The vote on the $13 billion military spending bill was 311 to 105.
But the military bill is largely being written on the floor.
It was he who brought about the compromise on the military bill in 1874.
It now goes to the House, which has not brought military spending bills to the floor this year.
And the Senate today spent only six hours to approve a conference report on a $268 billion military spending bill.
The military bill is also one of the major bills to come before Congress that involve public works and jobs.
The vice president wanted the provision pulled from a huge military spending bill.
The House is expected to consider the amendment when it reviews the military spending bill.
Their measure is attached to the overall 1997 military spending bill, which has yet to pass.
The two chambers will eventually resolve their differences in a conference on the full military bill.