The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act
The Problem
Benefits, such as health insurance and retirement savings, are a significant portion of employee compensation. Although the federal government—the nation’s largest civilian employer—offers attractive family benefits to employees with different-sex spouses, it does not offer the same benefits to lesbian and gay workers with partners. As a result, these employees do not receive equal pay for their equal contributions, and the government cannot keep pace with leading private-sector employers—including many federal contactors—in recruiting and retaining top talent.
What is the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act?
The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO) would provide the same family benefits to lesbian and gay federal civilian employees as are already provided to employees with different-sex spouses.
To receive benefits, employees would have to submit an affidavit of eligibility for benefits with the Office of Personnel Management, certifying that the employee and domestic partner meet necessary criteria, as provided in the Act.
DPBO is Consistent With Leading Employers’ Policies
DPBO would bring employment practices in the federal government in line with those of America’s largest and most successful corporations. Fifty-nine percent of Fortune 500 companies provide domestic partner benefits to their employees. In addition, 23 states, the District of Columbia, and over 150 local governments make benefits available to public employees and their same-sex partners.
A May 2000 poll conducted by the Associated Press found that a majority of Americans favor the extension of health insurance coverage to same-sex partners. In addition, this legislation has been endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Harvard University, National Treasury Employees Union and United Church of Christ. DPBO was introduced in the 111th Congress by Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) in the Senate and by Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) in the House. On July 8, 2009, the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia held a hearing on DPBO. This subcommittee then held a successful markup of the bill on July 30, 2009, followed by a successful markup by the full House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on November 18, 2009. In the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs held a hearing on DPBO on October 15, 2009. The Committee marked-up and passed the bill on December 16, 2009.Action in the 111th Congress
What is the Current Status of the Bill?
DPBO is expected to soon be reintroduced in the 112th Congress.
For more information, please contact legislation@hrc.org.
Last Updated: Tuesday, March 15, 2011
.jpg)