The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA and allow legally married same-sex coupes some of the same federal protections that married men and women are allowed.

Some of those protections and allowances include receiving spousal benefits, medical leave when a spouse falls ill, some tax breaks and the ability to leave one’s belongings to her or his spouse. 

Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka are cosponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act, which was introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. 

“DOMA was wrong when it passed in 1996 and it is wrong now,” Feinstein said in a statement released by her office. “I don’t know how long the battle for full equality will take, but we are on the cusp of change, and today’s historic vote in the committee is an important step forward.”