Rep. Boozman Votes to Protect Traditional Marriage

Rep. Boozman Votes to Protect Traditional Marriage

Washington, Jul 22 - Representative John Boozman today voted to ensure states would continue to have the power to define their state's marriage policy.

"Activist judges and mayors across America are trying to change the definition of marriage to fit their own agenda. This trend is unacceptable. We should do everything in our power to prevent it and protect the traditional definition of marriage," said Boozman.

The "Marriage Protection Act," which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 233-194, strengthens the provision of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that says no state is required to legally recognize an out-of-state same-sex marriage license unless it chooses to do so. Challenges to this provision of DOMA would no longer be heard in federal courts, but would instead be the sole jurisdiction of state courts.

"This bill would give the citizens of Arkansas the ability to vote on their own statutes to define marriage as between one man and one woman and not have to recognize other state's marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples," said Boozman.

"If this bill becomes law, we would see immediate results," said Boozman. "Even if Congress approves a Constitutional amendment defining marriage, it takes time to ratify an amendment. This law will help protect traditional marriage while states ratify the amendment."

Boozman strongly supports the protection of traditional marriage and a cosponsor of the "Federal Marriage Amendment," a Constitutional amendment to define marriage in the U.S. Constitution and protect it from being radically redefined by judges who overstep their Constitutional boundaries.