Here’s a PDF of the letter sent March 15, 2021:
Tag: Equal RIghts Amendment
House passes bill paving way for ERA ratification
The House passed legislation Thursday that would remove the deadline to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), a top priority for Democrats.
The measure, sponsored by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), now heads to the Senate after a 232-183 vote. Five Republicans voted with Democrats in favor of the legislation.
Under the Equal Rights Amendment bill first passed by Congress in 1972, states were given a seven-year deadline to ratify the measure for it to become the 28th amendment to the Constitution. That deadline was later extended to 1982. Continue reading.
Minnesota House Equal Rights Amendment Vote
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Last night, the Minnesota House of Representatives was expected to approve the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) bill. If approved by the Senate, there will be a question on the November, 2020, ballot asking Minnesotans to vote on whether our state constitution should be amended to read “equality under the law shall not be abridged or denied on account of gender.”
“Fairness is a fundamental value to Minnesotans. Our state constitution should reflect that,” said chief author Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL – New Brighton). “The equality Minnesota women and men have fought for in life, in work, in school and in our major institutions shouldn’t be taken for granted. It should be guaranteed.”
The ERA would create a permanent guarantee of gender equality under law, a cause that gained greater urgency when the #MeToo movement exposed stories of pervasive sexism, harassment and discrimination.
“Assumed equality for women is not enough — our state constitution should be clear that we have equal rights,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “It’s been 99 years since women fought for and achieved the right to vote. It’s long past time to pass equal rights amendments to the state and federal constitutions.”
“Women’s equality is a priority for the House DFL Majority, and we are demonstrating that today,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “Minnesota women deserve equal rights in all aspects of life. Moving this forward and putting equal rights into our state constitution is a positive statement about the Minnesota we want to build.”
A Senate companion, authored by Sen. Richard Cohen, awaits a hearing in the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. If ratified, the amendment will take effect on January 1, 2021.
An additional Minnesota House measure (H.F. 71) would call on the Federal Government to adopt a similar resolution to the U.S. Constitution.
New momentum for Equal Rights Amendment
Equal rights for women could soon be enshrined in the Constitution.
Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) almost 47 years ago to establish gender equality under the law, and state support is closing in on clearing a crucial obstacle.
The Virginia Senate passed a resolution last week to ratify the ERA, which would make gender equality the law of the land. If the House follows suit, the commonwealth would become the 38th state needed for ratification.
View the complete January 22 article by Lydia Wheeler on The Hill website here.