U.S. FEDERAL LAWS
AFFECTING MARRIED COUPLES
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Source: Washington Blade 1997-FEB-21
Lou Chibbaro, Jr., of the General Accounting Office of the Federal Government reports
that at least 1049 federal laws provide benefits, rights and privileges to married
couples. A report listing all 1049 statutes by name and code number was commissioned in
order to determine the implications of the Defense of Marriage Act which prohibits
the Federal Government from recognizing gay and lesbian relationships.
The report was requested by Representative Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), chairperson of the House
Judiciary Committee in 1996-SEP at the urging of former Representative Steve Gunderson
(R-Wis.)
Hyde has also requested a "survey of how other governmental units may have
defined non-marital domestic partnerships, and report on how states define and determine
when a relationship becomes a common law marriage.". This study may be published
at a later date.
The laws are categorized into 14 groups:
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Social Security and related programs, |
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housing, and Food Stamps; |
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veterans benefits; |
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taxation; |
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federal civilian and military service benefits; |
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employment benefits and related laws; |
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immigration, naturalization, and aliens; |
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Indians; |
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trade, commerce, and intellectual property; |
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financial disclosure and conflict of interest; |
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crimes and family violence; |
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loans, guarantees, and payments in agriculture; |
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federal natural resources and related laws; |
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miscellaneous laws. |
Single copies of the report, GAO/OGC-97-16, are available free of charge and may
be ordered by calling (202) 512-6000. The report may be accessed on the Internet through
the GAO's Web site at http://www.gao.gov
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