Must bridge our divides before they rip us apart for good. Our work is not done as a body we must resolve to do the right thing to continue this mission and keep working together to deliver lasting results. Our country deserves it. The American People deserve it. And the stakes are too high to stop our progress now. Thank you and i yield the floor. Quick silent to begin by thanking and recognizing the house judiciary chairman jerry nadler and the entire house a quality caucus for introducing the house bill and starting up this effort. This legislation passed the house of representatives with a strong bipartisan vote of 267 157. With all democrats and 47 republicans supporting thebi bi. All i also want to extend my heartfelt appreciation for might Senate Colleagues who have worked tirelessly to get us up to this point. I want to thank the lead sponsor of the built senator feinstein. And also thank and recognize the hard work and effort of senator collins, senator portman, senator sinema and senator tell us for their steadfast commitment. We wouldnt be where we are without their efforts. I also want to thank the staff of all these offices for the longla hours and hard work to gt into this legislation including my own counsel becca and mike chief of staff it can. Lastly i want to thank all of the advocates who fought for Marriage Equality for decades. We are on the cusp of a historic vote in the senate. Because of everybodys efforts. I decided in thinking about what i wanted tote share today i wand to put a face and more accurately three faces. Let me introduce you to my dear friend margaret, a denise, and their daughter maria. And just tell you a little bit about them. But how this underlying issue impacts them. The marriage and Long Partnership that my dear friends denise and margaret share began in oklahoma in 1981. Its there as organizers looking to pass the equal rights amendment. Theyre organizing support for the era so we might add a few simple words at the bridge by the United States or any state on account of. Met during a struggle for social justice surprised no one who knew either denise or margaret. Efor really the pursuit of equality and equity and justice has defied each of them as individuals, as well as life partners. They are professional and personal lives and the movements for womens rights, lgbtq rights, educational equity, affordable housing, economic justice, they are all in inextricably linked. N their first occurred in december of 191 over coffee in oklahoma city. And as theha era Campaign Came o an unsuccessful close in 1982 they chose to move together to madison, wisconsin. I vividly recall meeting them shortly thereafter in the autumn of 1984. Denise hailed from milwaukee, wisconsin. Margaret from webster city, iowa. They were incredibly and are incredibly committed to one another. But they also determined as they got a little older that something was missing. I want to see someone was missing. And denise and margarets journey to find that someone was arduous yet they never gave up. Inop 2003, after working with an Adoption Agency for many years denise received a video of their daughter. This lovely brown eyed maria. In the family that you now see here this is actually several years old she is now a sophomore at the university of sophomore at madison. A little bit dated. But i wanted to put a face or a series of faces on this. It is such an all American Family and an all american story. W but as Everybody Knows about the debate we are about to enter is that marriage was not an option for margaret and denise until after the old burger fell decision. And the things that most married people take for granted are things that couples like a margaret and denise had to think about it and had to figure out how did they protect one another . How did they protect their family . We often think of we think of marriage is the wedding, the ceremony, the celebration. We dont often o think about the hundreds upon hundreds of rights and responsibilities that civil marriage confers upon couples. You know, margaret and denise were telling me about their recollection of when the city of madison passed a Domestic Partnership ordinance, allowing them to register. Pe and when that happened for the first time they could be on one anothers health insurance. That is something married couples take for granted they can have one another on their health insurance. They had to think a lot about what they would do and an emergent situation or one might be in the hospital. Because without marriage you are technically legal strangers and literally if margaret were in the hospital after an accident for example, denise without having the appropriate papers to Health Care Power of attorney, would be viewed as a legal stranger and potentially denied access. Adoption is something that has made many a family in the United States. And yet prior to marriage rights, denise and margaret had to make a choice that only one would have the official adoption. Thench they had to go through a whole bunch of legal rigmarole if you will so that margaret, if need be to go to a parentteacher m conference or o pick maria up at school, had some documentation at the school that she too was a parent. Estate planning, you have to think about that or you had to think about that intently prior to marriage rights being conferred. I wanted you to get a quick chance to meet margarets, denise, and maria. Because they reflect the experiences of literally tens of millions of people in the United States. And it is why the decision was so key. Now i want to switch to a focus on why it is so critical that we adopt the respect for marriage act. Because burger filled right now is the law of the land. But, there is great concern that legal precedent could be in jeopardy the necessity of passing the respect for marriage act. There is noa. Threat to these rights in america. Some have said no case currently making its way up to the United StatesSupreme Court challenging these rights read so theres nothing really to worry about. Others have suggested proponents of the respect for marriage act are raising the issue just to drive further divisions amongt americans. I believe there is an urgency to pass the respect act to heal such divisions and provide certainty to merit interracial in samesex couples at the protections rights and responsibilities that flow from their marriages will endure. Right now, millions of americans are family members, our neighbors are Congressional Staff members and certainly ourt constituents are scared. Scared the rights they rely upon to protect their families could be taken away. And they are scared for good reason. Now lets face it regardless of your position on the issue of abortion, the highest court of the land has just overturned a precedent of nearly 50 years. There is no questioning that. And the same legal arguments that the Supreme Court left upon to reverse roe versus wade could justes as easily be applied to reverse numerous other casesie related to intimate relations, to contraception, and marriage. In the wake of the Supreme Courts decision to overturn roe versus wade in the dobbs case, access to abortion care or denial of such care has been left in the hands of the state. By the way, and wisconsin we are subject to criminal abortion law that was passed in 1849. One year after wisconsin became a state. And before women have the right to vote and certainly before women served in the legislature that rules upon the rights. There are landmark cases related to marriage. It could be threatened should the Supreme Court consider cases challenging those earlier decisions. One such case is versus virginia. That was decided in 1967. The Supreme Court rules in loving that state laws prohibiting interracial marriage were unconstitutional based on equal protection of the 14th amendment. In this liberty provisions. At the time of the loving decision 16 states of interracial marriage. You mightar be surprised it took until the year 2000 for the last state to repeal the law on its books betting interracial marriage. Another landmark case relates to samesex marriage. An old burger fell versus hodges ctthey decided in 2015 that the equal protection and due process of the 14th amendmentse prohibits states from outlying and refusing to recognize same marriages. Some 35 states across the country prohibit samesex marriage in their laws, constitutions, or both. And the socalled, the bars of federal present and ruled unconstitutional by a narrow five four Supreme Court. That law is still on the books. Given this landscape it is not unreasonable for same and interracial couples to be fearful the protections of their marriages are in real jeopardy. The fact the constitutional privacy, selfdetermination equal treatment under the law upon which a roe versus wade was originally decided, are the same constitutional principles on which the loving and obergefell case were decided. That makes the Supreme Courts reversal of roe versus wade all the more shocking and frightening to those in interracial in samesex marriages. Several of my colleagues have maintained that even if the court may someday revisit these cases, there is no urgency right now since theres no case a challenging interracial or samesex marriage that is currently making its way up to the Supreme Court. But you think about todays world. Given the Supreme Courts use of procedural mechanisms or use of eight shadow docket, cases often reaches Supreme Court faster than ever before. And when it comes to the merits, one needs to Pay Attention to the concurring opinion of Justice Clarence thomas in the dobbs decision. In his opinion Justice Thomas explicitly said that the rationale used to overturn roe versus wade should be used to overturn cases establishing contraception samesex consensual relations and samesex marriage. He is essentially providing an open invitation to litigators across the country to bring their cases to the court. Instilling fear among millions of americans. The Supreme Court should not be in a position to undermine the stability of families with the stroke of the pen. So now Congress Must act. Congress is acting more than 70 of americans support Marriage Equality including a majority of democrats, republicans. This unites the americans. With the respect for americans act we can ease the fear millions of same and interracial couples their freedoms and their rates could be stripped away. By passing this bill we are guaranteeing same sex and interracial couples regardless of where they live. But there marriage is legal and they will continue to enjoy the rights and responsibilities that all other marriages are afforded. This will give millions of loving couples the certainty, the dignity and the respect that they need and they deserve it. For my dear friends margaret and denise and their daughter maria, passing this legislation will remove the weight of the world from their backs. They were just like the rest of us and the cost of living and staying healthy and saving for retirement, passing the bill will take away a worry that someday there marriage may be on the chopping block at no fault of their own. I was so honored back in december of 2018 to be a co presider at their wedding. The wedding took place 37 years after they first met and became a couple. Happened on marias sweet 16 birthday. Marias sweet the others of millions of americans and same and interracial marriages that shows the American Government and people see them and respect them. With that, i encourage all of my colleagues to vote yes on the motion to proceed to the respect for marriage act and with that i yield. Madam president. Quick to senator from maine. Thank you madam president. Madam president , i rise today to express my strong support for tthe respect for marriage act. A bipartisan bill that senator baldwin and i have introduced with her colleague senator feinstein, senator portman, senator sinema and senator tillis. Madam president , this bill recognizes the unique and external importance of marriage on it individual and societalou level. It would help promote inequality, prevent discrimination, and protect the rights of americans in samesex and interracial marriages. It would accomplish these goals while maintaining and indeed strengthening important religious liberty in conscious protection. I am proud to be the lead republican sponsor of this legislation. And i am grateful that a similar billti passed the house with strong bipartisan support. Madam president , as the Senate Considers and prepares to vote on this historicwo legislation,i would be remiss if i did not begin by recognizing the tremendous progress lgbtq individuals in this country, and our country have made in recent times and achieving equal rights. It was not long ago that patriotic americans could not be honest about their sexual torientation while fighting to protect our country, our freedom in the armed forces. I led the fight with former senator Joe Lieberman of connecticut to repeal the discriminatory dont ask dont tell law. It was not long ago in america that a person could be fired merely for being gay. I strongly supported the employment nondiscrimination act which passed the senate in 2013 and would have prohibited such discrimination. Seven years later the Supreme Court held that the Civil Rights Act protects employees from discrimination based on their Sexual Orientation or gender identity. And it was not long ago in america that individuals could not marry the person whom they loved if that person were of the same. The Supreme Court landmark decision and obergefell found the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed by our constitution. Madam president , let us remember we are talking about our family members, our friends, our coworkers, our neighbors. I am proud to have stood with them and i will continue to stand with them in efforts to protect and secure their rights while at the same time steadfastly protecting and respecting religious liberty. They respect for marriage act would accomplish two primary goals. First it would guarantee that a valid marriage between two individuals and one state is given full faith and credit byai other states. Al meaning states must recognize a valid marriage for purposes of public acts, judicial proceedings read carless of that couples sex, race, ethnicity or national origin. That means that same sexs and interracial couples can rest assured their marriages will be recognized regardless of the state in which they live. We need to remove the cloud that is now over these couples. That is causing them such consternation as my colleague from wisconsin has mentioned. It would require the federal government to recognize the marriage between two individuals if w the marriage were valid ino the state where it was performed. It would do so by getting rid ot a law that is on the book known as a defensive marriage act which has been invalidated by the Supreme Courts ruling and yet it remains on the books. With these changes, federal law will provide that all married couples are entitled to the rights and responsibilities of marriage. This includes for example, making medical decisions for spouse and receiving spousal benefits from programs like Social Security and medicare as well as those benefits earned from service in our armed forces. To remove any ambiguity about the intent and scope of this bill, i have worked with my Senate Colleagues on both sides of the aisle as well as with the coalition of religious organizations to develop an amendment designed to clarify the language and address concerns that have been raised with the house version of our bill. First and foremost this legislation was not diminish or aggregate any religious liberty or conscious protections afforded to individuals and r organizations under the United States constitution and federal laws including the First Amendment and the religious freedom restoration act. Through our amendments, this is now stated explicitly in our bill. The amendment also makes clear this bill only applies to valid marriages between two individuals. In other words it does not authorize or require recognition of polygamist marriages. They are already prohibited in all 50 states. This really was a strong argument but we have made it clear nonetheless an hour amendment that in no way with the federal government or other states be required or authorized in any way to recognize polygamist marriages. Moreover, the amendment said the bill could not be used to deny or alter the exempt status or any other status, grants, eecontract agreement, guarantee, educational funding, loans, scholarships, lights and certification, accreditation, benefit, right, claim or defense not arising from a marriage. Any other rights eligible person or entity. In other words, no church, no synagogue, no mosque, no temple, note religious education of institution would have to worry that somehow their taxexempt status would be in jeopardy if they do not perform samesex marriages. That are contrary to their religious beliefs. So let me repeat that. Because this has been coming up time and again. For the first time and consistent with the First Amendments and the laws of many states, this legislation would make clear in federal law that nonprofit religious organizations and religious educational institutions cannot be compelled to participate in or support the celebration of marriages thatra are contrary to their religious beliefs. And madam president , i would ask that in excellent analysis by the First Amendment partnerships be included on this issue in the record at the end of my statement. Cuts without objection. Madam president. Some have said this bill is unnecessary because there is little risk the right to have a same or interracial marriage recognize beat the government would be overturned by the Supreme Court. That possibility there is still value and ensuring federal laws reflect same and interracial couple have the right to have their marriages are recognized regardless of where they live in this i country. I strongly believe that passing thiso bill is the right thing to do. And the American People agree, indeed more than 70 of americans support Marriage Equality including a majority of democrats, republicans and independents. As i wrote in the Washington Post oped with my colleague senator baldwin millions of American Families have come to rely on the promise of Marriage Equality in the freedom rights and o responsibilities that come with making the commitment of marrying the one you love. Individuals in samesex and interracial marriages need and should have the competence there marriages are legal. Simultaneously we mustgn also recognize people of good conscience may disagree on issues related to marriage. For many americans, marriage is more than just a its institution granted in their case. As Justice Kennedy writing for the majority of the Supreme Court explained in the obergefell decision, marriage in their view is by its n nature a differentiated union of man and woman. This has been held and continues to be held in good faith by reasonable and sincere people here and throughout the world. He went on to explain neither they nor their beliefs are disparaged here. The same principle applies to our legislation. That is explicitly acknowledged in the amended bill. It is important to me that our bill must not affect or diminish in any way religious liberty in conscious protection any interpretations of legislation that would limit the applicability they have religious objections to same marriages would be contrary keeping plain language of our bill a series of letters that they be entered into the record at the conclusion of my statement. Without objection. They include the letters from elder jack gerard from the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. Christ, from alyssa reed, from the seventh adventist church, from the Orthodox Jewish congregations, from a host of other organizations, the council of christian colleges and universities, the institutional religious freedom alliance, the center for justice and tim schultz of the First Amendment partnership. We worked very closely with all of them. In closing, madam president , let me once again salute the let me subdue the leadership as senator baldwin as well as senator portman, senator tillis for their tireless efforts on this important legislation. Lets do the right thing. Lets vote to this bill let us pass it. I urge all of my Senate Colleagues to join me in supporting the respect for marriage act. Thank you, madam president. Broadband is a force for empowerment. Thats why charter has invested billions building infrastructure, upgrading technology, and powering