WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02), Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, spoke on the House Floor in support of the Respect for Marriage Act, which passed the House today with a vote of 267-157. This bill repeals the Defense of Marriage Act and ensures critical protections for same-sex and interracial marriages.
Rep. Mark Pocan
June 19, 2022
Floor Remarks on Respect for Marriage Act
Remarks as Delivered
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
This is a simple bill: whether or not you support current law on marriage in this country, which includes for the LGBT and interracial couples across the nation.
My friend from Ohio said this bill is unnecessary.
This bill is very necessary, because the extremist-packed Supreme Court recently took away a half a century of law on Roe, and in that decision, Justice Clarence Thomas said they should revisit it on marriage equality.
We have people in this House and in the Senate, like Senator Ted Cruz, who’ve said the exact same thing.
Here’s what I want: I want to make sure that my husband, Phil, can visit me in the hospital should I have to go back again, like when I had a triple bypass a few years ago.
I want to make sure my husband has my earned benefits for retirement and social security.
I want to make sure that my husband is taken care of, just like your spouses are taken care of.
If I was the entity on the other side of the aisle, I’d be more concerned when my own members accused them of having cocaine-fueled orgies than worrying about the morality of my marriage.
I yield back.
