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.”
New federal grand jury subpoena issued to former James Comey advisor in leak investigation: sources
Federal Appeals Court Rejects NJ Dem. Rep. McIver’s Request to Drop ICE Assault Charges
New Fauci Docs Prove He Repeatedly Told People to Delete Emails He Sent Them
FIRST ON FOX: Texas becomes testing ground for new defense against attacks on America’s water systems
Death toll from Nepal floods tops 900
Bernie Sanders says top Democrats aren’t enthusiastic enough about el Sayed to win Michigan
Newark airport shuttle bus slams into concrete barrier, injuring 13
Deadly Grand Canyon flooding knocks out critical water line amid race to find missing hikers
Vulnerable Dem’s own audit admits Medicaid oversight failure amid massive statewide fraud scandal
Docs Expose Fauci, Shows He Complained About Pre-COVID ‘Doomsday’ Warning Then Erased it from Existence
‘Jesus was a radical’: Progressives invoke Christ to sell left-wing agenda on campaign trail
Inside the dangerous US mission that cleared Iran’s mines from Hormuz shipping lanes
Abdul El-Sayed shares dozens of donors with ex-GOP candidate at center of antisemitism controversy
Marine Le Pen’s last stand: National Rally leader polling far ahead for 2027 presidential election after three previous defeats
Grand Canyon flash flood leaves 1 dead and several missing or unaccounted for, park service says
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.
New federal grand jury subpoena issued to former James Comey advisor in leak investigation: sources
Federal Appeals Court Rejects NJ Dem. Rep. McIver’s Request to Drop ICE Assault Charges
New Fauci Docs Prove He Repeatedly Told People to Delete Emails He Sent Them
FIRST ON FOX: Texas becomes testing ground for new defense against attacks on America’s water systems
Death toll from Nepal floods tops 900
Bernie Sanders says top Democrats aren’t enthusiastic enough about el Sayed to win Michigan
Newark airport shuttle bus slams into concrete barrier, injuring 13
Deadly Grand Canyon flooding knocks out critical water line amid race to find missing hikers
Vulnerable Dem’s own audit admits Medicaid oversight failure amid massive statewide fraud scandal
Docs Expose Fauci, Shows He Complained About Pre-COVID ‘Doomsday’ Warning Then Erased it from Existence
‘Jesus was a radical’: Progressives invoke Christ to sell left-wing agenda on campaign trail
Inside the dangerous US mission that cleared Iran’s mines from Hormuz shipping lanes
Abdul El-Sayed shares dozens of donors with ex-GOP candidate at center of antisemitism controversy
Marine Le Pen’s last stand: National Rally leader polling far ahead for 2027 presidential election after three previous defeats
Grand Canyon flash flood leaves 1 dead and several missing or unaccounted for, park service says
“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.
