[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 21 (Monday, May 24, 2004)]
[Pages 912-913]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
 Statement Calling for a Constitutional Amendment Defining and 
Protecting Marriage

 May 17, 2004

     The sacred institution of marriage should not be redefined by a few 
activist judges. All Americans have a right to be heard in this debate. 
I called on the Congress to pass and to send to the States for 
ratification an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting 
marriage as a union of a man and a woman as husband and wife. The need 
for that amendment is still urgent, and I repeat that call today.

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