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Marriage Protection Amendment

Floor Speech

Date: July 28, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Conservative Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Marriage Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Federal, State and Local Relations

MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT -- (House of Representatives - July 18, 2006)

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Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.J. Res. 88.

I believe that the institution of marriage should consist of one man and one woman and I voted for the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, but I cannot support this bill.

The Defense of Marriage Act has never been challenged in the Supreme Court and it seems like we are putting the cart before the horse.

We should allow our system of checks and balances to work as it has for over 200 years. Our founding fathers created three branches of government to work independently, but equally.

In Texas, we already have a law that states that the institution of marriage is between one man and one woman. We also have a law that states that Texas does not have to recognize marriages that were performed outside of the state of Texas.

Even if other states decide to change their standards for issuing marriage licenses. It will not change how marriage licenses are issued in Texas.

The Defense of Marriage Act supports our state laws. Marriage is a state issue and it should remain so. When my wife and I married 36 years ago we went to our county courthouse, not our federal courthouse.

We do not seek marriage licenses from the federal government.


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