Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-GA, voted against the 2010 Defense Authorization Act conference report that cleared congress late Thursday.

The $680 billion measure was passed in the Senate by a 68-29 margin and now goes to the president for his signature.

In a statement released Friday afternoon, Chambliss said the bill was the first defense authorization legislation he had voted against in his 15 years in congress.

"It contains many provisions with which I strongly agree," he noted, "including a significant pay raise for our troops, reauthorization for numerous bonuses and billions of dollars in much-needed military contruction."

However, Chambliss said he strongly opposed three provisions. One provision extends federal hate crimes to include attacks due to gender identity, disability or sexual orientation.

The Georgia called that provision "unnecessary, irresponsible and completely irrelevant to this bill."

Chambliss also opposed the capping of F-22 purchases at 187 and the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to the United States.

"For those reasons, I was unable to support the final bill," the senator said.