[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 184 (Wednesday, November 30, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S6878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                        Respect for Marriage Act

  Madam President, let me start by turning to the tragedy that took 
place just a week and a half ago. On the morning of November 2, the 
community of Colorado Springs, CO, woke up to the devastating news that 
5 people were killed, and another 25 were injured, at the hands of a 
shooter.
  While we are still learning the details about this horrific incident, 
this much is clear: The shooter chose to target an LGBTQ-friendly 
establishment.
  Hate has no place in this nation. It never has and, hopefully, never 
will. It is up to each of us as individuals to root out hate when we 
see it and enact change in order to fix it.
  It is not every day that the Senate comes together to pass bipartisan 
legislation, although we do it more than most people would expect. But, 
yesterday, we did just that with a majority vote of 61 to 36 to 
reaffirm to our Nation's LGBTQ community that we believe that every 
adult deserves a right to marry whom they love--no matter their race, 
gender, or sexual orientation.
  I was honored to lend my support for the bipartisan Respect for 
Marriage Act to protect that sacred and fundamental right to marry for 
all Americans in the First State and throughout our country.
  This is a historic moment for our country and a testament to what can 
happen when policymakers embrace the golden rule: Treat other people 
the way you want to be treated. The Golden Rule is in every sacred 
scripture of every major religion in the world. I don't care if you are 
a Jew. I don't care if you are Protestant. I don't care if you are 
Catholic. I don't care if you are Hindu, Buddhist, or Muslim. They all 
have the Golden Rule in there: Treat other people the way you want to 
be treated. And I think that is really the thread that underlies the 
legislation that we enacted yesterday with bipartisan support.
  Madam President, as many of us in this Chamber know, for the past 7 
years, marriage equality has been the law of the land. It has been the 
law of the land. It is nothing new. It has been the law of the land for 
the last 7 years, thanks to the Supreme Court decision in something 
called Obergefell--I mangled that; I am sure others have as well--v. 
Hodges. That is the decision of 7 years ago. The basis of this is the 
law of the land.
  Former Justice Anthony Kennedy, who was appointed by President 
Reagan, wrote in his majority opinion of that--and I am going to quote 
him. He said:

       No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies 
     the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, 
     and family.

  His words--I could not have said it better.
  Americans deserve the constitutional right to enter into that 
profound union, marriage, with the person they love--and the person who 
loves them as well.
  However, earlier this summer, the Supreme Court overturned nearly 50 
years of precedent protecting a woman's right to make her own 
healthcare decisions. And tucked away in that radical opinion, Justice 
Thomas cast doubt on whether the Constitution protects marriage 
equality.
  Let me be clear. Yesterday's bipartisan vote to protect same-sex 
marriage said that we are not going back.
  LGBTQ Americans can now rest assured they are afforded equal dignity 
under the law. I look forward to this bill being signed into law by 
President Biden soon to make it official.