HRC Blog

House Subcommittee Marks Up Domestic Partner Benefits Bill

July 30, 2009

Ed. Note: This post from Jonathan Monteith, HRC Policy Assistant. US-Capitol_PD

This morning, the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia will hold a markup on H.R. 2517, the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO). This critical legislation would extend benefits to same-sex domestic partners of federal civilian employees on the same basis as spousal benefits. The markup of DPBO will begin at 9:00 a.m. in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building. WATCH LIVE (Windows Media Player) Passing DPBO out of subcommittee is a critical first step in moving the bill toward passage in the U.S. House of Representatives. Earlier this month, HRC worked with subcommittee staff to hold a legislative hearing on H.R. 2517. This hearing demonstrated the fundamental need for fairness in the workplace and underscored the point that offering health benefits to the domestic partners of federal employees will finally bring employment practices in the federal government in line with those of America’s largest and most successful corporations such as American Airlines who agreed to provide expert testimony on this policy given their successful decade of offering equal benefits to their own employees with same-sex partners. Last month, President Obama pledged his support for the bill when he signed an Executive Memorandum permitting domestic partners to purchase long-term care insurance and allowing employees to use their sick leave to care for domestic partners and non-biological, non-adopted children. Today’s markup gives Congress a clear opportunity to follow suit and move DPBO one step closer to the President’s desk.