Yesterday, the U.S. Senate advanced H.R. 8404, the so-called Respect for Marriage Act, with 62 Senators voting in favor of advancing the legislation (37 opposed). This cloture vote to end debate now paves the way for a simple majority vote on final passage.
Twelve Republicans joined with all 50 Senate Democrats in voting to advance the radical legislation: Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Shelley Capito of West Virginia, Susan Collins of Maine, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Rob Portman of Ohio, Mitt Romney of Utah, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Todd Young of Indiana. Kentucky’s two U.S. Senators, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, both voted against advancing the bill.
“The U.S. Senate has profoundly disrespected marriage and trampled on America’s first freedom – the right of religious liberty. No vote of Congress or decision of the Supreme Court can alter the truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Despite this attempt to silence and intimidate those that hold to the truth of marriage, millions of Americans will continue to live out their strong religious convictions,” said David Walls, executive director of The Family Foundation.
In addition to imposing any false definition of marriage legally allowed in any state, the passage of this bill will expose individuals and faith-based nonprofits, like adoption and foster care agencies, to predatory lawsuits and further weaponize the IRS to target organizations that believe in God’s design for marriage between one man and one woman.
The Senate moved forward an amended version of the bill. According to the Daily Citizen, if the amended measure is finally approved, the House of Representatives will either have to pass the Senate version or conference with them to come up with a compromise. Any compromise measure would then need to pass both the House and the Senate. President Joe Biden has expressed his eagerness to sign the bill.
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The Family Foundation is the leading Christian public policy organization in Kentucky and stands for Kentucky families and the Biblical values that make them strong. Learn more at kentuckyfamily.org.
