We now have the best chance in 30 years to make ERA part of the Constitution, and we need your help. I promise, it will take only five minutes of your time.
The only constitutional protection women now have is the right to vote. The ERA will provide a bedrock protection against discrimination. Without it, women will continue our piecemeal efforts for equal pay; for equal opportunities in the military, employment, education, and the justice system; and for other legal rights. And any gains can be repealed by a single vote in Congress or state legislatures.
Legislation has been introduced in both houses of Congress to eliminate the deadline for ratification. Once these measures pass, only three more states need to ratify. (The alternative is the start-over approach, which would require 38 states to ratify. Might take another lifetime!) Senate Joint Resolution 15 and House Joint Resolution 43 have been attracting numerous cosponsors from both political parties, including our own Senator Kay Hagan.
But we need Senator Burr and our U.S. House representatives to sign on as cosponsors too.
Here’s what you can do:
Call this toll free number at the U.S. Capitol: 1-877-762-8762. Ask for the office of Senator Richard Burr. Ask for Natasha Hickmar, his legislative director. If she’s not available, leave a message on her voice mail, urging him to cosponsor SJR 15. Emphasize that this is bipartisan legislation.
Call the number again and ask for the office of your U.S. representative. Urge him/her to cosponsor HJR 43. Here are their names and corresponding legislative directors:
David Price – Asher Hildebrand
Melvin Watt – Laura Hooper
G.K. Butterfield – Saul Hernandez
Howard Coble – John Mautz
Renee Ellmers – Elaine Acevedo
Virginia Foxx – Leslie Goodman
George Holding (vacant; ask for legislative director)
Richard Hudson – Michael Thornberry
Walter Jones – Joshua Bowlen
Patrick McHenry – Jennifer Titton
Mike McIntyre – Blair Milligan
Mark Meadows – Kevin Klein
Robert Pittenger – Austen Jensen
Better yet, visit your respective congressperson during their August recess, when they will be at home in their districts.
Thank you in advance for taking these few minutes to speak out for constitutional equality for women. Please send an email to let us know their response, or post your comment below.
