[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            THE REINTRODUCTION OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 12, 2003

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, this is a difficult time. We're worried 
about the possibility of war and concerned about the men and women in 
our armed forces, but the best way to honor democracy is to ensure 
equality and justice for all. That's why we're leading this bipartisan 
movement for the Equality Amendment for women and men. We intend to do 
all we can to see that it becomes part of the Constitution, which is 
where it belongs.
  I am proud to be joined by my Republican colleagues, Jim Leach and 
Judy Biggert. I am also grateful to the dean of the House, John 
Dingell, for his leadership on so many issues important to women; to 
leading pollster Mark Penn of the firm Penn, Schoen, and Berland; and 
to the noted economist, Dr. Heidi Hartman. I'd also like to acknowledge 
the representatives of so many organizations dedicated to improving the 
lives of women and families.
  Women have achieved a great deal, but the statutory route has not 
been as successful as we hoped. The Glass Ceiling, the Pink Ghetto, the 
wage gap, the occupation gap, and sexual harassment are real problems. 
We're reintroducing the Equality Amendment because the only guarantee 
that American women will never again be subject to inferior treatment 
is to engrave the principle of women's equality into the Constitution.
  We've seen over the years that laws can change, judicial attitudes 
can shift, and the gains we've won can slip from our grasp. The need 
for a constitutional guarantee of equal rights for women is compelling. 
We must do more, much more, to guarantee fair treatment in the work 
place. Existing laws can't get the job done, and could be rolled back.
  Title IX, which for three decades guaranteed equality in education 
and in academic sports programs, is being eroded.
  Enforcement measures on discrimination laws are backlogged and badly 
underfunded.
  Women continue to be treated differently than men in pensions, 
insurance, and judicial awards.
  Women still have trouble gaining access to housing and to equal pay 
for equal work. The wage gap persists. In fact, the Dingell-Maloney 
study that we released last year showed the gap in managerial salaries 
is actually widening.
  Women still earn 76 cents for each dollar earned by a man. After a 
full day's work, no woman should be forced to take home only three 
quarters of a paycheck.
  Too many women continue to be victims of sexual harassment.
  Over nine out of ten Americans support equal rights for men and 
women, as Mark Penn can discuss. In fact, polling data shows that most 
Americans think the Constitution already guarantees gender equality--
and they don't want it repealed. The ERA would establish that as a 
reality once and for all. It is time to ensure that the legal right to 
equality regardless of sex is subject to the same level of judicial 
review as race or other classes.
  With 187 co-sponsors so far, the Equality Amendment has strong 
support in the House. And it enjoys strong backing in the Senate. Ours 
is a bipartisan, grass roots effort. With the help of organizations 
represented here and the over 140 groups that have already endorsed it, 
I hope we'll be able to move the ERA to a vote.
  It is time for women to have an equal place in the Constitution. It 
is time for the Equal Rights Amendment to become law. Inscribed over 
the Supreme Court is the statement ``Equal Justice Under the Law'' and 
it means ALL people. And in 2003, we intend to SEE that equal justice 
under the law happens . . . and making the ERA part of the Constitution 
is the right way to do it.

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