"the Federal employee who is in a same-sex partnership, whether they are married, in a marriage recognized at their State level or not, would have to file an affidavit of eligibility relating to their domestic partnership in order to receive the benefits that are being proposed in the bill before you..."
"it made much more sense to create this mechanism to provide the employment fringe benefits, and that's what this bill is limited to."
"You are not misreading that, but as Director Berry indicated, in their review of the legislation, OPM has come up with a number of technical recommendations, and that would be one."
"this inequality exists on the Federal level despite the significant expansion in the availability of employment-related benefits and equal treatment for domestic partners."
"We've had a researcher from the engineering school leave the State with an NSF grant that totaled more than it would have cost to implement the domestic partnership benefits State-wide in Wisconsin be..."
"Because of the Defense of Marriage Act, even those same-sex couples who are afforded the right to marry in certain States would not have those marriages recognized currently at the Federal level."
"You see, the issue we are here to address is not about personal belief, and it is not the definition of marriage."
"Mr. Chairman, I was reluctant to relive before this committee the most painful chapter of my life, the decision to leave a career that I love."
"the need to consider providing domestic partners' benefits to Federal employees should also be evaluated in light of the potential positive impacts that such policies can have on the Federal Governmen..."
"This bill shows that we recognize the value of every American and their families and their relationships."
"that would require a separate act of Congress, one that I support strongly, which would be repeal of title 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act"