Wayne Allard: “Respect for the democratic process compels this Congress to protect traditional marriage in the face of a coordinated…”

“Respect for the democratic process compels this Congress to protect traditional marriage in the face of a coordinated effort to redefine marriage through the courts. Marriage, the union between a man and a woman, has been the foundation of every civilization in human history. It is incorporated into the fabric of our culture and civic life. It is the platform on which children, families, and communities are nurtured. Unfortunately, the U.S. Constitution is being amended to reflect a new definition of marriage, not by democratically elected Members of Congress but by unaccountable and unelected judges. As a result, I introduced S.J. Res. 1, an amendment to the Constitution that simply defines marriage as the ``union of a man and a woman,'' while leaving State legislatures the freedom to address the question of civil unions. Democracy and representative government are at the core of this debate. In 2004 and 2005, voters in 14 Sates overwhelmingly passed constitutional amendments protecting marriage. Today, 19 States have constitutional amendments protecting marriage and another 26 have statutes designed to protect traditional marriage. The will of the people is clear. Unfortunately, dissatisfied with the outcome of the democratic process, activists have intensified their campaign to circumvent the democratic process and redefine marriage through the courts. Currently nine States face lawsuits challenging traditional marriage laws.…”