[Kreweoftruth] Senator Mary Landrieu Signs On As Original Co-Sponsor of Senate ERA Resolution!

[kreweoftruth at kreweoftruth.net]

Louisiana ERA Coalition Board Members and Presidents/Liaisons,
 
ALERT--United 4 Equality and the Louisiana ERA Coalition are proud to announce that Louisiana's very own Senator Mary Landrieu was among the "Elite Eight" Senators who signed on as original co-sponsors of S. J. 39, the companion Senate resolution to H. J. Res. 47, our ERA House resolution to remove the ratification deadline and reintroduce the Three-State Strategy!!!  This historic resolution was introduced by lead Senate sponsor Senator Ben Cardin (MD) on March 22, 2012, the 40th anniversary of the passage of the ERA in Congress.  Among other distinguished original co-sponsors are Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Senate lead sponsor of the ERA Start-Over bill, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), head of the Judiciary sub-committee before which the resolution will be heard, and longtime women's rights advocate, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA).
 
We just received word a few minutes ago that Senator Bernard Sanders (D-VT) has just signed on as our first co-sponsor since last Thursday's introduction, bringing our total co-sponsors so far to nine.
 
Many thanks to everyone who contacted Senator Landrieu requesting her original co-sponsorship.  We deeply appreciate your diligence to this pressing task and your hard work in bringing about this wonderful outcome.
 
A very special thank you to United 4 Equality's founder and CEO, Carolyn Cook, architect of the original resolution that is now known as S. J. 39 and H. J. Res. 47, who has worked tirelessly for years and whose devotion and never say die spirit are responsible for this historic day.
 
Please send your thanks to both Senator Landrieu, via her Legislative Director Kimberly Owusukowi at 202-224-8398, and to Carolyn (ccook at united4equality.com), to let them know how much you appreciate them.
 
We must continue to lobby Senator Vitter and all of our Congresspeople, especially Congressman Cedric Richmond, for their co-sponsorships of S. J. 39 and H. J. Res. 47.  Senator Cardin is requesting 20 co-sponsors before taking the bill before the Judiciary sub-committee, so let's work hard to meet his goal as soon as possible.
 
Please distribute this exciting and important news to your members and listserves and thank them for their assistance with our lobbying efforts.
 

Below is the YouTube video and a press release of the introduction ceremony.
 

 

E.R.A. - Senator Ben Cardin March 22, 2012
www.youtube.com
March 22, 2012-U.S. Senator Ben Cardin announces a Senate joint resolution to remove the deadline for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (E.R.A.),...
 
 

CARDIN INTRODUCES JOINT RESOLUTION TO REMOVE TIMELINE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT RATIFICATION 

On the 40th anniversary of Senate passage of ERA, Cardin renews the commitment to achieve equality for women

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today introduced a joint resolution to remove the deadline for the states’ ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tom Harkin (R-IA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) are cosponsoring the bill. Representative Tammy Baldwin has introduced similar legislation, H.J. Res. 47, in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

“Women have made tremendous advances in this country, but America still has not realized its promise of equal protection under the law for men and women,” said Senator Cardin. “Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment would at last make equality for women explicitly clear in our Constitution. We’re only three states short of victory and cannot afford to give up the fight on the 40th anniversary of the Senate’s passage of the ERA. An arbitrary deadline for state ratification of the ERA should not stand in the way of equal rights for our mothers, wives and daughters.” 

When Congress passed the ERA in 1972, it provided that the measure had to be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38) within seven years. This deadline was later extended to ten years by a joint resolution enacted by Congress, but ultimately only 35 out of 38 states had ratified the ERA when the deadline expired in 1982.

Senator Cardin’s joint resolution would give states another chance by removing the deadline set by Congress for ratification of the ERA. The Constitution contains no time limits for ratification of constitutional amendments, and the 27th Amendment to the Constitution prohibiting immediate Congressional pay raises was ratified after 203 years. 

Nearly half of states today have a version of the ERA written into their state constitution. Additionally, numerous groups have endorsed Cardin’s legislation, including United 4 Equality, the National Council of Women’s Organizations, and the National Organization for Women.





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