The Respect for Marriage Act guarantees federal recognition of any marriage between two people if it was valid in the state where they were married. It also requires states to accept the legitimacy of a valid marriage performed elsewhere, but does not require any state to issue a marriage license contrary to its own law. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., the next leader of House Democrats, said the work on the Respect for Marriage Act is in response to the conservative and "reckless" Supreme Court majority that threatens freedom in the view of many progressives since the abortion ruling. It passed the Senate 61 to 36 in November with a dozen Republicans in support. #gaymarriage #samesexmarriage #marriageequality