The House of Representatives passed legislation Tuesday that would enshrine protections for same-sex marriage into federal law.
The bill was passed in a 267-157 vote, with 47 Republicans joining Democrats to support the Respect for Marriage Act.
Under the legislation, states would be required to recognize gay marriages performed in other states and recognize gay marriages under federal law.
“This legislation guarantees that no married couple can be denied equal protection under federal law,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“This is really very important: from tax provisions to Social Security benefits and more, even if the Court were to erase marriage freedom, God forbid,” she added.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas had said that the Supreme Court should review all of its “substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell”.
The right to contraception was established in Griswold v. Connecticut and a right to gay marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges.
The House is also expected to vote on legislation prohibiting states from banning birth control, reported the Daily Caller.
Some Republicans were quick to criticize the legislation, with Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson calling the bill “a shameful effort”.
“This legislation would reverse the law in 35 states,” said Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. “In 30 of those 35 states, the people of those respective states went to the ballot and voted for that …. it would undo what the people [wanted]”.
The legislation will now head to the Senate, where it needs the support of at least 10 GOP senators to overcome an expected filibuster.
