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HR 2834 113th Congress House

Federal Benefits Equality Act

Official title: To include under Federal laws granting rights and responsibilities to married couples other couples in other legal unions similar to marriage, including domestic partnerships and civil unions.

Introduced: July 25, 2013 See on congress.gov
Families Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementMarriage and family statusSex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
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This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 13, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Jul 25, 2013
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 25, 2013
Introduced in House
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 Latest action September 13, 2013

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Federal Benefits Equality Act - Declares that, in determining the meaning of any Act of Congress: (1) "marriage" includes a marriage, domestic partnership, civil union, or any other similar legal union between two individuals that is recognized by a state, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a federally recognized Indian tribe; and (2) "spouse" refers to either member of such a legal union. (Currently, "marriage" is defined only as a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, while "spouse" refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife.)

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 1
Fudge, Marcia
· Jul 31, 2013
 D
Grijalva, Raúl M.
Arizona · Jul 31, 2013
HASTINGS, ALCEE
· Jul 31, 2013
HONDA, MICHAEL
· Jul 31, 2013
Lowenthal, Alan
· Jul 31, 2013
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2834: Federal Benefits Equality Act. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2834/
MLA
"H.R. 2834: Federal Benefits Equality Act." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2834/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2834, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2834/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2834: Federal Benefits Equality Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2834/)
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