PEORIA –State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) issued the following statement about the Supreme Court's ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act:

"The Supreme Court's decision to extend federal benefits to all married couples in the United States is heartening. I'm proud that the Illinois Senate has already passed the Marriage Equality Act and hopeful that the House will act soon. We need to extend the thousands of federal benefits provided by marriage to all Illinois couples."