A Republican congresswoman broke into tears while urging her colleagues to oppose a bill to codify protections for same-sex and interracial marriage, HuffPost reports.
The House in a 258-169 vote approved the Respect for Marriage Act, sending it to President Joe Biden’s desk.
Thirty-nine Republicans joined every Democrat in the chamber in support of the bill after 12 Republicans joined Democrats in passing the bill through the Senate.
The House already passed an earlier version of the bill but this week passed the Senate version, which added protections for religious liberties.
Biden is expected to sign the bill into law shortly.
Republican cries:
Missouri Rep. Vicky Hartzler got emotional as she urged her colleagues to vote against the bill.
“This is yet another step toward the Democrats’ goal of dismantling the traditional family, silencing voices of faith and permanently undoing our country’s God-woven foundation. I hope and pray that my colleagues will find the courage to join me in opposing this misguided and dangerous bill,” Hartzler said.
Democrat claps back:
Rep. Ritchie Torres, who is openly gay and presided over the House on Thursday, clapped back at Hartzler on Twitter.
“As I presided over the debate for the Respect for Marriage Act, I had to remind Republicans like Vicky Hartzler their time for debate expired,” he tweeted. “For too long, Republicans have tried to stop a full vision of marriage equality in America. Their time has expired.”
