The Virginia Resolution to Ratify the ERA is moving forward on the second day of the General Assembly (Jan 9, 2020). The VA Senate hearing is today, and we expect it to be one of the first bills out of the gate this session in Virginia. Ratification of the 38th and final state needed is Imminent, but as always, there are strong forces opposed.
There are two lawsuits active at the National level, (presuming Virginia will Ratify):
A: Against – One by States seeking to nullify ratification by claiming the deadline is passed, and
B: For – one by ERA advocates, led by the ERA Coalition that Zonta USA Caucus belongs to, to argue the deadline is unconstitutional.
There is a lot of noise about a statement put out by the Justice Department yesterday that the deadline has passed, so the ERA ratification is moot, but that is NON BINDING.
Here is the ERA Coalitions response to that opinion:
““Important counter Statement on the opinion issued today by the Office of Legal Counsel: The ERA Coalition strongly disagrees with the Office of Legal Counsel’s opinion that the time limit on ERA ratification cannot be removed. We call on Congress to redouble its efforts to remove the tIme limit and we call on all remaining 13 states to ratify the ERA following the lead of Nevada, Illinois and soon Virginia. This OLC opinion is not binding on Congress, the courts, or the states that have expressed their ongoing will to give women constitutional equality.” – ERA Coalition.
The following weeks and months will be huge for Women in the USA.
ACTION: The Critical issue is removal of the deadline for ratification.
A. House: The ERA coalition is asking for letters or postcards to be sent to Nancy Pelosi to bring HJ Res 79 to the floor for a vote in January!
“As you know, on November 13th the House Judiciary Committee voted 21-11 in favor of reporting Rep Jackie Speier’s bill HJ Res 79 to the House for a floor vote. Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to schedule a vote on HJ Res 79, which has a decisive 223 co-sponsors and is expected to pass easily.”
Quick action (less impactful than a call or postcard, but easy: sign the petition: Action Alert: Sign the Petition to tell Congress to schedule a VOTE on HJ Res 79 to remove the time limit on the ERA! House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
#ERANow #Equality#EqualRightsAmendment https://eracoalition.salsalabs.org/eranow1/index.html
B. Senate: “Keep calling your Senators to cosponsor HJRes6 !!
From Carol Jenkins: ERACoalition: Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) announced the addition of 16 cosponsors to SJ Res 6, the bipartisan Senate bill to remove the time limit on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) that he co-leads with Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK). Included in those joining today: Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Minority Leader of the Senate, and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. It was announced earlier this week that Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner were added as cosponsors to the bill. It is anticipated that Virginia will vote to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and become the final, 38th state required for full ratification. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have long been cosponsors of SJ Res 6.
ACTION: In the meantime, Arizona, Utah, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida all have active programs to #RatifyERA. If you’re in one of those districts, please encourage your clubs to get involved.
Please follow ERA USA Now on Facebook for up to the minute updates. 
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