“Our message here today is quite simple,” said Rep. Speier while holding up a pocket-sized copy of the U.S. Constitution. “We want in.”
Jackie Speier
WATCH: Feminists Held Joseph Maguire Accountable During Today’s Whistleblower Testimony
“I’ve had an opportunity to investigate numerous other criminal cases—and never once, just for the record, Director Maguire, did I ever go to the suspect or defendant or the principal in those cases to ask them what I should do.”
Inside the “Long Overdue” Congressional Hearing on the Equal Rights Amendment
Feminist lawmakers, activists scholars and experts came together Monday for a momentous occasion: to speak out in support of the Equal Rights Amendment within the chambers of the House Judiciary Committee.
Women in Congress Reignite the Fight for the Equal Rights Amendment
Several U.S. Congresswomen, including Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), kicked off Women’s History Month last week with a special House session dedicated to renewing Congressional interest in passing the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and underscoring the importance of its ratification by states nationwide. Taking advantage of a congressional practice that allows members to speak on any topic […]
5 Ways to Celebrate Women’s Equality Day!
In 1971, at the behest of then-Congresswoman Bella Abzug (D-N.Y.), Congress declared Aug. 26 the first ever Women’s Equality Day. The particular date was chosen to commemorate the final ratification of the 19th amendment—which, in 1920, recognized women’s right to vote—and has been celebrated every year since. The President gives a proclamation on Aug. 26 each year […]
It’s Been 90 Years: Time to Pass the ERA!
Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Jackie Speier (D-CA) gathered on the steps of the Supreme Court Thursday morning to demand that the Equal Rights Amendment finally pass. The congresswomen, along with Dr. E. Faye Williams, chair of the National Congress of Black Women, Feminist Majority president (and publisher of Ms.) Ellie Smeal, NOW president Terry O’Neill and […]
NEWSFLASH: Congresswoman Announces Plan for New Campus Rape Legislation
Sexual assault is rampant on college campuses across the U.S. As we wrote in the winter/spring 2014 issue of Ms., one in five women students will be assaulted during her post-secondary career. The good news is that lawmakers are taking action to stop campus rape: Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) announced earlier this month plans for federal […]
Feminist Heroes of 2013
It’s hard to not get discouraged at a time when women are still fighting for the right to control their bodies, same-sex relations are criminalized in 76 countries, rape culture and victim-blaming run rampant and women are still trafficked for sex and slave labor around the globe. However, it’s important to take a moment to […]
House Approves Bill to Protect Victims of Military Assaults
The House last week passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act with two amendments pushed forth by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.). The amendments, if passed through the Senate and signed into law, could right some of the inherent wrongs in how the military handles sexual assault cases and and stop the further victimization of survivors. […]