Michael Burgess: “I am really here this morning to talk about H.R. 3313, the Marriage Protection Act, and I wanted to bring to the House's…”

“I am really here this morning to talk about H.R. 3313, the Marriage Protection Act, and I wanted to bring to the House's attention an article that appeared in one of my hometown papers, the Fort Worth-Star Telegram earlier this month. This article dealt with a polygamy sect that is taking over the town of Eldorado, Texas, and their lawyer Rodney Parker disputes the allegation of abuse, saying that detractors had taken beliefs out of context. He went on to say marriages of 16-year-olds and occasionally younger happen, but they are not commonplace, his words. None of these girls is being held prisoner. He went on to say, I think polygamy is constitutionally permitted. He said all manner of sexual relationships are now permitted. To somehow single this one out and say it is illegal does not make sense. Mr. Speaker, I would submit that our efforts today to protect the Defense of Marriage Act that was passed in 1996 are right on target and worthy of the support of everyone in this House.”