Tom Carper: “my friend from Alabama has just called for the Senate to vote and the House to vote, two-thirds majorities to vote to…”

“my friend from Alabama has just called for the Senate to vote and the House to vote, two-thirds majorities to vote to send to the States the question of whether or not our U.S. Constitution should be amended with respect to marriage being only between a man and a woman. Actually, in my State and in 45 other States around the country, we have had the opportunity to debate this issue, to consider this issue, and to pass laws with respect to marriage as between a man and a woman. Personally, I believe that it is. As Governor of Delaware, a number of years ago I signed into law the Defense of Marriage Act in my State that says marriage is something that occurs between a man and a woman. Not only did I sign that law, but I supported the Federal law which was enacted here, signed by former President Clinton, which said States like my own and those other 45 States, to the extent that we define marriage as being between a man and a woman, our State law, respective State laws, cannot be violated by the actions of some other State. I will give an example. If we have a same-sex couple in Delaware who decide to go to another country or another place where same-sex marriages are allowed, and then that same-sex couple comes back to Delaware and claims they are married, they are not married in my State. It is not a marriage that we recognize.…”