WASHINGTON – With 29 cosponsors, Rep. Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) has reintroduced the Marriage Protection Amendment (H.J.Res 51 in the 113th Congress), a proposed constitutional amendment to affirm marriage as the union between one man and one woman for all federal and state purposes.

This spring the U.S. Supreme Court will review the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, which upholds marriage laws in MI, KY, OH, and TN. As the Court prepares to hear oral arguments, Congress must respond now to provide clear Constitutional guidance and uphold the true meaning of marriage long term.

In June 2013 the Supreme Court struck down section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which had defined marriage for federal purposes as the union of one man and one woman, but upheld the right and responsibility of states to define marriage. Since then though, numerous unelected lower court judges have construed the U.S. Constitution as suddenly demanding recognition of same sex “marriages,” and they struck down state Marriage Amendments — including the Kansas Marriage Amendment — approved by tens of millions of voters and their elected representatives.

“Given the current legal chaos on marriage, it’s important that we work to enact a definitive marriage policy on a national level. Defining marriage as between one man and one woman will preserve religious freedom, strengthen families, and benefit children.

“The reality is that moms and dads matter. Decades of academic research on families, combined with centuries of human experience, agree – children do best when they have a married mom and dad in the home.”