Marriage Protection Act of 2004

MARRIAGE PROTECTION ACT OF 2004 -- (House of Representatives - July 22, 2004)

Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 734, I call up the bill (H.R. 3313) to amend title 28, United States Code, to limit Federal court jurisdiction over questions under the Defense of Marriage Act, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

I rise in opposition to this sham. What a shame it is when we have 41 million Americans without health insurance, more than 2 million jobs lost, an additional $2 trillion in debt, that the leadership of this Congress chooses to try again to divert attention to a divisive issue. Having failed to even muster 50 votes in the other body to place in the Constitution language setting one group of Americans aside as second class citizens, this leadership now turns its attention to a full assault on the Constitution itself.

If they cannot amend the Constitution, then attack the balance of power. I keep hearing that activist judges should not change State laws. Five activist judges denied all the voters of Florida the right to have their votes counted, but this bill is far more cynical.

The other side knows it will be thrown out by the Supreme Court. That means they can keep this issue alive for years and years.

Stop this assault. Vote no on H.R. 3313.