Defense of Marriage Act
Public Law 104-199 · H.R. 3396 · 104th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Sep 21, 1996 · Families
Sponsor: Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA-7)
Cosponsors (117): Rep. Steve Largent, Rep. James Sensenbrenner,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 342 yea, 67 nay342–67
- SenateRecorded vote: 85 yea, 14 nay85–14
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Defense of Marriage Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to provide that no State, territory, or possession of the United States or Indian tribe shall be required to give effect to any marriage between persons of the same sex under the laws of any other such jurisdiction or to any right or claim arising from such relationship.
Establishes a Federal definition of: (1) "marriage" as only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife; and (2) "spouse" as only a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 104th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 342 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
342 yea67 nay24 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(118)
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-50
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. Earl HilliardD-AL-7
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-10
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
- Rep. Eva ClaytonD-NC-1
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3
Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Floyd FlakeD-NY-6
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. Ronald ColemanD-TX-16
- Rep. Albert WynnD-MD-4
Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-2- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-3
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. John BryantD-TX-5
Rep. Richard DurbinD-IL-20
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18- Rep. Elizabeth FurseD-OR-1
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-9
Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3- Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29- Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-2
Rep. Jack ReedD-RI-2- Rep. Thomas SawyerD-OH-14
- Rep. Thomas MantonD-NY-7
- Rep. Michael WardD-KY-3
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1- Rep. William RichardsonD-NM-3
- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Bob MenendezD-NJ-13
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-10
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1- Rep. Thomas BarrettD-WI-5
- Rep. Barbara KennellyD-CT-1
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Chuck SchumerD-NY-9- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. John BaldacciD-ME-2
- Rep. Ron KlinkD-PA-4
- Rep. Ken BentsenD-TX-25
Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND- Rep. Frank MascaraD-PA-20
- Rep. Peter DeutschD-FL-20
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3- Rep. Karen McCarthyD-MO-5
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Karen ThurmanD-FL-5
- Rep. Robert TorricelliD-NJ-9
- Rep. William LutherD-MN-6
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
Rep. Tim JohnsonD-SD- Rep. Pete PetersonD-FL-2
- Rep. Paul McHaleD-PA-15
- Rep. Frank TejedaD-TX-28
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9- Rep. James BarciaD-MI-5
Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-18
Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-21
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-6
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-11- Rep. Glenn PoshardD-IL-19
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Robert ClementD-TN-5
- Rep. David MingeD-MN-2
- Rep. Jim ChapmanD-TX-1
- Rep. Pat DannerD-MO-6
- Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-10
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6- Rep. William OrtonD-UT-3
- Rep. Cal DooleyD-CA-20
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. Lewis PayneD-VA-5
- Rep. Timothy RoemerD-IN-3
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8- Rep. John BrowderD-AL-3
Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5- Rep. Scotty BaeslerD-KY-6
- Rep. Owen PickettD-VA-2
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7- Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
- Rep. James TraficantD-OH-17
- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
- Rep. Gary ConditD-CA-18
Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-5- Rep. Pete GerenD-TX-12
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4
Republicans who voted yea(224)
- Rep. Constance MorellaR-MD-8
- Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-23
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-20
- Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-5
- Rep. Peter TorkildsenR-MA-6
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. Michael ForbesR-NY-1
- Rep. Jack QuinnR-NY-30
Rep. Tom DavisR-VA-11- Rep. Amo HoughtonR-NY-31
- Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4- Rep. Jim BunnR-OR-5
- Rep. Steven SchiffR-NM-1
- Rep. Peter BluteR-MA-3
- Rep. Stephen HornR-CA-38
Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-25- Rep. William MartiniR-NJ-8
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18- Rep. Jon FoxR-PA-13
Rep. Michael CastleR-DE- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. John McHughR-NY-24
Rep. Phil EnglishR-PA-21
Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-19
Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1- Rep. Richard ZimmerR-NJ-12
- Rep. Rick LazioR-NY-2
Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2- Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
- Rep. Jan MeyersR-KS-3
Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Sue KellyR-NY-19
- Rep. William ClingerR-PA-5
- Rep. Gary FranksR-CT-5
- Rep. Bob FranksR-NJ-7
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10- Rep. Bob NeyR-OH-18
- Rep. Dan FrisaR-NY-4
- Rep. Herbert BatemanR-VA-1
Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-40- Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
Rep. Don YoungR-AK
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
Rep. Ray LaHoodR-IL-18- Rep. Frank RiggsR-CA-1
- Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-3
Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7- Rep. Fred HeinemanR-NC-4
Rep. Brian BilbrayR-CA-49- Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. Susan MolinariR-NY-13
- Rep. Tom CampbellR-CA-15
- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-21
- Rep. Tillie FowlerR-FL-4
- Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
- Rep. Robert EhrlichR-MD-2
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5- Rep. James LightfootR-IA-3
Rep. Deborah PryceR-OH-15
Rep. Jerry WellerR-IL-11- Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
- Rep. Greg GanskeR-IA-4
- Rep. James HayesD-LA-7
Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-11- Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-22
- Rep. Harris FawellR-IL-13
Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3- Rep. Scott KlugR-WI-2
Rep. Jim McCreryR-LA-5- Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
- Rep. Bill BarrettR-NE-3
- Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
- Rep. Charles CanadyR-FL-12
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Mark FoleyR-FL-16
- Rep. George GekasR-PA-17
Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-43- Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-8
Rep. Nathan DealD-GA-9- Rep. Henry BonillaR-TX-23
- Rep. H. CallahanR-AL-1
- Rep. Barbara VucanovichR-NV-2
- Rep. J.C. WattsR-OK-4
- Rep. George NethercuttR-WA-5
- Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-5
Rep. Steve BuyerR-IN-5- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
Rep. Rob PortmanR-OH-2- Rep. Sonny BonoR-CA-44
Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6- Rep. Ron PackardR-CA-48
Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
Rep. Charlie BassR-NH-2
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-23- Rep. Jack MetcalfR-WA-2
- Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-7
- Rep. Martin HokeR-OH-10
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21- Rep. Mike ParkerD-MS-4
- Rep. Frank CremeansR-OH-6
Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-6- Rep. Thomas EwingR-IL-15
Rep. Zach WampR-TN-3- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-5
Rep. Saxby ChamblissR-GA-8
Rep. Roger WickerR-MS-1- Rep. Tim HutchinsonR-AR-3
- Rep. Rick WhiteR-WA-1
Rep. Terry EverettR-AL-2
Rep. Lindsey GrahamR-SC-3
Rep. Dave WeldonR-FL-15
Rep. Richard BurrR-NC-5- Rep. Porter GossR-FL-14
- Rep. Enid Greene WaldholtzR-UT-2
- Rep. Charles TaylorR-NC-11
- Rep. Duke CunninghamR-CA-51
- Rep. Linda SmithR-WA-3
Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3- Rep. William ZeliffR-NH-1
- Rep. Cass BallengerR-NC-10
Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25- Rep. Dan MillerR-FL-13
- Rep. Jim NussleR-IA-2
Rep. Ron LewisR-KY-2- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-27
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
Rep. John LinderR-GA-4- Rep. Jack FieldsR-TX-8
Rep. Roscoe BartlettR-MD-6- Rep. Denny HastertR-IL-14
- Rep. James HansenR-UT-1
- Rep. Scott McInnisR-CO-3
- Rep. Jay KimR-CA-41
Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4
Rep. John MicaR-FL-7- Rep. Gregory LaughlinD-TX-14
Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8- Rep. Toby RothR-WI-8
- Rep. Ed BryantR-TN-7
- Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-22
- Rep. John KasichR-OH-12
- Rep. Randy TateR-WA-9
Rep. David DreierR-CA-28- Rep. Dick ChryslerR-MI-8
- Rep. Charlie NorwoodR-GA-10
- Rep. Jim TalentR-MO-2
Rep. Sam BrownbackR-KS-2- Rep. William PaxonR-NY-27
Rep. George RadanovichR-CA-19
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
Rep. Barbara CubinR-WY- Rep. Nick SmithR-MI-7
Rep. Mike CrapoR-ID-2
Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
Rep. Mac CollinsR-GA-3- Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-46
- Rep. Larry CombestR-TX-19
Rep. Jim BunningR-KY-4- Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
- Rep. Van HillearyR-TN-4
- Rep. Andrea SeastrandR-CA-22
- Rep. Tom DeLayR-TX-22
- Rep. Dan SchaeferR-CO-6
- Rep. David FunderburkR-NC-2
- Rep. J.D. HayworthR-AZ-6
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6- Rep. Ernest IstookR-OK-5
- Rep. Bob BarrR-GA-7
Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-6- Rep. David McIntoshR-IN-2
Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13
Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
Rep. Wayne AllardR-CO-4- Rep. Richard ArmeyR-TX-26
- Rep. Jon ChristensenR-NE-2
Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
Rep. John DoolittleR-CA-4
Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
Rep. Bob InglisR-SC-4
Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1
Rep. Pete HoekstraR-MI-2- Rep. Christopher CoxR-CA-47
- Rep. William BakerR-CA-10
Rep. Mark SanfordR-SC-1
Rep. Matt SalmonR-AZ-1- Rep. Gil GutknechtR-MN-1
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
Rep. Todd TiahrtR-KS-4- Rep. Richard PomboR-CA-11
- Rep. Steve LargentR-OK-1
- Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-8
- Rep. John HostettlerR-IN-8
Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-45- Rep. Mark NeumannR-WI-1
Rep. Mark SouderR-IN-4
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9
Rep. John ShadeggR-AZ-4- Rep. Robert StumpR-AZ-3
- Rep. Helen Chenoweth-HageR-ID-1
Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-39- Rep. Mel HancockR-MO-7
- Rep. Wes CooleyR-OR-2
- Rep. Joe ScarboroughR-FL-1
Rep. Thomas CoburnR-OK-2- Rep. Joel HefleyR-CO-5
Rep. Steve StockmanR-TX-9
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1182 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Judiciary Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 21 actions.
- Sep 21, 1996Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 104-199.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Sep 20, 1996PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Sep 10, 1996FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 85-14. Record Vote No: 280.Senate roll call 280
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Sep 5, 1996FloorFloor · Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to consideration withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Jul 12, 1996Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Canady raised a point of order against the motion to recommit with instructions. Mr. Canady stated that the amendment contained in the instructions was not germane to the content of the bill and was, therefore, in violation of the rules of the House. Conceded and Sustained b…
- FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 342 - 67, 2 Present (Roll No. 316).House roll call 316
- FloorFloor · On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 164 - 249 (Roll no. 315).House roll call 315
- FloorFloor · The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
- Jul 11, 1996FloorFloor · Rule H. Res. 474 passed House.
- Jul 9, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
- Jun 12, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
- May 30, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- May 15, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- May 8, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
- May 7, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.