The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Respect for Marriage Act on Tuesday evening.
It provides federal protections for same-sex marriage and interracial couples.
While same-sex marriage is currently constitutionally protected, House Democrats crafted the bill out of concerns the U.S. Supreme Court could choose to roll back those rights.
Representative Abigail Spanberger said those concerns came to fruition following the recent Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his opinion of that case that other opinions previously made by SCOTUS should be revisited, specifically those of cases surrounding same-sex marriage and contraception.
Spanberger said that's what motivated her to co-sponsor the "Respect for Marriage Act" and the "Right to Contraception Act."
The latter bill would create a statutory right for people to obtain various forms of birth control. A vote is expected to be taken on it later this week.
"It's important for Congress to recognize that these rights are under threat," Spanberger said. "So it's important that we codify these, what we previously had believed to be settled case law."
The Senate has also introduced the Right to Contraception Act. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have announced their support for it.
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