Senate Judiciary Committee Set To Vote On DOMA Repeal Bill Next Thursday

Statement

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today began debate on legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), setting the path for a vote on the measure at a business meeting next Thursday. Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) kicked off the Committee's consideration of the Respect for Marriage Act.

"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," Leahy said at Thursday's meeting. "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. I look forward to the repeal of DOMA. This Committee taking favorable action on this bill takes us closer to that day."

In July, Leahy chaired the first-ever congressional hearing on proposals to repeal DOMA. The Obama administration has announced the President's support for the Respect for Marriage Act.

The Respect for Marriage Act was introduced in March. The Senate bill (S.598) was introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and is cosponsored by 30 other Senators. All 10 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee support the legislation. A House companion bill (H.R.1116), introduced by Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), has bipartisan support, including 130 cosponsors.

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