Section 2 of of the Respect for Marriage Act repeals section 1738C (Title 28) of DOMA. But, Section 1738C of DOMA is the Full Faith exception given to the states. Therefore how would repealing Section 1738C of DOMA allow Federal benefits to flow. Answer, it wouldn’t because 1738C has nothing to do with the Federal definition of marriage which is in Section 3 of DOMA. Section 3 of the Respect for Marriage Act however, would amend that definition to include same-sex marriages and allow benefits to flow.

And by the way, the amendment under consideration would amend S.598 so that the full faith exception would remain in place. In other words, couples in same-sex marriages will be able to collect Federal benefits but the states would still be able to refuse state benefits to same-sex married couples.