[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 98 (Monday, July 24, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 18, 2006

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong opposition to 
House Joint Resolution 88, which would amend our Constitution to deny 
basic rights to gays and lesbians. I would like to express my 
disappointment in the Republican leadership for once again bringing 
this divisive and discriminatory amendment before Congress.
  Our Constitution has guided our Nation for over 200 years. During 
that time, it has been amended to guarantee religious liberty, equal 
protection, and the right to vote. Not once has it been amended to take 
away rights from a specific group of people. Yet that is what this 
legislation would do.
  Of course, this constitutional amendment will not be adopted; it 
failed to garner even a simple majority only weeks ago in the Senate. 
We are wasting our time on this because Republican pollsters have 
concluded that targeting gays and lesbians is a winning election 
strategy.
  Mr. Speaker, our fellow citizens deserve better. Same-sex couples are 
trying to raise families, pay the bills, get health care for their 
partners, and put their kids through college. Instead of working to 
help them, we are debating whether to permanently deny them over 1,000 
rights and benefits given to married heterosexual couples. We should be 
striving for fairness and equality, not singling them out for 
discrimination.
  Americans are sick and tired of political gamesmanship. They want a 
Congress that will address the real challenges our Nation faces: health 
care, energy security, education, economic opportunity. The Republican 
leadership has once again let down the American people, and I urge my 
colleagues to reject this effort to distract and divide.




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