#ERAyesUpdate (01312021)
Congratulations! We’re near the finish line. Let’s keep the pace – and jump high when needed. The Equal Rights Amendment has four remaining hurdles.
1. US HOUSE
An ERA bill removing the deadline (#HJRes17) was filed on Jan. 21, 2021. So far, the bill is sponsored by 203 Congressional representatives, including Jackie Speier, Tom Reed and Carolyn Maloney. We need many more sponsors.
Is your Congressperson a sponsor? https://tinyurl.com/hjres17sponsors
Contact: https://www.house.gov/representatives
2. US SENATE
An ERA bill removing the deadline (#SJRes1) was filed on Jan. 22, 2021. The bill is sponsored by Senators Ben Cardin and Lisa Murkowski. We need more Senators as sponsors.
Are your Senators sponsors? https://tinyurl.com/sjres1sponsors
Contact: https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
3. NATIONAL ARCHIVIST
The previous administration blocked the National Archivist from certifying the fully-ratified Equal Rights Amendment. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney asked the Biden/Harris administration to reverse that artificial barrier to equality. https://maloney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/maloney-calls-on-biden-administration-to-certify-equal-rights-amendment?fbclid=IwAR3dszyp7qNxmQK6yL5EU8zcaka2vK49tTCkigZMt2AekTH0ieaJznXhD44
You can contact the White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/write-or-call/
4. FEDERAL COURT
Attorneys General Mark Herring (Virginia), Kwame Raoul (Illinois) and Aaron Ford (Nevada) filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to direct the National Archivist to certify the fully-ratified Equal Rights Amendment. https://www.pilotonline.com/government/nation/vp-nw-herring-attorneys-general-era-lawsuit-20200819-cjhd6otwprez5ajtfpzrwa3i54-story.html
A number of organizations filed friend of the court briefs, including the ERA Coalition, of which the League of Women Voters is a member. https://www.winston.com/en/thought-leadership/winston-and-strawn-files-amicus-brief-to-support-adoption-of-equal-rights-amendment.html
Corporations also support ERA certification: https://www.paulweiss.com/media/3980342/era-business-amicus-brief.pdf
We will keep you updated on the latest litigation developments.
*** STATE RATIFICATION ACTIVITY ***
As we know from the 19th Amendment, more ratifications matter when an amendment is challenged, especially in court. Twelve states are still unratified: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah. Let’s support these 2021 state ratification efforts.
Missouri State House Bill HCR8: https://www.house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HCR8&year=2021&code=R
Join Project 28 MO: https://www.project28mo.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/project28MO/
North Carolina State Senate Bill 15: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2021/S15
North Carolina State House Bill 8: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2021/H8
Join ERA NC Alliance: https://www.era-nc.org/and https://www.facebook.com/ERANCAlliance/
South Carolina Senate Bill S0262: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=262&session=124&summary=B&headerfooter=1
South Carolina House Bill H3258: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3258&session=124&summary=B&headerfooter=1
Join Equal Means ERA: https://www.equalmeansera.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/EqualMeansERA
Utah State Senate Bill SJR008: https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/sbillint/SJR008.htm?fbclid=IwAR07fuC3NVlkMfXvL36klfFC-QCKkVVMB2mONPjtpneDYJcWtDeJRW3m9P0
Join Utah ERA Coalition and Mormons for ERA: https://utaheracoalition.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/mormonsforera/
THE ERA FINISH LINE IS WHERE WE LIVE: Please urge local groups – such as Leagues of Women Voters, AAUW and NOW chapters – to advocate for the ERA. Pass ERA resolutions at town and county board meetings. Call and write representatives. Send in letters to the editor. Contact us to host a talk on ERA. Educate friends and family.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! ©
