[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 17 (Thursday, February 2, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  BRINGING MARRIAGE EQUALITY TO MAINE

  (Ms. PINGREE of Maine asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Speaker, in my State of Maine, there are 
thousands of couples in loving, committed relationships. They share 
homes and they raise children together. They remain committed to each 
other through the ups and downs of life, but because they are same-sex 
couples, they are denied the right to honor their love and commitment 
to each other through marriage.
  This fall, Maine will have a chance to change that and to join a 
growing list of States around the country that are setting aside 
discrimination and granting all couples the same right to get married.
  We've made progress here in Congress on ending discriminatory 
practices like ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'' but it will be up to us in 
Maine to bring marriage equality to our State. This is an issue of 
basic human rights and equal treatment under the law, and I am 
confident we'll do the right thing.

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