“Hundreds of thousands of American ladies nonetheless face inequality underneath the legislation and injustice of their careers and lives,” Speaker
“Hundreds of thousands of American ladies nonetheless face inequality underneath the legislation and injustice of their careers and lives,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated in a speech earlier than the vote. “It’s not nearly ladies, it’s about America. The E.R.A. will strengthen America, unleashing the complete energy of girls in our financial system and upholding the worth of equality in our democracy.”
Republican opponents argued the modification is pointless, as a result of the 14th Modification already ensures equal remedy for all residents underneath the legislation. They famous that 5 states — Nebraska, Tennessee, Idaho, Kentucky and South Dakota — had tried to rescind their ratification votes within the 1970s.
They usually warned that it will outcome within the growth of abortion rights.
“That is an open door to abortion on demand with no restriction, no authorities interference — actually, authorities pays for it,” warned Consultant Doug Collins of Georgia, the highest Republican on the Judiciary Committee.
College students for Life, which organizes school college students round opposition to abortion, additionally waged a call-in marketing campaign, urging members to foyer their representatives to oppose the modification.
“The Equal Rights Modification is nothing to do about equal rights and every little thing about abortion, that’s why we name it the ‘All the things Associated to Abortion’ act,” the group said on its web site. “The E.R.A. is just a Trojan Horse for taxpayer-funded abortion on demand, and abortion advocates are overtly admitting it.”
To that, Ms. Pelosi stated: “Ladies shouldn’t have the identical standing of equality as males? This has nothing to do with the abortion problem. That’s an excuse, it’s not a purpose.”
The textual content of the Equal Rights Modification is straightforward: “Equality of rights underneath the legislation shall not be denied or abridged by america or by any state on account of intercourse.” It was first proposed in 1923 by Alice Paul, a frontrunner of the suffrage motion. However it took almost 50 years for it to cross each homes of Congress.