Re: Cosponsor the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2001  

Dear Representative: 

The American Civil Liberties Union strongly urges you to cosponsor H.R. 638, the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act sponsored by Congressman Barney Frank and 79 other members. This measure would extend to all domestic partners of federal government employees important benefits currently only available to legal spouses of federal employees. In providing these benefits, the federal government would be following the lead of many of America's leading corporations and more than 100 state and local governments that have already determined that fair employment means compensating workers based on their performance, not the composition of their families. 

The bill would promote equal treatment of all families, while still maintaining strict guidelines for eligibility. The legislation defines a domestic partner as an adult person living with, but not married to, another adult person in a committed relationship. To obtain benefits, an employee must file an affidavit of eligibility certifying that the employee and the domestic partner of the employee meet all requirements of the program. 

The legal and financial benefits presently offered by the federal government to married spouses of federal employees serve many purposes, including meeting the health care needs of the worker's family. With statistics showing that employment benefits may constitute up to 40 percent of a worker's total compensation, it is particularly important that the federal government not deny this compensation to some of its employees simply because of the families they choose. All families, regardless of composition, face the same difficulties when misfortune occurs. During those times when assistance is most needed, such as in the event of injury or death, federal employees deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing their families will be cared for. Because need does not discriminate nor must the federal government. 

The experiences of both private and public sector employers offering domestic partner benefit programs show strong evidence that the cost of providing these programs is modest and that the cost of such programs is outweighed by the benefits that these employers receive through greater satisfaction of current employees and a competitive edge when recruiting new employees. Included among the more than 150 of the Fortune 500 companies extending domestic partnership benefits are: Aetna; American Express; Apple Computer; Barnes & Noble; Coca-Cola Co.; Ford Motor Co.; General Motors; Hewlett-Packard; IBM; J.P. Morgan Chase; Microsoft and Starbucks Coffee Co. 

The ACLU urges you to support this legislation recognizing that families come in many forms, all of which deserve equal treatment. The bill responds to this reality by giving all federal employees the opportunity to provide needed benefits for their families. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding this legislation. 

Sincerely, 

Laura W. Murphy
Director 

Christopher E. Anders
Legislative Counsel