BREAKING: Virginia Ratifies the ERA
THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT FULLY RATIFIED IN VIRGINIA
Today we change Virginia green, following the state’s historic vote to ratify the ERA.
It is official!
The state of Virginia becomes the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
Moments ago the Virginia General Assembly completed the procedural process for the ratification of the ERA by that state. With these actions the Equal Rights Amendment has officially reached the minimum of 38 states required by Congress for ratification to the U.S. Constitution when the amendment was passed in 1972.
Six Republican Senators joined with Democrat Senators to approve the Virginia House of Delegates' version of the ERA by a bi-partisan vote of 27-12. Thank you to both parties for working together. And in the House of Delegates, with a vote of 58-40 the House approved the Senate's version of the ERA.
The ERA is now ratified in Virginia!
We send our heartfelt gratitude to the millions of supporters who have fought for the ERA since it was first introduced by Alice Paul in 1923. She would be so very proud!
This is a day for celebration. If you are in Virginia, there is a party this evening to mark this amazing day. More information and tickets can be found HERE.
Fun fact: Female legislators elected to the state legislature in Virginia oversaw the final voting procedures in both the Virginia House and the Virginia Senate on this historic day. Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn and state Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas led today's voting.
FLOOR VOTE COMING FOR H.J. RES 79
We are delighted to share more big news! Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has announced that the U.S. House of Representatives plans to bring HJ Res 79, the bill to remove the deadline from the ERA, for a vote during the week of February 10 th .
This vote is a testament to the decades of hard work done by the fearless ERA leaders in the legislature - Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), the lead sponsor of the bill, and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), a longtime ERA champion, the members of their staff and YOU!
You can read the Dear Colleague document announcing the vote HERE .
We will continue to monitor this vote, and share updates with you.
UPDATES ON THE RESOLUTIONS IN CONGRESS
H.J. Res 79 View the full resolution HERE.
Co-Sponsors = 224 (same as last week)
S.J. Res 6 View the full resolution HERE.
Co-Sponsors = 41 (same as last week)
CALL TO ACTION
BILLS IN CONGRESS TO REMOVE THE DEADLINE
The ERA Coalition and the Alice Paul Institute are increasing their efforts to advance S.J. Res 6 , which will remove the deadline associated with the Equal Rights Amendment. We urgently encourage you contact the Senators listed below, and your Senator to request their support for the bill.
To see if your Senator has signed on as a co-sponsor, click HERE .
The ERA Coalition is asking for our support to increase pressure on U.S. Senators to advance SJ Res 6 , the legislation that will remove the original deadline from the ERA. Introduced by Sen. Ben Cardin (MD), more co-sponsors are needed to advance the bill.
The following Senators have been selected for focused attention. If you are in these states, please call and email the office contacts (info below). Please also share with your friends, family, and colleagues who live in these states so they can also advocate for their Senators to sign onto the bill as co-sponsors.
ALASKA:
Sen. Dan Sulllivan (R)
(202) 224-3004
David Pigue
david_pigue@sullivan.senate.gov
ARIZONA:
Sen. Martha McSally (R)
(202) 224-2235
Pace McMullan
pace_mcmullan@mcsally.senate.gov
COLORADO:
Sen. Cory Gardner (R)
(202) 224-5941
Brian Wanamaker
brian_wanamaker@gardner.senate.gov
DELAWARE:
Sen. Thomas Carper (D)
(202) 224-2441
Michael Santora michael_santora@carper.senate.gov
DELAWARE:
Sen. Christopher Coons (D)
(202) 224-5042
Erica Songer
IOWA:
Sen. Joni Ernst (R)
(202) 224-3254
Corey Becker
OHIO:
Sen. Rob Portman (R)
(202) 224-3353
Megan Harrington
megan_harrington@portman.senate.gov
MONTANA:
Sen. Jon Tester (D)
(202) 224-2644
Laura Peterson laura_peterson@tester.senate.gov
NEW MEXICO:
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D)
(202) 224-5521
Simon Boyce
simon_boyce@heinrich.senate.gov
VERMONT:
Sen. Patrick Lehy (D)
(202) 224-4242
David Pendle
WASHINGTON:
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D)
(202)-224-0514
Jonathan Hale
jonathan_hale@cantwell.senate.gov
WEST VIRGINIA:
Sen. Joe Manchin (D)
(202) 224-3954
Kevin Carson
kevin_carson@manchin.senate.gov
WISCONSIN:
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D)
(202)-224-5653
Brian Moulton brian_moulton@baldwin.senate.gov
The ERA Coalition has crafted a sample script for you to use when you call or email your U.S. Senators. Please edit/adapt at you wish.
SCRIPT:
Supporter: Hi, my name is [INSERT YOUR NAME] and I am [CALLING/WRITING] from [INSERT YOUR CITY/STATE] .
[if you are calling:] Can you please connect me with [member of staff who handles Judiciary issues]?
I am [CALLING/WRITING] to urge Senator [INSERT LAST NAME] to sign on as a cosponsor of SJ Res 6, the bill to remove the deadline on the Equal Rights Amendment.
It is past time for the U.S. Constitution to explicitly protect women from discrimination, and Congress must act to see this happen. We are 1 state to 38, and Virginia is poised to ratify in January 2020. Momentum is building all across the country, however, and 11 of the 13 non ratified states introduced legislation to ratify the ERA just this year.
Polling conducted by the ERA Coalition shows that equality is something we can all agree on. Their research found that 94% of respondents would support an amendment to the Constitution to guarantee equality for women and men, including 99% of women of color and millennials! This near universal support crosses party lines, reaffirming the bipartisan history of the ERA.
I hope that Senator [INSERT LAST NAME] will join the bipartisan group of Senators, including Senators Cardin, Murkowski, Collins and King who have already cosponsored this legislation. His/Her support will put us closer to a mark-up and vote on SJ Res 6 and affirm her/his dedication to promoting an equal future for the women and girls of this country.
To sign on or request more information, please contact Juan Urcia in Senator Cardin’s office at:
Juan_Urcia@cardin.senate.gov , or Garrett Boyle in Senator Murkowski’s office at: Garrett_Boyle@murkowski.senate.gov .
Thank you for your time."
[if you are writing:]
Sincerely,
[INSERT YOUR NAME]