Mike Farris:
My guest again today is Congressman Pete Hoekstra from the Grand Rapids area in Michigan. We appreciate so much his leadership on the parental rights amendment. Congressman, what’s the process for passing any constitutional amendment—and this one in particular—and how can people be involved in helping?

Congressman Pete Hoekstra:
Well, the process is a fairly lengthy process, and the hurdles are very, very steep. We need to pass it with two-thirds of the votes in the House and the Senate, which means that we need 290 representatives in the House; we need two-thirds in the Senate, which means we need 67 votes in the Senate, and then it needs to be approved by three-quarters of the states. So, it’s a difficult process but one well worth the effort. If you’re going to change the Constitution, it should be hard, and you should do it for important things. Parental rights is one of those important things that I think meet that test.

How can people get involved? Now is the time for them to get involved and understand the issue and to start calling their representatives and their senators and saying, “This is an issue that’s important to us, take a look at it, and when the next congress begins we need you to co-sponsor it and we need your efforts to get this thing passed.”

Mike:
That’s great. So, everyone who’s listening should call their two U.S. senators and one U.S. congressman and urge them to research and support the parental rights amendment.

Congressman Pete Hoekstra:
That’s exactly right

Mike:
Thanks so much. I’m Mike Farris.