Pete Sessions: “I would just say this: that we are at a point in our history where it is now the opportunity of this Senate to allow the…”

“I would just say this: that we are at a point in our history where it is now the opportunity of this Senate to allow the American people an opportunity to have their views heard on the question of the definition of marriage. It has been eroded by courts improperly, in my view, but it is being eroded nevertheless. By voting for this constitutional amendment, we will not make any constitutional amendment become a reality. We will simply send the matter to the States. And if three-fourths of the State legislatures agree, only then will this amendment become law. Why would we want to deny the American people the right through their representatives to adopt this amendment? I do not know, and I do not think we should. I think we should support the amendment. How should the people properly respond to this real or perceived abuse and, in particular, to this very real threat to traditional marriage? The proper answer is for the people to ask their elected representatives to pass a constitutional amendment to fix the problem, or the potential problem. It is the right way, the lawful way, for the people and the Congress to respond. Amazingly, it has been suggested by those who oppose the right of the people to have their voice heard on this matter, that the Marriage Protection Act violates the Constitution. How silly is that? The Marriage Protection Act would become a part of the Constitution. How could it violate the Constitution?…”