Racine Sun

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) argues the Respect for Marriage Act that historically passed the Senate this week essentially struck her as the only practical thing to do.

“Whether it’s a family member, a friend, or a staffer we all know someone who is in a same-sex or interracial marriage,” Baldwin tweeted this week. “That’s why I’m working across party lines to ensure their marriages are protected.” 

Passed by the Senate in a final vote tally of 61-36, the Respect for Marriage Act stands to replace The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which has stood as the law of the land since 1996. DOMA defined marriage as between one man and one woman and gave states the authority to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Under the Respect for Marriage Act, marriage equality would become a federal law, meaning that marriages between same-sex- and interracial couples would also be legally protected anywhere across the country. While states will still not be required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, The Washington Post reported that those unions would be legally recognized and protected, including instances where they were performed in other areas of the country.

Baldwin was first elected to the Senate in 2013, and her current term runs through 2025. Before being elected to her Senate seat, she served six years in the Wisconsin State Assembly and six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1999 to 2013.