Press Releases

The House of Representatives today passed legislation introduced by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) to facilitate ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. The measure previously passed one year ago in the House following Virginia’s ratification of the ERA, which brought the Amendment across the 38-state threshold for national adoption. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), a longtime proponent of the ERA, voted yes.

“I am very proud that the Commonwealth of Virginia was the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, but we must permanently remove the deadline for state ratification and provide an essential legal remedy against gender discrimination,” said Beyer. “The words, ‘women shall have equal rights in the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex,’ belong in the United States Constitution.”

Beyer has been a vocal proponent of the Equal Rights Amendment in Virginia and at the federal level. The ERA was the theme of Beyer’s 2019 Annual Women’s Conference and Forum, and his 2020 State of the Union guest was Virginia ERA leader and activist Lisa Sales.