AMODEI STATEMENT ON RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT

Media Contact: Lynn Hatcher, (202) 225-6155

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mark Amodei (NV-02) today issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted on H.R. 8404:

“It takes less than 24 hours for a messaging bill to go from introduction to being on the House floor for a vote, with no hearings, no reviews of what states have done, and no respect for states that have addressed this issue at the ballot box. Further, the right to same-sex marriage remains the law of the land. At the state level, this issue has been dealt with by the people of Nevada in a straightforward and transparent fashion. They did not ask for, nor do they need direction from a body of 435 individuals – 431 of whom are not from Nevada. Nevada voters have said at the ballot box what they want the rules to be regarding same-sex marriage, abortion rights, how they want to run elections in Nevada, as well as other issues where political dictates from the federal government seek to fill a void where none exists. In an age where we are struggling with the meaning of Title IX and the complete disregard of legislative rules, political agendas aimed at election advantage do nothing to solve the real issues facing Nevadans today. I sure wish we could get an immigration bill to the floor to make meaningful policy changes at the border, on energy, or on housing costs, to name a few. Instead, we try to inject a federal solution into an issue where Nevada law is quite clear on the issue, and it is the product of voters expressing their will. I vote no.”

###