Marriage Protection Amendment

MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT -- (House of Representatives - September 30, 2004)

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Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, 2 ½ hours for a debate on amending the Constitution. It is so important that we contemplate that ministers, rabbis, priests can marry anybody they choose to. They can deny marriage to the opposite sex. But the reality is what about amending the Constitution to guarantee quality education to every child in this country; what about amending the Constitution to guarantee health care to every person in this country; what about amending the Constitution so that our colleagues around here could not spend this time talking about a moral issue instead of giving people jobs and giving them an opportunity to protect marriage? Marriages fall apart because people do not have work.

What about amending the Constitution so we can guarantee all kinds of rights to all people? Give me a break.

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Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 106, the constitutional amendment on same sex marriage.

African-American voters are deeply divided on the issue of gay marriage and increasingly suspicious of Republican motives around the issue. Currently, 46 percent favor the amendment, while 46 percent oppose. Gay marriage should not be used as a wedge issue to divide any community, especially the African-American community. And guess what? In a June Gallup poll, issues related to the gay community were cited by 2 percent as the most important problem facing the U.S.-compared to other issues, such as the war in Iraq which was cited by 27 percent of the public.

The current administration's policies have devastated our communities. With unemployment in the African-American community double the national average, crime on the rise, and working families struggling to feed and keep their families together, we can't afford to lose focus and be bamboozled by Republicans who want to change the subject. Mr. Speaker, as of September 24 the gross Federal debt is $7.348 trillion. I submit to you that we cannot afford a whole host of things.

The American public wants Congress to focus on real issues facing our Nation-the economy, health care, protecting our homeland and education. To date, Congress has approved only 1 of 13 appropriations bills, despite the fact that a new fiscal year begins tomorrow.

We must focus our energy on good jobs--3 million lost in the last 3 years; better education; improved healthcare since 41 million don't have it; sound transportation funding; and turning around our communities-not about gay marriage.

Mr. Speaker, the administration has indeed captured the Nation's religious leaders on this issue because it does mirror concepts in various scriptures of their religious doctrines. Notwithstanding, it is precisely for that reason that we, in this august body, must resist the temptation to have the State engage in a religious battle. Separation of church and state is the basic principle of this Nation and it exempts us from this unnecessary action. Separation of church and state gives ministers, rabbis, imams, priests, reverends-you get my drift-the freedom to practice their faith and choose to marry, or more importantly not marry, any two people before them.

In these times of spreading war and hate, people of faith must reject politicians who say they are acting out of faith: But are they really? When one wears the cloak of one's faith on your sleeve, it almost automatically calls in question your motives. People who talk about right, justice, compassion and religion are in fact using those sentiments to contradict or undo the very teachings of their faith.

Mr. Speaker, this is not compassionate; it is not tolerant; it is not charitable; it is not inclusive. This is nothing short of divisive and political. Instead of dividing us, our leaders should make redemption, understanding and love the foundation of their policies because we are all sinners.

I believe it's time to start bringing people together to work on the real issues of faith and moral commitment that confront our communities like poverty and homelessness instead of changing the Constitution to deny equal rights to the gay community.

With record high unemployment, crime on the rise, and working families struggling to keep their families together, it's time to bring people together to turn our communities around.

We need to focus on real policies.

Amending the Constitution is the most far-reaching step that legislators can take in governing the citizens of this country, and it is my belief that the Constitution should be the instrument that protects and guarantees the rights of individuals; it should not be used to limit the rights of individuals. The defeat of this legislation is tantamount to the preservation of human rights in this country.

Mr. Speaker, I vehemently oppose H.J. Res. 106 and I will continue to do so until it is defeated.