KING VOTES TO PROTECT STATES' RIGHT TO PROTECT
FAMILIES, MARRIAGE
WASHINGTON- U.S. Congressman Steve King today voted
to support families and to protect states' right to
protect traditional marriage.
King is an original
co-sponsor of the Marriage Protection Amendment, a
constitutional amendment to define marriage as the
union between one man and one woman. Today, 236
Members of the House voted for the amendment, but it
requires a two-thirds majority to pass.
"Marriage, between and
man and woman, is the foundation of family, and
therefore our communities and society," said King.
"Passing a constitutional amendment will place this
debate back where it belongs, with the American
people, and out of the hands of activist judges
legislating from the bench to impose same sex
marriage."
The Federal Marriage
Amendment provides a national definition of
marriage, leaving marriage laws to state
legislatures. It also adds a layer of protection
against court-imposed arrangements other than
marriage; it protects states from being forced to
recognize same-sex unions created by other states.
The amendment states:
Marriage in the United States shall consist solely
of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this
Constitution, nor the constitution of any State,
shall be construed to require that marriage or the
legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union
other than the union of a man and a woman.
Ninety percent of the
states have enacted laws providing that marriage
shall consist between a man and a woman. A
constitutional amendment requires ratification from
seventy-five percent of the states.
