White House Urges Senate to 'Quickly' Pass Same-Sex Marriage Bill

After 47 House Republicans voted Tuesday to codify same-sex marriage under the Respect for Marriage Act, the White House is urging the Senate for a quick passage of the bill Wednesday.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the bill "personal" for President Joe Biden, who vows to sign the bill into law if it passes the 50-50 Senate.

"He is a proud champion of the right for people to marry whom they love and is grateful to see bipartisan support for that right," Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One, The Hill reported. "He believes it is non-negotiable and that the Senate should act swiftly to get this to the president's desk. He wants to sign this.

"We need this legislation, and we urge Congress to move as quickly as possible, and it’s something the vast majority of the country supports."

Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, are co-sponsors of the Senate's companion bill, and Portman said there is "a possibility" 10 Republicans will join the 48 Democrats and two independents in the Senate to break the 60-vote Senate filibuster threshold.