RSS Feed
|
|
|||||
|
Maloney Leads Reintroduction Of ERA Amendment
The all-Democratic list of lawmakers, which included U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy (Massachusetts), and joined by leading women's rights groups, expressed their commitment to making sure that women finally achieve official equality in America through a Constitutional amendment. Maloney (D- Queens/Manhattan) declared: "Women are under-represented in government and business, earn less than men, and are nearly twice as poor in old age. It is time to stop stalling and finish what we started 84 years ago. We are tired of excuses; women and girls in the United States deserve every opportunity that men have always had. Let's make this the year we ratify ERA." Kennedy stated: "A bolder effort is clearly needed to finally live up to our commitment of full equality. The Equal Rights Amendment alone cannot remedy all discrimination, but it will clearly strengthen the ongoing efforts of women across the country to obtain equal treatment." Another lawmaker, Congressmember John Dingell (D- Michigan) thanked Maloney for "leading the charge on trying to pass this important legislation". The ERA was first introduced in 1923, but didn't pass Congress until 1972 and lapsed in 1982 when it fell three states short of ratification, Maloney said. This year, there are more than 193 original cosponsors of the ERAs he added. Maloney explained that the ERA is intended to ensure equality for women and men in all areas of society. "During the last 30 years, women have made extraordinary strides toward achieving equality," she said, "but without the ERA, women have often been denied the ability to seek justice when they have experienced discrimination. Today, state and federal laws and policies can still perpetuate gender classifications that keep women from achieving their full potential." - John Toscano |
for larger version       |
||||
