WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) spoke on the House floor today in support of extending the deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment to be added to the Constitution.

A video of Cicilline’s speech can be viewed by clicking the image below. A transcript is embedded below.

David N. Cicilline
Equal Rights Amendment
March 17, 2021
Remarks As Delivered

Madam Speaker,

Every person, regardless of sex, must be treated equally under the law.

House Resolution 17 reaffirms this core American value.

It makes clear that the arbitrary deadline in the Equal Rights Amendment may not stand in the way of achieving full equality for women.

With women losing their jobs at disproportionately high rates, the COVID-19 pandemic has only further revealed the need for this Amendment. In 2020, American women lost more than 5 million jobs.

A vote for this resolution is a vote for equal access to health care.

It is a vote for equal pay for the same work.

It is a vote for equal opportunity and basic human rights in all other aspects of life for women in this country.

Congress must act now to remove this arbitrary deadline.

There’s no time limit on guaranteeing equal rights under the law.

I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 17.

And I yield back.