Ask Rodney to Sign Already!

Our Morris County Congressman, moderate Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen, met with several members of our chapter in the early fall of 2003. We went to visit him to discuss the Equal Rights Amendment. He had already signed the bill introduced by NYC Congresswoman Maloney, (the Start-Over ERA*), and we wanted him to sign H. Res. 38, the bill introduced by NJ Congressman Robert Andrews, the one we call the Three State ERA**.

We were delighted to have some of Congressman Frelinghuysen's time. It had been months of asking for an appointment before we finally secured one.

We found Congressman Frelinghuysen to be interested and sympathetic. We explained that there was no conflict between the two ERA bills. When we told him that Congresswomen Maloney had signed onto the Three State ERA bill, he told us that she was a good friend of his and that, if she had signed it, he would, too. We were thrilled.

Since that time, we have looked online at Thomas.gov to see Congressman Frelinghuysen's signature on H. Res. 38, but it has not appeared. We have written several letters to encourage Representative Frelinghuysen to sign, but, so far, he has not responded.

Please write or call his office. Tell him that you are counting on him to sign onto H. Res. 38, Congressman Robert Andrews' "Three State ERA."

Rodney Frelinghuysen
202-225-5034, in Washington
973-984-0711, in Morristown, NJ

2442 Rayburn House Officer Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515-3011

- or -

30 Schuyler Place
Morristown, NJ 07960

* The Start-Over ERA. Just as it sounds. First getting Congress to agree to the amendment, then sending it out to the states for ratification. Starting all over, again.

** The Three State ERA. Based on the correct assumption that the 35 state ratifications the ERA received between 1972 and 1982 are still valid. We need Congress to remove the 1982 deadline the ERA was given so that, once we have three more states ratify the ERA, it will automatically go into effect.

REMEMBER: Women have only one right, the right to vote. All other rights we have been given can be taken away. The Equal Rights Amendment will put an end to that. Please do all you can to help us make the ERA a reality.