-7439)
Jul 13, 2009See also S. 1233.
Jul 9, 2009Received in the Senate, read twice.
Jul 8, 2009Rule H. Res. 610 passed House.
Jul 8, 2009Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 610. (consideration: CR H7757-7781; text of measure as reported in House: CR H7763-7771)
Jul 8, 2009Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2965 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. In lieu of the amendment recommended by the Committee on Science and Technology now printed in the bill, it shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Small Business now printed in the bill.
Jul 8, 2009House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 610 and Rule XVIII.
Jul 8, 2009The Speaker designated the Honorable Mike Ross to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Jul 8, 2009GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2965.
Jul 8, 2009DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 610, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes if debate on the Velazquez amendment.
Jul 8, 2009DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 610, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes if debate on the Brown-Waite amendment.
Jul 8, 2009DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 610, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes if debate on the Kosmas amendment.
Jul 8, 2009POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Kosmas amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Kosmas demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until later in the legislative day.
Jul 8, 2009DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 610, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes if debate on the Reichert amendment.
Jul 8, 2009DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 610, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes if debate on the Paulsen amendment.
Jul 8, 2009The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2965.
Jul 8, 2009The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H7778)
Jul 8, 2009The Chair put the question on adoption of the Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed.
Jul 8, 2009Mr. Price (GA) demanded a recorded vote on the Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Jul 8, 2009On agreeing to the Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute Agreed to by recorded vote: 411 - 15 (Roll no. 484).
Jul 8, 2009Mr. Simpson moved to recommit with instructions to Small Business. (consideration: CR H7779; text: CR H7779)
Jul 8, 2009DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Simpson motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to add a section at the end of the bill titled the Sense of Congress on Regular Order on Appropriations Bills.
Jul 8, 2009Ms. Velazquez raised a point of order against the motion to recommit with instructions. The provisions of the motion to recommit contain language that is not germane. Sustained by the Chair.
Jul 8, 2009Point of order sustained against the motion to recommit with instructions.
Jul 8, 2009Mr. Simpson appealed the ruling of the chair. The question was then put on sustaining the ruling of the chair. (consideration: CR H7779)
Jul 8, 2009Ms. Velazquez moved to table the motion to appeal the ruling of the chair
Jul 8, 2009On motion to table the motion to appeal the ruling of the chair Agreed to by recorded vote: 246 - 181 (Roll no. 485).
Jul 8, 2009Motion to appeal the ruling of the chair tabled.
Jul 8, 2009Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 386 - 41 (Roll no. 486).
Jul 8, 2009Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 7, 2009Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science and Technology. H. Rept. 111-190, Part II.
Jul 7, 2009Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 102.
Jul 7, 2009Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 610 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2965 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. In lieu of the amendment recommended by the Committee on Science and Technology now printed in the bill, it shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Small Business now printed in the bill.
Jun 26, 2009Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Small Business. H. Rept. 111-190, Part I.
Jun 26, 2009House Committee on Science and Technology Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than July 7, 2009.
Jun 25, 2009Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 25, 2009Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 0.
Jun 24, 2009Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 24, 2009Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jun 19, 2009Introduced in House
Jun 19, 2009Referred to House Small Business
Jun 19, 2009Referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addition to the Committee on Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jun 19, 2009Referred to House Science and Technology
Apr 23, 2009Hearings Held by the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation Prior to Introduction and Referral.

In the Congressional Record 11

Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.

Where	In the Record	Members	Date
House · Senate	Debate and remarks H8944, S11027	Jared Polis D-CO, Russell D. Feingold D-WI	Dec 22, 2010
Extensions	Debate and remarks E2224	Laura Richardson D-CA	Dec 21, 2010
Senate	Debate and remarks S10732, S10737	Joe Manchin III D-WV, Orrin G. Hatch R-UT	Dec 19, 2010
Senate · Extensions	Debate and remarks E2177, E2180, E2182, E2197, E2199, S10649–S10655, S10657, S10658, S10659, S10660, S10661, S10663–S10670, S10672, S10674, S10676–S10679, S10689Cloture motions S10666Recorded votes S10667, S10684cloture motion on House amendmentHouse amendment	Al Franken D-MN (cloture motion), Alcee L. Hastings D-FL, Amy Klobuchar D-MN (cloture motion), Barbara Boxer D-CA (cloture motion), Benjamin L. Cardin D-MD (cloture motion), Betty McCollum D-MN, Carl Levin D-MI, Charles E. Schumer D-NY, Christopher A. Coons D-DE, Christopher J. Dodd D-CT (cloture motion), Danny K. Davis D-IL, Debbie Stabenow D-MI (cloture motion), Dianne Feinstein D-CA, Elijah E. Cummings D-MD, Frank R. Lautenberg D-NJ (cloture motion), Harry Reid D-NV, James M. Inhofe R-OK, Jeanne Shaheen D-NH, Jeff Merkley D-OR (cloture motion), Jim Webb D-VA, John McCain R-AZ, Joseph I. Lieberman I-CT (cloture motion), Kirsten E. Gillibrand D-NY, Lindsey Graham R-SC, Mark R. Warner D-VA (cloture motion), Mark Udall D-CO, Michael F. Bennet D-CO (cloture motion), Mitch McConnell R-KY, Patrick J. Leahy D-VT, Patty Murray D-WA, Richard J. Durbin D-IL, Robert Menendez D-NJ (cloture motion), Robert P. Casey Jr. D-PA (cloture motion), Ron Wyden D-OR (cloture motion), Saxby Chambliss R-GA, Sherrod Brown D-OH, Thomas R. Carper D-DE (cloture motion), Todd Russell Platts R-PA, Tom Udall D-NM (cloture motion)	Dec 18, 2010
Senate	Debate and remarks S10504Amendments S10521	Jeff Bingaman D-NM, John McCain R-AZ (amendment)	Dec 17, 2010

Show all 11 days

Research

What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.

Committee reports

Congressional Budget Office cost estimates 4

Jul 7, 2009H.R. 2965, Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009<p>Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the House Committee on Science and Technology on June 24, 2009</p>
Jul 7, 2009H.R. 2965, Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the House Committee on Science and Technology on June 24, 2009
Jul 6, 2009H.R. 2965, Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009<p>Cost estimate for the bill as reported by the House Committee on Small Business on June 26, 2009</p>
Jul 6, 2009H.R. 2965, Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009Cost estimate for the bill as reported by the House Committee on Small Business on June 26, 2009

Printed hearings 1

Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.

Number	Hearing	Committee	Held
—	FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP OF LEGISLATION MODERNIZING THE SBIR AND STTR PROGRAMS70 pages	Small Business Committee	Jun 25, 2009

CRS reports 11

Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.

Cite it 11

Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.

Product	Title	Kind	Published
R45154	Lame Duck Sessions of Congress, 1935-2024 (74th-118th Congresses)	Report	Sep 15, 2026
RS21282	Military Service Records, Awards, and Unit Histories: A Guide to Locating Sources	Report	Jul 16, 2026
R48907	Military Discharges: Character of Service and Eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits	Report	Apr 15, 2026
IF11235	Defense Primer: Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps	Resource	Oct 3, 2024
R44725	The Position of Secretary of Defense: Statutory Restrictions and Civilian-Military Relations Archived	Report	Jan 6, 2021

Show all 11 CRS products

Amendments 12

Amendments offered to this bill.

Amendment	Description	Offered by	Status
HAmdt 288	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 encourage minority participation in SBIR/STTR programs; give priority to applications from companies located in areas that have lost a major source of employment; increase the maximum allowable award under Phase I of the SBIR program with respect to applications by veteran owned and controlled small businesses, increase the maximum allowable award under Phase II of the SBIR program with respect to applications by veteran owned and controlled small businesses, and permit small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans to bypass Phase I and apply directly for Phase II awards; add language to require agencies to report specific reasons why those agency SBIR/STTR goals were or were not achieved; provide special consideration in the awarding of SBIR funds to projects which address renewable energy technologies; require that veterans be given priority when applying for SBIR and STTR awards; require the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a SBIR solicitation that requests research proposals for improving the efficiency of water delivery systems.and usage patterns in the U.S. and its territories; expand outreach and support activities to Native American-owned small businesses; prioritize SBIR outreach and support activities for areas with high unemployment, and give preference to SBIR and STTR award applications submitted by small businesses located in areas with high unemployment; and make technical corrections to the legislation.	Nydia M. Velázquez D-NY	On agreeing to the Velazquez amendment (A001) as modified Agreed to by voice vote. (text as modified: CR H7772)
HAmdt 289	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 businesses) have on eligibility and participation under this act.	Ginny Brown-Waite R-FL	On agreeing to the Brown-Waite, Ginny amendment (A002) Agreed to by voice vote.
HAmdt 290	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 space shuttle program commercialize technologies through SBIR.	Suzanne M. Kosmas D-FL	On agreeing to the Kosmas amendment (A003) as modified Agreed to by recorded vote: 427 - 4 (Roll no. 483). (text as modified: CR H7774)
HAmdt 291	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 grants for Small Business Administration (SBA) outreach efforts authorized under Title III (rural development and outreach).	David G. Reichert R-WA	On agreeing to the Reichert amendment (A004) as modified Agreed to by voice vote. (text as modified: CR H7775)
HAmdt 292	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.	Erik Paulsen R-MN	On agreeing to the Paulsen amendment (A005) Agreed to by voice vote.

Show all 12 amendments

Related bills 6

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

Bill	Title	Relationship	Latest action
HRES 610	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 purposes.	Procedurally related	Jul 8, 2009
S 1233	SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009	Related document	Jul 13, 2009
HRES 1764	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 Program, and for other purposes.	Related bill	Dec 15, 2010
S 4022	Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010	Related bill	Dec 9, 2010
S 4023	Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010	Related bill	Dec 13, 2010

Show all 6 related bills

Titles 7

Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.

Official Title as Introduced: 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 purposes.
Short Titles as Introduced: Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009
Short Titles as Reported to House: Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009
Short Titles as Passed House: Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009
Short Titles as Passed Senate: SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009
Short Titles as Enacted: Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010
Other Short Titles: Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Commerce.

Text 7

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.