Some States allow people to marry as young as 14. Other States do not permit such marriages or require parental consent. In Mortenson v. Mortenson , an Arizona court applied the public policy exception to void a marriage performed in New Mexico between two first cousins. States are no less capable of dealing with the issue of same-sex marriages than they have been with other marriage issues. Many others have or are currently considering similar legislation.
Many States already have statutes or case law reflecting State policy toward same-sex marriage.
The bottom line is, States have the authority to do what this legislation would do without Federal intervention, and should be left alone to deal with these issues according to their own laws and constitutional parameters. For a Congress whose mantra has been returning power to the States, this legislation, it would seem, is a serious retreat from that idea, giving broad new power to the Federal Government in an area historically left under State control. I hope my colleagues will consider this and vote no on this bill.