Welcome to the 2021-2022 Legislative session

Or as we like to call it … “The Year of the ERA”!

The following proof is offered:

• Both chambers of the United States Congress have filed legislation to remove the deadline that was set on the ERA back in the 1970’s. Senate Joint Resolution 1 (S.J.Res.1) and House Joint Resolution 17 (H.J.Res.17) were filed on day one of this legislative session. 
• The Biden Administration has committed to working with advocates across the country to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.
• 38 States have now ratified the ERA which fulfills the state count needed for an amendment to become law.  

With the deadline eliminated by Congress, and the Biden administration’s likely rescission of the past administration’s effort to block the National Archivist's certification, the amendment should be ratified.

This is BIG!!! 

That’s because women are not in the Constitution! The Equal Rights Amendment would correct that omission, by specifically adding the word “sex” to the language of the Constitution as a category that cannot be discriminated against. 

Sex would join “religion” (1st Amendment) and “race” (15th Amendment) as categories that get the highest level of judicial review when determining cases of discrimination. The ERA would provide women with equal justice under law, regardless of state or jurisdiction. A standard they do not currently enjoy.

Passing the ERA at the federal level is our primary objective. We want to flood our legislators’ DC office with calls of support. 

HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT ...

As of today, the SENATE Resolution has only two signatures. It needs 51 to pass (last year it had 49 signatures, but Senator Graham, as Chair of the Judiciary Committee, blocked it from any discussion).

Contact Senator Graham @ 202-224-5972;  Senator Scott @ 202-224-6121.  

When the staff person answers say something like, “My name is ______ and I am a resident of South Carolina who supports the removal of the deadline on the Equal Rights Amendment. I want Senator ______ to sign on as a cosponsor of S.J.Res.1.” 

Chances are, you’ll just be leaving a message. If so, you should repeat your name and give your address. If you want to leave an additional message at your local office, or send an email, the name links above will give you that senator's information.

The HOUSE Resolution currently has 202 signatures. It needs 218 to pass.  

No South Carolina Reps have signed on.  If you do not know who your representative is, click here. The “Contact Your Member” look-up is in the far right column. If you know who your representative is, use the information below.  

District 1:  Nancy Mace   202-225-3176; @RepNancyMace
District 2:  Joe Wilson      202-225-2452; @RepJoeWilson
District 3:  Jeff Duncan     202-225-5301; @RepJeffDuncan
District 4:  William Timmons  202-225-6030; @RepTimmons
District 5:  Ralph Norman   202-225-5501; @RepRalphNorman
District 6:  James “Jim” Clyburn   202-225-3315; @ClyburnSC06
District 7:  Tom Rice   202-225-9895; @RepTomRice

Again, when the staff person answers … “My name is ______ and I am a constituent who supports the removal of the deadline on the Equal Rights Amendment.  I want Representative ______ to sign on as a cosponsor of H.J.Res.17.” Additional numbers and emails can be found at the links above.

Letters have been written from Equal Means ERA to each of these legislators asking for their support. Each letter included a transcript of words spoken by SC Senator Tom Davis at a Senate hearing on the ERA in March of last year. It's well worth reading. For a link to the letters, click here. 

Right now our priority is getting the federal legislation passed, so please ... start calling!!! 

And soon, the work of state ratification in South Carolina will begin again. New resolutions have been filed in both chambers: 

• H 3258 by Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter of Orangeburg (D66) and newly elected Representative Spencer Wetmore  (D115) of Charleston 
• S 262 by Senator Margie Bright Matthews  (D45) of Colleton

We'll be gearing up shortly. Stay tuned!!!

Onward!

Additional reading …

ERA Coalition
Feminist Majority
Senate Resolution
House Resolution
Representative Carolyn Maloney
Ms. Magazine

The words of the Equal Rights Amendment:

Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.