[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 126 (Friday, September 13, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S10552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page S10552]]



                        DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I did not have an opportunity to speak 
during consideration of the Defense of Marriage Act, so I would like to 
take a moment now to explain my vote.
  I voted for the Defense of Marriage Act for a very simple reason. For 
thousands of years, marriage has been an institution that represents a 
union between a man and a woman, and I do not support changing the 
definition of marriage or altering its meaning.
  Those of the same sex who have a long-term relationship and who wish 
to provide a legal framework for that relationship should aspire to 
enact legislation in the States that creates such a legal framework. 
But that should not include changing the definition of marriage to 
allow same-sex marriages, and it should not require all States to 
recognize that legal relationship.
  I simply do not believe that we should in any way dilute the meaning 
of this important institution. Marriage is what binds a husband, wife, 
and children into a single unit--a family--which is the cornerstone of 
our society. Those who would say that this important tradition should 
be altered are simply wrong.
  For that reason, I voted for the Defense of Marriage Act.

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