Terry Everett, October 5, 2004

This year has been a roller coaster ride of emotion in the U.S. Congress as lawmakers faced some critical votes on the moral direction of our nation. Issues ranging from protecting the Pledge of Allegiance to preserving the sanctity of marriage have come before the U.S. House of Representatives. While total victory remains elusive, the battle over family values in Washington and across the nation is only just beginning.

Last Thursday, the U.S. House brought the fight to safeguard the institution of marriage between a man and a woman before the nation as lawmakers voted on a constitutional amendment aimed at upholding traditional marriage. The Marriage Protection Amendment (HJ Res 106) would establish Federal recognition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The passage and eventual ratification of such an amendment would provide the best protection for marriage. While a majority of House members did vote for HJ Res 106 last week, the vote total was unfortunately 45 votes less than the two-thirds vote needed for passage of a constitutional amendment. House liberals may have scored a victory, but theirs' is not the final word.

This was the second vote in less than a year in the House to protect traditional marriage. On July 22, the U.S. House approved the Marriage Protection Act (HR 3313) by a 233 to 194 margin. This legislation would, in effect, bar Federal courts from hearing cases seeking to overturn the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act which defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman, and says that no state is forced to recognize a same-sex marriage entered into in another state.

The need for Federal marriage protection has never been more pressing as state courts and local governments around the nation are taking steps to redefine marriage. In fact, the Marriage Protection Act was passed in the House just weeks after a lesbian couple married in Massachusetts filed suit in Federal court to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act so that Florida would recognize their marriage. Despite court actions in Massachusetts and elsewhere to allow gay marriage, the trend of national public opinion is in support of traditional marriage between a man and woman. It is, therefore, no surprise that 38 states, including Alabama, have already passed defense of marriage laws.

If marriage isn't safe any more, neither are the words "under God" in our beloved Pledge of Allegiance. The widely publicized Federal court case in California, where an atheist challenged the Pledge, has also created a national debate. Just as I support traditional marriage and voted for both HJ Res 106 and HR 3313, this year, I also cast my vote in favor of the Pledge Protection Act (HR 2028) which passed the House on September 23. This legislation would prevent activist judges from rewriting the Pledge to suit the whims of those who seek to remove God and morality from our society.

Although the Marriage Protection Act was narrowly defeated in the Senate, the Pledge Protection Act still faces a vote in that body. While the battle may be uphill, conservative lawmakers in Congress are determined to keep up the fight for family values in America. Look for more such action in the new Congress next year.

Congressman Terry Everett, a Republican, represents Alabama's Second Congressional District, which includes the state capitol, Montgomery.