North Carolina’s senior U.S. Senator says a bipartisan group of lawmakers has settled on an amendment to the federal Respect for Marriage Act that would codify the right of same-sex and interracial couples to marry as long as that is legal in a given state.
Sen. Thom Tillis says the amendment is narrow, but it would accomplish two primary goals. It would require the federal government to recognize a marriage between two people if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed, and would also guarantee that valid marriages between two people are given full faith and credit, regardless of the couple’s sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.
The bill would not require a state to issue a marriage license contrary to state law.
When the bill passed the House with bipartisan support in July Tillis said he would likely support it.
The legislation requires the support of 10 GOP senators to avoid a filibuster.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said he would bring up the bill in the coming weeks.
