The sponsor of a push to lift the ratification deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment said today that Mother’s Day is the perfect occasion to “honor all the women of our nation” and move the bill forward.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) introduced a companion resolution in March to a House effort by Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) to remove the deadline for ratification of the ERA.
The ERA passed the Senate in 1972. The resolution would remove the 1982 deadline, thus requiring just three more states to ratify the amendment.
“While I am pleased that so many states have made equal rights part of their constitution, I believe it’s important that the ERA be ratified to provide courts with clearer guidance in deciding discrimination cases,” Cardin said.
“In 2011, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia gave an interview in which he stated that the Constitution does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex,” the senator added. “I found that to be a very troubling statement and I want to ensure that the courts have clear direction that no one can be discriminated against based on their sex.”
Cardin’s bill has 10 co-sponsors, including Rep. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). It’s currently in the Judiciary Committee.
The senator touted outside support for his bill including United 4 Equality, the National Council of Women’s Organizations, the National Organization for Women and the American Association of University Women.
“Women have made tremendous advances in our nation, but America still has not realized its promise of equal protection under the law for men and women,” he said. “It’s time we change that by removing the deadline for state ratification of the ERA.”
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