WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision striking down a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act in the case United States v Windsor:

“I am disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision today regarding the Defense of Marriage Act.  I believe that Act was a reasonable, constitutional exercise of the federal government’s power to determine the proper application of federal benefits. If the American people have changed their mind about that policy, then Congress, not the Court, should adjust it.

“Marriage is, and always will be, the basic unit of human community and civilization. And we have thousands of years worth of compelling reasons to protect it in law. Traditional marriage is not a threat to freedom and equality, but a bulwark of them.

“Today's decision leaves to the States to determine their own legal definition of marriage.  This is as it should be under the Constitution. States needn’t agree on the definition of marriage in order to respect each other’s right to legislate on that question.

"I believe marriage is properly defined as between one man and one woman.  I hope the Court will respect its own decision and the constitutional rights of Utahns and citizens of every state to legislate in their own States according to their beliefs and values."