The US on Wednesday is one step closer to codifying the right to same-sex and interracial marriage after the Senate voted to advance a bill that would protect such unions should the Supreme Court overturn its prior decisions that made them law.

By a 62-37 vote, senators decided to end debate on the “Respect for Marriage Act” Wednesday afternoon, moving the bill toward final approval with the support of 12 Republicans and all Democrats.

The 12 included Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.); Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis(R-N.C.); Sen. Shelley Capito (R-WV); Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine); Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa); Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY); Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska); Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio); Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah); and Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.)

The vote came after a bipartisan group of senators on Monday agreed on changes to the bill that would guarantee federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages while protecting religious liberties.

The bill would require the federal government to recognize all marriages — regardless of a couple’s race or gender — that were conducted legally under state law, but does not authorize federal recognition of polygamous marriage.

It does not, however, require states to issue marriage licenses that are contrary to their state laws and prevents nonprofit religious organizations from being required to provide any ceremonial marriage services.

Still, states would still be required to recognize any marriage legally granted by another state should the bill pass.

The push to codify same-sex and interracial marriage rights comes after the Supreme Court in June overturned Roe v. Wade and the federal right to abortion with its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson.

Similar to abortion, the right to same-sex marriage and interracial marriage were also made federal law through Supreme Court cases. Passing a law to protect those rights against any future Court decisions.

It remains unclear when the Senate will vote whether to pass or strike down the bill. The House passed its version of the Respect for Marriage Act on July 19.

After Wednesday’s vote, President Joe Biden urged Congress to promptly pass the bill and thanked them for sending “a strong message that Republicans and Democrats can work together to secure the fundamental right of Americans to marry the person they love.”

“Love is love, and Americans should have the right to marry the person they love,” Biden said. “The Respect for Marriage Act will ensure that LGBTQI+ couples and interracial couples are respected and protected equally under federal law, and provide more certainty to these families since the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs.”