A sharply divided House Judiciary Committee approved legislation Wednesday to bolster background checks for gun sales, the opening barrage in Democrats’ push to use their new majority to press gun control legislation they have backed for years.

To do so, Democrats needed to defeat numerous efforts from Republicans to amend the bill. It was one of two measures considered during a marathon meeting, highlighting not only the political hurdles to enacting the legislation but also how Democrats believe it could make a difference with voters in 2020.

The main bill was approved, 23-15, along party lines, sending it to the House floor. It would expand required background checks to all firearm sales, aimed at covering sales at gun shows, online or in other private settings. The second bill, which would extend the time firearms dealers must wait for a response from the background check system before making a sale, among other provisions, was approved by a vote of 21-14 late Wednesday night.

Over the day, Republicans offered more than a dozen amendments to gut the background checks bill, tweak provisions or add language to allow transfer of guns in certain circumstances. Near the end, Ohio GOP Rep. Jim Jordan said there were 90 more amendments Republicans wanted to introduce.

Republicans contested whether votes on those amendments had started prematurely, repeated parliamentary inquiries and even made a motion to end the markup. Democrats accused Republicans of trying to frustrate and delay, and vowed to vote on the bill even if it took until midnight.