Washington, D.C. - "The Constitution I cherish and have sworn to uphold is not meant to be used as a sword against individuals or unpopular views. Rather, it is a shield intended to protect the rights of all citizens. Our Constitution is a sacred document which should only be amended when it is absolutely necessary to preserve or enhance personal freedom or liberty.

"The Constitution has served our nation well for over 200 years as an expression of individual rights and collective responsibilities, and we must proceed cautiously when considering proposals to amend our Constitution. I shudder to think of the tragic consequences for our nation if previous Congresses decades ago had yielded to the passions of the day and attempted to amend the Constitution in response to contentious court decisions.

"The proposed amendment seeks to limit the rights of certain individuals based on their sexual orientation. The states have the authority to address this issue; indeed, the people of Hawaii have spoken on this matter, as have other states. I believe that such an amendment is unnecessary and, therefore, I oppose the resolution."