[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 97 (Wednesday, July 14, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H5658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            PROTECTING MARRIAGE IS A CRITICAL NATIONAL ISSUE

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, today the Senate will vote on an issue of 
critical national importance: marriage. The issue is whether we will 
stand idly by as a few unelected judges redefine the family for us or 
if we will take a stand and say ``enough is enough.''
  The best home for kids is when their biological parents, mom and dad, 
live at home, are married, and are engaged in the lives of their 
children. Unfortunately, many claim this is an issue for the States. 
Indeed, it is, if that is what were happening, but it is not. Courts 
are circumventing the States in order to make this happen so that we 
will never debate it, so that States will never debate it, and the 
American people will never debate it. That is just how activists want 
it.
  There is no way around it. We need to amend the Constitution. The 
Federal marriage amendment is supported by a very diverse coalition. 
Voting on it is hardly politics as usual. It is the least we can do to 
protect the stability of our communities and the best future for our 
children. The United States Congress should vote for the marriage 
protection amendment to the Constitution.

                          ____________________