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[Page H1050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STARTING OVER ON THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) for 5 minutes.
Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, we will soon be voting on H.J. Res. 79,
which attempts to remove the deadline for ratification contained in the
equal rights amendment, which passed Congress in 1972.
Over the decades, we have made great strides in our Nation in
promoting and protecting women's rights. This year, we are celebrating
the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the
right to vote across our country.
A few months ago, I visited the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum in
Adams, Massachusetts. It is a small but powerful museum that tells the
story of Susan B. Anthony and her work, along with other suffragists,
for the right to vote and for other rights for women.
When talking about how far we have come in equal rights for women, I
can't help but think of my own mother, who is now in her eighties. When
I graduated from eighth grade, she fulfilled her goal of graduating
from college, which she had never had a chance to do. When I went off
to college, she fulfilled a lifelong dream and went to law school; and,
in 1988, she graduated from Georgetown University Law School with her
law degree. It took her a long time to finally have these
opportunities, but she persevered and succeeded.
So I am thinking about my mother as well as my wife, who is an
actuary, and my sister, who is an attorney. I think about them when I
work on protecting women from discrimination and harassment in the
workplace, when I work for legislation for equal pay for women and for
other bills to guarantee equal treatment for women.
The equal rights amendment, as we now consider it, was passed by
Congress in 1972. There was a 7-year deadline placed by Congress on
States for ratification, just as there had been on a number of other
constitutional amendments. At the deadline, three-fourths of States had
not ratified it.
This week, Congress will be considering H.J. Res. 79, which
retroactively removes the deadline for ratification. There is much
controversy over whether this is constitutional. In addition, H.J. Res.
79 also requires a simple majority to pass.
Article V of the Constitution gives Congress the power to propose
constitutional amendments but requires a two-thirds vote in both the
House and the Senate. The original resolution introduced in the House
this year to remove the ERA deadline, H.J. Res. 38, required a two-
thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.
In addition, we know that the Senate is highly unlikely to take up
this resolution. So, if Congress is interested in the equal rights
amendment being added to the Constitution, we should be considering
H.J. Res. 35, which would restart the process.
Just a couple of days ago, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a longtime
supporter of the ERA, said Congress should do just this. Justice
Ginsburg said:
I would like to see a new beginning. I'd like to start
over.
She added:
There is too much controversy about latecomers. Plus, a
number of States have withdrawn their ratification. So, if
you count a latecomer on the plus side, how can you disregard
States that have said ``we've changed our minds''?
H.J. Res. 35, which would restart the process, could go through
committee, where it could be debated, potentially amended, and then
brought to the floor for further debate and possible amendment. In
doing so, we can clear up any points of contention about the impact
of the ERA and raise a consensus.
If we truly want to support the addition of the equal rights
amendment to the Constitution, this is what we should do. I support
doing this. Otherwise, we are simply casting a message vote.
This week when we vote on H.J. Res. 79, my message is yes. I will be
voting ``yes'' to demonstrate my support for protecting equal rights
for my wife, my mother, my sister, and for all women.
____________________
