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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to protect same-sex marriage.
The ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ passed the House on a 258 to 169 vote. After the vote was finalized, the House chamber erupted with cheers from lawmakers.
Congress pursued this legislation following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. Some Democrats worried the court would overturn rulings that protect same-sex marriage.
The bill does not set a national requirement that all states must legalize same-sex marriage, but it does require states to recognize another state’s legal marriage.
Western New York’s Rep. Joe Sempolinski (R- NY) voted against the legislation. WENY News spoke with about this before he voted on the legislation:
“So because of my concern for religious freedom, I’m a constitutional conservative, I am duty bound to protect people’s constitutional rights to the free exercise of religion and as I’m concerned that legislation will be used to curtail those religious freedom rights,” said Rep. Sempolinski.
The legislation now heads to Biden’s desk for his signature.
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