• The upper chamber passed the Respect for Marriage Act in a 61-36 vote, with 12 Republicans joining Democrats to send the bill back to the House for a second and final vote because the Senate added a religious freedom amendment.
• The bill effectively repeals the Defense of Marriage Act, which passed overwhelmingly in 1996 and defined marriage as only between a man and a woman.
• Some states still have laws banning same-sex marriage. But Congress codifying the legislation for same-sex couples means that their marriages would be recognized across the country even if the Supreme Court were to overturn protections.

Tagged: Capitol Hill