Source: United States Senator for Ohio Rob Portman
December 13, 2022 | Press Releases
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), a cosponsor of The Respect for Marriage Act and key supporter of the legislation, commented on the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act being signed into law after attending the signing ceremony at the White House:
“This is a momentous day for our country and so many families I represent. I am proud of my colleagues who reached across the aisle and worked hard to ensure this legislation passed in the House and Senate. The majority of the American people want this issue settled, and now that this bill is law, millions of married couples will get the certainty and peace of mind they deserve by having their marriage protected.
“The Supreme Court acknowledged same-sex marriage as a constitutional right in 2015, yet current law allows states and the federal government to refuse to recognize valid same-sex marriages. The Respect for Marriage Act simply guarantees that valid same-sex marriages from one state will be recognized by the federal government and other states. It ensures that valid marriages between two individuals are given full faith and credit, regardless of the couple’s sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.
“Throughout this process, I listened to the concerns raised by religious organizations and worked with my colleagues to include substantial new religious liberty protections in the bill while still preserving the rights of same-sex married couples.
“My colleagues and I developed an amendment with religious organizations that ensures religious convictions are protected. A group of constitutional scholars and advocates for religious liberty analyzed the bill and tour amendment and concluded that it does not pose new litigation risks to faith-based groups, but instead contains important new protections that will now be enshrined into the law.
“The legislation demonstrates that the rights of same-sex couples can coexist with religious freedom protections and that the rights of both groups can be advanced when people come together and work in good faith.
“I commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who came together to get this bill across the finish line.”
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