WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today voted in favor of
legislation to add a Federal Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  The amendment proposed in H.J. Res. 106 would state that marriage in the Unites States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman.  The resolution failed to pass with the required 2/3 of the votes in the House of Representatives this afternoon by a vote of 227 yea to 186 nay.

 

“Marriage is an institution that reflects the highest values of our land, and I believe our definition of marriage should be preserved in the highest law of the land,” Emerson said.  “Even though this measure did not receive enough votes to pass today, we have shown our commitment to marriage.  Activist judges and liberal state courts should not be able to change the social structures of American culture at will.  As long as marriage is an embattled institution, we must fight to preserve it.”