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H.R. 8404: Respect for Marriage Act

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H.R. 8404: Respect for Marriage Act

117th Congress · introduced 2022-07-18 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · Latest: Became Public Law No: 117-228.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2022-07-18 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 10 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 513 (2022): On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment, HR8404 (2022-12-08), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 117-228. (final step reached)
  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

Respect for Marriage Act

Plain summary

Respect for Marriage Act This act provides statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages. Specifically, the act replaces provisions that define, for purposes of federal law, marriage as between a man and a woman and spouse 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 United States v. Windsor in 2013.) 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 Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015; the Court held that state laws barring interracial marriages were unconstitutional in Loving v. Virginia in 1967.) The act allows the Department of Justice to bring a civil action and establishes a private right of action for violations. 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.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), 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

Respect for Marriage Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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The strongest published arguments

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10] · 189 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Sharice Davids (D-KS), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mark Takano (D-CA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Hakeem S. Jeffries (D-NY), Adam Smith (D-WA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Troy A. Carter (D-LA), John B. Larson (D-CT), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Ami Bera (D-CA), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Haley M. Stevens (D-MI), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Grace Meng (D-NY), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL) and 129 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10] reported raising $258,402 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (1)
Statute
A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr8404 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117