Rep. Panetta Votes to Protect Marriage Equality With the Respect for Marriage Act

Press Release

Today, Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) voted for the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act. This legislation would enshrine the equality of same-sex and interracial marriages under federal law as guaranteed by the Obergefell v. Hodges and Loving v. Virginia decisions. Both the Senate and House introduced this legislation after Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly called for the Supreme Court to consider overturning the Obergefell v. Hodges decision recognizing the Constitutional right to marriage equality. The Respect for Marriage Act also effectively repeals the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and creates further protections for marriage equality.

"As we saw with the Supreme Court revoking a woman's constitutional right to choose last month, more fundamental rights such as marriage equality could be at risk and should be codified by Congress," said Rep. Panetta. "This bipartisan and bicameral bill would enshrine marriage equality under federal law and prevent any future judicial rulings that would discriminate against same-sex and interracial couples. It is incumbent upon us in Congress to protect and safeguard the hard-won freedom to marry the person you love, no matter their race or gender."

The Respect for Marriage Act will take several steps to protect and safeguard marriage equality:

Enshrining 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 -- providing same-sex and interracial couples additional certainty that they will continue to receive equal treatment under federal law.
Repealing 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.
Barring 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.

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