IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 272 

Affirming that all men and women are created equal. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 29, 2019 

Mrs. LAWRENCE (for herself, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Ms. 

SPEIER, Ms. HAALAND, Mr. NADLER, Mr. PALLONE, Ms. OMAR, Ms. 

MATSUI, Ms. ESHOO, Ms. DEAN, Mr. TONKO, Ms. GARCIA of Texas, Ms. 

SCANLON, Ms. SPANBERGER, Mrs. DEMINGS, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. 

PLASKETT, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mrs. LOWEY, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, 

and Ms. ADAMS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Affirming that all men and women are created equal. 

Whereas the advancement of gender equality is fundamental 

to the democracy of the United States; 

Whereas the Declaration of Independence states, ‘‘We hold 

these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created 

equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness’’; 

Whereas the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, 

drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton at Seneca Falls, New 

York, in 1848, and based on the Declaration of IndeVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:47 Mar 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR272.IH HR272

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•HRES 272 IH 

pendence, reiterates that both genders are endowed with 

unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; 

Whereas, in 1919, the 66th Congress of the United States 

passed a resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution extending the right of suffrage to women; 

Whereas, in 1920, the 19th Amendment was adopted to the 

Constitution of the United States, guaranteeing all 

women the right to vote in elections throughout the country; 

Whereas the resolution proposing the Equal Rights Amendment to the States for ratification, which was first introduced in Congress in 1923 and agreed to with bipartisan 

support in 1972, provides that ‘‘Equality of rights under 

the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United 

States or by any State on account of sex’’, thereby ensuring the same constitutional protections for both men and 

women; 

Whereas women have served in the labor movements, civil 

rights movements, and other causes to create a more fair 

and just society for all; and 

Whereas, while there has been exceptional progress towards 

gender equality and parity in the United States since the 

drafting of the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions in 1848, women continue to experience institutionalized discrimination, gender-based violence, and systematic barriers to equality: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes that all men and women are cre3 ated equal; 


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1 (2) honors the historic and ongoing contribu2 tions and achievements of women in the United 

3 States that have led to a more just and equal soci4 ety; 

5 (3) reaffirms its commitment to pursuing poli6 cies that achieve true political and social equality for 

7 women, commensurate with their role in life in the 

8 United States and society; and 

9 (4) reaffirms its support of legislative initiatives 

10 to put the Equal Rights Amendment in the Con11 stitution to achieve legal equality for women. 

Æ 


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