Political Quotes

“I, along with my colleagues who have spoken before me, am proud to be able to work on a very sensitive issue in a very collaborative and bipartisan fashion. We did it in a way that was always respectful of the fact that many Americans come from different walks of life and many diverse beliefs and viewpoints. We know that nearly a million Americans are already committed to same-sex marriages who simply want long-term certainty--not only the million who are already committed to same-sex marriages but the millions of people who attended the ceremonies, their friends, and their family. As we went through this bill, we listened to the very sincere concerns of Americans with strongly held religious beliefs who simply wanted to make sure that Congress protects their First Amendment rights, especially the freedom of religion. By casting politics aside and working hard behind the scenes over the past several months, we managed to strike a balance with this legislation. There will be permanent certainty for same-sex couples, and they can rest easy knowing their families are secure. And there will be robust protections for churches, religious organizations, protections that are more robust and expansive than currently exist in Federal law. I want to talk a little bit about the compromise we reached and what it will mean for our constituents who voiced their concerns over the past few months.…”