The House Armed Services Committee voted 60 -1 Thursday in favor of a $553 billion defense bill that would delay the new policy allowing gays to serve openly in the military.
    
The amendment, introduced by Rep. Duncan Hunter Jr., R-Calif., requires all four service chiefs to certify that the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" won't hurt the ability of U.S. service men and women to fight.
     
Currently, the repeal only requires certification from President Obama, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and the joint chief's chairman.

Hunter says the amendment is necessary because those men have no combat experience. 
 
"I, and others in this room, have more combat experience than the folks who sign off on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" he said.

The law repealing the ban will be fully implemented 60 days after the president and his senior defense advisers verify it wouldn't affect military readiness.

Fox News reported that timetable in addition to strong opposition in the Senate, "will likely will render the House panel's provisions moot.