[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20668]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 30, 2004

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this 
amendment, which would mark the first time in our Nation's history that 
the Constitution would be amended to restrict the civil rights of a 
specific group, rather than to expand rights.
  I do not support changing the definition of marriage, and in fact, I 
voted in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act. But like former 
Republican Congressman Bob Barr, who authored that bill, I oppose this 
Constitutional amendment. I believe that each state should have the 
ability to decide family matters for themselves, rather than having the 
federal government dictate what they must do.
  I strongly support recognizing civil unions to give partners the 
right to access of health benefits, visiting rights at hospitals, 
pensions, and other benefits granted to committed married partners. 
These are rights that other Americans are able to take for granted, and 
frankly it's difficult to believe that in the 21st Century we need to 
fight to guarantee those rights. But this amendment would prevent civil 
unions and domestic partner benefits, again, forbidding states and the 
District of Columbia to decide for themselves whether they want to 
allow those benefits.
  It is wrong to casually amend our Constitution simply to score a 
political point. This vicious debate is below the dignity of the House. 
I hope my colleagues will reject the politics of hate and intolerance, 
and oppose this amendment.

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