Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHouse passes sexual abuse reporting bill after Nassar sentencing Overnight Health Care: Senate Dems block 20-week abortion ban | Azar sworn in as HHS chief | Dems demand answers on family planning funds | GOP takes sting out of ObamaCare McConnell knocks Pelosi over immigration rhetoric MORE (R-Ky) said there's little lawmakers can do to overturn a Supreme Court ruling allowing same-sex marriages in every state, suggesting any further action will rest largely with the courts.
"I don't think so. I think the courts have pretty well spoken. We'll be taking a look at whether or not religious liberty needs to be enhanced by statue," the Republican leader told WDRB, a local Kentucky TV station, on Tuesday evening, when asked if there was anything Congress could do to reverse the court's decision.
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His comments come in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states.
McConnell's Republican colleagues quickly vowed to try to protect religious freedom in light of last week's decision.
Sen. Mike Lee
Michael (Mike) Shumway LeeTrump Commerce pick told lawmakers he would look at reversing Obama move on internet oversight: report Overnight Regulation: Trump’s former chemical safety nominee leaving EPA | Senate confirms Powell as Fed chair | NTSB 'gathering information' on Tesla crash Overnight Finance: Senate confirms Powell as Fed chair | Mulvaney declares 'new mission' for consumer bureau | Trump says solar tariffs will boost jobs MORE (R-Utah) vowed to get his legislation, the First Amendment Defense Act, passed. The Utah Republican said the bill would "prevent the federal government from discriminating against anyone who believes that marriage is a union between one man and one woman."
Sen. Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzDem challenger outraises Cruz in last quarter of 2017 Five hurdles to getting an immigration deal Chaos in Trump world leaves Democrats walking fine line MORE (R-Texas), who is running for president, also previously called for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
But McConnell shot down his effort, saying it wouldn't make it through Congress.
"It isn't going to pass. It's one thing to talk about a constitutional amendment," he said. "We've only done that 27 times in the history of our country. It's not going to pass."
McConnell and Cruz were part of a group of six senators who signed on to an amicus brief calling on the court to protect state bans on same-sex marriage.
"I've always felt that marriage was between one man and one woman," he said Tuesday night. "The Supreme Court has held otherwise, that's the law of the land."