WASHINGTON — The American Military Partner Association (AMPA) released the following statement today following the decision by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to vote down an amendment that would have changed the discriminatory language in Title 38 that prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs from granting full access to earned veterans benefits to legally married couples living in non-marriage equality states.
“The ability of our nation’s veterans, no matter their sexual orientation, to access their earned benefits should be an issue that transcends partisan politics,” said Dr. Lori Hensic, AMPA Director of Research and Policy. “We are incredibly disappointed, and it’s a sad reflection on the state of our Congress when our elected officials cannot put aside their differences to end this discrimination.”
The amendment introduced from Representative Titus (D-Nev.) would have changed the language in Title 38 that forces the Department of Veterans Affairs to look to the place of residency when determining the validity of the marriage, rather than the place of celebration.
AMPA recently filed a petition in the Federal Circuit Court (American Military Partner Association v. McDonald) arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Windsor striking down Section 3 of DOMA specifically flagged as unconstitutional the deprivation of veterans’ benefits to same-sex spouses.
The American Military Partner Association (AMPA) is the nation’s largest organization for the partners, spouses, and families of America’s LGBT service members and veterans. Founded in 2009 as the Campaign for Military Partners, AMPA is committed to education, advocacy, and support for our “modern military families.” For more information, visit www.militarypartners.org.