Senator Roland Burris Cosponsors Domestic Partner Benefits Bill, Introduces Amendment

WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 17, 2009. United States Senator Roland W. Burris introduced an amendment yesterday to the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009, of which Senator Burris is a cosponsor. Under this legislation, S. 1102, federal employees who have same-sex domestic partners will be entitled to the same employment benefits that are currently available to married federal employees and their opposite-sex spouses. Senator Burris and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Wednesday approved this measure by a bipartisan 8-1 vote.

With many of the nation’s biggest companies already offering domestic partner benefits, the federal government is missing an important employment tool to attract valuable employees. Senator Burris’ amendment would require the U.S. Government and Accountability Office to conduct a study on how expanding benefits to domestic partners affects the government’s ability to recruit and retain employees. The results of this study will be critical in determining the effectiveness of the bill in recruiting and hiring employees, and whether or not the bill needs to be changed or improved.

“By allowing federal employees and their same-sex partners to receive the same benefits as their married colleagues, we are signaling a strong commitment to equality and fairness that has long been lacking in the federal workplace,” said Senator Burris. “Adopting this important legislation will put the federal government on a level playing field to directly compete with the private sector for the best and brightest individuals. This bill is a giant step forward for the federal government, its employees, and for the American pursuit of equality for all.”

Under the bill, federal employees and their domestic partners will have the same benefits as married employees and their spouses under: