The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved the Respect for Marriage Act, which ensures certain marriage rights for same-sex couples at the federal level.
Voting in favor of the bill, H.R. 8404, was U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, a Marietta Democrat who represents the 6th Congressional District.
She was part of a 258-169-1 majority that included 39 Republicans. The bill was passed by the U.S. Senate on Nov. 29, with Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff also voting in favor in a 61-36-3 vote.
One of the three not voting was U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, who was elected to a full six-year term on Tuesday.
Voting against the bill Thursday was Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, whose 11th Congressional District will include part of East Cobb in January.
Thursday’s roll call vote will be posted at this link, which includes the full text and previous vote breakdowns.
The bill, which awaits the signature of President Joe Biden, repeals the Defense of Marriage Act passed in the 1990s, upholds the rights of same-sex couples for federal Social Security, tax and veterans’ benefits and prohibits states from denying an out-of-state marriage license on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.
The measure that passed Congress was amended to include some religious liberty provisions.
“The Re
The bill was introduced by Democratic Congressional leaders after U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas hinted at revisiting a 2015 court ruling that enshrined same-sex marriages across the country.
Georgia was one of the states that banned same-sex marriage via statute and a constitutional amendment.
The bill passed by Congress would not prevent states from banning same-sex marriage if that court ruling, Obergefell v. Hodges, were to be overturned, as federal abortion rights were this summer.
McBath, who is completing her third term, will be representing the 7th Congressional District, based in Gwinnett County, starting in January.
The new 6th District member of Congress will be Rich McCormick, a Republican who was elected in November.
The 6th will include some of East Cobb, Cherokee, North Fulton and Forsyth counties as well as Dawson County.
Related:
- Warnock cruises in Cobb, wins Georgia U.S. Senate runoff
- Ga. elections board to investigate Cobb absentee ballot issues
- Early voting surges in Cobb in U.S. Senate runoff
- Cobb Elections sued over absentee ballots in U.S. Senate runoff
- How East Cobb voted in U.S. Senate general election, governor’s race
- Cobb adds Saturday early voting for U.S. Senate runoff
- Recertified Cobb election results change outcome in Kennesaw race
- Cobb early voting schedule released for U.S. Senate runoff
- Two Democrats elected to open East Cobb legislative seats
- Mableton cityhood referendum passes after 3 others failed
- Birrell, Chastain re-elected in key Cobb races
- East Cobb News Politics & Elections page
Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
