Washington, D.C., has recognized domestic partnerships since June 11, 1992, when the Health Benefits Expansion Act, DC Law 9-114, was passed, allowing unmarried, cohabiting couples (same-sex or opposite-sex) to register as domestic partners. However, the U.S. Congress, which has ultimate legislative control of the District, forbade the spending of local funds to implement the law until the prohibition was lifted in the federal appropriations act for fiscal year 2002. The rights afforded such registrations have been incrementally expanded since 2002, with the last expansion in May 2008.