Respect for Marriage Act

Bill: 117-hr-8404
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10]
Introduced: 2022-07-18
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Civil actions and liability

Due process and equal protection

Family relationships

Marriage and family status

Racial and ethnic relations

Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Latest action: action_date: 2022-12-13
text: Became Public Law No: 117-228.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-07-18
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Respect for Marriage Act</b></p> <p>This bill provides statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages. </p> <p>Specifically, the bill replaces provisions that define, for purposes of federal law, <i>marriage</i> as between a man and a woman and <i>spouse</i> as a person of the opposite sex with provisions that recognize any marriage that is valid under state law. (The Supreme Court held that the current provisions were unconstitutional in <em>United States v. Windsor </em>in 2013.)</p> <p>The bill also replaces provisions that do not require states to recognize same-sex marriages from other states with provisions that prohibit the denial of full faith and credit or any right or claim relating to out-of-state marriages on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. (The Supreme Court held that state laws barring same-sex marriages were unconstitutional in <em>Obergefell v. Hodges</em> in 2015; the Court held that state laws barring interracial marriages were unconstitutional in <i>Loving v. Virginia</i> in 1967.) The bill allows the Department of Justice to bring a civil action and establishes a private right of action for violations. </p>

action_date: 2022-07-19
action_desc: Passed House
text: <p><b>Respect for Marriage Act</b></p> <p>This bill provides statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages. </p> <p>Specifically, the bill replaces provisions that define, for purposes of federal law, <i>marriage</i> as between a man and a woman and <i>spouse</i> as a person of the opposite sex with provisions that recognize any marriage that is valid under state law. (The Supreme Court held that the current provisions were unconstitutional in <em>United States v. Windsor </em>in 2013.)</p> <p>The bill also replaces provisions that do not require states to recognize same-sex marriages from other states with provisions that prohibit the denial of full faith and credit or any right or claim relating to out-of-state marriages on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. (The Supreme Court held that state laws barring same-sex marriages were unconstitutional in <em>Obergefell v. Hodges</em> in 2015; the Court held that state laws barring interracial marriages were unconstitutional in <i>Loving v. Virginia</i> in 1967.) The bill allows the Department of Justice to bring a civil action and establishes a private right of action for violations. </p>

action_date: 2022-11-29
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p><b>Respect for Marriage Act</b></p> <p>This bill provides statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages. </p> <p>Specifically, the bill replaces provisions that define, for purposes of federal law, <i>marriage</i> as between a man and a woman and <i>spouse</i> as a person of the opposite sex with provisions that recognize any marriage between two individuals that is valid under state law. (The Supreme Court held that the current provisions were unconstitutional in <em>United States v. Windsor </em>in 2013.)</p> <p>The bill also replaces provisions that do not require states to recognize same-sex marriages from other states with provisions that prohibit the denial of full faith and credit or any right or claim relating to out-of-state marriages on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. (The Supreme Court held that state laws barring same-sex marriages were unconstitutional in <em>Obergefell v. Hodges</em> in 2015; the Court held that state laws barring interracial marriages were unconstitutional in <i>Loving v. Virginia</i> in 1967.) The bill allows the Department of Justice to bring a civil action and establishes a private right of action for violations. </p> <p>The bill does not (1) affect religious liberties or conscience protections that are available under the Constitution or federal law, (2) require religious organizations to provide goods or services to formally recognize or celebrate a marriage, (3) affect any benefits or rights that do not arise from a marriage, or (4) recognize under federal law any marriage between more than two individuals.</p>

action_date: 2022-12-08
action_desc: House agreed to Senate amendment
text: <p><b>Respect for Marriage Act</b></p> <p>This bill provides statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages. </p> <p>Specifically, the bill replaces provisions that define, for purposes of federal law, <i>marriage</i> as between a man and a woman and <i>spouse</i> as a person of the opposite sex with provisions that recognize any marriage between two individuals that is valid under state law. (The Supreme Court held that the current provisions were unconstitutional in <em>United States v. Windsor </em>in 2013.)</p> <p>The bill also replaces provisions that do not require states to recognize same-sex marriages from other states with provisions that prohibit the denial of full faith and credit or any right or claim relating to out-of-state marriages on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. (The Supreme Court held that state laws barring same-sex marriages were unconstitutional in <em>Obergefell v. Hodges</em> in 2015; the Court held that state laws barring interracial marriages were unconstitutional in <i>Loving v. Virginia</i> in 1967.) The bill allows the Department of Justice to bring a civil action and establishes a private right of action for violations. </p> <p>The bill does not (1) affect religious liberties or conscience protections that are available under the Constitution or federal law, (2) require religious organizations to provide goods or services to formally recognize or celebrate a marriage, (3) affect any benefits or rights that do not arise from a marriage, or (4) recognize under federal law any marriage between more than two individuals.</p>

action_date: 2022-12-13
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p><b>Respect for Marriage Act</b></p> <p>This act provides statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages. </p> <p>Specifically, the act replaces provisions that define, for purposes of federal law, <i>marriage</i> as between a man and a woman and <i>spouse</i> as a person of the opposite sex with provisions that recognize any marriage between two individuals that is valid under state law. (The Supreme Court held that the current provisions were unconstitutional in <em>United States v. Windsor </em>in 2013.)</p> <p>The act also replaces provisions that do not require states to recognize same-sex marriages from other states with provisions that prohibit the denial of full faith and credit or any right or claim relating to out-of-state marriages on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. (The Supreme Court held that state laws barring same-sex marriages were unconstitutional in <em>Obergefell v. Hodges</em> in 2015; the Court held that state laws barring interracial marriages were unconstitutional in <i>Loving v. Virginia</i> in 1967.) The act allows the Department of Justice to bring a civil action and establishes a private right of action for violations. </p> <p>The act does not (1) affect religious liberties or conscience protections that are available under the Constitution or federal law, (2) require religious organizations to provide goods or services to formally recognize or celebrate a marriage, (3) affect any benefits or rights that do not arise from a marriage, or (4) recognize under federal law any marriage between more than two individuals.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8404 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and ensure respect for State regulation of marriage, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Respect for Marriage Act . 2. Repeal of section added to title 28, United States Code, by section 2 of the Defense of Marriage Act Section 1738C of title 28, United States Code, is repealed. 3. Full faith and credit given to marriage equality Chapter 115 of title 28, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting after section 1738B the following: 1738C. Certain acts, records, and proceedings and the effect thereof (a) In general No person acting under color of State law may deny— (1) full faith and credit to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State pertaining to a marriage between 2 individuals, on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals; or (2) a right or claim arising from such a marriage on the basis that such marriage would not be recognized under the law of that State on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals. (b) Enforcement by Attorney General The Attorney General may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against any person who violates subsection (a) for declaratory and injunctive relief. (c) Private right of action Any person who is harmed by a violation of subsection (a) may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against the person who violated such subsection for declaratory and injunctive relief. (d) State defined In this section, the term State has the meaning given such term under section 7 of title 1. . 4. Marriage recognition Section 7 of title 1, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 7. Marriage (a) For the purposes of any Federal law, rule, or regulation in which marital status is a factor, an individual shall be considered married if that individual’s marriage is valid in the State where the marriage was entered into or, in the case of a marriage entered into outside any State, if the marriage is valid in the place where entered into and the marriage could have been entered into in a State. (b) In this section, the term State means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States. (c) For purposes of subsection (a), in determining whether a marriage is valid in a State or the place where entered into, if outside of any State, only the law of the jurisdiction applicable at the time the marriage was entered into may be considered. . 5. Severability If any provision of this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision to any person, entity, government, or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, or any amendment made thereby, or the application of such provision to all other persons, entities, governments, or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

Passed the House of Representatives July 19, 2022. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8404 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 18, 2022 Mr. Nadler (for himself, Mr. Cicilline , Ms. Davids of Kansas , Mr. Jones , Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York , Mr. Pocan , Mr. Takano , Ms. Craig , Mr. Pappas , Mr. Torres of New York , Mrs. Beatty , Mr. Ruiz , Ms. Chu , Mr. Jeffries , Mr. Smith of Washington , Mr. Payne , Mr. Brown of Maryland , Ms. Schakowsky , Mrs. Watson Coleman , Mr. Cooper , Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois , Ms. Porter , Mr. Carter of Louisiana , Mr. Lowenthal , Mr. Larson of Connecticut , Ms. Garcia of Texas , Mr. Bera , Mr. Norcross , Mr. Deutch , Mr. Tonko , Mr. Cleaver , Ms. Stevens , Ms. Sánchez , Mr. Johnson of Georgia , Mr. Trone , Mr. Bowman , Ms. Pressley , Ms. Kuster , Ms. Barragán , Ms. Pingree , Mr. Espaillat , Mr. Gallego , Mr. Welch , Mr. Langevin , Ms. Norton , Ms. Meng , Mrs. Bustos , Ms. Wilson of Florida , Mr. Pallone , Mr. Higgins of New York , Mr. Sarbanes , Ms. Bass , Mr. Schiff , Mrs. Lawrence , Mr. Castro of Texas , Ms. Jacobs of California , Mr. Thompson of California , Mr. Horsford , Mr. DeSaulnier , Mr. Carbajal , Mr. Casten , Mr. Kahele , Ms. Strickland , Mr. Raskin , Ms. Speier , Ms. Sherrill , Mr. Connolly , Ms. Tlaib , Mr. Blumenauer , Ms. Stansbury , Mr. Auchincloss , Ms. Kelly of Illinois , Ms. Wasserman Schultz , Ms. Williams of Georgia , Mr. Foster , Ms. Titus , Ms. Adams , Mr. Grijalva , Mr. Doggett , Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania , Mr. Lieu , Ms. Ross , Mrs. Fletcher , Mr. Garamendi , Ms. Kaptur , Mrs. Axne , Mr. Kilmer , Ms. Jayapal , Mrs. Dingell , Ms. Lee of California , Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York , Mr. Crow , Mr. McEachin , Mr. Himes , Mr. Lawson of Florida , Mr. Cárdenas , Ms. Jackson Lee , Mr. Costa , Mr. Morelle , Mr. Aguilar , Mr. Yarmuth , Mr. Kildee , Mr. Levin of Michigan , Mr. Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania , Mr. Crist , Mr. Evans , Mr. Stanton , Ms. Velázquez , Mr. Gomez , Mr. Soto , Ms. McCollum , Mr. Correa , Ms. Roybal-Allard , Mr. Pascrell , Ms. DelBene , Ms. Matsui , Mrs. Kirkpatrick , Mrs. Napolitano , Ms. Blunt Rochester , Mr. Allred , Ms. DeGette , Ms. Moore of Wisconsin , Mr. Neguse , Ms. Brownley , Mr. DeFazio , Mr. Cohen , Mr. Kim of New Jersey , Ms. Spanberger , Mr. Swalwell , Mr. Phillips , Mr. Beyer , Mr. Meeks , Ms. Ocasio-Cortez , Mr. Lynch , Mr. Carson , Mr. McNerney , Ms. Sewell , Ms. Omar , Mr. Larsen of Washington , Mrs. Trahan , Mr. Krishnamoorthi , Mr. Keating , Mr. Green of Texas , Mr. Quigley , Mrs. Murphy of Florida , Ms. Castor of Florida , Ms. Clark of Massachusetts , Ms. Leger Fernandez , Mrs. Hayes , Mr. Perlmutter , Ms. Eshoo , Ms. Dean , Mr. Malinowski , Mr. Gottheimer , Mr. Schneider , Mr. Moulton , Ms. Underwood , Ms. Wild , Mr. Mfume , Mr. Scott of Virginia , and Ms. Slotkin ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and ensure respect for State regulation of marriage, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Respect for Marriage Act . 2. Repeal of section added to title 28, United States Code, by section 2 of the Defense of Marriage Act Section 1738C of title 28, United States Code, is repealed. 3. Full faith and credit given to marriage equality Chapter 115 of title 28, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting after section 1738B the following: 1738C. Certain acts, records, and proceedings and the effect thereof (a) In general No person acting under color of State law may deny— (1) full faith and credit to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State pertaining to a marriage between 2 individuals, on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals; or (2) a right or claim arising from such a marriage on the basis that such marriage would not be recognized under the law of that State on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals. (b) Enforcement by Attorney General The Attorney General may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against any person who violates subsection (a) for declaratory and injunctive relief. (c) Private right of action Any person who is harmed by a violation of subsection (a) may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against the person who violated such subsection for declaratory and injunctive relief. (d) State defined In this section, the term State has the meaning given such term under section 7 of title 1. . 4. Marriage recognition Section 7 of title 1, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 7. Marriage (a) For the purposes of any Federal law, rule, or regulation in which marital status is a factor, an individual shall be considered married if that individual’s marriage is valid in the State where the marriage was entered into or, in the case of a marriage entered into outside any State, if the marriage is valid in the place where entered into and the marriage could have been entered into in a State. (b) In this section, the term State means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States. (c) For purposes of subsection (a), in determining whether a marriage is valid in a State or the place where entered into, if outside of any State, only the law of the jurisdiction applicable at the time the marriage was entered into may be considered. . 5. Severability If any provision of this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision to any person, entity, government, or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, or any amendment made thereby, or the application of such provision to all other persons, entities, governments, or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 449 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8404 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 20, 2022 Received; read the first time July 21, 2022 Read the second time and placed on the calendar AN ACT To repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and ensure respect for State regulation of marriage, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Respect for Marriage Act . 2. Repeal of section added to title 28, United States Code, by section 2 of the Defense of Marriage Act Section 1738C of title 28, United States Code, is repealed. 3. Full faith and credit given to marriage equality Chapter 115 of title 28, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting after section 1738B the following: 1738C. Certain acts, records, and proceedings and the effect thereof (a) In general No person acting under color of State law may deny— (1) full faith and credit to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State pertaining to a marriage between 2 individuals, on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals; or (2) a right or claim arising from such a marriage on the basis that such marriage would not be recognized under the law of that State on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals. (b) Enforcement by Attorney General The Attorney General may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against any person who violates subsection (a) for declaratory and injunctive relief. (c) Private right of action Any person who is harmed by a violation of subsection (a) may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against the person who violated such subsection for declaratory and injunctive relief. (d) State defined In this section, the term State has the meaning given such term under section 7 of title 1. . 4. Marriage recognition Section 7 of title 1, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 7. Marriage (a) For the purposes of any Federal law, rule, or regulation in which marital status is a factor, an individual shall be considered married if that individual’s marriage is valid in the State where the marriage was entered into or, in the case of a marriage entered into outside any State, if the marriage is valid in the place where entered into and the marriage could have been entered into in a State. (b) In this section, the term State means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States. (c) For purposes of subsection (a), in determining whether a marriage is valid in a State or the place where entered into, if outside of any State, only the law of the jurisdiction applicable at the time the marriage was entered into may be considered. . 5. Severability If any provision of this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision to any person, entity, government, or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, or any amendment made thereby, or the application of such provision to all other persons, entities, governments, or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

Passed the House of Representatives July 19, 2022. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

July 21, 2022 Read the second time and placed on the calendar

tv_txt: 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H.R. 8404 In the Senate of the United States, November 29, 2022. Amendment:

That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 8404) entitled An Act to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and ensure respect for State regulation of marriage, and for other purposes. , do pass with the following Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Respect for Marriage Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. (2) Diverse beliefs about the role of gender in marriage are held by reasonable and sincere people based on decent and honorable religious or philosophical premises. Therefore, Congress affirms that such people and their diverse beliefs are due proper respect. (3) Millions of people, including interracial and same-sex couples, have entered into marriages and have enjoyed the rights and privileges associated with marriage. Couples joining in marriage deserve to have the dignity, stability, and ongoing protection that marriage affords to families and children. 3. Repeal of section added to title 28, United States Code, by section 2 of the Defense of Marriage Act Section 1738C of title 28, United States Code, is repealed. 4. Full faith and credit given to marriage equality Chapter 115 of title 28, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting after section 1738B the following: 1738C. Certain acts, records, and proceedings and the effect thereof (a) In general No person acting under color of State law may deny— (1) full faith and credit to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State pertaining to a marriage between 2 individuals, on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals; or (2) a right or claim arising from such a marriage on the basis that such marriage would not be recognized under the law of that State on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals. (b) Enforcement by Attorney General The Attorney General may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against any person who violates subsection (a) for declaratory and injunctive relief. (c) Private right of action Any person who is harmed by a violation of subsection (a) may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against the person who violated such subsection for declaratory and injunctive relief. (d) State defined In this section, the term State has the meaning given such term under section 7 of title 1. . 5. Marriage recognition Section 7 of title 1, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 7. Marriage (a) For the purposes of any Federal law, rule, or regulation in which marital status is a factor, an individual shall be considered married if that individual’s marriage is between 2 individuals and is valid in the State where the marriage was entered into or, in the case of a marriage entered into outside any State, if the marriage is between 2 individuals and is valid in the place where entered into and the marriage could have been entered into in a State. (b) In this section, the term State means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States. (c) For purposes of subsection (a), in determining whether a marriage is valid in a State or the place where entered into, if outside of any State, only the law of the jurisdiction applicable at the time the marriage was entered into may be considered. . 6. No impact on religious liberty and conscience (a) In general Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall be construed to diminish or abrogate a religious liberty or conscience protection otherwise available to an individual or organization under the Constitution of the United States or Federal law. (b) Goods or services Consistent with the First Amendment to the Constitution, nonprofit religious organizations, including churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, nondenominational ministries, interdenominational and ecumenical organizations, mission organizations, faith-based social agencies, religious educational institutions, and nonprofit entities whose principal purpose is the study, practice, or advancement of religion, and any employee of such an organization, shall not be required to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage. Any refusal under this subsection to provide such services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges shall not create any civil claim or cause of action. 7. Statutory prohibition (a) No impact on status and benefits not arising from a marriage Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall be construed to deny or alter any benefit, status, or right of an otherwise eligible entity or person which does not arise from a marriage, including tax-exempt status, tax treatment, educational funding, or a grant, contract, agreement, guarantee, loan, scholarship, license, certification, accreditation, claim, or defense. (b) No Federal recognition of polygamous marriages Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall be construed to require or authorize Federal recognition of marriages between more than 2 individuals. 8. Severability If any provision of this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision to any person, entity, government, or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, or any amendment made thereby, or the application of such provision to all other persons, entities, governments, or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

Secretary

tv_txt: I One Hundred Seventeenth Congress of the United States of America At the Second Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-two H. R. 8404 AN ACT To repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and ensure respect for State regulation of marriage, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Respect for Marriage Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. (2) Diverse beliefs about the role of gender in marriage are held by reasonable and sincere people based on decent and honorable religious or philosophical premises. Therefore, Congress affirms that such people and their diverse beliefs are due proper respect. (3) Millions of people, including interracial and same-sex couples, have entered into marriages and have enjoyed the rights and privileges associated with marriage. Couples joining in marriage deserve to have the dignity, stability, and ongoing protection that marriage affords to families and children. 3. Repeal of section added to title 28, United States Code, by section 2 of the Defense of Marriage Act Section 1738C of title 28, United States Code, is repealed. 4. Full faith and credit given to marriage equality Chapter 115 of title 28, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting after section 1738B the following: 1738C. Certain acts, records, and proceedings and the effect thereof (a) In general No person acting under color of State law may deny— (1) full faith and credit to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State pertaining to a marriage between 2 individuals, on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals; or (2) a right or claim arising from such a marriage on the basis that such marriage would not be recognized under the law of that State on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals. (b) Enforcement by Attorney General The Attorney General may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against any person who violates subsection (a) for declaratory and injunctive relief. (c) Private right of action Any person who is harmed by a violation of subsection (a) may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against the person who violated such subsection for declaratory and injunctive relief. (d) State defined In this section, the term State has the meaning given such term under section 7 of title 1. . 5. Marriage recognition Section 7 of title 1, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 7. Marriage (a) For the purposes of any Federal law, rule, or regulation in which marital status is a factor, an individual shall be considered married if that individual’s marriage is between 2 individuals and is valid in the State where the marriage was entered into or, in the case of a marriage entered into outside any State, if the marriage is between 2 individuals and is valid in the place where entered into and the marriage could have been entered into in a State. (b) In this section, the term State means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States. (c) For purposes of subsection (a), in determining whether a marriage is valid in a State or the place where entered into, if outside of any State, only the law of the jurisdiction applicable at the time the marriage was entered into may be considered. . 6. No impact on religious liberty and conscience (a) In general Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall be construed to diminish or abrogate a religious liberty or conscience protection otherwise available to an individual or organization under the Constitution of the United States or Federal law. (b) Goods or services Consistent with the First Amendment to the Constitution, nonprofit religious organizations, including churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, nondenominational ministries, interdenominational and ecumenical organizations, mission organizations, faith-based social agencies, religious educational institutions, and nonprofit entities whose principal purpose is the study, practice, or advancement of religion, and any employee of such an organization, shall not be required to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage. Any refusal under this subsection to provide such services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges shall not create any civil claim or cause of action. 7. Statutory prohibition (a) No impact on status and benefits not arising from a marriage Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall be construed to deny or alter any benefit, status, or right of an otherwise eligible entity or person which does not arise from a marriage, including tax-exempt status, tax treatment, educational funding, or a grant, contract, agreement, guarantee, loan, scholarship, license, certification, accreditation, claim, or defense. (b) No Federal recognition of polygamous marriages Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall be construed to require or authorize Federal recognition of marriages between more than 2 individuals. 8. Severability If any provision of this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision to any person, entity, government, or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, or any amendment made thereby, or the application of such provision to all other persons, entities, governments, or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.