Booker Joins Senate Democrats to Call for Equal Dignity in the Tax Code

Press Release

Today, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, (D-Ore) and other Senate Democrats to unveil legislation providing equal dignity for all legal marriages in the tax code. The bill, the "Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act" sets new precedent by removing gender-specific references to marriage, enshrining dignity and recognition for LGBTQ Americans in the tax code.

"For too long, same-sex couples have been treated as second class citizens, and the onus falls on all of us to right this wrong," Sen. Booker said. "If the highest court in the land can stand by the constitutionality of all legal marriages, then we must fight to ensure our tax code justly affords all married people the same privileges."

"It's about time that we update our tax law to reflect the institution of legal marriage," Sen. Wyden said. "All married Americans deserve the same respect and dignity in the eyes of the law."

This bill follows the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on June 26, 2015 that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marriage under the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection, striking down state-level bans on such marriages. The bill ensures that the nation's tax law properly reflects the landmark civil rights decision, offering equal treatment to all married taxpayers.

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