WASHINGTON  -   U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today cast her vote in favor of the Marriage Protection Act, H.R. 3313, an issue she has championed in Congress.  The legislation was approved in the House of Representatives by a vote of 233-194.

 

“Marriage is a sacred institution,” Emerson said.  “We need to defend it at every turn, and today marks an important date in the effort to keep the definition of marriage, which is central to American life.  Preserving the definition of marriage is vital to maintaining our definition of family.  Our morals play a part in every aspect of American law, and the laws that relate to marriage are no different.”

 

The Marriage Protection Act is a legislative response to court rulings that have approved same-sex marriage in some states.  By reserving the right to hear cases about the definition of marriage for state courts and preventing same-sex marriages from being recognized by states that have banned the practice, the bill strengthens the Defense of Marriage Act Congress passed and Emerson supported in 1996.

 

“A few federal courts are undermining Defense of Marriage laws that have passed by wide margins in the states, including Missouri.  The Marriage Protection Act provides that challenges to the state marriage laws would be settled in state courts,” Emerson said.