Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement after voting against HR 8404. 

“Speaker Pelosi is committed to distracting everyone from the issues impacting every single American: rampant inflation, all-time-high gas prices, and stagnant wage growth,” said Rep. Hern. “The only purpose of this legislation is to instill fear and spread misinformation about the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson. Pelosi is desperate to deflect your attention anywhere but her own complicity in our current economic crisis.”

Background Information:

Section 3 (1 U.S.C. § 7) of The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was rendered obsolete in 2013 as a result of United States v. Windsor, 570 U.S. 744 (2013).  Shortly thereafter, in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015), Section 2 (1 U.S.C. § 7) of DOMA was rendered superseded and unenforceable by the Supreme Court. As a result of these decisions, all states are now required to perform and recognize the marriages of same-sex couples. This bill has no effect on marriage law, except to add an enforcement mechanism of a private right of action.

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