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.”
‘The View’ Under FCC Investigation Over Interview with Texas Dem
‘We Will Pay’: Savannah Guthrie Responds to Kidnapper Demands Via Video
Turning Point USA’s ‘All-American Halftime Show’: Everything you need to know
Super Bowl Sunday: Here are some of the political, social commercials you can expect during the big game
LA city councilwoman previously backed by DSA running for mayor in primary challenge to former ally Bass
Tom Homan Reveals How Many Anti-ICE Agitators Have Been Arrested: Many Are Paying the Price
Newsom Devastated By Mom’s Suicide, Still Wants To Let Your Mother Kill Herself
Shannon Bream’s new book on Biblical ‘overcomers’ explores ‘purpose’ within trials
West Virginia worked with ICE — 650 arrests later, officials say Minnesota-style ‘chaos’ is a choice
Reform defector explains party succeeds because it’s not embarrassed of ‘Rule Britannia’ nostalgia and culture
Agitators Sabotage Winter Olympics Opening, Throw Fireworks as Police Fight Back with Water Cannon, Tear Gas
Federal appeals court upholds Trump mass detention policy for illegal immigrants
Sheriff leading Guthrie investigation spotted at basketball game as family pleads again with alleged ransomers
Anti-ICE agitators arrested at federal building in Minneapolis after lewd objects hurled at law enforcement
Tulsi Gabbard denies wrongdoing over delayed whistleblower complaint referral to Congress members: ‘Baseless’
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.
‘The View’ Under FCC Investigation Over Interview with Texas Dem
‘We Will Pay’: Savannah Guthrie Responds to Kidnapper Demands Via Video
Turning Point USA’s ‘All-American Halftime Show’: Everything you need to know
Super Bowl Sunday: Here are some of the political, social commercials you can expect during the big game
LA city councilwoman previously backed by DSA running for mayor in primary challenge to former ally Bass
Tom Homan Reveals How Many Anti-ICE Agitators Have Been Arrested: Many Are Paying the Price
Newsom Devastated By Mom’s Suicide, Still Wants To Let Your Mother Kill Herself
Shannon Bream’s new book on Biblical ‘overcomers’ explores ‘purpose’ within trials
West Virginia worked with ICE — 650 arrests later, officials say Minnesota-style ‘chaos’ is a choice
Reform defector explains party succeeds because it’s not embarrassed of ‘Rule Britannia’ nostalgia and culture
Agitators Sabotage Winter Olympics Opening, Throw Fireworks as Police Fight Back with Water Cannon, Tear Gas
Federal appeals court upholds Trump mass detention policy for illegal immigrants
Sheriff leading Guthrie investigation spotted at basketball game as family pleads again with alleged ransomers
Anti-ICE agitators arrested at federal building in Minneapolis after lewd objects hurled at law enforcement
Tulsi Gabbard denies wrongdoing over delayed whistleblower complaint referral to Congress members: ‘Baseless’
“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.
