Marriage Protection Amendment

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

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 801, proceedings will now resume on the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 106) proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am glad that Congress has moved this important legislation to the floor of the House for a vote today. My office has received literally thousands of letters and e-mails, personal visits and phone calls from constituents urging me to support the institution of traditional marriage. And I want them to know today that I have heard them.

I realize that reasonable men can differ on whether to allow nontraditional marriages in the United States. But I am clear on this issue because the values I share with the people of the Second Congressional District of Georgia are deeply held for God, country, work, and family. Moreover, these families' values are those of the traditional family based in our Judeo-Christian principles. That is why I have cosponsored and will vote for this important constitutional amendment, H.J. Res. 106, in order to protect the institution of marriage by defining marriage in the United States as the union between a man and a woman.

I also voted for the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriages and allows individual States to refuse to recognize such marriages.

Mr. Speaker, only by having a uniform definition of marriage established in the Constitution and interpreted by the federal courts can this most basic unit of society be protected.

God, country, work, family, marriage between one man and one woman, to these we must pledge our sacred honor.

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