[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 4054]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  VETERAN SPOUSES EQUAL TREATMENT ACT

  (Ms. TITUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the LGBT veterans, 
who face discrimination by the very government they fought to defend, 
and I urge my colleagues to join me in ending this injustice.
  Two years ago, DOMA was struck down, and most Federal benefits were 
effectively extended to legally married same-sex couples; yet an 
outdated law continues to bar access to VA benefits for LGBT veteran 
families in States that do not recognize marriage equality.
  Our men and women in uniform do not serve in defense of a particular 
State, but of the United States. All veterans should have access to all 
Federal benefits, regardless of where they live, just as they do when 
they are in the military.
  When President Lincoln laid out his vision for caring for veterans, 
he said we should support those ``who shall have borne the battle.'' He 
didn't say anything about discriminating against some because of whom 
they love.
  Please join me in ending this injustice, and support the bipartisan 
Veteran Spouses Equal Treatment Act, which I will introduce tomorrow.

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