House passes bill protecting same-sex, interracial marriages

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House gave final approval Thursday to a bill that protects the right to same-sex and interracial marriages.

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Having already passed the Senate, the bill now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature.

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The bill passed easily with bipartisan support as 39 Republicans voted along with Democrats to protect certain marriages.

The Respect for Marriage Act ultimately passed by an overall vote of 258 to 169.

While the bill gives federal protections to same-sex and interracial marriages, it doesn’t require each state to allow same-sex marriage to be performed there.

However, the legislation does require states to acknowledge a same-sex marriage form another state.

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Before the vote, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle laid out where they stand.

Democrats argued there’s a real threat of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning a decision that legalized same-sex marriage.

“Congress must use this opportunity to provide additional reassurance to the many families who’ve come to rely on that guarantee,” Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-New York) said. “After all, we were told that the abortion law was settled also.”

Republicans who opposed the bill said their issue was with whether it’s truly necessary, insisting the threat by the Supreme Court isn’t legitimate.

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“This bill is simply the latest installment by the Democrats’ campaign to intimidate the highest court in our land,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said.

Some Republicans said they also opposed the bill because, they say, it doesn’t do enough to project religious liberties.

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