Judicial

Federal Marriage

Traditional family values have always been very important to me, and I have a long record of supporting such legislation. I believe that marriage between one man and one woman sends a strong and positive message to our children about the sanctity of marriage. It is why I have always supported a Federal Marriage Amendment that would amend the Constitution by stating that marriage is strictly defined to a union between one man and one woman.

I have also co-sponsored H.R. 875, the Marriage Protection Act of 2011. This legislation would prohibit federal courts to hear or decide any question pertaining to the interpretation under the Constitution of the provision of the Defense of Marriage Act. This act declares that no state is allowed to approve any marriage between persons of the same sex under the laws of any state.

On February 23, 2011, President Obama ordered the Department of Justice to drop its defense of a central part of the 1996 law that bars the federal government from recognizing same-sex unions, the Defense of Marriage Act. Both President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder concluded the law is unconstitutional. In response to this attack on the sanctity of marriage, I cosponsored H.Con.Res. 25, which calls on the Obama Administration to reverse its outrageous decision not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act.

Rest assured that I will continue to support traditional family values during the 112th Congress.

Pro-Life Legislation

I am a longtime supporter of pro-life legislation, and it is critically important to me that taxpayers' money not be used to provide for organizations or programs that promote abortion. I continue to fight to protect the rights of the unborn by supporting pro-life legislation in the 112th Congress, such as:

• H.R. 3 - No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act
  • This bill establishes a consistent government-wide prohibition on abortion funding. This bill will reduce the need for numerous separate abortion funding policies and ensure that no program or agency is exempt from this important safeguard. Policies that would be made permanent under this legislation include: the Hyde amendment (related to programs funded through the HHS appropriations), the Helms amendment (concerning overseas programs) , the Smith FEHBP amendment (concerning coverage for federal employees), the Dornan amendment (regarding DC funding) and other policies governing programs such as the Peace Corps and federal prisons. The bill also codifies the conscience clause known as Hyde-Weldon. 
• H.R. 217 - Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act
  • This bill states that no funds provided under Title X can be awarded to entities that perform or provide funds to another entity that performs abortions - other than in special cases such as the life of the mother 
• H.R. 358 - Protect Life Act
  • This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to prevent federal funding for abortion or abortion coverage through the government-related exchanges, community health centers, the OPM administered plans, or any other program authorized or appropriated by the bill.
  • In November 2009, Congress passed the Stupak-Pitts amendment, which I voted in favor of, to address abortion concerns in health care reform, with bipartisan support. However, the amendment was removed in the Senate and never made it through final passage. The Protect Life Act is the legislative descendant of Stupak-Pitts, and this bipartisan bill will ensure that no federal funds will be used for abortion 
• H.R. 361 - Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2011
  • This bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide conscience protections for health care entities who refuse to participate in abortion 
• H.R. 374 - Life At Conception Act
  • This bill established life at the moment of conception and is intended to guarantee the constitutional right to life of the unborn child 
• H.R. 593 - Taxpayer Conscience Protection Act of 2011
  • This will would call for a greater accounting of federal funds spent at the state level on organizations that perform, promote, and refer for abortion services. It would also require each individual state to report the amount of money the state received from the federal government that was paid to an abortion provider. That report would need to be filled to the Secretary of Health and Human Services at the end of every fiscal year 
• H.R. 2299 - Child Interstate Abortion Notification (CIANA)
  • This bill would make it a Federal crime to transport a minor across lines to obtain an abortion for the purpose of evading a parental consent law or parental notification law in the minor's home state. It would also require that in a state without a parental notification requirement, abortion providers notify the parent 
• H.R. 3541 - Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act of 2011 (PRENDA)
  • This bill would prohibit discrimination against the unborn on the basis of sex or race 
• H.R. 3805 - Ultra Sound Informed Consent Act
  • This bill would require that abortion providers perform ultrasounds before performing abortions, offer the women involved the opportunity to see the results, and provide them with medical description of the images.

Second Amendment Rights

As you may know, I have always been a strong believer of our Second Amendment rights to bear arms. You will be pleased to know that I have co-sponsored several pieces of legislation that will continue to protect your right to bear arms. Such legislation includes:

• H.R. 58 - Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act
  • This bill would remove several antiquated and unnecessary restricitions imposed on interstate firearms business since 1968. This bill amends the federal criminal code to 1) allow licensed firearms importers, manufacturers, dealers, or collectors (licensees) to sell or deliver any firearm (currently rifles or shotguns) to a resident of a state other than the state in which the licensee is lovated or temporarily located if licensee meets with the purchaser to complete the sale or delivery and the transaction complies with the laws of the state in whcih the transer is conducted and the purchasers' state of residence, and 2) eliminate the requirement that a licensee must conduct business at a gun show only in the state that is specified on the licensees' license 
• H.R. 420 - Veterans Heritage Firearms Act
  • This bill would provide a 90-day amnesty period during which beterans and their family members could register firearms acquired overseas between June 26, 1934 and October 31, 1968, without fear of prosecution 
• H.R. 645 - Second Amendment Enforcement Act
  • This bill would eliminate harsh gun control laws imposed by D.C. after the Supreme Court's decision in D.C. vs. Geller in 2008 
• H.R. 822 - National Right-To-Carry Reciprocity Act
  • This bill would allow any person with a valid state-issued concealed firearm carrying permit or license to carry a concealed handgun in any other state 
• H.R. 1093 - BATFE Reform and Firearms Modernization Act
  • This legislation amends the firearms provisions of the federal criminal code by revising the civil penalties for violations of firearms law and the procedures for assessing such penalties. It also requires fines to be based upon the nature and severity of the violation, the size of the firearms business involved, and the prior record of the firearms licensee. It calls for the Attorney General to make a preliminary determination on federal firearms license applications and to notify applicants in writing of intent to deny an application. It would limit the power of federal agencies to release any information on firearms purchases and would grant a firearms licensee whose license has expired or has been suspended or revoked 60 days to liquidate their supply. The bill also would focus BATFE's efforts on violations of firearms, explosives, arson, alcohol and tobacco laws, rather than non-jurisdictional areas. This legislation takes a major step toward protecting the rights of firearms dealers 
• H.R. 2252 - Citizens' Self-Defense Act of 2011
  • This bill protects the right to obtain firearms for security and use of fire arms in defense of self, family, or home, and to provide for the enforcement of such right.

Other important pieces of legislation that I have currently co-sponsored:

• H.J. Res. 13
  • This bill proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States giving Congress power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.
• H.R. Res. 53 - Parental Rights Amendment
  • This amendment upholds and reassesses the fundamental right of parents to raise their children as they see fit.
• H.Con. Res. 13 - In God We Trust
  • Reaffirming "In God We Trust" as the official motto of the United States and supporting and encouraging the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.
• H.R. 513
  • This bill prohibits the use of funds to transfer individuals detained by the U.S. at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay Cuba and certain other enemy belligerents to the U.S.
  • President Obama has pledged to close Guantanamo Bay and bring terrorists to the U.S. for trial. The FY 2011 National Defense Authorization Act (approved by Congress last December) included a one year ban on the use of federal funds for any detainee transfers from Guantanamo Bay to the U.S., and I am happy to say I supported it.