ACLJ Testifies before Congressional Panel: Federal Marriage Amendment `Essential'.

Business Editors

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 2004

ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow Tells Congress That More Than

230,000 Americans Have Signed Petition in Support of Amendment

The American Center for Law and Justice, which specializes in constitutional law, today testified before a Congressional panel in support of House Joint Resolution 56 - the Federal Marriage Amendment - which specifies marriage as a union between one man and one woman. ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution that the federal marriage amendment is "essential" and told the Subcommittee that more than 230,000 Americans already have signed a petition in support of the amendment.

"Marriage is our most vital institution and it is essential that Congress pass the federal marriage amendment to allow, once and for all, the states to decide through the democratic process whether marriage will remain the union of one man and one woman - as it has for hundreds of years," said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ. "With Massachusetts set to issue same-sex marriage licenses in just a matter of days, it is clear that attempts to change marriage by judicial edict not only skirt the democratic process and shred the rule of law, but also exclude the people from this fundamental debate and decision, and embolden local officials to determine for themselves which laws they will and will not enforce. The time has come for passage of the amendment."

Sekulow presented both oral and written testimony (available online at www.aclj.org) before the Subcommittee and told members of Congress that to date more than 230,000 Americans have signed on to the ACLJ's Petition to Preserve Marriage, which urges Congress to pass the federal marriage amendment without delay.

In its testimony, the ACLJ contends the amendment does not result in an unpredictable or sudden change in the status of law in this country. The ACLJ argues that the amendment "serves to resolve the uncertainties that have been artificially interjected into what would otherwise be fairly described as an entirely and clearly settled question of law."

The testimony states: "Same-sex marriage will not simply undermine traditional marriage, it will transform our society and the nature and reach of government. That transformation will lead to more, not less, government growth and social chaos. The Federal Marriage Amendment will insure such a profound and elemental change does not occur without the opportunity of the people and society to exercise the democratic model and vote through their elected state houses."

The ACLJ testimony concludes: "Traditional marriages, in which one man and one woman create a lasting community, transmit the values and contributions of the past to establish the promise of the future."

The American Center for Law and Justice is working to protect marriage as a union between one man and one woman and has been involved in legal challenges in Massachusetts, California, and New Jersey. The ACLJ continues to gather support for a federal marriage amendment through its national petition campaign - the results of which will be delivered to leadership in both the House and Senate.

The ACLJ specializes in constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C.