Wednesday, March 17th, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos helped pass a package of bills to protect against gender discrimination, inequality, and violence, and honor Women’s History Month. Congresswoman Bustos voted to pass a bipartisan resolution to remove an arbitrary time limit previously set by Congress for the states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, a proposed amendment to the Constitution that guarantees equal rights for women. She also voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, which helps provide the resources and tools needed to protect women from domestic violence. The VAWA legislation was first passed by Congress and signed into law in 1994 and, like previous reauthorizations, this bill makes improvements based on the recommendations of law enforcement, victim service providers, and other experts. The bill will now head to the Senate. Bustos said, “Right now, women are forced to rely on inconsistent laws for the protection of our equal rights. With today’s votes, we take another step toward strengthening current law, ensure that women have the resources they need to seek justice, and guarantee and honor the fundamental rights of all.”
