BILL REQ. #:  S-4022.1 

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, The proposed Equal Rights Amendment provides "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex" and was first introduced in Congress in 1923 and filed every session thereafter from 1923 to 1972; and
     WHEREAS, The Equal Rights Amendment was finally approved by Congress in 1972 and sent to the states for ratification with a seven-year deadline; and
     WHEREAS, Washington has been on the forefront of providing equality for all its citizens and in 1972 passed its own Equal Rights Amendment to the Washington state Constitution which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and then on March 22, 1973, Washington became the thirtieth state to ratify the federal Equal Rights Amendment; and
     WHEREAS, In 1978 Congress extended the original ratification deadline for three more years and thirty-five of the needed thirty-eight states ratified the proposed amendment before the deadline; and
     WHEREAS, Washington intends to join other states, such as North Dakota, in reaffirming that the bedrock principles of our democracy - "all men are created equal," "liberty and justice for all," "government of the people, by the people, and for the people" – apply equally to men and women;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully request recognition that Washington acknowledges and reaffirms the actions taken by the 43rd Legislature in passing House Joint Resolution No. 10, ratifying the federal Equal Rights Amendment.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.