1 U.S.C. § 1 — Words denoting number, gender, and so forth

Page 2 TITLE 1—GENERAL PROVISIONS § 1 1996—Pub. L. 104–199, § 3(b), Sept. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 2420, added item 7. § 1. Words denoting number, gender, and so forth In determining the meaning of any Act of Con- gress, unless the context indicates otherwise— words importing the singular include and apply to several persons, parties, or things; words importing the plural include the sin- gular; words importing the masculine gender in- clude the feminine as well; words used in the present tense include the future as well as the present; the words ‘‘insane’’ and ‘‘insane person’’ shall include every idiot, insane person, and person non compos mentis; the words ‘‘person’’ and ‘‘whoever’’ include corporations, companies, associations, firms, partnerships, societies, and joint stock compa- nies, as well as individuals; ‘‘officer’’ includes any person authorized by law to perform the duties of the office; ‘‘signature’’ or ‘‘subscription’’ includes a mark when the person making the same in- tended it as such; ‘‘oath’’ includes affirmation, and ‘‘sworn’’ includes affirmed; ‘‘writing’’ includes printing and typewriting and reproductions of visual symbols by photographing, multigraphing, mimeo- graphing, manifolding, or otherwise. (July 30, 1947, ch. 388, 61 Stat. 633; June 25, 1948, ch. 645, § 6, 62 Stat. 859; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 655, § 1, 65 Stat. 710; Pub. L. 112–231, § 2(a), Dec. 28, 2012, 126 Stat. 1619.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2012—Pub. L. 112–231, in fifth clause after opening clause, struck out ‘‘and ‘lunatic’ ’’ before ‘‘shall include every’’ and ‘‘lunatic,’’ before ‘‘insane person,’’. 1951—Act Oct. 31, 1951, substituted, in fourth clause after opening clause, ‘‘used’’ for ‘‘use’’. 1948—Act June 25, 1948, included ‘‘tense’’, ‘‘whoever’’, ‘‘signature’’, ‘‘subscription’’, ‘‘writing’’ and a broader definition of ‘‘person’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE OF 2022 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 117–228, § 1, Dec. 13, 2022, 136 Stat. 2305, pro- vided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting section 1738C of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, amending section 7 of this title, repealing section 1738C of Title 28, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 7 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Respect for Marriage Act’.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 2012 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 112–231, § 1, Dec. 28, 2012, 126 Stat. 1619, pro- vided that: ‘‘This Act [amending this section and sec- tions 92a, 215, and 215a of Title 12, Banks and Banking] may be cited as the ‘21st Century Language Act of 2012’.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 2002 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 107–207, § 1, Aug. 5, 2002, 116 Stat. 926, provided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting section 8 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002’.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 1996 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 104–199, § 1, Sept. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 2419, pro- vided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting section 7 of this title and section 1738C of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Defense of Marriage Act’.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 118–159 Pub. L. 118–159, § 3(1), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1799, pro- vided that: ‘‘In this Act [Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, see Tables for classification]: ‘‘(1) In divisions A through D, the term ‘this Act’ refers to divisions A through D.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 118–158 Pub. L. 118–158, § 3, Dec. 21, 2024, 138 Stat. 1723, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as refer- ring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 118–83 Pub. L. 118–83, § 3, Sept. 26, 2024, 138 Stat. 1524, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 118–47 Pub. L. 118–47, § 3, Mar. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 461, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 118–42 Pub. L. 118–42, § 3, Mar. 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 26, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 117–328 Pub. L. 117–328, § 3, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 4461, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, see Ta- bles for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 117–229 Pub. L. 117–229, § 3, Dec. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2308, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Further Continuing Appropriations and Ex- tensions Act, 2023, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that divi- sion.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 117–103 Pub. L. 117–103, § 3, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 51, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 117–58 Pub. L. 117–58, § 2, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 442, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, see Ta- bles for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 117–43 Pub. L. 117–43, § 3, Sept. 30, 2021, 135 Stat. 344, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- Page 3 TITLE 1—GENERAL PROVISIONS § 1 erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act, see Tables for classifica- tion] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 116–260 Pub. L. 116–260, § 3, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1185, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, see Ta- bles for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ Pub. L. 116–260, div. K, title VII, § 7034(q)(7), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1754, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ con- tained in titles I through VII [of div. K of Pub. L. 116–260, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of such titles.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 116–159 Pub. L. 116–159, § 3, Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 709, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Ex- tensions Act, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that divi- sion.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 116–136 Pub. L. 116–136, § 3, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 285, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Secu- rity Act or the CARES Act, see Tables for classifica- tion] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 116–127 Pub. L. 116–127, § 3, Mar. 18, 2020, 134 Stat. 178, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Families First Coronavirus Response Act, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 116–94 Pub. L. 116–94, § 3, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2536, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ Pub. L. 116–94, div. F, title VI, § 612, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2815, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in this division [div. F of Pub. L. 116–94, see Tables for classi- fication] shall be treated as referring only to the provi- sions of this division.’’ Pub. L. 116–94, div. H, title IV, § 420, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3017, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in this division [div. H of Pub. L. 116–94, see Tables for classi- fication] shall be treated as referring only to the provi- sions of this division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 116–93 Pub. L. 116–93, § 3, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2318, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 116–6 Pub. L. 116–6, § 3, Feb. 15, 2019, 133 Stat. 14, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 115–245 Pub. L. 115–245, § 3, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 2981, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019, see Ta- bles for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 115–244 Pub. L. 115–244, § 3, Sept. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 2897, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropria- tions Act, 2019, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that divi- sion.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 115–141 Pub. L. 115–141, § 3, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 350, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, see Ta- bles for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 115–56 Pub. L. 115–56, § 3, Sept. 8, 2017, 131 Stat. 1129, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supple- mental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Require- ments Act, 2017, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that divi- sion.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 115–31 Pub. L. 115–31, § 3, May 5, 2017, 131 Stat. 137, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 114–113 Pub. L. 114–113, § 3, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2244, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, see Ta- bles for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 114–94 Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, § 1004, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1322, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in this division [see Tables for classification] shall be treated as refer- ring only to the provisions of this division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 113–235 Pub. L. 113–235, § 3, Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2132, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated and Further Continuing Appro- priations Act, 2015, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that di- vision.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 113–76 Pub. L. 113–76, § 3, Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 7, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Page 4 TITLE 1—GENERAL PROVISIONS § 1 Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 113–67 Pub. L. 113–67, div. A, § 1(c), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 1166, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided oth- erwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any di- vision of this Act [Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 113–6 Pub. L. 113–6, § 3, Mar. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 199, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in division A, B, C, D, or E of this Act [Consolidated and Further Continuing Ap- propriations Act, 2013, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 112–74 Pub. L. 112–74, § 3, Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 787, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 112–55 Pub. L. 112–55, § 3, Nov. 18, 2011, 125 Stat. 552, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropria- tions Act, 2012, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that divi- sion.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 112–10 Pub. L. 112–10, div. A, title IX, § 9015, Apr. 15, 2011, 125 Stat. 102, provided that: ‘‘Any reference to ‘this Act’ in this division [Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2011, see Tables for classification] shall apply sole- ly to this division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 111–118 Pub. L. 111–118, § 3, Dec. 19, 2009, 123 Stat. 3409, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 111–117 Pub. L. 111–117, § 3, Dec. 16, 2009, 123 Stat. 3035, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010, see Ta- bles for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 111–8 Pub. L. 111–8, § 3, Mar. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 525, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 111–5 Pub. L. 111–5, § 4, Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 116, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as refer- ring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 110–329 Pub. L. 110–329, § 3, Sept. 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 3574, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ or ‘this joint resolution’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Se- curity, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropria- tions Act, 2009, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that divi- sion.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 110–161 Pub. L. 110–161, § 3, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 1845, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, see Ta- bles for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 110–116 Pub. L. 110–116, § 2, Nov. 13, 2007, 121 Stat. 1295, pro- vided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referencing only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 109–289 Pub. L. 109–289, div. A, title VIII, § 8112, Sept. 29, 2006, 120 Stat. 1299, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly pro- vided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in this division [Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007, see Tables for classification] shall be refer- ring only to the provisions of this division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 109–148 Pub. L. 109–148, div. B, title V, § 5002, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2813, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in ei- ther division A [Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006, see Tables for classification] or division B [Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to Ad- dress Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza, 2006, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that divi- sion.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 109–115 Pub. L. 109–115, div. A, title VIII, § 847, Nov. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2507, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly pro- vided otherwise, any reference to ‘this Act’ contained in this division [Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, see Tables for classi- fication] shall be treated as referring only to the provi- sions of this division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 108–447 Pub. L. 108–447, § 3, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2810, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 108–199 Pub. L. 108–199, § 3, Jan. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 4, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ REFERENCES IN PUB. L. 108–7 Pub. L. 108–7, § 3, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 12, provided that: ‘‘Except as expressly provided otherwise, any ref- erence to ‘this Act’ contained in any division of this joint resolution [Consolidated Appropriations Resolu- tion, 2003, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.’’ CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES Pub. L. 86–70, § 48, June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 154, provided that: ‘‘Whenever the phrase ‘continental United States’ Page 5 TITLE 1—GENERAL PROVISIONS § 7 is used in any law of the United States enacted after the date of enactment of this Act [June 25, 1959], it shall mean the 49 States on the North American Con- tinent and the District of Columbia, unless otherwise expressly provided.’’ § 2. ‘‘County’’ as including ‘‘parish’’, and so forth The word ‘‘county’’ includes a parish, or any other equivalent subdivision of a State or Terri- tory of the United States. (July 30, 1947, ch. 388, 61 Stat. 633.) § 3. ‘‘Vessel’’ as including all means of water transportation The word ‘‘vessel’’ includes every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water. (July 30, 1947, ch. 388, 61 Stat. 633.) § 4. ‘‘Vehicle’’ as including all means of land transportation The word ‘‘vehicle’’ includes every description of carriage or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transpor- tation on land. (July 30, 1947, ch. 388, 61 Stat. 633.) § 5. ‘‘Company’’ or ‘‘association’’ as including suc- cessors and assigns The word ‘‘company’’ or ‘‘association’’, when used in reference to a corporation, shall be deemed to embrace the words ‘‘successors and assigns of such company or association’’, in like manner as if these last-named words, or words of similar import, were expressed. (July 30, 1947, ch. 388, 61 Stat. 633.) § 6. Limitation of term ‘‘products of American fisheries’’ Wherever, in the statutes of the United States or in the rulings, regulations, or interpretations of various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States there appears or may ap- pear the term ‘‘products of American fisheries’’ said term shall not include fresh or frozen fish fillets, fresh or frozen fish steaks, or fresh or frozen slices of fish substantially free of bone (including any of the foregoing divided into sec- tions), produced in a foreign country or its terri- torial waters, in whole or in part with the use of the labor of persons who are not residents of the United States. (July 30, 1947, ch. 388, 61 Stat. 634.) § 7. Marriage (a) For the purposes of any Federal law, rule, or regulation in which marital status is a factor, an individual shall be considered married if that individual’s marriage is between 2 individuals and is valid in the State where the marriage was entered into or, in the case of a marriage en- tered into outside any State, if the marriage is between 2 individuals and is valid in the place where entered into and the marriage could have been entered into in a State. (b) In this section, the term ‘‘State’’ means a State, the District of Columbia, the Common- wealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States. (c) For purposes of subsection (a), in deter- mining whether a marriage is valid in a State or the place where entered into, if outside of any State, only the law of the jurisdiction applicable at the time the marriage was entered into may be considered. (Added Pub. L. 104–199, § 3(a), Sept. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 2419; amended Pub. L. 117–228, § 5, Dec. 13, 2022, 136 Stat. 2306.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2022—Pub. L. 117–228 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: ‘‘In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administra- tive bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word ‘marriage’ means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word ‘spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.’’ Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SEVERABILITY Pub. L. 117–228, § 8, Dec. 13, 2022, 136 Stat. 2307, pro- vided that: ‘‘If any provision of this Act [see Short Title of 2022 Amendment note set out under section 1 of this title], or any amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision to any person, entity, government, or circumstance, is held to be unconstitu- tional, the remainder of this Act, or any amendment made thereby, or the application of such provision to all other persons, entities, governments, or cir- cumstances, shall not be affected thereby.’’ FINDINGS Pub. L. 117–228, § 2, Dec. 13, 2022, 136 Stat. 2305, pro- vided that: ‘‘Congress finds the following: ‘‘(1) No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devo- tion, sacrifice, and family. ‘‘(2) Diverse beliefs about the role of gender in mar- riage are held by reasonable and sincere people based on decent and honorable religious or philosophical premises. Therefore, Congress affirms that such peo- ple and their diverse beliefs are due proper respect. ‘‘(3) Millions of people, including interracial and same-sex couples, have entered into marriages and have enjoyed the rights and privileges associated with marriage. Couples joining in marriage deserve to have the dignity, stability, and ongoing protection that marriage affords to families and children.’’ NO IMPACT ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND CONSCIENCE Pub. L. 117–228, § 6, Dec. 13, 2022, 136 Stat. 2306, pro- vided that: ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 2022 Amendment note set out under section 1 of this title], or any amendment made by this Act, shall be construed to diminish or abrogate a religious liberty or conscience protection otherwise available to an indi- vidual or organization under the Constitution of the United States or Federal law. ‘‘(b) GOODS OR SERVICES.—Consistent with the First Amendment to the Constitution, nonprofit religious or- ganizations, including churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, nondenominational ministries, interdenomi- national and ecumenical organizations, mission organi- zations, faith-based social agencies, religious edu- cational institutions, and nonprofit entities whose principal purpose is the study, practice, or advance- ment of religion, and any employee of such an organi-