Statement by Eleanor Smeal, President, Feminist Majority On the Equal Rights Amendment and the Violence Against Women Act

Today the United States House of Representatives voted that there is no time limit on equality.

Now it’s up to the Senate to agree and clear the path for the ERA to be in the Constitution so that equality of rights shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex.

Feminists everywhere say thank you to Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Nadler and Representatives Speier, Maloney, and the majority of Members who cast a vote today for women across the county and for all people who are in the pursuit of equality.

The House also voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act — and this too is long overdue. Moreover, the ERA would strengthen VAWA by providing a Constitutional basis for a civil right of action for survivors of sexual and domestic violence in the federal courts.

Now we are one Senate floor vote away from adding the ERA into the Constitution and reauthorizing VAWA so that our generation and all future generations will not face persistent sex discrimination and violence, but rather will have new opportunities under the law.

It’s time for supporters everywhere to write, call, text, email and meet with their Senators. 2021 can be the year that women are included in the Constitution with the ERA as the 28th Amendment and the year that VAWA is again reauthorized in the law.

We have been working for ratification and ending violence against women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, immigrants, and Indigenous people since the early 1970’s – it’s time to get the Equal Rights Amendment over the last finish line and to reauthorize and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act.

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