The Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee today passed the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act. The Task Force Action Fund submitted testimony to a House committee supporting this bill earlier this year. The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act would provide domestic partner benefits for federal employees and their same-sex partners. These benefits include federal health insurance; retirement and disability benefits; family, medical and emergency leave; and compensation for work injuries. The bill would also ensure that employees’ same-sex domestic partners are subject to the same ethics regulations that currently govern federal employees’ opposite-sex spouses.

Recall that the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee is headed by the world’s most despised politician, Sen. Joe Lieberman, who was said to have spoken eloquently about the bill.

The same bill — sponsored by Rep.Tammy Baldwin — has already been recommended by the full House. Now, on to the Senate floor.