For Immediate Release
July 18, 2006

Congressman Pitts Votes to Protect Marriage

Washington – Congressman Joe Pitts (R, PA-16) today voted in favor of H.J. Res. 88, The Marriage Protection Amendment – a Constitutional amendment defining marriage in America as the union of a man and a woman.  The amendment received majority support in the House, but did not reach the two-thirds majority required to pass.  Today’s vote represents an increase of 9 votes from the last time it was considered in the House.

“Marriage is foundational to the family, and therefore to society,” Congressman Pitts said.  “We must not allow an institution of such great importance to be arbitrarily redefined for the entire nation by a small number of unelected judges.  This amendment would prevent that from happening.  Though I was disappointed that the amendment did not receive the votes needed to pass, I was pleased to see an increase in support for it this year, both in the House and in the Senate.”

Background

H.J. Res. 88, The Marriage Protection Amendment, reads, “Marriage in the United States shall consist only 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.”

It received majority support in the House on Tuesday (236-187), however a two-thirds majority vote is required to pass a Constitutional amendment.

Traditional marriage is the cornerstone of the family.  Social statistics show that children are best raised by their biological mother and father, in a loving and supportive home.  This amendment supports such an environment in which to raise children.

Currently, traditional marriage is at risk of being redefined in America by unelected judges.  This amendment would provide a way for the people to have a say on the issue.  In every state where this issue has been on the ballot in the form a marriage protection amendment to state constitutions, it has passed with strong support.  In more than half of the 20 states that have amended their constitutions to protect marriage, the amendment has passed with 70 percent support or more.

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