WASHINGTON, November 29 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Tuesday issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted 61-36 to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, major legislation to codify protections for same-sex and interracial marriage into federal law:

“In the year 2022, we will not let an extremist Supreme Court drag us back in time. I was proud to cast my vote today to pass the Respect for Marriage Act. This important legislation will finally safeguard and enshrine marriage equality into federal law. It also, critically, repeals the Defense of Marriage Act, which for many years banned gay marriage and was something I opposed in 1996 when I served in the House of Representatives.

“I’m proud that Vermont has served as a pioneer in the marriage equality movement. Marriage has always been an inalienable right. And now today, we are on our way to protecting that right for all.”