Republican leaders in the U.S. House voted against the Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 2647), because so-called hate-crimes legislation is attached to the measure.
Hate-crimes language would create special protections for "actual or perceived" sexual orientation and gender identity.
The House had voted 281-146 on Tuesday to adopt the conference report to the bill. A motion to remove the hate-crimes language failed.
Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., said in advance of the vote that the entire Republican conference would vote against it.
"It is a terrible precedent to set to put our American men and women in the position of being political pawns," he told Roll Call.
Ashley Horne, federal policy analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said she was encouraged to see the House GOP leadership stand strong in opposition.
"Christians really need to be paying attention now. Stand up and make your voices heard," she said. "I hear from people asking, Does it matter?‚ It does matter. Your lawmakers are listening."
—Kim Trobee/Stuart Shepard
