Despite the century that has elapsed our constitution still does not recognize or guarantee full protection of the law for women and gender minorities. Hj resolution 79 would bring us one step closer. The resolution removes the previous deadline set for ratifying the e. R. A. And will ensure that recent ratifications by nevada , illinois, in virginia are given full effect. The e. R. A. Offers a basic and fundamental guarantee, the equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. Thats it. Very simple. In the years since it was passed by overwhelming majorities in the house and senate we have made Great Strides to secure that equality including through existing case law signed under the 14th amendment. The e. R. A. Would enshrine those principles and take the final step of ensuring that laws disadvantaging women and gender minorities are subject to the most rigorous form of constitutional scrutiny. In recent years we have seen breakthroughs for womens rights and gender equality. We have seen millions of women march in support of their rights and dignity as equal citizens. Through the me too movement we have had painful conversations about the harassment that women and gender minorities experience whether in the workplace, at home, or at schools or universities. We have seen women get elected to congress in Record Numbers. Weeks ago, virginia became the necessary state to pass and ratify the equal rights amendment. We are on the brink of making history and no deadline should stand in the way. The constitution places no deadlines on the process for ratifying constitutional amendments making it doubtful whether congress had the authority to impose such a deadline in the first place. If it had such authority, then congress clearly also has the authority to remove any deadline that it previously chose to set. I want to thank representative Jackie Speier for introducing this resolution which takes that important step. This resolution will ensure at long last that the equal rights amendment having been proposed by Congress Years ago having now been ratified by three quarters of the states can take its rightful place as part of our nations constitution. I reserve the balance of my time. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Three quarters of the state failed to ratify the equal rights amendment by the 1979 deadline. Yet House Democrats are trying to retroactively revive the failed constitutional amendment. Congress does not have the power to do that. Congress set the deadline, it was passed, it did not get approved and now there is an inrun to go around that. The United StatesSupreme Court recognized this in 1982 when it stated that the issue was moot because the deadline for the e. R. A. Ratification expired before the requisite number of states approved it. Next year the democratic leadership and the house of representatives acting on the same understanding started the entire process of the e. R. A. Approval over again. It also failed to meet the required two thirds majority in the house on november 15, 1983. Today in defiance of historical reality and the clear acceptance of the situation by all relevant participants in the original debate, the democrats have brought forward a resolution that denies the obvious. Now the proponents of this resolution want to convince their base that if both houses of Congress Pass this joint resolution, the e. R. A. Will become part of the constitution just because the democrats control the Virginia State legislature. Their Legislature Passed the e. R. A. This year. Even current Supreme CourtJustice Ruth Bader ginsburg as a supporter of the e. R. A. Since the beginning has said just a few months ago, i hope someday we will start over again on the e. R. A. , collecting the necessary state to ratify it. This week she said, i would like to see a new beginning, i would like to see it start all over. There is too much controversy. Plus a number of states that have withdrawn their ratification. If you count a latecomer on the plus side, how do you disregard states that said we changed our minds . Congress does not have the authority to retroactively revive the failed constitutional amendment and to be subject to citizens of all 50 states to what may be the Current Political Trends in just one state. The u. S. Supreme court has already recognized that, past democratic leadership, the house has recognize that, Justice Ginsburg has recognize that, but apparently the current democratic leadership is intent on rewriting history. As we have our debate today, i will show what the real intent about this is and it has nothing to do with equal rights. It has a lot to do with other issues that will be exposed today. With that, i reserve. The gentleman from new york is recognized. I now yield three minutes to the distinguished lady from california, the chief sponsor of this bill, representative speier. The gentlewoman from california is recognized for three minutes. Thank you madam speaker and i thank the chairman for his leadership on this issue. This is very simple, members. Women want to be equal and we want it in the constitution. I am equal on this house floor with all of my male colleagues but when i walk out, i have fewer rights and protections than them. I rise today because the women of america are done being secondclass citizens. We are done being paid less for our work, done being violated with impunity, done being discriminated against for our pregnancies, done being discriminated against because we are women. The e. R. A. Is about equality. It is about sisterhood, motherhood, survival, dignity, and respect. The world recognizes this of the 190 three countries in the united nations, 165 have put this kind of language in their constitutions. But not the United States of america. From the womens march to the me too movement, the outrage we have seen among women is because we have been disrespected, devalued and diminished in our society. We are fed up. It is no wonder recent votes to ratify the e. R. A. Came in 2017, and 2020. Because we want the e. R. A. Now. We have waited almost a century for the e. R. A. I want to thank my republican cosponsors of this resolution including congressman reed, fitzpatrick and van drew. I know most of you recognize that this is the right thing to do for your wives, daughters, and granddaughters. 94 of americans already support the e. R. A. They are surprised it is not already in the constitution. Some of you will say just restart the process but you are the same people that admit you will not vote for it. Some will say women already have equality while they vote against vawa reauthorization, vote against paycheck fairness, chip away at title ix. For too long women have relied on the Patchwork Quilt of laws and president s. We have been forced to take our cases all the way to the Supreme Court and from there, we lose. For my colleagues who think we already have equality, talk to Christy Brzonkala who was raped by two Football Players at virginia tech. She sought justice under the violence against women act but the Supreme Court struck down the civil suit provisions claiming congress lacked the authority to pass it. Or Lilly Ledbetter who had to rely on an anonymous note to learn she was paid less than her male colleagues at goodyear. Or betty duke who was passed over for promotions and paid 10,000 less for her work at walmart. Or peggy young who was placed on unpaid leave losing her Health Insurance while pregnant at ups all the while men were granted the exact same accommodation that she was denied. The e. R. A. Is about building the america we want. It is about forming a more Perfect Union because simply put, there can be no Expiration Date on equality. I urge my colleagues to affirm their support for womens equality and vote for this resolution. I yield back. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Gentleman gentlewoman from arizona is recognized for three minutes. So i obviously care and support equal rights for women. But i opposed this bill for three reasons. First, the bill is not constitutional. When the e. R. A. Originally passed congress explicitly set a deadline for ratifications, the deadline was in 1979. 41 years ago. Already five of the 38 needed to ratify. Then five states on ratify it. Thus the equal rights amendment was dead. The u. S. Department of justice issued an legal opinion reiterating that the ratification timeline is expired. The Supreme CourtJustice Ruth Ginsburg said the deadline passed. I would like to see a new beginning. I would like it to start over. Secondly, the e. R. A. Amendment is not necessary. Womens equality of rights under the law is already recognized in our constitution in the fifth and 14th amendment. Rights director wrote, it has been clearly understood that the 14th amendment prohibits discrimination based on sex. State andfederal local laws already prohibit sex discrimination. Third reason i oppose this bill. If ratified the e. R. A. Would be used by proabortion groups to undo prolife legislation and lead to more abortions and taxpayer funding of abortions. Do not take my word for it. Lets look at what proabortion groups have done and what they say. In 1998 the new mexico Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the states e. R. A. Required the state to fund abortions. Whichoice america supports abortion asserted that the e. R. A. Would reinforce the constitutional right to abortions and would require judges to strike down antiabortion laws. Letter, it was stated that the equal rights amendment would provide an additional layer of protection against restrictions on abortion. Conclusion, this bill is unconstitutional, the e. R. A. Is unnecessary, since constitutional, federal, state, and local laws already guarantee protections and the e. R. A. If ratified would be used by proabortion groups to undo prolife laws. I yield back. The dominance of new york is recognized. Of new york is recognized. Can set angress deadline, it can remove a deadline. I recognize the distinguished majority leader of the house for one minute. The gentleman is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, let me thank representative speier and all of those who have been such warriors on this issue for such a long period of time. They are keeping the faith. Moment amendment was proposed and passed in 1972. In the early part of 1972. I was a member of the Maryland State Senate in 1972 and i had the honor of shortly after in the late spring of 1972 months after the e. R. A. Had been passed of voting to ratify that. Speaker said in only 35 states. That is 70 of the states. They ratified that in a timely passion fashion. Date. A 70 of the states of this nation. It needed three more states. It has now received three more states. I have been an advocate for the equal rights amendment for essentially four decades. Actually longer. I will be proud to vote for it today. Just a few months as i have said after congress adopted it, marilyn voted for ratification. Maryland voted for ratification. Are some 48th years is. R and it still our founders declared all men are created equal in their declaration of independence. Founder, if they were writing that document today, would have said when men met White Property owning men, surely they would not have written that. Surely none of us would have supported that. Since the beginning americans have been taking steps to define that in a more expansive, representing our universal values. The constitution to ensure africanamericans could not be denied the right to vote. It took a long time. Body willin this think of the suffragettes who were active in making decisions in our families and communities and country. Could not vote prior to 1919. 1789 to 1919. Women could not vote. I am the father of three daughters. A grandfather of two granddaughters and a greatgrandfather of three great granddaughters. For me to go home to them tonight and said i voted against i voted against your being equal in america. My wife passed away but if i went home to her tonight and said i voted against your being equal in america. Or those grandchildren and greatgrandchildren who have to have been born as women and say to them, i voted against your being equal in america today. Act to the civil rights declare that all must be treated equally regardless of race. Twoassed the ada discrimination against those with disabilities. But still nowhere in our constitution does it state clearly that women must be treated equally and that one must not be subject to discrimination because of their. Ender the e. R. A. Would enshrine that basic tenant of our democracy and our constitution at long last. And then threees more said that also be our constitution. Three quarters of the state have voted to ratify this amendment. Discrimination against women has kept bright and talented americans from achieving their potential. Because of their hard work and the preservation perseverance of women, we have seen barriers come down and doors of opportunity open and glass ceilings shattered. Discrimination, inequality, and injustice persist and we will hear arguments on this floor rationalizing why discrimination ought to still exist. Constitution did not explicitly banned discrimination based on gender as it does on race, we will continue to see forms of legal discrimination against women linger in our country. Theng this step to add e. R. A. Is one of the many that House Democrats are taking to combat discrimination against women. Simply because they are women. Last year we passed the patriot fairness act. Not everybody voted for that. In my opinion everybody voted for that who thought equal pay should mean equal pay irrespective of gender and based upon work performance. That was built on the ledbetter act to ensure equal pay for equal work. We also passed a reauthorization of violence against women act. Most of us on our side voted for that. Whye was a rationalization some would say no, we will not protect women against violence. We have continued working to protect womens right to make their own Health Care Choices and to access quality affordable care. Who said that was part of the constitution, the Supreme Court of the United States. They said that was a constitutional right. We have seen effort after effort to erode that constitutional right. I am proud that the democratic cus is not only that most the most diverse but also includes the greatest number of women. It was an election that softly saw the house delegates reached 30 women and 28 . Tate delegates reached once it got there, the women stood up and said that ought to be in the constitution of the United States and they voted to do so. Virginia has a woman speaker of the house. As my home state of marilyn has, a home state of delegates. Marilyn maryland. That is why this resolution is on the floor. I have been proud of the women who run for the house as democrats. Frankly we need more women as republicans. A diminishing group, i might add. I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this resolution and finally, is it too late . It is too late. But it is never too late to do the right thing. Make this part of our constitution. Stand up and say yes, women should be included as all humankind who are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. That is the principal that we are articulating today. I was once asked why she kept all of her focus on getting the job done. She said when you put your hand to the plow, you cannot put it down until you get to the end of the row. We are not at the end of the way row, but this is a upon that row to make it complete. To make our constitution protect all people. E or female, lack or white black or white, all people. Lets hold firm to that plow. Lets get the job done. Vote yes on this resolution. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. I yield three minutes. Gentlewomann from missouri is recognized for three minutes. Womenommend the men and who have gone before us to celebrate the achievements that women have made and to reaffirm the fact that we are equal in the eyes of god and in law. Women make up 51 of the population, comprised of over half of the college students, make up most of todays medical and Law School Students and owned the majority of new businesses. Women are not victims in need of validation. The growth can be whatever they want to be whether it be an astronaut, dr. , a fulltime mom, or a member of congress. President w and court of hold are right. That is something to applaud and i do. Legislation iss problematic on several fronts. First, the resolution is unconstitutional. Thetime needed to pass e. R. A. Expired decades ago. Congress cannot go back and remove a deadline for a previous constitutional amendment initiative. The Supreme Court recognizes the 1972 e. R. A. Expired and the department of justice issued a ruling saying congress may not revolve revive after the deadline has expired. Pretending that we can remove the time limits is futile and deceptive. Secondly, if the time limit could be extended, the e. R. A. Would not bring women any more rights than they currently have right now. But it would entrance the legality of abortion. We know this from listening to those who have the most to gain from constitutionally protecting abortion. In 1998 the new mexico Supreme Court ruled that the equal rights amendment in their state constitution requires state funding of abortions. Some reports are likely to do the same some courts are likely to do the same. Prochoice america says with this ratification the e. R. A. Would reinforce the constitutional right to abortion. The National Org