Central STL News

Washington D.C. — On Apr. 28, 2023, the Congressional Caucus on the Equal Rights Amendment rallied behind the Senate's efforts to bring the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to a vote. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Lisa Murkowski (R- AK), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) as well as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) championed a resolution, S.J.Res 4, which would remove the arbitrary and unjust deadline imposed on the Equal Rights Amendment. ERA Caucus Co-Chair Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) - alongside Caucus Co-Chair Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) and Vice-Chairs Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), and - introduced the House companion resolution, H.J.Res.25, earlier this year.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that the Senate would take up this historic vote, marking the first vote on the ERA in the Senate in 40 years. Additionally, the Biden Administration sent a Statement of Administration Policy in favor of this resolution. Ultimately, Senate Republicans obstructed this resolution, but a majority of Senators are now on-record supporting the ERA.

Congresswoman Cori Bush and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment, issued the following statement:

“The ERA Caucus celebrates the first Senate vote on the Equal Rights Amendment in 40 years. Though ultimately, this resolution did not pass the Senate, we remain determined and proud of the growing momentum behind the ERA. We applaud Senators Cardin and Murkowski, Durbin, and others, as well as Senate Majority Leader Schumer - for proving that not only is constitutional equality urgently needed – it is popular with all of our constituents, regardless of party affiliation. According to a recent poll, 85% of Americans across party lines support the Equal Rights Amendment. Enshrining gender equality in the U.S. Constitution should be an urgent priority for any public official who cares about the women and girls they represent, our LGTBQ+ siblings, and our society as a whole. The ERA is a powerful tool to protect all people from gender discrimination, secure equal pay, fight gender-based violence, protect abortion access, expand LGTBQ+ rights, and more. ”

Ahead of the vote, ERA Caucus co-chairs Bush and Pressley - alongside Democratic Women Caucus (DWC) Chair Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22), led ERA and DWC caucus members on a march from the House to the Senate floorin order to witness the vote and demand passage.

Following the Senate vote, Representatives Bush and Pressley joined Senator Cardin for a press conference to highlight the significance of this bill and the ongoing push to get the ERA over the finish line. Watch the full press conference HERE.

The Equal Rights Amendment has met the legal threshold in Article V of the U.S. Constitution to become the 28th Amendment. On March 22, 1972, Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment with more than the 2/3rds required. Virginia became the last state necessary to ratify it in 2020 as the 38th state. 27 states have state-level Equal Rights Amendments today.

Original source can be found here.