The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to repeal a Clinton-era ban on gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military, allowing the issue to be taken up again by the Senate, which rejected the bid earlier this month.

The House voted 250 to 175 to repeal the "Don't ask, don't tell " policy, giving Senate proponents of the repeal perhaps a last chance before the Congress breaks for holidays. The Senate voted to block the repeal last week.

The repeal of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy is running out of time to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate this year. It may become more difficult to pass next year as more Republicans who oppose the repeal will join the Senate.

The "Don't ask, don't tell" policy, which was introduced as a compromise measure in 1993 by then-president Bill Clinton, prohibits homosexuals to serve openly in the military. It has been a major contentious issue in U.S. politics. Critics including gay rights groups argue that the policy violates the rights of gay military members to free speech and open association.

The issue has come under increasing scrutiny as a lawsuit challenging the 17-year-old law worked its way through the federal courts this year, and is scheduled to be heard by a federal appeals court in the spring. President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen have said they support congressional repeal of the law.