WASHINGTON - House Republicans have included language in the Opening Day Rules Package authorizing the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG) to continue paying outside counsel to defend the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which discriminates against legally married same-sex couples.

Marc Solomon, national campaign director of Freedom to Marry, issued this statement:

"It's truly disheartening that, on a day of new beginnings on Capitol Hill, the leadership of the House of Representatives is advancing a measure, through its rules, to continue spending taxpayer dollars on expensive lawyers to defend the so-called Defense of Marriage Act in court. This law has been struck down as unconstitutional 10 times, with support from judges appointed by Presidents Nixon, Reagan, and both Bushes. It's past time for the Republican leadership to listen to their constituents, a majority of whom support the freedom to marry, and stop wasting precious resources in an effort to treat fellow Americans as second-class citizens."