House Passes ERA Timeline Removal, Time to Put Pressure on the Senate!
Today the House of Representatives took the historic step of voting to remove the artificial timeline imposed on the ERA decades ago. Because the timeline is not actually in the text of the ERA, we believe, along with many top Constitutional law scholars, that it’s not binding. However, this timeline removal legislation is important “backup” insurance for the likely court battles ahead.
On Wednesday, February 12th, NOW President Toni Van Pelt joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi and numerous other Congressional leaders and feminist activists who have been champions for the ERA for decades in a press conference in support of the timeline removal bill. The call to action was clear- we need a strong bipartisan vote in the Senate to remove the timeline – so now it is more important than ever to let Republican members know where you stand.
Please see sample outreach language below and contact your Senators. Let’s see this long journey for equality through to victory!
Contact Your Senator:
Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121, or find your Senator online here.
Sample Language
I am a voter in ___(Your State)___ and I urge you to cosponsor and support the Joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (S.J.RES.6/H.J.Res.79). The ERA will guarantee full and equal protections claims based on sex, as they now do to claims based on race, religion or national origin. The ERA is a long overdue remedy to the inequality faced by girls and women over the past 200+ years. Removing the deadline will be helpful to the effort if and when the ERA faces legal challenges.
Social Media
And don’t forget to speak out on social media and tag your members of Congress!
Women need equality NOW! The Senate must support the Joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to remove this arbitrary timeline. A democracy that fails to include women in its founding document is a failed democracy. #ERANOW