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Washington, D.C. — The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) strongly supports bipartisan legislation introduced today in Congress that would give federal employees with same-sex domestic partners the same employment benefits that are currently available to married federal employees and their spouses.

“This bill underscores the importance of providing strong workplace benefits to all federal employees,” NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley said. “It is a critical first step toward resolving a longstanding, meaningful issue.”

The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2007, was introduced in the Senate (S. 2521) by Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.), chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.). In the House, the legislation (H.R. 4838) was introduced by Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Chris Shays (R-Conn.), Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Tom Davis (R-Va.).

The bills would mandate that federal employees and their same-sex domestic partners be offered the same employment benefit plans as married federal employees, including:

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Health benefits;

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Retirement and disability;

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Family medical and emergency leave;

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Group life insurance;

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Long-term care insurance;

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Death, disability, and similar benefits;

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Workplace injury compensation; and

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Relocation, travel and related expenses.

The bills provide that, in order to be eligible for benefits, federal employees would have to prove that they share a home – and financial responsibilities – with their same-sex partner.

NTEU has a long history of fighting for expanded workplace rights for federal workers, including those who suffer workplace discrimination due to their sexual orientation.

In May, NTEU expressed support for pending bipartisan House and Senate legislation, H.R. 2232 and S. 1345, that would clarify governmentwide statutory protections prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.

President Kelley said the benefits granted by the legislation are long overdue. “Its approval will only strengthen the federal workforce and help the government recruit and retain the skilled and talented employees it needs,” she said.

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.