Mark Takano: “I thank my colleague, Ms. Chu, for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in affirming the dignity…”

“I thank my colleague, Ms. Chu, for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in affirming the dignity and respect for married LGBTQ couples. H.R. 3299, the PRIDE Act, would bring parity to LGBTQ couples and the benefits afforded to heterosexual married couples in our Tax Code. The PRIDE Act allows married same-sex couples to file claims for tax credits and refunds back to the year of their marriage. Allowing these claims to be dated back to the original marriage dates respects the spirit of the Supreme Court's Windsor decision and underscores that the IRS must recognize same-sex marriages and afford them equal protection under the law. Equality takes many forms. It means civil, social, and financial equality. This legislation directly tackles financial inequality created by parts of our Tax Code head-on. The PRIDE Act also modifies the Tax Code to change language used to distinguish married couples to be gender-neutral. By changing dated and limited terms such as ``husband and wife,'' our laws will become more inclusive. Language is powerful. We must ensure that the language in our laws reflects our values and does not exclude members of the LGBTQ community from enjoying the same benefits as their heterosexual counterparts. Congress must do everything it can to guarantee equal treatment under the law for every person, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.…”