An amendment to the defense authorization bill, introduced by Rep. Robert Andrews (D-N.J.), a member of the armed services panel, failed Wednesday night by a vote of 216-202 with six Republicans voting in favor of the amendment together with 196 Democrats.

Among the Republicans voting for the amendment were Roscoe Bartlett (Md.), Ron Paul (Texas) and Walter Jones (N.C.).

An amendment introduced by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) was met with more opposition by Democrats and Republicans alike and failed by a vote of 288-136. DeFazio sought to clarify that no previously enacted law authorizes military action against Iran. It also sought to prohibit funding authorized by the bill or in any other legislation from being used to take military action against Iran without specific authorization from Congress unless there is a “national emergency created by an attack by Iran upon the United States, its territories or possessions or its armed forces.”

Among the 129 Democrats who voted against the amendment were Skelton and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.), who both voted in favor of the Andrews amendment.

House Democratic leaders initially attempted to insert Iran language in their now-vetoed Iraq supplemental bill but abandoned the plan after some New York Democrats, including Reps. Eliot Engel and Gary Ackerman, balked at the language.

DeFazio has attempted several times over the course of the past two years to pass legislation that would reassert Congress’ constitutional war-making powers.

In a statement of administration policy released Wednesday, the White House threatened to veto the 2008 defense authorization bill if it contained “provisions that would prevent the president from protecting America and allied and cooperating nations from threats posed by Iran.”