Nine U.S. senators have been added as cosponsors of the bill to repeal the military's ban on openly gay and lesbian service members.

Along with the 13 original cosponsors who introduced the bill with its lead sponsors, senators Joe Lieberman and Carl Levin, senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) have signed on to the bill, according to a press release issued Tuesday.

“As we continue to fight two wars, our national security depends on a strong and talented military,” Casey said in a statement. “And ending this discriminatory practice is the right thing to do for our military and for those who want to openly serve their country. I am pleased to join my colleagues in the Senate, as well as the effort led by Patrick Murphy in the House that continues to draw the support of past and present military leaders and other officials.”