[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 95 (Wednesday, July 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. TODD TIAHRT

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 18, 2006

  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 88, 
the Marriage Protection Amendment offered by Representative Marilyn 
Musgrave.
  The resolution reads: ``Marriage in the United States shall consist 
solely of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, 
nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that 
marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union 
other than the union of a man and a woman.''
  This resolution is identical to the resolution that was voted on by 
the House on September 30, 2004. Although the House received a majority 
vote on the previous resolution, H.J. Res. 106, it wasn't enough for a 
constitutional amendment. The American people are overwhelmingly 
supportive of a constitutional amendment that will protect traditional 
marriage between one man and one woman. In fact, since the vote in 
2004, 16 States have passed State constitutional amendments to protect 
and defend traditional marriage, including my home State of Kansas. By 
an overwhelming margin of 70-30 percent, Kansans passed such an 
amendment in April 2005. The American people have been heard. Now it is 
time to ensure the will of the people be protected by passing a 
constitutional amendment that will define marriage as the union of one 
man and one woman. With activist judges overruling the will of the 
people time and time again, there is no other way than to amend the 
U.S. Constitution.
  Marriage is the foundation of our society.
  The well-being and welfare of children should always be our focus. 
Children that are raised in a home with a married mother and father 
consistently do better in every measure of well-being than their peers 
who come from divorced or step-parent, single-parent, cohabiting homes. 
When there is a breakdown in the family or failure to form marriages 
becomes widespread, society is harmed by a whole host of social 
pathologies from increased poverty, crime, mental illness, illegal drug 
use to clinical depression, and suicide. The very best environment for 
children, our most vulnerable members of society, should be of the 
utmost importance. I will continue to fight for children and families 
and to defend the will of the people of the Fourth District of Kansas.
  Next month, I will celebrate my 30th anniversary of marriage with my 
beautiful bride, Vicki. Our marriage has been a blessing. I have gained 
even more respect for the institution over the past 3 decades and will 
defend it against attack.
  I vote in favor of protecting traditional marriage between one man 
and one woman today and I encourage my colleagues to vote for H.J. Res. 
88.

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