WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) applauded a report released Friday, June 20, by the Department of Justice that calls for passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill to fully repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act.
The report details the ongoing implementation of United States v. Windsor, the Supreme Court decision that found a key portion of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional.
The report says the only way to fully implement the decision and ensure same-sex, legally-married couples are treated equally under federal law is by passage of legislation such as the Respect for Marriage Act. Senator Feinstein introduced the bill last year on June 26, 2013, the same day the Supreme Court released its Windsor ruling. The House version of the Respect for Marriage Act was also introduced that day by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.). Feinstein and Nadler were also sponsors of the legislation in 2011.
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“I welcome the Justice Department’s call for passage of our legislation to finally repeal DOMA once and for all and ensure that legally-married, same-sex couples are treated equally under federal law, regardless of where they live,” Feinstein said. “The Justice Department today made clear what we have known all along: the only way key federal agencies like the Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs can fully implement the Windsor decision is by enacting the DOMA repeal legislation I introduced with Congressman Nadler.”
Feinstein added: “I commend the administration for the painstaking work it has done to go through more than 1,100 federal laws affected by DOMA and implement as much of the decision as possible. But the only way we will achieve full equality under federal law for legally-married, same-sex couples is to enact our bill.”
Senator Feinstein in July 2013 led a group of 39 senators in urging President Obama to swiftly implement the decision to ensure that legally-married, same-sex couples are treated equally under federal law, regardless of where they live.
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Preceding provided by Senator Dianne Feinstein of California