Carroll Pushes for Passage of Equal Rights Amendment

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Buffalo Grove, is fighting to guarantee constitutional protections against gender-based discrimination by working to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution.

“When we pass protections for women, we are ensuring a better future for all,” said Carroll. “Sadly we can’t look to Washington to lead on women’s issues anymore, we have to lead the way here in our communities.”

Carroll is sponsoring Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 4, which would ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

The Equal Rights Amendment would guarantee constitutional protection of the rights of all citizens regardless of sex. The measures would help to provide clearer judicial standards for deciding cases of sex discrimination and help women combat wage discrimination in the workplace. If adopted, Illinois would become the 37th state to ratify the ERA, first approved by Congress in 1972. In order for ratification to the Constitution, approval is required by 38 states.

“Washington is continuing to erode women’s rights in health care, employment and other critical areas,” Carroll continued. “That’s why we need to pass the Equal Rights Amendment with all deliberate speed.”