This go around is likely to be different. More than 50 Democratic senators have signed on as cosponsors, including Mark Begich. He said he’s long supported legal protection for LGBT people.

With Murkowski, the two other committee Republicans and Maine’s Susan Collins, supporters are close to the 60 vote threshold.

But House leaders have not said they’ll bring anything to the floor.

Begich said it’s worth moving through the Senate, even if the House won’t take it up.

“We vote on what we think is important and issues we can pass. But if we sit around and wait for them to pass stuff, I’ll be old and gray,” he said with a laugh.