November 30, 2022 - Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on Tuesday released the following statement on passage of the Respect for Marriage Act:
“I was proud to introduce the Respect for Marriage Act in July with Senators Baldwin, Collins and Portman, and I’m particularly pleased the bill passed today with such strong bipartisan support.
“We first introduced this bill in 2011 to require the federal government to recognize same-sex and interracial marriages. At the time, the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act was law, defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Since then, public support for same-sex marriage has rapidly grown, topping 70 percent today. But although the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell that same-sex marriage is legal, this bill remains critical to ensure protections for legal marriages.
“The Respect for Marriage Act will guarantee legal protections for millions of marriages in the United States, ensuring that marriages entered into legally are given full faith and credit by every state and the federal government.
“The institution of marriage is important in this country. Simply put, Americans should be free to marry the person they love, regardless of sexual orientation or race, without fear of discrimination or fear that their marriages will be invalidated.
“I have spent decades advocating for equality, as a county supervisor, a mayor and now a senator. I saw firsthand the terrible pain caused by hateful discrimination. I also watched the LGBT community fight for legal recognition of their lives, their relationships and their personal dignity. We cannot return to a system that allows bigotry and hate.
“My thanks to Senators Baldwin, Collins, Portman Sinema and Tillis for their leadership on this important issue. This is a historic vote, one that every proponent of equality can be proud of.”
Source: Senator Dianne Feinstein
Padilla Statement on Senate Passage of Marriage Equality Legislation
November 30, 2022 - WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) on Tuesday released the following statement after the Senate voted to pass the Respect for Marriage Act. The bill requires the federal government to recognize a marriage
between two individuals if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed and guarantee that valid marriages between two individuals are given full faith and credit, regardless of the couple’s sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.
“Today, the Senate took a bold step to affirm the lives of millions of LGBTQ people and interracial couples across our country. By passing the Respect for Marriage Act, we sent a clear message to all LGBTQ Americans that we see them and recognize that they are worthy of equal treatment under law regardless of who they are, who they love, and who they choose to marry.
“This was a significant day in the story of American progress. But the continued threats to our most fundamental rights in the wake of the Dobbs decision that necessitated today’s vote make one thing clear: we still have work to do to achieve full equality. I will continue working to build on our efforts today until we ensure that every American is treated equally under the law, free from discrimination.”
The Respect for Marriage Act passed the Senate by a vote of 61-36. It now goes to the House of Representatives for final passage and then to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
Senator Padilla is committed to pursuing equality for the LGBTQ community. Earlier this year, Padilla introduced the LGBTQ Business Equal Credit Enforcement and Investment Act, legislation that would protect the 1.4 million LGBTQ-owned businesses in the nation from lending discrimination to ensure equal access to economic opportunities. Padilla also joined Senate Democrats in introducing a resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month to highlight the work of the LGBTQ community in fighting to achieve full equality, including for marriage.
Source: Senator Alex Padilla
