Hearing Of The House Committee On Oversight And Government Reform - "Domestic Partner Benefits And Obligations Act Of 2009"

Statement

Thank you Chairman Towns for bringing before us today important legislation for consideration, the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, and thank you Representative Baldwin for taking the leadership on this issue for years.

Perhaps nothing is as important about this bill as what it is not about: It does not propose or intend to diminish or alter in any way the benefits historically and currently enjoyed by federal employees and their spouses.

It does not seek to re-define marriage, or the Defense of Marriage Act known as DOMA, which continues to recognize marriage as an exclusive union between a woman and a man for purposes of federal law.

It does not in any way intrude upon and continues to honor states' rights in the definition of marriage and the benefits associated with it.

Nor does it add substantially to federal expenditure, since the benefits accorded under this law are projected to increase costs to the federal government by only 0.2 percent, and the Administration has committed to ensuring that it complies with House PAYGO rules.

What this bill does do is make sure that the federal government does not play favorites among those who do the necessary work of the nation, based on factors that are irrelevant to that work.

What this bill does do is end discrimination based upon the gender of those who are the chosen life partners of federal employees. The very substantial benefits that the United States extends to its workers in recognition and support of their families have heretofore only been legally available to those who are heterosexually coupled -- or who felt obliged to pretend to that status. It is time to un-burden those who bear the burdens of the American people through government service.

The United States has a history of slow, controversial and partial progress toward recognizing the equality under the law of all its citizens.

But our pride and redemption as a nation is that we continue in that struggle.

Today we take yet another stride toward the goal of treating all human beings as equal and all families as worthwhile.

Those who do the work of America deserve no less from America.

Thank you Mr. Chairman, I was proud to cosponsor this legislation, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back.

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