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Removing Deadline for Ratification of Equal Rights Amendment

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 13, 2020
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Women Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

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Ms. JAYAPAL. Madam Speaker, what a glorious day this is.

Today, the House of Representatives will vote to remove the arbitrary deadline to ratify the equal rights amendment. With our vote today, and with Virginia's historic vote to become the 38th and final State necessary to ratify the amendment, little girls, their moms, and women across this great Nation will know that, yes, our Constitution can, will, and must enshrine a ban on discrimination on the basis of sex.

Equality of sexes is not debatable. It has no expiration date.

First proposed almost a century ago and passed by Congress in 1972, the equal rights amendment would be a momentous step forward for women to end unequal pay, pregnancy discrimination, and sexual harassment and exploitation.

So today, to women across this country who are watching, as the first South Asian woman ever elected to the House of Representatives, let me say: We see you. We stand with you. And we will fight for you.

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