by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer

In a response to President Obama's historic announcement supporting marriage equality, the U.S. House of Representatives 'reaffirmed' its support for DOMA on May 9.

In a 245-171 vote, the Republican-controlled House tacked an anti-equality amendment onto an appropriations bill to fund the Commerce and Justice departments and scientific research.

'None of the funds made available under this Act, may be used in contravention of the Defense of Marriage Act,' the amendment read.

It was introduced by freshman Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) who was elected in the Republican landslide of 2010 with support from Concerned Women for America, the Club for Growth, the Conservative Leadership PAC, and Mike Huckabee.

According to Roll Call newspaper, Huelskamp claimed he introduced the amendment not only because the Justice Department stopped defending DOMA in court, but also because Vice President Joe Biden endorsed same-sex marriage on NBC's Meet the Press May 6.

Although the amendment passed on a largely party-line vote, seven Republicans voted against it, while 16 Democrats voted yes.

According to ACLU legislative representative Ian Thompson, the amendment does nothing practical, because the Obama administration is still enforcing DOMA restrictions even though the Justice Department is no longer defending DOMA in court.

'The Huelskamp Amendment is a solution in search of a problem,' Thompson said.

'While there are multiple legal challenges to DOMA working their way through the federal courts, it is still binding. This amendment serves absolutely no purpose other than to score political points at the expense of Gay and Lesbian couples.'

Huelskamp had reportedly planned an amendment to prevent government lawyers from arguing against DOMA in court - which, if passed into law, would have had real consequences. Huelskamp did not move forward with that amendment, however.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's office accused Republicans of voting 'to tie the hands of the Obama administration with respect to their efforts to end discrimination against America's families.

'House Republicans continue to plant their feet firmly on the wrong side of history,' Pelosi spokesperson Drew Hammill told the Washington Blade.

'Republican leaders refuse to bring up a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act that includes critical domestic violence protections for the LGBT community, and Speaker [John] Boehner continues his legal boondoggle to use taxpayer funds to defend the indefensible Defense of Marriage Act in court, including cases involving the families of our men and women of our U.S. Armed Forces.

'These discriminatory actions only serve to advance fundamental unfairness in our society and are against the principles of liberty and equality that our country is built upon.'

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