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.”
Ted Cruz says ‘blue tsunami’ took over Texas after Democrats swept statewide races
Republicans, Take Note: Ballot Measure Success in Face of Blue Wave Shows Voters Still Want Conservative Policies
JD Vance Says ‘Everyone Knows Why We Lost’ in Fiery Post-Election Message
New Jersey pre-K aide faces 61 charges, accused of filming himself sexually assaulting students at school
Grocery store cyberattacks are ‘psychological warfare’ that could strike US, former FBI agent warns
See for Yourself: As El-Sayed Was Securing Win, Advisor Hasan Piker Filmed His Most Hateful Anti-American Comments Ever
Erika Kirk channels Charlie with blunt message to conservatives after GOP midterm losses
Promising Young Congressman Touted as ‘Future’ of the Republican Party After Defying Blue Wave with a Strong Win
Conservative Commentator Steve Deace Nails the Most Infuriating Part About Democrats’ Midterm Triumph: It Was Preventable
Midterm upheaval of Congress provides little reassurance for Ukraine as ‘nucleus’ of support is ousted or steps down
Latest Numbers: ‘Decoy’ Candidate Could Cost Republicans a Senate Seat as Alaska Race Comes Down to the Wire
Florida congressman diagnoses GOP’s blue tsunami losses: ‘We failed to make them think we cared about them’
Vance courting disgruntled Trump voters to form ‘new right’ alliance after Republican bloodbath, sources say
Fox News/NORC Study: Voters look to 2028 focused on the economy
Trump Pulls Rug from Under NYT in Election Night Interview, Forcing Them to Admit Truth About ‘King Trump’ Lie
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.
Ted Cruz says ‘blue tsunami’ took over Texas after Democrats swept statewide races
Republicans, Take Note: Ballot Measure Success in Face of Blue Wave Shows Voters Still Want Conservative Policies
JD Vance Says ‘Everyone Knows Why We Lost’ in Fiery Post-Election Message
New Jersey pre-K aide faces 61 charges, accused of filming himself sexually assaulting students at school
Grocery store cyberattacks are ‘psychological warfare’ that could strike US, former FBI agent warns
See for Yourself: As El-Sayed Was Securing Win, Advisor Hasan Piker Filmed His Most Hateful Anti-American Comments Ever
Erika Kirk channels Charlie with blunt message to conservatives after GOP midterm losses
Promising Young Congressman Touted as ‘Future’ of the Republican Party After Defying Blue Wave with a Strong Win
Conservative Commentator Steve Deace Nails the Most Infuriating Part About Democrats’ Midterm Triumph: It Was Preventable
Midterm upheaval of Congress provides little reassurance for Ukraine as ‘nucleus’ of support is ousted or steps down
Latest Numbers: ‘Decoy’ Candidate Could Cost Republicans a Senate Seat as Alaska Race Comes Down to the Wire
Florida congressman diagnoses GOP’s blue tsunami losses: ‘We failed to make them think we cared about them’
Vance courting disgruntled Trump voters to form ‘new right’ alliance after Republican bloodbath, sources say
Fox News/NORC Study: Voters look to 2028 focused on the economy
Trump Pulls Rug from Under NYT in Election Night Interview, Forcing Them to Admit Truth About ‘King Trump’ Lie
“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.
