Baldwin Writing D.P.
Bill for Federal Workers

Wisconsin representative Tammy Baldwin is reportedly scheduled to introduce a bill recognizing same-sex partners of federal employees.

Baldwin, the only openly gay woman currently serving in Congress, will likely introduce the bill by the end of March, according to the Washington Blade. The announcement came during a Center for American Progress conference call on Thursday.

The Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act would extend benefits available to straight federal employees' partners, like health benefits and life insurance, to the partners of gay and lesbian federal workers.

Republican representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen from Florida will join Baldwin by cosponsoring the bill in the House. Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman and Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, will cosponsor the Senate bill, Baldwin's spokeswoman Jerilyn Goodman told the Blade.

Lieberman and ousted Republican senator Gordon Smith introduced a a similar bill in 2006.