FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán voted to facilitate timely ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. H.J.Res 79 passed on a bipartisan vote of 232 to 183, paving the way for passage of this historic amendment and reaffirming Congress’ support for women’s equality.
“Today’s vote moves us one step closer to ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, which will give women equal rights and protections under the law. Without it, women can be paid less and legally discriminated against,” Congresswoman Barragán said. “Adopting the ERA will move our country closer to fulfilling our values of inclusion and equal opportunity for all people.”
“The House of Representatives sent a clear message to women and men who have fought for generations for true equality with its historic vote to pass my resolution to facilitate the ratification of the ERA. We made it clear that progress and justice cannot be stopped and that righteousness still prevails in our proud democracy,” said Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), who sponsored the bill.
“For those who question the need for the ERA, they need look no further than the gender wage gap that continues to keep women and families from achieving their full potential, pregnancy discrimination that forces women out of the workforce, persistent and insidious violations of the rights of survivors, and much more. Now is the time for the Archivist to act swiftly to certify the ERA, and for our Constitution to finally recognize that women are equal to men under law,” Congresswoman Speier said.
When Congress passed the ERA in 1972, it attached an arbitrary 7-year ratification deadline to the preamble which was later extended three more years. By 1982, 35 states out of the required 38 states voted to ratify the amendment. In the past three years, grassroots campaigns have successfully secured ratification votes in Nevada, Illinois, and most recently, Virginia.
A companion bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
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Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington.