While the D.C. government has stayed open during the federal shutdown, in some cases even picking up slack for the feds, there’s at least one area where city residents have been hamstrung: marriage.
The District’s local court system gets its funding from Congress, and its marriage bureau was deemed “non essential,” as first reported by Buzzfeed. Without a license, marriages can’t be legally recognized. (Divorce proceedings, on the other hand, can proceed without delay.)
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The mayor’s office pledged to introduce emergency legislation to allow couples to obtain marriage licenses. “Mayor Bowser will put forth emergency legislation to establish the authority to issue marriage licenses during a shutdown,” Bowser’s chief of staff, John Falcicchio, said in a statement on Wednesday. “Just like the Grinch can’t steal Christmas, the shutdown can’t stop love.”
On Thursday, the thirteenth day of the government shutdown, Bowser’s office sent along the “Let Our Vows Endure Emergency Act of 2019,” which shortens to the LOVE Act. The text of the bill was first tweeted out by Washington Post reporter Fenit Nirappil. As written, the draft allows the mayor to authorize marriage licenses along with the clerk of the Superior Court of D.C. when the federal government is shut down.
According to the mayor’s office, they’re sending the LOVE Act to the D.C. Council on Friday. Emergency legislation requires a supermajority—or nine votes—to pass and it takes effect immediately for up to 90 days. Unlike permanent legislation, emergency bills can pass without hearings, public notice, two full D.C. Council votes, or Congressional review.
This post has been updated with the text of the bill from the mayor’s office.
Rachel Kurzius