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Marriage Equality in Federal Law: Terminology Update

This act aims to standardize language across numerous federal statutes, replacing terms like "wife" and "husband" with gender-neutral terms such as "spouse" or "married couple." These changes ensure that all marriages are treated equally under federal law, regardless of the gender of the spouses. It impacts various areas, from benefits to tax matters, ensuring consistency and equality.
Key points
Replaces gender-specific terms ("wife," "husband") with gender-neutral terms ("spouse," "married couple") in over 100 federal statutes.
Ensures equal treatment for all married couples in areas such as taxes, benefits, immigration, and other federal regulations.
Removes outdated definitions of marriage that limited it to a union between a man and a woman, reflecting current understanding of marriage equality.
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Status:
Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_4170
Sponsor: Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
Process start date: 2021-06-25
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act of 2021

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_4170.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-06-25.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Replaces gender-specific terms ("wife," "husband") with gender-neutral terms ("spouse," "married couple") in over 100 federal statutes.
  • Ensures equal treatment for all married couples in areas such as taxes, benefits, immigration, and other federal regulations.
  • Removes outdated definitions of marriage that limited it to a union between a man and a woman, reflecting current understanding of marriage equality.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-28.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Family Courts and Law Taxes Benefits