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The bill enshrines protections for same-sex and interracial marriages.

This week, a new bill protecting marriage rights for same-sex and interracial couples cleared a sizable hurdle, garnering bipartisan support in the United States Senate. The bill was approved by the Senate in a solid majority, with 12 Republican Senators crossing party lines to vote yes.

The bill has been a popular subject since the overturning of Roe v. Wade earlier this year, as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that the right to same-sex marriage would come under the court’s scrutiny next. This prompted lawmakers to prioritize enshrining these rights before such a thing could happen.

According to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, this bill will serve as an opportunity for the Senate to “live up to its highest ideals” and protect the right to marriage for all American citizens.

“It will make our country a better, fairer place to live,” Schumer said.

Senate advances bill to protect same-sex marriage in federal law, clearing the way for final passage this week https://t.co/BKwLz1AfK0

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“Passing the Respect for Marriage Act is as personal as it gets for many senators and their staffs, myself included. My daughter and her wife are actually expecting a little baby in February. So it matters a lot to so many of us to get this done.”

“Current federal law doesn’t reflect the will or beliefs of the American people,” Republican Ohio Senator Rob Portman said ahead of the vote. “It’s time for the Senate to settle the issue.”

The bill is now on its way to the Democrat-controlled House, where it is expected to be passed and sent up to President Joe Biden. As the midterms have concluded with Republicans taking a narrow majority of the House starting next year, Democratic legislators are hoping to get it cleared as soon as possible while they still have the majority.