The D.C. Council voted on a short-term fix that will legally recognize couples who get married in the city during the partial government shutdown.
The marriage bureau in D.C. is part of the district’s courts system, which is funded by the federal government. For the past 17 days, it has been closed because of the partial federal government shutdown since it is considered a “nonessential” service, the DCist reported.
Without a marriage license, couples who planned to get married in the district were unable to obtain legal recognition of the union. Getting legally married affects taxes and immigration benefits.
In the first legislative meeting of the new year, the city council unanimously voted to pass the Let Our Vows Endure Emergency Act of 2019. The LOVE Act temporarily gives the power to authorize marriage licenses to the mayor.
The council member who introduced the bill, Brandon Todd, said the logistics of the process are still being finalized.
Once Mayor Muriel Bowser signs the bill, it will immediately take effect and last for up to 90 days.
The government shutdown is in its third week after President Trump and Democrats in Congress could not agree on appropriations legislation that would re-open the government agencies that ran out of funding on Dec. 22.
Trump demands that the bill must include money for a border wall.
[Also read: Trump calls for border wall to solve ‘crisis of the heart, crisis of the soul’]
