Removing Deadline for Ratification of Equal Rights Amendment

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution to remove the arbitrary deadline to ratify the equal rights amendment. This year is the centennial of the 19th Amendment, yet women are still fighting for full and equal rights under the law.

Women continue to face many barriers to true equality, including pregnancy and gender discrimination, unequal pay, and a lack of access to a full range of reproductive healthcare services. The equal rights amendment to the Constitution would provide for fundamental equality for women regardless of who is President, who is on the Supreme Court, or changes in Federal law.

Congress first approved the equal rights amendment in 1972, and my home State of Oregon was quick to ratify it the following year. Now, 38 States--the required three-fourths under the Constitution--have ratified the amendment. Today Congress will stand with our States and make it clear that it is time--actually way past time--to adopt the equal rights amendment. It is not too late to do the right thing. It is not too late for equality.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

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