December 31, 2025

Dear Family and Friends,

As I sit here sharing stories with locals and tourist alike here at Verdi Square on New Year’s Eve Day 2025, reflecting on the year gone by and the one ahead I’m not thinking about gym memberships or cutting back on coffee. My resolution is personal and profound: to do everything I can to finally enshrine the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in our Constitution, guaranteeing that equality of rights shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex.

Like so many women—and men who care about fairness—I’ve felt the weight of persistent inequalities: the pay gap that still shortchanges women for the same work, the disparities in opportunity and protection under the law. The ERA’s simple words—“Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex”—have been fighting for a place in our founding document for over a century. Congress passed it in 1972 with strong bipartisan support, and 38 states have now ratified it, meeting the constitutional threshold under Article V.

The original seven-year deadline was wisely placed in the proposing clause rather than the amendment’s text itself—because including it in the text would have required ratifying a deadline as permanent constitutional law, creating an absurd and unintended problem. Congress later extended that deadline to 1982, proving its authority to adjust such limits. Recent court decisions, including Illinois v. Ferriero (D.C. Cir. 2023), Equal Means Equal v. Ferriero (1st Cir. 2021), and Valame v. Trump (9th Cir. 2025), dismissed challenges on procedural grounds (mandamus or standing) without definitively resolving the deadline’s ongoing validity or Congress’s power to remove it retroactively—leaving the door open for legislative action to affirm the ERA’s ratification by eliminating any time constraint.

That’s where Senator Lisa Murkowski comes in. As the lead Republican sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 38 in the 119th Congress—a measure to declare the ERA valid and remove any time limit—she’s showing the kind of courage and commitment we need. Senator Murkowski has said it’s “past time” for women’s equal rights to be guaranteed in the Constitution, and I couldn’t agree more.

This year, I’m resolving to turn my hope into action, and I invite you to join me. Here’s how we can make a real difference together:

1.  If you haven’t already, sign the petition urging Senator Murkowski to champion SJ Res 38 by circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter to build Senate momentum: https://www.change.org/bsbRTjmKKR

2.  Share the petition with at least 20 people—friends, family, colleagues, social media followers. Every signature adds pressure and shows broad support for equality.

3.  Call Senator Murkowski’s Washington, DC office at (202) 224-6665. Leave a voicemail stating your strong support for the ERA and SJ Res 38, and politely request that she spearhead and circulate a Dear Colleague letter to rally her Senate peers. (Pro tip: Keep a personal tally of how many people you’ve encouraged to call—it’ll motivate you and show the growing wave of support!)

This isn’t partisan; it’s about fulfilling America’s promise of equality for all. As we welcome 2026, let’s commit to this together. It’s far overdue, but with voices like ours, we can make history.

Love and Light,

Helene de Boissiere – Swanson

P.S. If you’re inspired to go further, please consider donating to the “20 for 20 – Igniting Equality”“20 for 20 – Igniting Equality” fundraiser, supporting Katrina’s Dream’s vital work to pass the ERA and promote justice. Any amount helps fuel advocacy, events, and outreach: https://gofund.me/47cc8a964

Happy New Year—here’s to a future where equality is finally constitutional.