This bill shows that we recognize the value of every American and their families and their relationships.

it made much more sense to create this mechanism to provide the employment fringe benefits, and that's what this bill is limited to.

correcting a longstanding injustice which has resulted in some Federal workers not receiving equal pay for equal work.

The Federal Government simply does not effectively compete with these companies for every talented person; we fail to offer comparable job benefits to our employees.

This critical legislation will provide health, life and survivor benefits to same-sex domestic partners of Federal employees.

The government to which I have devoted 33 years of my working life will not honor my partnership because I love another woman, not a man.

We have families that we love, that we need to take care of, just as you do.

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.

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.

As a diplomat, I advanced American principles of equality, fair play, and respect for diversity in the countries to which I was posted;

I regard this as an issue of equal compensation both in pay and benefits, but predominantly, we're looking at benefits for equal work.

this inequality exists on the Federal level despite the significant expansion in the availability of employment-related benefits and equal treatment for domestic partners.