A Pennsylvania U. S. senator and other supporters last month lined up behind a bill that would mandate the availability of domestic-partner benefits for the same-sex partners of federal employees.
Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D) was one of 21 lawmakers among the first round of supporters to sign on as cosponsors to the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act. Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the measure in November, and the cosponsor list was announced at the end of March.
Casey also cosponsored the legislation in the previous session.
Late last month, a coalition of 35 organizations from across the nation authored a letter to Congressmembers from both chambers to urge their support for DPBO. Among the signatories was the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Log Cabin Republicans, People for the American Way, Service Employees International Union and unions representing federal workers, state employees and postal workers.
The measure would extend health and life insurance, long-term care benefits, pensions and other benefits to same-sex partners who live in a committed relationship with a federal employee.
“This legislation is about equality for the gay community, pure and simple,” Lieberman said in a statement. “I am pleased that so many of my colleagues are showing their support, as are a growing number of civil-rights groups, labor groups and businesses. We want to attract the best people to serve in the federal government and one way to do that is by offering their families the same benefits as their heterosexual colleagues, as businesses across the country are already doing.”
More than half of Fortune 500 companies, as well as 24 states and several-hundred local governments — Philadelphia included — offer domestic-partner benefits.
This is the fourth time Lieberman has introduced the measure, and the second for Collins.
Collins called the measure “fair policy and good business practice.”
“The federal government must compete with the private sector when it comes to attracting the most qualified, skilled and dedicated employees,” she added.
Other cosponsors include New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D) and Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D).
The bill was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which Collins chairs. A hearing date has not yet been set.
In the House, out Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) is spearheading the companion bill along with 83 cosponsors. That version has support from Pennsylvania Reps. Michael Doyle (D-14th Dist.) and Chaka Fattah (D-2nd Dist.).
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].