[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 144 (Thursday, September 8, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4497-S4498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, four words are inscribed in the stone 
above the U.S. Supreme Court: ``Equal Justice Under Law''--``Equal 
Justice Under Law.'' In many ways, the story of America has been about 
making those words true for all Americans. Sometimes we take bold steps 
forward. Other times, unfortunately, we take disturbing steps backward.
  We all know that when the Constitution was written, there was not 
equal justice under law. That is pretty obvious. So many people were 
excluded from voting and other rights. But we have tried to move 
forward, and that is one of the beautiful things about America. We keep 
moving forward. We push.
  But, unfortunately, today America finds itself in one of those 
frightening moments of regression--of regression. A few months ago, 
tens of millions of women saw their fundamental right to choose taken 
away before their very eyes. Justice Thomas, in a concurring opinion, 
suggested that other rights, like the freedom to marry protected in 
Obergefell might come next.
  The mere thought should make us sick to our stomachs. The Senate has 
a responsibility now to act. Because of this threat, the Senate will 
hold a vote on the Respect for Marriage Act in the coming weeks so that 
no American is discriminated against because of whom they love.
  My colleagues Senators Baldwin and Sinema and others have worked for 
months to build bipartisan support for this legislation. I applaud them 
for their efforts. I hope that we will get at least 10 Republicans to 
join us to pass marriage equality through the Senate. If the Respect 
for Marriage Act can win significant Republican support in the House, 
there is no legitimate reason for Republicans in this Chamber to stand 
in the way.
  Over the past few weeks, we have heard many on the other side say: 
Well, this vote isn't necessary.

[[Page S4498]]

  They say marriage equality is not something Americans spend a lot of 
time thinking about anymore. They want us to believe that the Supreme 
Court would never do something as reckless as reversing the precedent 
of marriage equality that millions have relied on for years.
  Well, where oh where have we heard that before? The very same people 
who suggested that Roe was established precedent now want us to think 
that the Supreme Court won't go further, even though a sitting Justice 
on the highest Court in the land openly said something to the contrary, 
and he is often joined by four others.
  Lest we forget, marriage equality was not the law of the land a 
decade ago. Discrimination against LGBTQ Americans still continues to 
this day. Now MAGA Republicans have escalated their rhetoric against 
same sex marriage and want to normalize gender discrimination.
  MAGA Republicans seem to make it their business to pick on certain 
groups, not to do things that are positive and move things forward but 
to sort of just point their fingers at someone and blame them for some 
abstract reason that really doesn't hurt them at all.
  That is where this Republican Party--unfortunately, too many of 
them--are headed, led by these MAGA Republicans and often fomented by 
former President Trump.
  Earlier this year--here is what I am talking about. This isn't pie in 
the sky. The Texas Republican GOP, earlier this year, even adopted a 
party platform. This is of the largest Republican State in the country, 
the one with the most congressional representatives. The Texas GOP 
adopted this year a party platform that said ``homosexuality is an 
abnormal lifestyle choice.''
  Let me repeat that. The largest Republican State in the country, its 
Republican Party, captured by MAGA fervor--absurd fervor--said 
``homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice.''
  Just yesterday, a judge said that employers can deny access to 
medication if they believe it would encourage homosexuality. And we all 
know that these MAGA Republicans and their ilk, led by this man named 
Leonard Leo, with billions of dollars of dark money, use the courts to 
move America backward--move the courts to move America backward. And 
that is what happened yesterday with this judge coming up with this 
absurd, obnoxious, despicable resolution.
  I trust that that radical view of that judge and of that Texas GOP is 
not something many of us embrace here in this Chamber. But we can't act 
as if our fundamental rights will stay safe if we aren't willing to 
safeguard them through legislation. If we are going to let these MAGA 
judges--rightwing, appointed by Leonard Leo and the Federalist 
Society--if we are not going to let them move America backward, then we 
have an obligation to act.
  So let me make clear that a vote on marriage equality will happen on 
the Senate floor in the coming weeks, and I hope there will be at least 
10 Republicans to support it.

                          ____________________