Congressman Kim Votes to Enshrine Marriage Equality into Law

Press Release

Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) voted to pass the Respect for Marriage Act

to enshrine marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples, repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and provide additional legal protections for marriage equality.

"A few weeks ago, I was proud to send the Respect for Marriage Act to the Senate and defend every American's right to marry who they love. Today, we are finally sending these protections to the President's desk to become law," said Congressman Kim. "I'm proud to stand firmly against discrimination in all forms and to defend our standing as a country where people are free to be who they are, to love who they love, and to be treated with dignity and respect. As we celebrate this progress, it's important not to lose sight of the need to build off of this promise to all families that they can live in a country free from hatred, discrimination, and bigotry in all forms."

Congressman Kim previously voted to pass the Respect for Marriage Act in July. The legislation returned for a final vote in the House after being amended and passed by the Senate on November 29th, 2022.

DOMA was signed into law in 1996, and although it's provision defining "marriage" and "spouse" to refer to opposite sex couples was overturned by the Windsor decision in 2013, the section allowing states not to recognize same sex marriage certificates from other states remained law. The Respect for Marriage Act would fully repeal DOMA and guarantee federal and state recognition of any marriage between two individuals that was valid in the state where it was performed.

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