US Congressman Chris Pappas of New Hampshire introduced the “Respect for Marriage Act” yesterday with his fellow leaders of the bill in the House of Representatives. Cochair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, Pappas is the first openly gay Congress person from the Granite State.
The House is expected to vote on the legislation this week.
Explains a July 18 press release from Pappas’ Congressional office:
This legislation would ensure strong federal protections for marriage equality, even if the Supreme Court were to reverse the precedent of the United States v. Windsor and Obergefell v. Hodges.
“We cannot count on the Supreme Court to defend important precedents and protect our rights, and Congress has an obligation to ensure everyone is treated equally before the law. The idea that we could lose the freedom to marry is chilling to most Americans and runs contrary to our shared values,” said Congressman Chris Pappas in a press release.
“We can’t take anything for granted,” Pappas said. “This legislation would make sure that our government, at both the state and federal level, reflects the diversity, decency and spirit of the American people. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will listen to their constituents and defend every individuals’ freedom to be themselves, love whom they want to love, and marry the person of their choosing.”
Specifically, this legislation would:
- Repeal DOMA. The Supreme Court effectively rendered DOMA inert with its landmark decisions in United States v. Windsor and Obergefell. This unconstitutional and discriminatory law, however, still officially remains on the books. The bill would repeal this statute once and for all.
- Enshrine Marriage Equality for Federal Law Purposes. The bill requires, for federal law purposes, that an individual be considered married if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed. This gives same-sex and interracial couples additional certainty that they will continue to enjoy equal treatment under federal law as all other married couples—as the Constitution requires.
- Provide Additional Legal Protections from Individuals Seeking to Undermine Marriage Equality While Acting Under Color of State Law.The bill prohibits any person acting under color of state law from denying full faith and credit to an out-of-state marriage based on the sex, race, ethnicity or national origin of the individuals in the marriage, provides the Attorney General with the authority to pursue enforcement actions, and creates a private right of action for any individual harmed by a violation of this provision.
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