Senator Clinton Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators to Introduce Domestic Partner Benefits Bill

Press Release

Senator Clinton Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators to Introduce Domestic Partner Benefits Bill

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton joined a bipartisan coalition of 20 Senators yesterday to introduce legislation to extend domestic partner benefits to federal employees. Comparable benefits are offered at more than half of Fortune 500 companies and many thousands of companies, state and local governments, and colleges and universities.

"This bill would establish a clear rule that the federal government will provide the same benefits to all its employees regardless of sexual orientation," Senator Clinton said. "This is not only the right thing to do, it is smart policy. This bill will treat domestic partners with the equity and fairness they deserve."

The proposed legislation, the Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act of 2007, would make a federal employee and his or her same-sex domestic partner eligible to participate in federal health benefits, the Family and Medical Leave program, long-term care, insurance, and retirement benefits. The federal employee and his or her domestic partner would also assume the same obligations that apply to married employees and their spouses, such as anti-nepotism rules and financial disclosure requirements.

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