Patsy T. Mink: “I rise to state my unequivocal opposition to H.R. 3396. It goes far beyond the defense of the institution of marriage.…”

“I rise to state my unequivocal opposition to H.R. 3396. It goes far beyond the defense of the institution of marriage. It attacks the U.S. Constitution by allowing States to ignore the 'full faith and credit' clause. If same sex marriages are to be excluded from this protection it must be done by a constitutional amendment. It cannot be done by statute. First, I would like to point out that marriage is not only a religious ceremony. A marriage is also a ceremony presided over by a judge or a justice of the peace. After the marriage ceremony in a church the minister has the married couple sign a marriage certificate in order to have it registered in the State Bureau of Registrations. A marriage therefore is a State recognized decree. A duly valid marriage in any State is a marriage that is duly recognized in every other State. And despite the minister's statement during the wedding that this union is 'until death do us part,' marriages are broken by the court, not by a church ceremony. Marriage is an instrument of the State. It may be ordained by the church, but it is a decree of the State, and it is dissolved by the State.”