Cord Byrd: “today I voted to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to debate the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex…”

“today I voted to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to debate the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Let me be clear: I have always strongly opposed same-sex marriage. I believe that there is much confusion about the role of the Federal Government and the institution of marriage, and that the public should have the benefit of a debate on the matter. It is my belief that the State of ``marriage'' can exist only between a man and a woman. The Bible tells us that marriage must be defined this way, and that the marriage vow between a husband and wife, meaning between a man and a woman, is sacred. I believe it. I have lived it. My darling wife Erma and I were married for nearly 69 years. I also believe that any substantive debate on this issue must examine not only the marriage relationship between a man and a woman but also the constitutional relationship between States and the Federal Government. It is the role of the Federal Government to preserve each State's prerogative to make laws concerning marriage and the family, since this is an area of the law traditionally left to the States. This is the essence of federalism. The job of the Congress is to preserve and protect the legislative authority of each State, so that, for example, unions legal in another State cannot be foisted onto the God- fearing people of West Virginia.…”