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The Senate Armed Services Committee voted 16-12 Thursday to include an amendment in Fiscal Year 2011’s Defense Authorization Act to repeal 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,' the controversial policy barring openly gay men and women from serving in the U.S. military.

15 Democrats and Republican Susan Collins (Me.) voted in favor of the measure. Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) was the only Democrat to oppose it.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), who co-sponsored the amendment with committee chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.), described the decision as “a historic step forward to strengthen our military effectiveness.”

“My strong belief is that if Americans seek to put their lives on the line to serve this blessed country of ours, we should not deny those patriots that opportunity because of their sexual orientation,” Lieberman said in a statement released shortly after Thursday’s vote. “The action which the committee took today makes our country stronger and better.”

Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Penn.) has introduced a similar amendment in the House. A vote will likely occur before the end of the week and could come as soon as Thursday evening.

If passed in both chambers, the policy will not be repealed until this December when the Pentagon concludes a study to determine the best way to implement the changes brought on by the repeal.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, officially titled Defense Directive 1304.26, was established in 1993 under the Clinton administration.