HCR 0615 2003
1	House Concurrent Resolution
2	A concurrent resolution ratifying the proposed amendment
3	to the Constitution of the United States relating to equal
4	rights for men and women.
5
6	WHEREAS, three years after women won the right to vote, the
7	Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution,
8	authored by Alice Paul, head of the National Women's Party, was
9	introduced in Congress by Senator Curtis and Representative
10	Anthony, both Republicans, and
11	WHEREAS, on March 22, 1972, the proposed Amendment to the
12	United States Constitution was sent to the States for
13	ratification, and
14	WHEREAS, the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States
15	Constitution states:
16	"SECTION 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be
17	denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on
18	account of sex.
19	SECTION 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce,
20	by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
21	SECTION 3. This amendment shall take effect two years
22	after the date of ratification.", and
23	WHEREAS, Congress placed a deadline of June 30, 1982, on
24	the ratification process and thirty-five states ratified the
25	proposed Amendment before the deadline, and
26	WHEREAS, Congress may not have the constitutional authority
27	to place a deadline on the ratification process, and
28	WHEREAS, Article V of the United States Constitution allows
29	the Legislature of the State of Florida to ratify this proposed
30	Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and
31	WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Florida finds that
32	the proposed Amendment is meaningful and needed as part of the
33	United States Constitution and that the present political,
34	social, and economic conditions are the same or are even more
35	demanding as when the proposed Amendment was first submitted for
36	adoption, NOW, THEREFORE,
37
38	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
39	Florida, the Senate Concurring:
40
41	That the proposed amendment set forth below to the
42	Constitution of the United States is ratified by the Legislature
43	of the State of Florida:
44	"Article ____
45	SECTION 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be
46	denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on
47	account of sex.
48	SECTION 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce,
49	by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
50	SECTION 3. This amendment shall take effect two years
51	after the date of ratification."
52	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that certified copies of the
53	foregoing preamble and resolution be immediately forwarded by
54	the Secretary of State of the State of Florida, under the great
55	seal, to the President of the United States, the Secretary of
56	State of the United States, the President of the Senate of the
57	United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of
58	the United States, and the Administrator of General Services of
59	the United States.
60