[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 113 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1202-E1203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               INTRODUCTION OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 2013

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, it has been forty-
one years since

[[Page E1203]]

Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment (also known as the Women's 
Equality Amendment). This historic amendment was intended to affirm in 
our United States Constitution fundamental equality based on sex in all 
areas of society.
  In 1972, Congress passed the ERA with a measure that it had to be 
ratified by the necessary number of states (38) within 7 years. Though 
this deadline was extended, it was only for 10 short years. With this 
narrow time limit, the ERA was unfortunately just three states shy of 
full ratification when the deadline passed in 1982. Other 
constitutional amendments were given much wider deadlines for 
ratification. One example is the 27th amendment, concerning 
Congressional pay raises, which was accepted after a 203 year 
ratification period.
  This Congress I intend to finally add the word ``women'' to the 
constitution. It is time for our nation to understand the necessity of 
equality for women based on the way it has been deprived of them. While 
we have made cracks in the glass ceiling many times before, we have yet 
to shatter it. I believe that this amendment provides that recognition 
to women without taking equality rights away from others.
  Over the past several decades, legislative efforts have increased 
women's rights--but these strides toward achieving equality are not 
irreversible. Without the ERA, women have often been denied the ability 
to seek justice when they have experienced discrimination. Though 
certain court decisions, such as the Supreme Court decision in the 
Virginia Military Institute case (Virginia v. United States), helped to 
clarify that gender cannot be used to keep women from achieving social, 
legal and economic gains, important decisions like this can also be 
overturned. In addition, laws can still perpetuate gender 
classifications that keep women from achieving their full potential. 
Passage of the ERA would provide a Constitutional affirmation of the 
Supreme Court decision.
  Our democracy rests on the principle of ``liberty and justice for 
all.'' We need the ERA to ensure that this concept applies equally to 
all.
  I am pleased to introduce this bill with ninety-three of my 
bipartisan colleagues, Representatives Cynthia Lummis, Rodney 
Frelinghuysen, Jerrold Nadler, Karen Bass, Joyce Beatty, Xavier 
Becerra, Sanford Bishop, Timothy Bishop, Earl Blumenauer, Corrine 
Brown, G.K. Butterfield, Lois Capps, Michael Capuano, Tony Cardenas, 
Kathy Castor, David Cicilline, Yvette Clarke, Wm. Lacy Clay, James 
Clyburn, Steve Cohen, James Cooper, James Costa, Joseph Courtney, 
Joseph Crowley, Elijah Cummings, Daniel Davis, Susan Davis, Peter 
DeFazio, Diana DeGette, Charlie Dent, John Dingell, Tammy Duckworth, 
Keith Ellison, Sam Farr, Chaka Fattah, William Foster, Marcia Fudge, 
Tusli Gabbard, John Garamendi, Alan Grayson, Al Green, Raul Grijalva, 
Michelle Lujan Grisham, Louis Gutierrez, Brian Higgins, James Himes, 
Ruben Hinojosa, Steve Israel, Sheila Jackson Lee, Hakeem Jeffries, 
Eddie Bernice Johnson, Henry ``Hank'' Johnson, Marcy Kaptur, William 
Keating, Joseph Kennedy, Daniel Kildee, Barbara Lee, Sander Levin, John 
Lewis, David Loesback, Zoe Lofgren, Stephen Lynch, Betty McCollum, 
James McDermott, James McGovern, Grace Meng, Gwen Moore, Grace 
Napolitano, William Pascrell, Edward Perlmutter, Chellie Pingree, 
Michael Quigley, Charles Rangel, Raul Ruiz, Timothy Ryan, Linda 
Sanchez, Scott Davis, Terri Sewell, Carol Shea-Potter, Brad Sherman, 
Louise Slaughter, Bennie Thompson, Dina Titus, Paul Tonko, Niki 
Tsongas, Christopher Van Hollen, Nydia Velazquez, Maxine Waters, Melvin 
Watt, Henry Waxman, Peter Welch, and Frederica Wilson. I urge my fellow 
Members of Congress to join in support.

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