{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://horsford.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-horsford-votes-to-protect-marriage-equality-amid-right-wing-threats", "Congressman Horsford Votes to Protect Marriage Equality Amid Right-Wing Threats", "2022-07-19", "2022", "2022-07", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Steven Horsford", "H001066", "horsford.house.gov", "horsford", "https://horsford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 In response to continued right-wing threats to Nevadan\u2019s personal liberties, Congressman Steven Horsford today voted to enshrine marriage equality into federal law. The Respect for Marriage Act will officially repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a defunct and discriminatory statute excluding same-sex couples from marriage under federal law. This legislation will also codify new protections ensuring that no married couple can be denied protections and benefits under federal law based on sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.\n\n\u201cI am proud to vote today to protect marriage equality for Nevadans and all Americans,\u201d said Congressman Horsford. \u201cWith its decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court\u2019s Republican-appointed supermajority took a wrecking ball to 50 years of legal precedent and severely weakened the Constitutional right to privacy. Now, right-wing extremists are leading a cruel assault on even more of Nevadans\u2019 most cherished and hard-won freedoms \u2013 including the right to marry the person they love. The bipartisan, bicameral Respect for Marriage Act will enshrine marriage equality into federal law and prohibit state officials from discriminating against same-sex and interracial couples.\u201d\n\nFollowing the Supreme Court\u2019s heart-wrenching decision overturning Roe v. Wade, right-wing extremists have set their sights on other rulings upholding basic rights and freedoms. In his concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly called for the Court to consider overturning other landmark rulings, including the Obergefell v. Hodges decision recognizing the Constitutional right to marriage equality.\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act will take several steps to combat this assault on freedoms of the people of Nevada:\n\nEnshrining Marriage Equality Into Federal Law: This legislation will require the federal government to fully recognize any marriage considered valid in the state where it was performed \u2013 providing same-sex and interracial couples additional certainty that they will continue to receive equal treatment under federal law.\n\nRepealing the Defense of Marriage Act: While the Supreme Court has effectively voided the Defense of Marriage Act, this unconstitutional and discriminatory federal law still remains on the books. The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal this statute once and for all.\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\n\u201cThis legislation is a key step forward in House Democrats\u2019 fight against the right-wing assault on freedom and privacy. While Nevada state law would continue to provide marriage equality in the state, overturning Obergefell would greatly limit federal recognition and stop the many protections and rights that come with marriage at our state border,\u201d continued Congressman Horsford. \u201cLast week, our Majority advanced two landmark bills defending reproductive health freedoms \u2013 and later this week, we will vote on legislation upholding Americans\u2019 basic right to access contraception. While right-wing radicals seek to punish and control our most personal decisions, Democrats remain fully committed to preserving the rights and dignities of every person in the nation.\u201d\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act is strongly supported by leading advocacy organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Center for American Progress, Equality California, Equality Federation, Family Equality, Freedom for All Americans, GLAD, GLBTQ Advocates & Defenders, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Center for Transgender Equality, National Women\u2019s Law Center, PFLAG, and Silver State Equality.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"]], "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://horsford.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-horsford-votes-to-protect-marriage-equality-amid-right-wing-threats"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.582637894898653, "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"}