On Thursday, The Hill reported the House approved an amendment to the 2013 defense spending bill that would ban the Department of Defense from spending any federal dollars to violate the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) introduced the amendment and said it was was needed because of President Obama’s comments about gay marriage and Department of Defense memos that said “certain military facilities might be used for same-sex marriage, and that military chaplains may officiate in same-sex marriages.”
“We saw the president of the United States make some statements along the way that his position was evolving on marriage,” King said, according to The Hill. “That seemed to be a signal to the Department of Defense, who issued two memorandum.”
Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA) protested the amendment, arguing that since DOMA is still the law, gay and lesbian military partners would be limited in the federal benefits they can receive.
“This amendment is being offered for purely political reasons,” Dicks said, according to The Hill.
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