The tide of history is changing when we find that 69% of people support the rpeal of DADT and yet - they do nothing.
When six States have marriage equality on their books - yet, there is silence about those victories.
When one party is in power in the House, Senate and the Whte House - they make token gestures.
When House bill 1283 is written and ready to go to repeal DADT - it's shelved somewhere in committee since April.
"Many top employers in the private sector already offer benefits to the same-sex partners of their employees; those companies recognize that offering partner benefits helps them compete for and retain the brightest and most talented employees. The Federal Government is at a disadvantage on that score right now, and change is long overdue.
"As Americans, we are all affected when our promises of equality go unfulfilled. Through measures like the Presidential Memorandum I am issuing today and the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009, we will advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded and continue to perfect our Union." - President Barrack Obama.
So, where is the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009, that was mentioned on world wide media last week, where was the stampede of Congress Creatures advocating for this bill? - they did nothing.
It's gotta be hard writting a bill for a status that does not really exist, except as some watered down version of marriage, all because the term "civil marriage" is denied same sex couples under law in many States...as a State's right to restrict equality for a minority, but then, we know the drill we read the DOJ brief.
H.R. 2517:
111th CongressThis is a bill in the U.S. Congress originating in the House of Representatives ("H.R."). A bill must be passed by both the House and Senate and then be signed by the President before it becomes law.
Bill numbers restart from 1 every two years. Each two-year cycle is called a session of Congress. This bill was created in the 111th Congress, in 2009-2010.
To provide certain benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-2517HR 2517 IH
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2517
To provide certain benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 20, 2009
Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. ENGEL, Ms. HARMAN, Mr. HOLT, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mrs. MALONEY, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. NADLER of New York, Ms. NORTON, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. SHERMAN, Ms. SUTTON, Mr. TIERNEY, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. WU, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. KUCINICH, Ms. VELAZQUEZ, Mr. WAXMAN, Ms. BERKLEY, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. WEINER, Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. PASTOR of Arizona, Mr. WELCH, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mr. STARK, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. FARR, Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. DEGETTE, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. MICHAUD, Mrs. LOWEY, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. POLIS of Colorado, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. FILNER, Mr. CLYBURN, and Mr. QUIGLEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
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A BILL
To provide certain benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009’.
SEC. 2. BENEFITS TO DOMESTIC PARTNERS OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.
(a) In General- An employee who has a domestic partner and the domestic partner of the employee shall be entitled to benefits available to, and shall be subject to obligations imposed upon, a married employee and the spouse of the employee.
(b) Certification of Eligibility- In order to obtain benefits and assume obligations under this Act, an employee shall file an affidavit of eligibility for benefits and obligations with the Office of Personnel Management identifying the domestic partner of the employee and certifying that the employee and the domestic partner of the employee--
(1) are each other’s sole domestic partner and intend to remain so indefinitely;
(2) have a common residence, and intend to continue the arrangement;
(3) are at least 18 years of age and mentally competent to consent to contract;
(4) share responsibility for a significant measure of each other’s common welfare and financial obligations;
(5) are not married to or domestic partners with anyone else;
(6) are same sex domestic partners, and not related in a way that, if the two were of opposite sex, would prohibit legal marriage in the State in which they reside; and
(7) understand that willful falsification of information within the affidavit may lead to disciplinary action and the recovery of the cost of benefits received related to such falsification and may constitute a criminal violation.
(c) Dissolution of Partnership-
(1) IN GENERAL- An employee or domestic partner of an employee who obtains benefits under this Act shall file a statement of dissolution of the domestic partnership with the Office of Personnel Management not later than 30 days after the death of the employee or the domestic partner or the date of dissolution of the domestic partnership.
(2) DEATH OF EMPLOYEE- In a case in which an employee dies, the domestic partner of the employee at the time of death shall receive under this Act such benefits as would be received by the widow or widower of an employee.
(3) OTHER DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP-
(A) IN GENERAL- In a case in which a domestic partnership dissolves by a method other than death of the employee or domestic partner of the employee, any benefits received by the domestic partner as a result of this Act shall terminate.
(B) EXCEPTION- In a case in which a domestic partnership dissolves by a method other than death of the employee or domestic partner of the employee, the former domestic partner of the employee shall be entitled to benefits available to, and shall be subject to obligations imposed upon, a former spouse.
(d) Stepchildren- For purposes of affording benefits under this Act, any natural or adopted child of a domestic partner of an employee shall be deemed a stepchild of the employee.
(e) Confidentiality- Any information submitted to the Office of Personnel Management under subsection (b) shall be used solely for the purpose of certifying an individual’s eligibility for benefits under subsection (a).
(f) Regulations and Orders-
(1) OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT- Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Office of Personnel Management shall promulgate regulations to implement subsections (b) and (c).
(2) OTHER EXECUTIVE BRANCH REGULATIONS- Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the President or designees of the President shall promulgate regulations to implement this Act with respect to benefits and obligations administered by agencies or other entities of the executive branch.
(3) OTHER REGULATIONS AND ORDERS- Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, each agency or other entity or official not within the executive branch that administers a program providing benefits or imposing obligations shall promulgate regulations or orders to implement this Act with respect to the program.
(4) PROCEDURE- Regulations and orders required under this subsection shall be promulgated after notice to interested persons and an opportunity for comment.
(g) Definitions- In this Act:
(1) BENEFITS- The term ‘benefits’ means--
(A) health insurance and enhanced dental and vision benefits, as provided under chapters 89, 89A, and 89B of title 5, United States Code;
(B) retirement and disability benefits and plans, as provided under--
(i) chapters 83 and 84 of title 5, United States Code;
(ii) chapter 8 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4041 et seq.); and
(iii) the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement Act of 1964 for Certain Employees (50 U.S.C. chapter 38);
(C) family, medical, and emergency leave, as provided under--
(i) subchapters III, IV, and V of chapter 63 of title 5, United States Code;
(ii) the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.), insofar as that Act applies to the Government Accountability Office and the Library of Congress;
(iii) section 202 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1312); and
(iv) section 412 of title 3, United States Code;
(D) Federal group life insurance, as provided under chapter 87 of title 5, United States Code;
(E) long-term care insurance, as provided under chapter 90 of title 5, United States Code;
(F) compensation for work injuries, as provided under chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code;
(G) benefits for disability, death, or captivity, as provided under--
(i) sections 5569 and 5570 of title 5, United States Code;
(ii) section 413 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3973);
(iii) part L of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796 et seq.), insofar as that part applies to any employee; and
(H) travel, transportation, and related payments and benefits, as provided under--
(i) chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code;
(ii) chapter 9 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4081 et seq.); and
(iii) section 1599b of title 10, United States Code; and
(I) any other benefit similar to a benefit described under subparagraphs (A) through (H) provided by or on behalf of the United States to any employee.
(2) DOMESTIC PARTNER- The term ‘domestic partner’ means an adult unmarried person living with another adult unmarried person of the same sex in a committed, intimate relationship.
(3) EMPLOYEE- The term ‘employee’--
(A) means an officer or employee of the United States or of any department, agency, or other entity of the United States, including the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, a Member of Congress, or a Federal judge; and
(B) shall not include a member of the uniformed services.
(4) OBLIGATIONS- The term ‘obligations’ means any duties or responsibilities with respect to Federal employment that would be incurred by a married employee or by the spouse of an employee.
(5) UNIFORMED SERVICES- The term ‘uniformed services’ has the meaning given under section 2101(3) of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act including the amendments made by this Act shall--
(1) with respect to the provision of benefits and obligations, take effect 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act; and
(2) apply to any individual who is employed as an employee on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
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