OnPolitics: The path for same-sex marriage to become federal law

Sarah Day Owen Wiskirchen, USA TODAY
·2 min read

Hey OnPolitics readers, it's Tuesday and we're watching as the Senate is expected to pass a bill that would enshrine same-sex marriage into federal law.

Why it matters: The legislation is viewed as a long-awaited endorsement of gay unions by the federal government.

The Respect for Marriage Act would guarantee federal recognition of any marriage between two people if the union was valid in the state where they married.

What's next: If passed by the Senate, it would move to the House, which approved a similar bill earlier this year with nearly 50 Republicans in support.

A vote in the House could take place next Tuesday.

👉 The latest and why this the bill was drafted now, in our live blog.

Real quick: Stories you'll want to read

  • Republicans denounce Trump's meeting with racists: A rising number of Republicans -- including Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell -- are speaking out against Donald Trump for hosting a dinner with white supremacist and antisemitic guests. What they said.

  • Biden urges Congress to step in on rail strike: President Joe Biden wants lawmakers to adopt an agreement brokered by the White House before a Dec. 9 strike deadline. Why Congress is the last option to avert a system shutdown.

  • Inside the meeting to certify votes in an Arizona county: A four-hour meeting packed with conspiracy allegations, outbursts and threats was capped off by a unanimous vote by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to certify the results of the Nov. 8 election.

  • Oath Keepers trial verdict: Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was found guilty of seditious conspiracy and other charges tied to his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

🍽️ State dinner at the White House: President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, for the Biden administration’s first state dinner. What to know about the tradition.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: OnPolitics: The path for same-sex marriage to become federal law