{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://horsford.house.gov/media/press-releases/horsford-votes-to-enshrine-marriage-equality-under-federal-law", "Horsford Votes to Enshrine Marriage Equality Under Federal Law", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Steven Horsford", "H001066", "horsford.house.gov", "horsford", "https://horsford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, amid extreme MAGA Republicans\u2019 continued threats to Nevadans\u2019 personal freedoms, Congressman Steven Horsford voted to send the Respect for Marriage Act to President Biden\u2019s desk. This landmark legislation takes several key steps to defend marriage equality: 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 to ensure the federal government never stands in the way of marrying the person you love,\u201d said Congressman Horsford. \u201cAs extreme MAGA Republicans signaled that their focus would be on taking away Nevadans\u2019 personal liberties, the Democratic Congress is fighting to honor the dignity and equality of every American. The Respect for Marriage Act is a historic step forward in fighting back against the cruel assault on our freedoms \u2013 sending a clear signal that hate and bigotry have no place in America. This landmark bipartisan, bicameral legislation will uphold marriage equality under federal law: tearing DOMA off the books for good, enshrining married couples\u2019 right to equal protection and barring discriminatory officials from invalidating out-of-state marriages.\u201d\n\nSince the Republican-appointed Supreme Court\u2019s outrageous Dobbs decision, extreme MAGA Republicans have set their sights on other basic personal freedoms. In his concurring opinion, 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 Biden\u2019s desk for his signature.\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.", 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://horsford.house.gov/media/press-releases/horsford-votes-to-enshrine-marriage-equality-under-federal-law"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.642522169277072, "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"}