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H.R. 2834: Federal Benefits Equality Act

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H.R. 2834: Federal Benefits Equality Act

113th Congress · introduced 2013-07-25 · Families · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2013-07-25 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Federal Benefits Equality Act

Plain summary

Federal Benefits Equality Act - Declares that, in determining the meaning of any Act of Congress: (1) "marriage" includes a marriage, domestic partnership, civil union, or any other similar legal union between two individuals that is recognized by a state, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a federally recognized Indian tribe; and (2) "spouse" refers to either member of such a legal union. (Currently, "marriage" is defined only as a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, while "spouse" refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife.)

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Federal Benefits Equality Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12] · 5 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong113-hr2834 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong113 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong113