Senate Holds Hearings on Domestic Partner Benefits

The Senate held its first-ever hearing Wednesday on the issue of partner benefits for federal employees.
The landmark hearing was called by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and titled “Domestic Partner Benefits for Federal Employees: Fair Policy and Good Business.” It was coordinated by Committee Chair Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Ranking Member Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).
The hearing is considered an important and necessary step toward enactment of equal employment benefits for LGBT federal civilian employees.
“This legislation, which is long overdue, would bring the federal government up to the standards of America’s leading employers, who provide these benefits in order to recruit and retain the most talented workforce possible,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, in written testimony submitted to the the committee.
“Equal pay for equal work is a value fundamental to American opportunity. The federal government should be the standard bearer for fair workplace practices. As long it denies gay and lesbian employees the comprehensive family benefits that their heterosexual colleagues receive, the federal government will fall short of that standard, and continue to lag behind the nation’s top employers.”
The benefits for federal employees would include family health insurance, pension and survivor benefits and relocation expenses for families who are transferred. And for State Department employees abroad it would include access to anti-terrorism and language training, medical facilities, and evacuation services.
“I welcome this Senate hearing and consider it one more step in our march toward full equality,” said Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) who authors the companion bill, H.R. 4838, in the House.
“Only when we eliminate discriminatory practices in the workplace will we allow both employees and businesses to reach their full potential. As an employer, the federal government must not only set an example, but must compete with corporate America for the best-qualified workforce. Offering domestic partner benefits is a means toward both ends.”