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发帖数: 4174 | 1 Posted on Advocate.com November 03, 2011 12:15:04 PM ET
Story Updated : November 03, 2011 12:10:00 PM
Senate Committee to Begin Debate on DOMA Repeal
By Andrew Harmon
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to begin debate Thursday morning
on a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal
recognition of same-sex marriages.
As is the case with most new bills that appear before the committee, a vote
on the Respect for Marriage Act is likely to be held over until next week,
should a committee member request such a delay.
The bill, introduced in March by Judiciary Committee member Sen. Dianne
Feinstein of California, is cosponsored by all 10 Democrats on the committee
and none of the eight Republicans. Feinstein’s bill currently has 30
cosponsors overall as LGBT advocacy groups continue to seek more support
from lawmakers including Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Sen. Jack Reed
of Rhode Island.
Only one GOP member of congress, Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, has
sponsored repeal of the 1996 law. Ros-Lehtinen signed on to the House
version of the bill in September.
Though political observers expect the bill to pass out of committee, it’s
yet unclear whether any opposition will lead to amendments aimed at
derailing the legislation. Committee members are required to circulate any
amendments the night before they are offered; the committee releases
amendments on its website after they are offered in session.
If passed out of committee, the Respect for Marriage Act still faces an
uncertain fate on the Senate floor. Meanwhile, legal challenges against DOMA
continue to mount. Last week, a group of gay and lesbian service members
and their spouses sued the federal government, arguing that the law denies
them equal benefits to which their heterosexual colleagues are entitled.
The Judiciary Committee’s Thursday schedule also lists several judicial
nominations, including Michael Walter Fitzgerald, who would become the
nation’s fourth openly gay federal judge if confirmed. Nominated by
President Obama in July, Fitzgerald testified before the committee last
month.
Update: As expected, a committee vote on the DOMA repeal bill has been held
over until next week.
Fitzgerald’s judicial nomination was reported through committee with no
dissenting votes and will be voted on by the full senate. It's unclear when
that will happen: There are now 22 judicial confirmations pending before the
senate.
There are currently three amendments to the Respect for Marriage Act from
Sen. Grassley, though none were offered during the meeting today. Members
have until next Wednesday afternoon to offer amendments on the bill.
In Thursday morning remarks, Chairman Leahy said that a number of states, as
well as the District of Columbia, that have marriage equality “are
undermined by the operation of DOMA. The result is that in these states,
DOMA has created a tier of second-class families who are not treated equally
under the law. This runs counter to the values upon which America was
founded.”
Chairman Leahy's prepared remarks before the committee on the Respect for
Marriage Act:
"Today we also begin debate on the Respect for Marriage Act. Earlier this
year, I was proud to join Senator Feinstein and others to introduce the
Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would repeal DOMA (the Defense of
Marriage Act), and restore the rights of all lawfully married couples.
"When I voted for DOMA in 1996, I believed that it was a way to allow states
to maintain their independence and define marriage as each state saw fit.
But much has happened since DOMA’s passage to show us why it must now be
repealed. Six states, including Vermont, and the District of Columbia, have
now provided the recognition and protections of marriage to committed same-
sex couples. Unfortunately, the protections that these states provide to
their married citizens are undermined by the operation of DOMA. The result
is that in these states, DOMA has created a tier of second-class families
who are not treated equally under the law. This runs counter to the values
upon which America was founded.
"The Respect for Marriage Act would restore the power of states to define
and determine “marriage” without the Federal Government imposing its
restrictive definition of marriage on the states. No one can dispute that
the issue of marriage has traditionally been left to the states. Repealing
DOMA would return this power to the states where it belongs.
"The Respect for Marriage Act would allow for all couples who are married in
accordance with state law to be eligible for the same Federal protections
afforded to every other lawfully married couple in the country. Nothing in
this bill would obligate any person, religious organization, state, or
locality to perform a marriage between persons of the same sex. What would
change, and what must change, is the Federal Government’s unequal treatment
of state-approved marriages. All married couples deserve the same clarity,
fairness, and security under our Federal law. The time has come for the
Federal Government to recognize that all married couples deserve the same
legal protections.
"I look forward to the repeal of DOMA. This Committee taking favorable
action on this bill takes us closer to that day." |
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