The U.S. House of Representatives says it will make sure the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act is decided by the courts – not by the president.
In a statement on Wednesday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said an advisory group of House leaders – including top-ranking Republicans and Democrats – has directed the House General Counsel “to initiate a legal defense” of the federal law, which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
The Bipartisan Leadership Advisory Group — a five-member panel consisting of the speaker, majority leader, majority whip, minority leader and minority whip — has the authority to instruct the General Counsel to take legal action on behalf of the House of Representatives.