The Burton Blog

Burton Votes to Support Defense of Marriage Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN-05) issued the following statement after passage of the Foxx-Burton Amendment barring funds from being used in contravention of the Defense of Marriage Act.  The Foxx-Burton Amendment was adopted as part of the Fiscal Year 2012 Department of Defense Appropriations Act. 

“With the repeal of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy last year and President Obama's announcement earlier this year that the Justice Department would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act, the House had to take definitive steps towards ensuring that current Federal laws concerning marriage are enforced to the letter.

“Earlier this year, the Department of the Navy released a memo directing that training for Navy chaplains be revised to accommodate same-sex marriages on military bases that are located in States where same-sex marriage is legal.  The Navy reversed its plans after the Secretary of Navy received a letter of protest from sixty-three Members of Congress requesting that he direct the services under his control to follow and defend Federal law.

“The passage of the Foxx-Burton Amendment resolves, once and for all, the conflicting messages coming from within the Department of Defense related to its enforcement of the Defense of Marriage Act.  This amendment also ensures that our defense dollars will not be used to implement policy changes that would be in direct conflict of the Defense of Marriage Act.  The Foxx-Burton Amendment reinforces provisions that were included in the Fiscal Year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act that passed the House of Representatives on May 26, 2011. 

“It is not the place for any Federal agency - including any branch of the armed services - to pick and choose which laws they choose to acknowledge and obey. No one is exempt from abiding by Federal law.  If Congress had failed to take a stand on this issue, we would almost certainly have seen more conflicting and confused protocols emerging in the Department of Defense as they relate to the enforcement of Defense of the Marriage Act, all with the complicit support of the Obama Administration.

“Let's keep our Department of Defense focused on the missions at hand.”

Burton wins "True Blue" Award from Family Research Council

Congressman Burton has won the "True Blue" award again from the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family. The True Blue award is given to candidates with pro-family voting records.

The vote score is based on the following votes.

* Defending Restrictions on Funding International Abortion Groups
* Human Cloning Prohibition
* Embryonic Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act
* Thought Crimes Act
* Protect Abstinence Program for HIV/AIDS Prevention
* Funding D.C. Needle Exchange Program
* Funding D.C. Gay Marriage Amendment
* Restrict Funding Planned Parenthood Amendment
* Prohibit Implementing the “Fairness Doctrine”
* Pseudo-Children’s Health Bill

“The Members of the 110th Congress who received this award have been consistent, stalwart allies of American families,” said FRC Action President Tony Perkins. “These Members are to be commended for supporting public policy that values human life, protects our religious liberties, and upholds the institutions of marriage and the family.”

“I applaud these Members for defending pro-family and pro-life policies that have been under attack this past year. Values voters should be encouraged by these Members who have shown a commitment to protecting and strengthening the family.”