Hoyer Statement on House Bipartisan Legal Advisory Vote to Defend DOMA

WASHINGTON, DC - Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after the House Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group voted to intervene in litigation pertaining to the Defense of Marriage Act:  

“Today, I attended a meeting of the House Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, which voted to intervene in litigation pertaining to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court. I voted against this decision. I believe that the Administration is correct in concluding that DOMA is unconstitutional and discriminatory. There is ample precedent for the Justice Department’s decision not to defend this statute: since 1979, both Democratic and Republican Administrations have declined to defend acts of Congress on more than 50 occasions. In fact, it is rare for the House to intervene in defense of statutes that the Justice Department has declined to defend. I am disappointed in Republicans’ decision today."