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June 26, 2013

Washington, D.C. -- Madison Democrat Mark Pocan, the only gay married member of Congress, hailed Wednesday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said legally married gay and lesbian couples are entitled to federal marriage benefits.

“I am ecstatic," said Pocan at a news conference with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and several gay House colleagues. "But it shows the path we still have to go."

Pocan’s own marriage will not receive federal recognition as a result of the ruling because his home state, Wisconsin, does not allow same-sex marriage.

June 26, 2013

As he heard Wednesday’s rulings from the steps of the Supreme Court, the sole married, gay member of Congress thought about how his own marriage remains unrecognized by his home state.

“We have to be thinking about Wisconsin and the other states where same-sex couples can’t make end-of-life decisions, can't visit hospitalized spouses [in medical emergencies],” Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wisconsin told CNN.

June 25, 2013

Can anything be done to enhance federal voting rights?

This time, the answer is yes.

June 25, 2013

House representatives announced the "Restore Honor to Service Members Act" last Wednesday, seeking to retroactively correct the records of gay and lesbian veterans who were dishonorably discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT).

"As we celebrate the considerable progress we've made toward full equality in our military, we cannot forget about those who continue to suffer because of the discriminatory policies of our past," Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) said in a statement. He joins Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) in introducing the bill.

June 25, 2013

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision Tuesday to void a key part of the federal Voting Rights Act "is an assault on what should be our most fundamental right as Americans," according to U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison).

June 21, 2013

A bill circulating in the House would upgrade the service records of gay, lesbian and bisexual troops who were discharged due to sexual orientation and eventually open the door to veterans’ benefits.

The Restore Honor to Service Members Act was proposed Thursday by Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., and Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., according to a joint statement from their offices. The congressmen are trying to muster co-sponsors before bringing it to committee in hopes of a floor vote.

June 20, 2013

Two House Democrats are working to build support for legislation that would streamline the process for veterans to remove the blemish on their discharge papers if they were expelled for being gay and their service wasn’t characterized as honorable.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), one of the six openly LGB members of the U.S. House, and Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) are proposing legislation known as the “Restore Honor to Service Members Act,” which would ensure veterans who were discharged for being gay would be designated with an honorable discharge.

June 19, 2013

Under new legislation proposed by Democrats Rep. Charlie Rangel (NY) and Rep. Mark Pocan (WI), U.S. military service members who were discharged because of their sexual orientation can now have their records restored to reflect their honorable service.

June 19, 2013

Rep. Mark Pocan aims to “close the book” on the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” with new legislation to codify the way those discharged under the military’s ban on out gay service members are treated by the military.

WASHINGTON — Two Democratic lawmakers are set to introduce new legislation ensuring service members discharged under “don’t ask, don’t tell” are able to have their records changed to reflect the end of the military’s ban on out gay service members.

June 19, 2013

This weekend’s editorial “Benefit levels not the problem” correctly identifies the severe hunger crisis in this nation as a “national calamity,” but incorrectly asks readers to choose between a focus on job creation and providing food assistance to those living in extreme poverty. The fact of the matter is, we can, and we must, do both.