HR 3396
104th Congress
House
Families
Administrative procedure
Congress
Domestic relations
Gay marriage
Government Operations and Politics
Heterosexuals
Interstate relations
Law
Legislation
Marriage
Married people
State laws
States' rights
Unmarried couples
Defense of Marriage Act
Everywhere this bill has been
49 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 21, 1996
Became Public Law No: 104-199.
Sep 21, 1996
Signed by President.
Sep 20, 1996
Presented to President.
Sep 11, 1996
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 10, 1996
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 85-14. Record Vote No: 280.
Sep 10, 1996
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S10100-10125, S10129)
Sep 10, 1996
Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 85-14. Record Vote No: 280.
Sep 5, 1996
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to consideration presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S9926)
Sep 5, 1996
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate. (consideration: CR S9926)
Sep 5, 1996
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to consideration withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate. (consideration: CR S9954)
Sep 5, 1996
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S9926)
Jul 17, 1996
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 499.
Jul 16, 1996
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Jul 12, 1996
Ms. Jackson-Lee (TX) moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.
Jul 12, 1996
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Jul 12, 1996
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3396.
Jul 12, 1996
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 474, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 15 minutes of debate on the Frank amendment.
Jul 12, 1996
Motion to strike the enacting clause withdrawn.
Jul 12, 1996
DEBATE - The Committee proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion.
Jul 12, 1996
During the course of debate on the Frank amendment, Mr. Sensenbrenner objected to certain words of Mr. Frank as being unparliamentary and demanded that they be taken down. The Clerk reported the words to the Committee of the Whole. Subsequently, Mr. Sensenbrenner withdrew his demand, and the Committee resumed debate.
Jul 12, 1996
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 474, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 75 minutes of debate on the Frank amendment.
Jul 12, 1996
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 3396 as unfinished business.
Jul 12, 1996
On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
Jul 12, 1996
Mr. Canady moved that the Committee rise.
Jul 12, 1996
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate.
Jul 12, 1996
The Speaker designated the Honorable Paul E. Gillmor to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Jul 12, 1996
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 474 and Rule XXIII.
Jul 12, 1996
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3396 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Jul 12, 1996
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 474. (consideration: CR H7480-7506)
Jul 12, 1996
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: 7/11/96 CR H7441-7449)
Jul 12, 1996
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 12, 1996
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 342 - 67, 2 Present (Roll No. 316).
Jul 12, 1996
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 164 - 249 (Roll no. 315). (consideration: CR H7505)
Jul 12, 1996
Mr. Gunderson moved to strike the enacting clause.
Jul 12, 1996
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
Jul 12, 1996
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
Jul 12, 1996
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion.
Jul 12, 1996
Mr. Berman moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.
Jul 12, 1996
Mr. Canady raised a point of order against the motion to recommit with instructions. Mr. Canady stated that the amendment contained in the instructions was not germane to the content of the bill and was, therefore, in violation of the rules of the House. Conceded and Sustained by the Chair.
Jul 12, 1996
Point of order conceeded and sustained against the motion to recommit with instructions. (consideration: CR H7501-7503)
Jul 12, 1996
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit the bill with instructions.
Jul 11, 1996
Rule H. Res. 474 passed House.
Jul 10, 1996
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 474 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3396 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Jul 9, 1996
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 339.
Jul 9, 1996
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 104-664.
Jun 12, 1996
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 10.
Jun 12, 1996
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 11, 1996
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 30, 1996
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 8 - 4.
Votes taken on this bill
2
| Date | Chamber | What was voted on | Result | Yes–No | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12, 1996 | House · vote #316 | On Passage | Passed | 342–67 | See who voted → |
| Jul 12, 1996 | House · vote #315 | On Motion to Recommit with Instructions | Failed | 164–249 | See who voted → |
Amendments to this bill
9
Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.
2 failed 7 pending / other
| Amendment | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|
| HAMDT 1,286 | — | Failed |
| HAMDT 1,285 | — | Failed |
| SAMDT 5,174 | — | Pending |
| SAMDT 5,173 | — | Pending |
| SAMDT 5,172 | — | Pending |
| SAMDT 5,171 | — | Pending |
| SAMDT 5,170 | — | Pending |
| SAMDT 5,169 | — | Pending |
| SAMDT 5,168 | — | Pending |
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Plain-English summary
Defense of Marriage Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to provide that no State, territory, or possession of the United States or Indian tribe shall be required to give effect to any marriage between persons of the same sex under the laws of any other such jurisdiction or to any right or claim arising from such relationship.
Establishes a Federal definition of: (1) "marriage" as only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife; and (2) "spouse" as only a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife.
What's happening now
Became Public Law No: 104-199.
Related & companion bills
3
Bill text
6 versions
- Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF
- Enrolled Bill Formatted Text PDF
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF
- Placed on Calendar Senate Formatted Text PDF
- Public Law Formatted Text PDF
- Reported in House Formatted Text PDF
Committees of jurisdiction
2
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3396: Defense of Marriage Act. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3396/
"H.R. 3396: Defense of Marriage Act." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3396/.
H.R. 3396, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3396/.
[H.R. 3396: Defense of Marriage Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3396/)