{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-alma-adams-votes-enshrine-marriage-equality-under-federal-law", "Rep. Alma Adams Votes to Enshrine Marriage Equality Under Federal Law", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NC", "Alma S. Adams", "A000370", "adams.house.gov", "adams", "https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 8, 2022) \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) voted to send the Respect for Marriage Act to President Biden\u2019s desk. This landmark legislation defends marriage equality by officially repealing the bigoted and unconstitutional \u201cDefense of Marriage Act\u201d (DOMA), upholding couples\u2019 right to equal protection under federal law, and requiring states to recognize valid out-of-state marriages.\n\n\u201cToday, I proudly voted for marriage equality. Our Democratic Congress is fighting to honor the dignity and equality of every American,\u201d said Rep. Adams. \u201cThe Respect for Marriage Act sends a clear signal that hate and bigotry have no place in our public square, or our government institutions. This bill will uphold marriage equality under federal law by ending DOMA, enshrining same-sex and mixed-race married couples\u2019 14th Amendment right to equal protection, and barring rogue officials from invalidating out-of-state marriages. While we still have a ways to go to protect the health, safety, and dignity of all LGBTQ Americans, this is a major step forward. As the Dobbs decision has shown us, we can\u2019t sleep on Equality.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nSince the Republican-appointed Supreme Court\u2019s deeply unpopular Dobbs decision, state-level Republicans across the country have set their sights on other basic personal freedoms. In his concurring opinion, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly called for the Court to reconsider its Obergefell decision upholding marriage equality.\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act will take several steps to protect the inviolability of same-sex and interracial marriages:\n\nRepealing the \u201cDefense of Marriage Act\u201d: While the Supreme Court has effectively voided DOMA, this unconstitutional and discriminatory federal law still remains on the books. The Respect for Marriage Act will repeal this statute once and for all.\n\nEnshrining Marriage Equality Into Federal Law: This legislation will uphold married couples\u2019 right to equal protection in all areas covered under federal law, such as Social Security, tax filings and veterans\u2019 benefits.\n\nBarring Discrimination By State Officials: This legislation prohibits state officials from denying recognition of an out-of-state marriage on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.\n\nPreviously passed by the House earlier this year, the Respect for Marriage Act was amended and advanced by the Senate last week. With today\u2019s vote in the House, the final bill now heads to the President\u2019s desk for his signature.\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act is strongly supported by leading advocacy organizations, including the ACLU, Center for American Progress, Equality Federation, Family Equality, Freedom for All Americans, GLAD, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Women\u2019s Law Center and PFLAG.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://adams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-alma-adams-votes-enshrine-marriage-equality-under-federal-law"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7953450549393892, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}