Gay Today: World

Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla) Fails
to Deny Partner Benefits in D.C.

Compiled By GayToday

Washington,D.C.--The House voted 226 to 194 yesterday -- including 41 Republicans -- to defeat an amendment introduced by Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla), that would have denied local funding for domestic partner benefits in Washington as part of the fiscal year 2002 District of Columbia Appropriations bill.

The Human Rights Campaign expressed disappointment that a few House members pressed a divisive measure to deny domestic partnership benefits to District of Columbia employees and residents.

Rep. Dave Weldon

"We are pleased the House found common cause in this difficult time and rejected this divisive measure," said HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg.

"The House vote upheld the value of family by removing unnecessary barriers and making it easier for families to acquire health coverage. We will now work with key Senate leaders from both parties to allow the law to be enacted."

In 1992, the D.C. Health Care Benefits Expansion Act was passed giving domestic partners of district employees access to health benefits purchased at their own expense. But for nearly a decade, Congress has blocked DC from using any local or federal funds to implement the law to expand health care benefits for domestic partners.

If the D.C. Health Care Benefits Expansion Act of 1992 receives funding, it would accomplish the following:

Require all health care facilities in the District, including hospitals, convalescent facilities, or other long-term care facilities, to allow domestic partners visitation rights at their facilities.

Create a program that allows domestic partners in the District of Columbia to register as such with the mayor's office.

Allow registered domestic partners, if one of them is an employee of the District of Columbia government, to purchase health insurance at their own expense for their domestic partner. It would also allow employees of the District of Columbia to take sick leave to care for a domestic partner or bereavement leave to make the funeral arrangements for a domestic partner.

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Rep. Dave Weldon

Human Rights Campaign

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"These benefits are part of a common sense limited law that costs the District very little to implement," said Stachelberg. "Employees are required to pay for any additional health care costs and it helps expand vital access to health insurance."

The Human Rights Campaign tracks private and public employers that have implemented domestic partnership benefits. Private companies, including General Motors, AT&T and Phillip Morris and many other Fortune 500 companies, have implemented these programs for their employees. One hundred thirteen cities and counties nationwide have also provided these benefits for their employees.

For detailed local information about your district and state, please refer to http://www.hrc.org/worknet/dp/index.asp.