Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) spoke on the House floor Wednesday in support of a bill to extend the expired deadline for states to ratify the controversial Equal Rights Amendment, claiming during her speech that women are still in “shackles” and that the “Constitution is sexist by its very design.”
“Today I rise to affirm the humanity and the dignity of all women,” Pressley said. “I rise in strong, unapologetic, righteous support of H.J. Res. 79, which will strike the arbitrary deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, an amendment that should already be the law of the land.”
Barack and Michelle Obama slam ICE after Minneapolis shooting, urge accountability
Tim Walz compares Minnesota ICE actions to Holocaust and Anne Frank: ‘Hiding in their houses’
Iran may have killed over 30,000 protesters in two days: Report
Dems silent on Minnesota church disruption after pressing Bondi to use FACE Act on pro-lifers
Carney pushes back on Trump’s 100% tariff threat over China trade deals with Canada amid tensions
Here Are the Worst Countries on Earth for Christian Persecution
Texas cult in crosshairs of killer mom’s bathtub slayings case as questions hang over family horror
Popular Potato Product Faces Recall in 26 States
Can Trump Really Denaturalize Somalis En Masse?
Tim Walz Was the Most Scandal-Plagued Governor Running in 2026: Katie Hobbs Just Stole That Title
Mamdani announces remote school day due to dangerous winter storm conditions
GOP lawmaker renews oversight hearing request of DHS agencies following fatal shooting in Minneapolis
Terrible Sign for Midterms: GOP Losing Independents By Massive 22-Point Margin
Meet the longtime biz partner of Ilhan Omar’s husband as questions swirl over her skyrocketing net worth
Just One Year In, Trump Has Already Decimated DC’s Failed Status Quo
The Constitution is sexist by design. The year is 2020 & women in this country STILL aren't considered equal to men in the eyes of the federal gov't.
Tomorrow's vote on HJ Res 79 is a vote to actualize the movements built on the backs of women. It's a vote for equality. #ERANow pic.twitter.com/cVYzw3hiVn
— Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) February 12, 2020
“Women are strong, hard-working, bright, and resilient. We are the backbones of our families, our communities, and our democracy,” Pressley said. “We do not live in checked boxes. We live in an intersectionality of lived experiences and identities.”
“Our issues are everyone’s issues because our destinies are all tied,” Pressley said. “Tomorrow’s vote on H.J. Res. 79 is a vote for the preservation of our collective humanity.”
She went on to say in her remarks that women are paid less than men and that this is especially true for minority women. And that women have historically and still do today face discrimination that supporters say the Equal Rights Amendment would fix.
“In addition to pay discrimination, we face pregnancy discrimination — discrimination in the criminal legal system, sexual and domestic violence, and inadequate healthcare access,” Pressley said.
Barack and Michelle Obama slam ICE after Minneapolis shooting, urge accountability
Tim Walz compares Minnesota ICE actions to Holocaust and Anne Frank: ‘Hiding in their houses’
Iran may have killed over 30,000 protesters in two days: Report
Dems silent on Minnesota church disruption after pressing Bondi to use FACE Act on pro-lifers
Carney pushes back on Trump’s 100% tariff threat over China trade deals with Canada amid tensions
Here Are the Worst Countries on Earth for Christian Persecution
Texas cult in crosshairs of killer mom’s bathtub slayings case as questions hang over family horror
Popular Potato Product Faces Recall in 26 States
Can Trump Really Denaturalize Somalis En Masse?
Tim Walz Was the Most Scandal-Plagued Governor Running in 2026: Katie Hobbs Just Stole That Title
Mamdani announces remote school day due to dangerous winter storm conditions
GOP lawmaker renews oversight hearing request of DHS agencies following fatal shooting in Minneapolis
Terrible Sign for Midterms: GOP Losing Independents By Massive 22-Point Margin
Meet the longtime biz partner of Ilhan Omar’s husband as questions swirl over her skyrocketing net worth
Just One Year In, Trump Has Already Decimated DC’s Failed Status Quo
“But this isn’t an accident,” Pressley continued. “The American Constitution is sexist by its very design.”
“This country’s laws have historically treated [women] like second-class citizens, depriving us of the right to vote, enter most jobs, and to own property,” Pressley said. “While some of those injustices may cease to exist, we still face tremendous barriers to our full participation in society.”
“With tomorrow’s vote we have an opportunity to right this country’s wrong,” Pressley said.
Pro-life conservatives, including the late Phyllis Schlafly whose efforts effectively killed the Equal Rights Amendment, oppose it because it is not just about women’s equality but codifying abortion on demand:
National Right to Life is strongly opposed to adding the 1972 ERA language to the U.S. Constitution, because it would provide a powerful legal weapon with which to challenge virtually any limits on abortion, and to require unlimited government funding of abortion.
On Thursday, the House passed the bill Pressley supported on a 232–183 vote.
“We are on the brink of history, and no deadline should stand in the way,” Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said.
The bill is expected to face challenges both constitutionally and from conservative lawmakers.
Story cited here.
