Senator Collins' Reaction To Supreme Court Ruling

WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Senator Susan Collins today released this statement following the Supreme Court's ruling that Section III of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional.

"DOMA was signed into law by President Clinton in 1996, before I was elected to Congress. Since that time, in 2004 and 2006, I twice voted against amendments to the United States Constitution that would have banned same-sex marriages by pre-empting state laws. I did so because states have traditionally handled family law.  I agree with the Court's decision that the Federal government should not discriminate against couples married in states that choose to legalize same-sex marriages."