[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 106 (Thursday, July 9, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S4957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. 
        Cantwell, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Carper, Mr. Cardin, Mr. 
        Brown, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Casey, Mr. Warner, Mr. Reid, Ms. Hirono, 
        Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Whitehouse, Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Markey, 
        Mr. Sanders, Ms. Warren, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. 
        Leahy, Mr. Franken, Mr. Merkley, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. 
        Shaheen, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Schatz, Ms. Baldwin, 
        Mrs. Murray, Mr. Coons, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. Heitkamp, Mr. Tester, 
        Mr. Booker, Mr. Reed, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Peters, Mr. Donnelly, Mrs. 
        Feinstein, Mr. Udall, Mr. King, and Mr. Manchin):
  S. 1740. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify 
that all provisions shall apply to legally married same-sex couples in 
the same manner as other married couples, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, 2 weeks ago, the Supreme Court handed down 
a wonderful decision recognizing that all Americans have the right to 
marry the man or woman they love. It was a triumphant movement in the 
march toward justice, one I was happy to celebrate at home with a group 
of Oregonians who were truly elated. In my remarks that morning, I 
said: Love won and there is more to be done.
  So, today, along with 36 colleagues, I am introducing the Equal 
Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act of 2015. What this legislation does 
is it removes each gender-specific reference to marriage from the Tax 
Code. Now, in his opinion for the Court, Justice Kennedy pointed out 
the importance of providing equal dignity in the eyes of the law.
  Our legislation enshrines that equal dignity and respect in our 
Nation's tax laws by recognizing a new dawn of liberty for all 
Americans. In my view, on a more symbolic level, this legislation is 
one way to help close the door on an era when too many of our laws 
denied equality to the LGBTQ community. In my view, this is a 
particularly important step in the march toward justice. It is a 
straightforward way to cement the recognition that all Americans share 
certain unalienable rights--among them, life, liberty, and the pursuit 
of happiness.
  I was proud to vote against the Defense of Marriage Act in the 
Congress 20 years ago and fight measure 36 a decade ago in Oregon. I 
have always said--always said--that if you don't like gay marriage, 
don't get one. This is fundamentally an issue of justice and of 
liberty. I hope all Americans take pride in the wave of acceptance and 
equality that has rolled across our land and this decision embodies.
  This legislation now has 36 cosponsors. My hope is this body will 
support this proposal on a bipartisan basis. I look forward to working 
with our colleagues to take this next step. It is a step toward the arc 
of justice--the arc of justice that says that all of us--all of us--
have to be free. All of us should enjoy true and full equality for all 
Americans. I am very pleased 36 colleagues are joining me in this 
proposal this morning. I hope the Senate will pass it expeditiously on 
a bipartisan basis.
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