Vicky Hartzler: “I thank the gentleman. That was very, very well said, and I appreciate your encouraging the men to be leaders of their…”

“I thank the gentleman. That was very, very well said, and I appreciate your encouraging the men to be leaders of their households and to make a difference for their children--the next generation. I appreciate all of my colleagues who have come tonight so that we could talk about the importance of the fathers and how important it is to have marriage strong in our country. Every child deserves a mom and a dad. You cannot say that fathers are essential while also making them optional. The presence of a father has such a tremendous impact on the lives of each and every child and on every adult in America. Fathers not only represent the success of our children but also the success of our Nation. As we get closer to the Supreme Court's ruling concerning the Defense of Marriage Act, it is crucial that we weigh the entirety of the impact such a decision will have on families. My colleague from Oklahoma earlier cited the President in this quote when he stressed the importance of fathers. I think it's very, very good, and I want to repeat it. President Obama said: As fathers, we need to be involved in our children's lives not just when it's convenient or easy and not just when they're doing well--but when it's difficult and thankless, and they're struggling. That is when they need us most. Every single child in this country deserves the opportunity to have a mother and a father. That is why we must uphold marriage.…”