Vicky Hartzler: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today to commend the women who have gone before us to celebrate the…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today to commend the women who have gone before us to celebrate the achievements that women have made and to reaffirm the fact that we are equal in the eyes of God and in law. Women make up 51 percent of the population, comprise over half of the college students, make up most of today's medical and law school students and own the majority of new businesses. Women are not victims in need of validation. Little girls can be whatever they want to be, whether that be an astronaut, a doctor, a full-time mom working at home, or a member of Congress. In addition, Federal law and court precedent uphold our rights. That is something to applaud, and I do. However, today's legislation is problematic on several fronts. First, the resolution is unconstitutional. The time limit to pass the ERA expired decades ago. Congress can't go back and remove a deadline from a previous constitutional amendment initiative. The Supreme Court has recognized that the 1972 ERA expired, and the Department of Justice issued a ruling saying Congress may not revive a proposed amendment after a deadline for its ratification has expired. Pretending that we can remove the time limits for passage is both futile and deceptive. Secondly, if the time limit could be extended, the ERA would not bring women any more rights than they currently have right now, but it would entrench the legality of abortion.…”