Congressional Committees Approve Same-Sex Domestic Partner Benefits.

The article reports on the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009 that would extend to same-sex domestic partners of federal employees similar benefits presently given to spouses of workers in the U.S. The author says that the Senate bill would allow current employees who enroll their partners in benefits to receive benefits once they retire but, does not extend benefits to current annuitants. She adds that the House bill version debated on the efficacy of the new bill and suggested a complete review of the program's cost and impact.