Obama extends more benefits to partners

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama ordered government agencies Wednesday to extend additional benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, including child care services.

The moves come a year after Obama signed a memorandum giving federal workers’ same-sex partners a first round of benefits including visitation and dependent-care rights. At the same time he asked federal agencies to determine what other benefits could be given to domestic partners without Congress acting, and those he announced Wednesday were the results of that review.

They include child-care services and subsidies; more flexibility to use family leave to attend to the needs of domestic partners and their children; relocation benefits; giving domestic partners the same status as “family members” when federal appointments are made; and access to credit union and other memberships provided to federal workers.