At issue is whether federal benefits can be included in marriages legal under state law . A three - judge panel of a federal appeals court says no . The appeals court says it may ultimately be up to the Supreme Court to decide . The case is Massachusetts v. U.S. Dept . of Health and Human Services ( 10-2204 ) . The bill is being supported by congressional Republicans , not the Obama administration .
At issue is whether federal benefits can be included in marriages legal under state law . A three - judge panel of a federal appeals court says no . The appeals court says it may ultimately be up to the Supreme Court to decide . The bill is being supported by congressional Republicans , not the Obama administration .