With bipartisan support, House passes measure to enshrine marriage equality in federal law

The Democrat-controlled House on Tuesday approved legislation to protect interracial and same-sex marriages, following concerns that the Supreme Court recently striking down the constitutional right to abortion could lead to the loss of other rights.

The roll call vote – which requires all House members to vote, was  267-157, with 47 Republicans joining all Democrats in voting for passage, according to the Associated Press. 

The Democrat-led measure attempts to enshrine marriage equality in federal law, in an election year season in which control of Congress is at stake. 

Despite strong support in the House, the Respect for Marriage Act is likely to stall in the Senate, where most Republicans would probably join in a procedural move known as a filibuster to keep it from getting the required 60-votes in the evenly-split 50-50 Senate to advance to a final vote.

House GOP leaders split over the issue, with Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Whip Rep. Steve Scalise voting against the marriage rights bill, but the No. 3 Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York voting in favor, the wire service also reports.