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.”
Biden friends voice concern over increased fatigue amid cancer battle: report
Manhunt underway after Missouri deputy slain, suspect’s truck spotted heading toward Arkansas border
House Dem compares Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown to ‘terrorism,’ vows to abolish ICE
Abbott surges Texas troopers to border after cartel kingpin’s killing sparks violence in Mexico
Notorious Mexican Drug Lord Was Killed After Secret Rendezvous with Lover Went Awry
California Gov. Gavin Newsom Accused of Racism After Making SAT Score Comment to Black Mayor
Republicans make new House push on cartels after death of Mexico kingpin
Trump’s ‘worldwide tariff’ sets stage for rebuke from Congress ahead of midterm elections
Trump Predicts Supreme Court ‘Will Find a Way to Come to the Wrong Conclusion’ on Birthright Citizenship
ICE arrests convicted pedophiles, violent assailants as Trump meets with Angel Families
Ex-Navy SEAL puts ‘deranged’ Mexican drug cartel on notice after violent weekend: ‘More like ISIS’
Housekeeper expected to play key role in trial of wife accused of husband’s murder in wealthy ski town
How to Get a Birth Certificate for Dummies: A Guide for Democrats Who Oppose Secure Elections
Secret tapes sink shooter’s defense in Scott Spivey road rage killing
Angel Families praise Trump for immigration crackdown: ‘You are the man’
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.
Biden friends voice concern over increased fatigue amid cancer battle: report
Manhunt underway after Missouri deputy slain, suspect’s truck spotted heading toward Arkansas border
House Dem compares Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown to ‘terrorism,’ vows to abolish ICE
Abbott surges Texas troopers to border after cartel kingpin’s killing sparks violence in Mexico
Notorious Mexican Drug Lord Was Killed After Secret Rendezvous with Lover Went Awry
California Gov. Gavin Newsom Accused of Racism After Making SAT Score Comment to Black Mayor
Republicans make new House push on cartels after death of Mexico kingpin
Trump’s ‘worldwide tariff’ sets stage for rebuke from Congress ahead of midterm elections
Trump Predicts Supreme Court ‘Will Find a Way to Come to the Wrong Conclusion’ on Birthright Citizenship
ICE arrests convicted pedophiles, violent assailants as Trump meets with Angel Families
Ex-Navy SEAL puts ‘deranged’ Mexican drug cartel on notice after violent weekend: ‘More like ISIS’
Housekeeper expected to play key role in trial of wife accused of husband’s murder in wealthy ski town
How to Get a Birth Certificate for Dummies: A Guide for Democrats Who Oppose Secure Elections
Secret tapes sink shooter’s defense in Scott Spivey road rage killing
Angel Families praise Trump for immigration crackdown: ‘You are the man’
“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.
