Democratic Women’s Caucus, Pressley Hail Senate Hearing on Equal Rights Amendment

CONTACT:

Anali Alegria; (202) 823-0833; Anali.Alegria@mail.house.gov

WASHINGTON – Today, Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Chair Lois Frankel (FL-22) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), issued the following statement praising the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

Last month, Rep. Pressley and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) led their colleagues in unveiling a bicameral, joint resolution to affirm the ratification of the ERA and take a critical step toward enshrining gender equality in the United States Constitution.

“For far too long, women and LGBTQ+ folks have been relegated to second-class legal status by the courts and in law, and it is long past time we do something about it,” said Chairwoman Frankel and Rep. Pressley. “Today’s Senate hearing on the Pressley-Cardin Resolution to affirm the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment is historic and more evidence of the growing momentum behind this critical priority. Constitutional equality is powerful, and with women and the states having done their part to ratify the ERA, Congress must swiftly follow suit. We thank Chairman Durbin for shining a light on this important issue, and for moving us one step closer to enshrining the dignity, humanity, and equality of all people into the highest law of the land.”

Rep. Presley’s and Sen. Cardin’s resolution, which the Senate Judiciary Committee examined today, removes the arbitrary deadline for ratification of the ERA and recognizes the amendment as a valid part of the Constitution, with the 38-state threshold needed for ratification of the ERA having been met.

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