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Hot off of the e-press from the office of Rep. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI-2nd), who is the author of the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009 (H.R. 2517), is news that the bill has cleared The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia today (on a 5-3 vote).
“I’m delighted with the Subcommittee’s action today and grateful for Chairman Lynch’s support and leadership on this issue that affects so many government employees and their families,” said Congresswoman Baldwin, Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and author of the bill.
The legislation gives the domestic partners of federal employees the same benefits – and requires of them the same obligations – as the spouses of federal employees.
“Extending benefits to the domestic partners of federal employees is more than a matter of fairness,” said Baldwin. ”As a majority of Fortune 500 companies have already demonstrated, equality and diversity in the workplace boost productivity and help attract and keep the most qualified employees,” Baldwin said.
Under the legislation, same-sex domestic partners of federal employees living together in a committed relationship would be eligible for health benefits, long-term care, Family and Medical Leave, and federal retirement benefits, among others. The domestic partners of federal employees would also be subject to the same responsibilities that apply to the spouses of federal employees, such as anti-nepotism rules and financial disclosure requirements.
At a White House ceremony in June, President Obama voiced his strong support for the bill.
10 Comments
Ahhhhhhh, that’s nice……….……but WHAT THE F*CK about the rest of us who do NOT work for the federal government? I mean same-sex domestic partners make up what less than 2% of the federal workforce?
Although this is helps very few in our community, and at the last time has very little impact on the federal government.
I’m just trying to figure out what bill this is going to be applied to as an amendment so that Obama will have an excuse to veto it (that is provided it makes it that far.)
I know sounds cynical, doesn’t it? ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone knows the details of the process to be a fed DP….I mean if I’m married here in California do I now register a second “legal” and separate relationship with the feds?
My take is the process hasn’t even gotten to these details because there’s no way in h@ll this is getting any further, but good for Rep Baldwin all the rest notwithstanding.
Real PeopleAs someone who will benefit significantly from this legislation, I am pleased to see it moving forward. I understand it is not for everyone, and that it is a very small piece of the equality pie, but it will have a very real and important impact on the lives of LGBT federal employees. And, more importantly, it will send a message to employers nationwide that do not offer similar benefits, that the nation’s largest employer joins most of the Fortune 500, and if they expect to compete they better get on board.
Let’s not make the perfect the enemy of the good.
And also, let’s not settle for anything less than full equality. But remember, its OK to celebrate a few small victories alng the way.
So if it doesn’t help you personally, it’s worthless?It so happens I do work for the federal government, and I’ve been actively encouraging my state’s Congressional delegation to support this bill, along with its “clone” in the Senate. It will make an enormous difference for my partner and I, particularly since we only recently learned of a serious medical diagnosis on his part which (a) will likely require lifelong treatment, and (b) may interfere with his ability to continue working.
I work in an office with approximately 120 employees, of which at least nine that I know of are gay or lesbian. The majority of them are partnered. While that’s not the kind of represenative sampling that will give you the percentage of affected federal employees, “less than 2% of the federal workforce” may be an underestimate. Even if your statistical guess were correct, I can assure you that the passage of this legislation ABSOLUTELY matters to each and every one of us.
Affidavit of PartnershipAs the proposed legislation now stands, DP status would be established by the federal employee filing an affidavit indicating the relationship.
Did I say worthless? No! You put words in my mouth.I think it’s great that this would extend benefits to LGBT federal employees. What would be even BETTER is removing ALL barriers to equality for ALL of us! You see, repealing DOMA and replacing it with non-discrimination language would help you MORE, but it wouldn’t just be helping you. It would be helping ALL LGBT families.
These benefits that you would be receiving (as DPs) you could be receiving as a married couple.
I’m sorry about your partners diagnosis, and I can appreciate what you are saying, all I’m saying is it could be better than this. There is absolutely no reason that all of these little bills can’t be fully encompassed into larger pieces of legislation – for example this could have been included in legislation to repeal DOMA.
Our Legislature is so frickin’ inefficient as it is, it’s amazing that anything gets done, EVER. I guess I should be grateful that this has gotten as far as it has thus far.
Nice thoughtNow, would it apply only to civilians or would it apply to active duty military if, by some strange twist of logic, DADT actually got repealed some time in the next thirty fucking years once an actual progressive is the Executive? And how would eligibility be determined? Do you just register and everything starts that same day, like with “opposite” people who marry someone they’ve known a week? Or would Teh Ghey be required to sit around with our thumbs up our ass and wait a year without any family protections to prove how monogamous and THAT MUCH BETTER than straight people we are?
Yes, I’m a little jaded and bitter.
At a White House ceremony in June, President Obama voiced his strong support for the bill.
Which means it will die quietly any day now thanks to behind-the-scenes-pressure from the White House. I’m jaded and bitter about that, too.
Jaded here as well, Keoriand wating to see just where this bill get derailed due to the unquenchable fears of the increasingly paranoid Rahm Emmanuel
I’ll believe it when I see it happenSO far as best as I can figure everyone must read this blog. Because it seems that no sooner do we start talking about taking steps to achieve greater recognition for gay equality things just start getting announced. But my experience over the past few months has been the equivalent of watching bloodhounds at a cross roads. We may be dedicated to hunting things down but too many tracks and scents seem to just have us running in circles on every issue.
No sooner is there and advancement on some level that we can all celebrate and hope for then a couple days later it is watered down, set aside, stalled in committee or place on the altar of perpetual indulgence until those who are in power and leadership can find a more convenient time to work issues like justice, fairness, equality and oppression. Wake me up when something actually happens, huh?
On a side note, I have been very pleasantly surprised that Rep. Lynch has been working to get this passed. When he was first elected he looked to be a “typical Boston Irish Catholic from Southie” (ie., politically Democratic, but socially conservative – big on supporting organized labor, but not at all eager to support “liberals”, or “them”).
This has been quite refreshing for me!