Press Releases

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement after voting against House Democrats’ resolution intended for campaign messaging; Removing the deadline for ratification of the equal rights amendment (H.J.Res 79):

“As a husband, and the father of two daughters, I understand the absolute importance of equality under law among all U.S. citizens. I want the opportunities for my daughters and other women limited only by their dreams and abilities. Current federal, state and local laws ensure that this is the case. This resolution is an unconstitutional attempt to extend the deadline of the Equal Rights Amendment that passed more than three decades ago and does nothing to advance the cause of equality. Furthermore, this deceitful resolution is being pushed at the behest of the abortion industry as a way to be used by courts to undermine existing pro-life laws and allow tax funded abortions up until birth. Instead of restarting and sending the Equal Rights Amendment through the proper legislative process as suggested by Justice Ginsburg, House Democrats are using this resolution as a political messaging tool for candidates in the 2020 election cycle and their political allies in the abortion industry.”

Background:

When referring to the Equal Rights Amendment resolution put forth by House Democrats, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stated, “I would like to see a new beginning," iterating that the deadline to ratify the amendment has expired.

In March 2019, NARAL admitted in an e-mail to supporters that ERA is about abortion. – Real Clear Politics

The Equal Rights Amendment was proposed to the states in House Joint Resolution 208 of the 92nd Congress, as agreed to in the Senate on March 22, 1972. Congress gave the amendment a seven-year ratification deadline. Over the next seven years, 35 states (including Indiana on January 24, 1977) ratified the amendment, but it failed to receive the three-fourths majority required for enactment. Additionally, five states (KY, TN, SD, NE, ID) had rescinded their ratifications  by the end of 1978. Congress then passed a three-year extension of the amendment to allow it until June 30, 1982 to be ratified. However, this deadline came and went, and the expired amendment lay dormant until 2017 when Nevada ratified it, with Illinois and Virginia to follow.