John Thune: “I rise today to join the debate and express my strong support for the marriage protection amendment, of which I am a…”

“I rise today to join the debate and express my strong support for the marriage protection amendment, of which I am a cosponsor. Amending the Constitution of the United States, as many have noted, is serious business and is something we should only undertake when we have a compelling rationale. This amendment meets that high standard. Nothing is more fundamental, nothing is more important to the fabric of American society than the family. And that is what this debate is really all about. Every Member of this body, every citizen of this Nation understands, or at least should understand, that the traditional family is the glue that binds our communities, the building block on which our Nation is constructed. It is something that I as a father of two daughters and a husband of 20 years understand and appreciate. Yet today, this pillar of our society is under attack by some who are pursuing a narrow social agenda designed to destroy the definition of marriage that has existed since the birth of civilization. They are trying to convince us that what virtually all Americans have understood for more than two centuries as self evident, is wrong. People ask why do we need to do this now? Why is it necessary? As has been noted, despite widespread public disapproval, activist judges are eroding the different State laws that define marriage as a sacred union between a man and a woman. Currently nine States face lawsuits challenging their marriage laws.…”