Hello, everyone. This is washington and action. Asas you know we have several people speaking, but the first is definitely an important advocate for the 28th amendment, and its particularly a pleasure because i just found out that someone i taughtau legislative procedure two is now the chief counsel for senator cardin. When i was visiting at the university off maryland. I want to introduce you to an extraordinaryte advocate for the amendment on and on equal rights and extraordinary leader in the fight for human rights around the globe and a great senator for the great state of maryland. [applause] dont leave us so quickly. I want ton thank you. I want to thank you. You did a great job. Hes a very good chief counsel for so thank you for importing into him what is necessary. We have a lot of procedural problems in the senate i dont know if you notice to that or not, but we thank you very much and helen rogers is also here. The staff do an incredible work for us and i just always want to acknowledge them. Thank you for being here and for what you do and i want to thank the sponsors. Iof know my colleagues from the house of representatives will be here later on. If they have some voting that they are doing at this particular moment. It is a challenge because of the leadership in the house of representatives for them to get anything done. So hopefully they will be able to move some legislation. I just really want to start by saying 100 years is too long. Weve got to get the acknowledgment of the amendment as being part of the constitution. Thats the bottom line. I strongly supportrt the efforts that senator joe legrand is doing in regards and acknowledgment. My Legislature Passed a resolution to acknowledge the equal rights amendment as part of our constitution. We need t the states act, the white house to be a bit more friendly towards. Theres nothing in the constitution of the constitution that talks about a time limit. If there is no time limit on equality. As we know, the amendment before was the one dealing with congressional pay. There is no time limit on the constitutional process, the 38th state ratified in 2000 with virginia that is what is required in the constitution, so it should be acknowledged as part of the constitution of the United States and we are going to continue to work with of that. Im but in the meantime we had other strategies that we are working with. The poll shows they believe it is part of the constitution of the United States and supported it to be part of the constitution of the United States, so we had of the American People on our side. Its an urgent that we get this done and weve been working on the issue ever since he and weve got to complete the job, but its urgent today because we have runaway courts coming up with insertta interpretations. The dogs decision puts a spotlight on this but there are other decisions eroding the rights. I never thought i would see this. The decision erased rights that were embedded for 48 years for the right to control their own destiny and healthcare decisions. But we have equal concern about what these rights would be for pregnant women and for violence against women, in regards to Workplace Safety issues. The list goes on and on that we need to have the protection of the strict interpretations as provided by the equal rights amendment and part of our constitution, so we need that extra protection in the constitution. So where are we . The legislation i introduced over a decade ago to remove the time limit which has been done in the past, this isnt something that hasnt been done before, congress put a time limit on it. Theres no requirement for a time limit. There is a certain argument that we feel very passionately about that that does not deny the ratification even if it still remainsla in law but we want to make that time of it out of law and make it as clear we have seen that legislation passed the house of representatives in previous congresses. We want to get it passed again in the house of representatives and there is a discharge petition to make that a reality. In the United States senate, we have 53 cosponsors of the legislation. Last time i checked a majority of the senate is 51, so we had thete majority of the senate, we had every single democrat, every single independent and to senator murkowski and collins it is bipartisan, so we had that support and we want to get that past. I want to thank senator durbin. It gave us the opportunity to establish the record about why the bill, the resolution i introduced should be passed. We then had a vote, thank you senator schumer for scheduling the vote. The majority of the senators voted in favor of moving forward to pass the legislation. Senator schumer took steps so we could reconsider that at any time so we can reconsider that. Theres more votes this year on that issue but because of the arcane use of the filibuster in the senate, and i know there are some areas you might think its important to slow down legislation, i do. But for a hundred years its gone on too long and theres legislation that the senate rules allow us to vote on and thats been denied for the enactment. So we think that is an exception that should be made but weve passed in the house intoto the senate. We are determined to continue this effort and we want to get it done this year and we know we need help. Thats why i was so pleased that this one is taking place and i want you to know we are open and part of this team. You have incredible leaders that are in this room that have been working on this issue. We applaud their efforts. They are keeping public attention on this. Thats important. Let me tell you how democracies work. They y work on election day to whom you elect office. This needs to be resolved i hope before election day but if its then we should make sure that this becomes an issue and of the voters understand whos on their side and whos not on their side and that this becomes an important issue to make sure we have the right mind come the next year if they dont get it done this year to make sure we have this part of the constitution of the United States. I understand we have some questions. I had the privilege of moderating so everyone, q up your questions. I will start things off. I am the director of the equal rights amendment project at Columbia Law School center. Thank you for being here. As you see we are joined by incredible advocates, officials, scholars, people in the private sector essentially representing everybody in society. What is your advice for people as a group of different people with different viewpoints to keep the momentum up . Thats a very important question and why we have the coalition and leadership. Weo try to focus our strategies together. We have at this stage several strategies that we are using to get the legal acknowledgment. Second, to bring this issue up in the judicial way where we thinkss we can be successful on getting it acknowledged so that is strategy one, and we want us to all be focused on those strategies. Strategy number two is to get the legislation, the resolution i sponsored before my colleagues and enacted into law that would remove any doubt about the time limit congress placed on the enacting legislation that allowed the states to vote on the ratification of the equal rights amendment, so that is our secondrt avenue. In regards to the first, we do have legislation that would acknowledge that it is part of the constitution and that we should be supportive as well. Then last, its the rules of how we operate in the house and senatete to put a focus on the fact both should be voting on the majority vote. Its those strategies we are trying to get everyone focused on to get things done in this congress and then let me point out the need for education. Education has two fronts. One i am happier that its part of the constitution but we need the public to understand we still need to take steps so it is acknowledged as part of the constitution and becomes part of our constitution so theres an educational process here and why is that important . Because we want to make sure we have our constituencies asking the right questions of the candidates so they vote the right way so we complete the job on the equal rights amendment and second, thehe importance of the application because Many Americans say its 2024 do we really need an equal amendment and the answer is yes we need to educate the public as to whats happening and the needs of the different scrutinies that are available if it becomes a part of our constitution. I am led to the Advocacy Group for the virginia ratification. Congratulations. Well done. Thank you. Many of us would like to see this conversation in the larger context and our failure to uphold by not publishing the 28th amendment. In your final months, will you schedule a hearing . Thats an interesting point. I served as the chair of the Helsinki Commission which is an internationalin group for centrl asia and north america and we have used the forum to point out that the United States is violating the International Standards by denying the citizens of the district of columbia full voting protections into representation in the congress and senate and ive sponsored resolutions and theyvete passed. Ive wanted to go over this with the coalition as to where we think the focus needs to be with the senate before we use any of our mechanisms to put a spotlight on one strategy versus another. I also recognize that this is a because it isve democrat on democrat when we talk about what the white house is doing. Itsn a strategy decision thati ngwant to make along with the coalition. My name is claudia and i am the deputy executive director of the party that is a 14,000 strong youth movement. To finalize im also a proud maryland are and i want to say Young Marylanders are proud of you and your staffing leadership in the senate pioneering. Im glad i recognizedd you fr the question. [laughter] i wanted to ask given your experience and expertise inis te senate, what is your outlook regarding whether it will be passed given the fact its not a regular legislation, its legislation relating to article five matters and should it be subject to the senate filibuster. Its an excellent question. We need 50 senators that are willing to allow senator schumer to make that interpretation and we will support that interpretation. As of last count, we had a maximum d of 49. Im going to tell you i dont think we have 49. If we get to a vote but right now its the mid40s of where we are at with interpretation of the rules, so that is what we have. We need to be able to support senator schumers actions. Senator schumers is prepared to move forward if he can get the 50 votes and of course whenever harris votes in the senate will always win, so i always like having her there. What are some perspective pieces of legislation that are not feasible under the current constitutional framework that maybe wouldnt be possible after the amendment is recognized . I think its more to protect than it is affirmative passing but its an excellent question. We are struggling with interpretations that are affecting affirmative action and the use of Demographic Data et cetera that is causing tremendous challenge dealing with the underserved communities. So i would have to giveug that someme thought if we want to adt additional protections in regards to the equal rights amendments. My guess is there would be an evaluation date and there would probably be an effort for legislation to go further than weve gone past. Its not a protective class under the constitution so therefore we doo not have the same rights that we had on race. So it is an issue. We are nearly out of time and i will close by asking you what your plans are for the post senate and what are your plans for the gender justice as a civilian . Ive been extremely fortunate ive had a chance to serve in the assembly and i served in the house of representatives its been an incredible journey and i think the people of maryland for allowing me to do this. I was a maryland law student when i ran for the what is the trend was elected and served in the legislature during my years in law school. Ruso its been a long one and i appreciate i do intend to stay active and i will follow the priorities that i have. Of them is the equal rights amendment i tend to be equally engaged in to see it completed. I will continue to work in that effort and im going to work on human rights issues and work on those issues that i think are the ones i can give some value to the policy development of the nations. Thank you very much. [applause] everyone enjoying your enjoy. We are awaiting the arrival and i believe in the interim we have somebody go remarks from senator joe legrand who is also been invested in the effort and genderul champion involving the military, gender violence and so we are going to play that video now i hope. Its encouraging to have the bestst advocates pushing i am im proudto be the senate lead it is well past time and women have waited far too long for the constitution to reflect they should already be the law of the land. It was passed by a two thirds majority ofy congress and ratified by three fourths of the state. It a satisfied all the requirements under article five and yet its the only constitutional amendment to be blocked from being certified and published. At the administration intentionally inserted itself into this process to deny equality too millions of americans based on flaws and theories that equate to. The memo drafted relies primarily 1 on 1921 case that ws made moot. At the amendment took 203 years to be ratified and certified Read Congress proposes the amendment in the states ratify them. We cannot allow the trumpet year and a memo to dictate that women are secondclass citizens under law. The state legislatures in court have the final say whether women and girls have the right to privacy or to make their own medical decision. Our fundamental rights should not be determined by the zip code. Weve seen how successful equal rights amendments can be. Just this year the state levels in pennsylvania and nevada provided the constitutional basis. Imagine what the equal rights amendment can secure all americans. Im proud to work with you. I know that we are closer now than ever to seeing the equal rights amendment become the law of the land and i continue to push forth any avenues to get this done. Women have waited long enough and we need to have this certified and published into the constitution. Thank you all for being part of this fight for equality. We are going to have a video, she has an extraordinary story to tell about her work and shes now the first black woman whos ever been elected in the commonwealth of virginia in the house of representatives. Representing the fourth Congressional District in the house of representatives. I am the first black woman elected in the commonwealth of virginia im the daughter, granddaughter andrs greatgranddaughter of educators, domestic workers, Committee Leaders and civil rights activists who struggle for equality. My greatgrandfather on a plantation where his parents had been raised. Shortly after thes construction he had to pass a literacy test and found they had to be registered to vote but my greatgrandmother couldnt go. My mother comes from generations of domestic workers. My family faced tremendous obstacles that exercised their right to vote yet they never wavered in the commitment of the process or their desire to create a Better Future for the next generation. I carried these stories with me. I was one of the 20 women in the chamber and i felt the in balance when i became the first to become president and give birth while in office. I was asked are you going to retire . Male colleague two months after i gave birth isnt very long mark propelled by abolitionists and civil Rights Movements and the womens Rights Movement where from the very beginning included women of color on the front lines even when we were last to benefit from that work including the right to vote in 1913. In 1963 from the Lincoln Memorial throughout the course of history laid the groundwork for the tremendous obstacles. It was to bring it across the finish line. 400 years earlier could never imagine. 1619 they realized they needed women to make virginia a permanent settlement and recruited women too, quote, and in 1620 the first 90 women arrived they could not vote or own property. Black women were considered property and had even fewer rights. Fiftysix years later Thomas Jefferson wrote in the declaration of independence that all men were created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights including rights, liberty and the pursuit of happyness. Years later Elizabeth Cady stanton wrote in the convention and the declaration of sentiments she wrote men and women were created equal. In 1787 the constitution created a government by, and for we the people but we did not include everybody. It took 81 years to extend that. In 1868 the amendment promised equal protection under the law but they still didnt didnt exe that reality. Declaring all male citizens of r 21 should be able to vote. Three years later the equal rights amendment was introduced and we are still fighting to defend the constitution. The states have done their part and now im still fighting under the law into the constitution for the firstever caucus is the first woman to represent virginia and a mother to two Young Children i will do my part for the next generation not left fighting the same battle and our mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother. The systematic attacks on the reproductive freedom and other personal freedoms it is imperative we take access to make gender equality the law of the land and enshrine it into law i will continue because we oweht it to our daughters and granddaughter as well as mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother. The equalized amendment process for todays discussion together wewi continue doing our part in the march for gender equality under the law. We are waiting for representative presley and busch, one of the cultures of the largest caucuses in the congress and theyve had votes but to all the students that are here in the legislation where i teach about congress you should have noted two things. One, senator cardins chief counsel was one of my former students and to, that this matters to how the world works. So congress, what youve heard so far as congress has other rules to play than you thought under article five it does have the role to propose and ultimately in our view decide the slideabout these procedurals involving ratification. Thats very, very important. The founders put the congress in article one of her reason. They knew that they were old tasystems in the state that hadt worked particularly well so they changed some of the articles of the state constitutions that they had come from. The courts will become in article three and maybe thats why congress put them in the basement of the capital for a very long time. Indeed when they built the marble palace, which is the Supreme Court of the United States, several people didnt want to have their offices there because they thought it was much too posh during the middle of the depression. So i a think at law school we teach you court, court but the reason the dean was here is we teach you the constitution is also about you, about elections, the congress, the presidency because we can get rid of courts theres other nations that dont have a court like ours. They still have a democracy and that is what they are fighting for. Twe will have representative presley and bush. Thanks for your patience. White house spokesm sam acknowledged the outcome of e trial in a statement saying the articles were rightly voted it down adding that predent biden and secretary mayorkas
comparemela.com © 2020. All Rights Reserved.