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.”
Kamala Harris commends ‘the President’ in Middle East statement, but omits Trump’s name
Republicans mount campaign to flip Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Democratic majority
Madagascar’s president flees country following Gen Z protests
Ellen Greenberg’s controversial death ruled suicide again, new report ‘deeply flawed’ says lawyer
Jeffries tells Lawler to ‘keep your mouth shut’ as shutdown sparks Capitol Hill confrontations
Ex-Louisiana Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards says he won’t run for Senate
Man Charged with Killing His Daughter’s Alleged Rapist Launches Campaign for County Sheriff
Witkoff family to host fundraiser for Nate Morris, Ramaswamy to speak
Watch: Trump-Macron Handshake Turns Into a Grappling Session at Gaza Peace Summit
Investigators release video of possible abduction, showing woman screaming as she’s pulled away
Thune draws flak for ‘Native American Day’ post
Pakistan announces intention for second Nobel Peace Prize nomination for Trump over Gaza ceasefire role
Mamdani breaks silence on freed Israeli hostages in statement that doesn’t mention Trump
Trump Likened to Ancient Biblical Ruler Who Came to Aid of Israel, As Hostages Released, Peace Deal Signed
Ex-student stabs 3 staff members at private California school before making bomb threat: police
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.
Kamala Harris commends ‘the President’ in Middle East statement, but omits Trump’s name
Republicans mount campaign to flip Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Democratic majority
Madagascar’s president flees country following Gen Z protests
Ellen Greenberg’s controversial death ruled suicide again, new report ‘deeply flawed’ says lawyer
Jeffries tells Lawler to ‘keep your mouth shut’ as shutdown sparks Capitol Hill confrontations
Ex-Louisiana Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards says he won’t run for Senate
Man Charged with Killing His Daughter’s Alleged Rapist Launches Campaign for County Sheriff
Witkoff family to host fundraiser for Nate Morris, Ramaswamy to speak
Watch: Trump-Macron Handshake Turns Into a Grappling Session at Gaza Peace Summit
Investigators release video of possible abduction, showing woman screaming as she’s pulled away
Thune draws flak for ‘Native American Day’ post
Pakistan announces intention for second Nobel Peace Prize nomination for Trump over Gaza ceasefire role
Mamdani breaks silence on freed Israeli hostages in statement that doesn’t mention Trump
Trump Likened to Ancient Biblical Ruler Who Came to Aid of Israel, As Hostages Released, Peace Deal Signed
Ex-student stabs 3 staff members at private California school before making bomb threat: police
“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.
