Leahy sets committee action on DOMA repeal for Nov. 3

[Ian David]

Source: The Washington Blade

The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee has set Nov. 3 as the start for action on debate and a committee vote on legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

In a statement Tuesday, the office of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced the committee “will begin debate on legislation” starting Nov. 3. The Vermont lawmaker previously pledged to hold a panel vote on the bill in November.

According to the notice, the agenda includes a number of items held over from the panel’s last meeting in addition to consideration of the bill, known as the Respect for Marriage Act.

It’s possible the committee could also vote on the nomination of Michael Walter Fitzgerald, the openly gay judicial nominee whom President Obama nominated in July for a seat on the U.S. District Court in the Central District of California.

Read more: http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/10/25/leahy-sets-doma-repeal-panel-vote-for-nov-3/

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This just in: the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin debate on the Respect for Marriage Act next Thursday, November 3rd!

Senator Patrick Leahy, who announced earlier in the month that the bill would receieve a mark-up, announced today that debate on legislation to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act will start at the beginning of next month. The Committee held the first-ever hearing on repealing DOMA in July, where Freedom to Marry's President Evan Wolfson testified and called on Congress to end the discriminatory law once and for all.
http://www.freedomtomarry.org/blog/entry/senator-leahy-announces-mark-up-on-respect-for-marriage-act

There's certainly ample support for the Respect for Marriage Act amongst members of the committee, as all 10 member Democrats have already signed on as cosponsors to the bill.

Freedom to Marry staff will be on hand at the hearing, and you can be sure we'll keep you updated on Facebook and Twitter next Thursday during the debate.

In the days leading up to the hearing, we'll work with our members around the country to ensure that all members of Congress know that the majority of Americans support ending federal marriage discrimination. Click here to contact your member of Congress today and ask them to support the Respect for Marriage Act. http://www.freedomtomarry.org/page/speakout/repealdoma

More:
http://www.freedomtomarry.org/blog/entry/senate-judiciary-committee-debate-on-doma-repeal-set-for-november-3rd


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[patrice]

1. Hoping here that Occupations will have proposals for actions in support of this work. nt