[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 20043-20044]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, today we will debate and vote on an issue of 
critical importance to our society: marriage.
  The issue is whether we will stand idly by as a few unelected judges 
redefine the family for us, or if we will take a stand and say enough 
is enough. The best home for kids is with their mom and dad. Children 
cannot do better than that, and we should not try to redefine marriage.
  Unfortunately, some claim that this is an issue for the States. 
Indeed, it is if that is what was happening. It is not. Activist courts 
are circumventing the

[[Page 20044]]

States in order to make this happen. We would never debate it. The 
States would never debate it. The American people would never debate. 
That is how the activist groups and the activist judges want it. States 
rights are meaningless if judges ultimately make the decisions.
  Mr. Speaker, this House should pass the marriage protection amendment 
and send it to the State legislatures for their ratification so the 
courts do not become the final maker of family policy. Kids do best 
with a mom and dad.

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