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S 598 112th Congress Senate Law Intergovernmental relations Judicial procedure and administration Marriage and family status Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination State and local government operations

Respect for Marriage Act of 2011

Introduced: March 16, 2011 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 10, 2011
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 228.
Nov 10, 2011
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
Nov 10, 2011
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jul 20, 2011
Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-120.
Mar 16, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 16, 2011
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1753-1754)
Mar 16, 2011
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Respect for Marriage Act of 2011 - Amends the Defense of Marriage Act to repeal a provision that prohibited a state, territory, possession, or Indian tribe from being required to recognize any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other state, territory, possession, or tribe respecting a same sex marriage.

Amends the federal rules of construction added by such Act concerning the definitions of "marriage" and "spouse" to provide that, for purposes of any federal law in which marital status is a factor, an individual shall be considered married if that individual's marriage is valid in the state where the marriage was entered into or, in the case of a marriage entered into outside any state, if the marriage is valid in the place where entered into and the marriage could have been entered into in a state. Removes the definition of "spouse" (currently, a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife).

What's happening now November 10, 2011

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 228.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 1116 Related bill Respect for Marriage Act
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 15
All 15 Democratic 14 Independent 1
D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · May 10, 2012
 D
Klobuchar, Amy
Minnesota · Aug 2, 2011
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Jul 11, 2011
 D
Bennet, Michael F.
Colorado · Jun 8, 2011
 D
Cantwell, Maria
Washington · Mar 17, 2011
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Mar 16, 2011
 D
Coons, Christopher A.
Delaware · Mar 16, 2011
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Mar 16, 2011
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Mar 16, 2011
 D
Merkley, Jeff
Oregon · Mar 16, 2011
 D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Mar 16, 2011
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Mar 16, 2011
 D
Shaheen, Jeanne
New Hampshire · Mar 16, 2011
 D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · Mar 16, 2011
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Mar 16, 2011
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 598: Respect for Marriage Act of 2011. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-598/
MLA
"S. 598: Respect for Marriage Act of 2011." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-598/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 598, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-598/.
Markdown link
[S. 598: Respect for Marriage Act of 2011](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-598/)
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