H.J. RES. 88, THE ``MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT'' -- (Extensions of Remarks - July 28, 2006)
SPEECH OF
HON. DENNIS MOORE
OF KANSAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2006
* Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, on July 18, 2006, I voted against passage of H.J. Res. 88, a constitutional amendment to bar same-sex marriages.
* The text of H.J. Res. 88, the Marriage Protection Amendment, reads as follows: ``Marriage in the United States shall consist solely of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution or the constitution of any state, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.''
* Marriage and family law have traditionally been regulated by state, rather than federal, laws. Current federal law, as well as some state laws, already prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriage. Further, in 1996, President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriages and allows individual states to refuse to recognize such marriages performed in other states.
* Some believe the Marriage Protection Amendment is necessary to strengthen the institution of marriage. While the amendment's supporters claim that it simply would remove the issue of same sex marriage from the courts, the text of the amendment also would remove decision making authority from Congress and state legislatures, where marriage and family law have traditionally been regulated.
* My personal belief is that marriage is a union between a man and a woman, but that the regulation of marriage should be left to the states.
* In 2004, Vice President DICK CHENEY spoke on the subject of a constitutional marriage amendment during a campaign appearance in Davenport, Iowa, when he said: The question that comes up with the issue of marriage is what kind of official sanction or approval is going to be granted by government? Historically, that's been a relationship that has been handled by the states. The states have made that fundamental decision of what constitutes a marriage. He also went on to say that with respect to the question of relationships, my general view is freedom means freedom for everyone.
* I agree with Vice President CHENEY's remarks, and voted against the Marriage Protection Amendment on the House floor. This amendment would break sharply from our nation's commitment to, and constitutional tradition of, protecting individual rights. The truth is--and the proponents of this Amendment know it--there was not any chance for this to become a Constitutional Amendment. Just last month the Senate refused to pass it! The House Amendment was simply another effort by certain people to advance their political agenda. I support equal rights for all Americans. I am committed to a nation in which all Americans can share equally in the protections of the law.
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