KTVZ.com (Oregon) reports 

“Sens. Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) have introduced legislation that would extend domestic partner benefits to federal employees.

The Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act extends a federal employee’s benefits to his or her same-sex domestic partner. Benefits may include federal retirement benefits, life insurance, health benefits, workers’ compensation, long-term care insurance, the Family and Medical Leave program, as well as dental and vision benefits. Such employees and their domestic partners would assume some of the same obligations as married employees and their spouses, such as anti-nepotism rules and financial disclosure requirements. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that offering benefits for same-sex domestic partners of federal employees would increase costs by less than one-half of one percent.”