A bill granting full health-care benefits to domestic partners of gay and lesbian federal employees cleared its first legislative hurdle today, as a House subcommittee approved the measure along a party-line vote. The House subcommittee on federal workforce issues approved the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act by a 5 to 3 vote. It extends several benefits to gay partners, including access to health care coverage, retirement and disability plans, and life and long-term care insurance. The measure earned an endorsement from President Obama in June when he extended some federal benefits to same-sex partners of federal workers. The president’s memo did not give access to health care or retirement benefits, something Obama said he could not do without the legislation.

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