Paul, a 24-year-old adult, zeroed in on a young, 15-year-old girl at a house party. Keri found herself pregnant. When Keri told Paul, he panicked and devised a plan to avoid criminal charges.

Paul showed up at Keri’s house and made a deal with her father. And, after a shocking turn of events, Keri found herself married.

California and Mississippi do not set minimum age limits for minors to marry. The U.S. Senate is only a few votes short of passing HR 8404 that will thereby export these terrible marriage laws to every state and territory.

The “Respect for Marriage Act” will force all 50 states to recognize same-sex and child bride “marriages” that will incentivize rapists and pedophiles. It will also open the door for incest and polygamy to be forced nationwide. This bill is very close to passing.

In Keri’s situation, her own father didn’t even speak up for her. And the state turned a blind eye to Keri’s plight. This is why vulnerable people like Keri need you to speak up against these perversions of marriage. Please help us fight this abuse of American children by urging senators with your faxes to please, STOP HR 8404 today. — Mat

Keri shared, “If my dad wanted to, he could have pressed charges.” But something else happened instead.

“Because my dad was that much of a drunk, he [Paul] basically asked ‘What would it take’ for him to sign the papers for me to get married. My dad told him, ‘A case of beer.’ And so he went and got him a case of beer and called it a done deal,” Keri said.

And just like that, Keri’s whole life changed. It was a gamble for Keri. Paul said Keri’s father was ready to be done with parenting and did not want to bother with her any longer. This was a way to get out of parenting responsibilities.

Paul admitted he got married to avoid rape charges. And the father was willing to trade his daughter for a case of beer.

But for young Keri, the marriage was “horrible” and lasted for about two years. Keri was unable to finish school because she had to work, all while raising their son.

“He basically treated me like I was his maid,” Keri complained. And she still regrets not being able to finish high school. Even when she invited Paul to their son’s fourth birthday party, he didn’t bother to show up.

Now Keri is remarried. Her new husband commented, “She was able to be married for a case of beer. What is the difference between us and a Third World country?”

Keri is not alone. Experts estimate more than 250,000 children were forced into marriage in America between 2000 and 2010. In California alone, children as young as 10 have been married off to “minor attracted persons,” the new euphemism for pedophiles.

This bill in Congress now will force every state and territory to recognize and even honor “marriages” like Keri’s if just one state (like CA or MS) does, and also “marriages” where an older man wants to “marry” a young boy for a pittance payment to get his parent(s) to agree.

• In Alabama, a 74-year-old man married a 14-year-old girl.

• In Tennessee, three 10-year-old girls married men ages 24, 25 and 31, and an 11-year-old married a 27-year-old woman.

These kids cannot speak for themselves. Even though they are “married,” they are still treated as minors. They cannot sign a contract and cannot file for divorce, and when they flee, they are treated like runaways. These kids need you to speak up for them. No one should be coerced or forced into marriage as a minor. Tell Congress to STOP HR 8404 with your urgent faxes today.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) recently claimed she has eight Republicans supporting this bill: five who will support it and three more who quietly told her they will probably support it, but she is keeping their identity secret.

We knew four Republicans have signed on to pass HR 8404 and 16 were undeclared. Whatever the real count, HR 8404 needs only a few more senators to pass! Sixty votes are needed, and we know there are a firm 54 votes to pass this bill.

This vote will be very close, too close for a bill that has such momentous consequences.

Sens. Baldwin and Susan Collins (R-ME) are working together to scrape up a few more Republican votes. If they succeed, this bill will pass. We must not let them succeed. The consequences are catastrophic.

Even if they do not have enough votes this week, this bill will come back again and again until the new Congress is seated in January 2023.

Large corporations organized by a coordinated effort of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ lobbying group in America, are now pushing for this bill to pass. They have a huge amount of money at their disposal, and they refuse to give up. We need your voice more than ever.

Every senator must hear from you. WE NEED YOUR VOICE to send a strong message NOW because Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is pushing for a vote very soon. STOP HR 8404 from becoming law with your urgent faxes to the Senate.

We must speak up for the sanctity of marriage and for the children.

In addition to your faxes and petitions (which we personally deliver), our team personally meets with members of Congress and their staff to provide information on this and other bills and policies. You can help advance our mission through a recurring monthly gift or a one-time donation. Act now to DOUBLE your impact through our Challenge Grant.

We appreciate your prayers and your support.

Sincerely,

Mat Staver, Chairman
Liberty Counsel Action

P.S. Make sure your voice is heard on Capitol Hill. Sign our petition.

Sources:

“American Child Bride Marriage.” [Sic]. BBC via YouTube: Follow the Dominoes, May 15, 2021. Youtube.com/watch?v=yqTZZC3bjB8.

“H.R. 8404—Respect for Marriage Act.” House of Representatives Committee on Rules. July 18, 2022. Rules.house.gov/bill/117/hr-8404.