House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) today issued the following statement regarding the Defense of Marriage Act (Speaker of the House John Boehner released his own statement):

“Last week, the Obama Administration announced that they would immediately stop defending portions of the Defense of Marriage Act, a statute passed overwhelmingly by bipartisan margins of Congress and signed into law by President Clinton. This regrettable decision was based on a standard no court has yet found to apply and is a clear political exercise by the Administration. Rather than finding ways to undermine traditional marriage, the Administration should be focused on strengthening the economy and getting people back to work. House Republicans will continue our efforts to cut spending, grow the economy and create jobs, while ensuring that the Administration’s failure to fulfill its constitutional duty does not leave duly enacted laws undefended. I am pleased the Speaker is initiating the process for House intervention to defend this law.”