December 31, 2025<\/p>\n
Dear Family and Friends,<\/p>\n
As I sit here sharing stories with locals and tourist alike here at Verdi Square on New Year\u2019s Eve Day 2025, reflecting on the year gone by and the one ahead I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n
Like so many women\u2014and men who care about fairness\u2014I\u2019ve 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\u2019s simple words\u2014\u201cEquality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex\u201d\u2014have 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.<\/p>\n
The original seven-year deadline was wisely placed in the proposing clause rather than the amendment\u2019s text itself\u2014because 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\u2019s ongoing validity or Congress\u2019s power to remove it retroactively\u2014leaving the door open for legislative action to affirm the ERA\u2019s ratification by eliminating any time constraint.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where Senator Lisa Murkowski comes in. As the lead Republican sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 38 in the 119th Congress\u2014a measure to declare the ERA valid and remove any time limit\u2014she\u2019s showing the kind of courage and commitment we need. Senator Murkowski has said it\u2019s \u201cpast time\u201d for women\u2019s equal rights to be guaranteed in the Constitution, and I couldn\u2019t agree more.<\/p>\n
This year, I\u2019m resolving to turn my hope into action, and I invite you to join me. Here\u2019s how we can make a real difference together:<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0 <\/span>If you haven\u2019t already, sign the petition<\/a> urging Senator Murkowski to champion SJ Res 38 by circulating a \u201cDear Colleague\u201d letter to build Senate momentum: https:\/\/c.org\/4rq5TmMqLP<\/a><\/p>\n 2.\u00a0 <\/span>Share the petition with at least 20 people\u2014friends, family, colleagues, social media followers. Every signature adds pressure and shows broad support for equality.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0 <\/span>Call Senator Murkowski\u2019s 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\u2019ve encouraged to call\u2014it\u2019ll motivate you and show the growing wave of support!)<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t partisan; it\u2019s about fulfilling America\u2019s promise of equality for all. As we welcome 2026, let\u2019s commit to this together. It\u2019s far overdue, but with voices like ours, we can make history.<\/p>\n Love and Light,<\/p>\n Helene de Boissiere – Swanson<\/p>\n P.S. If you\u2019re inspired to go further, please consider donating to the \u201c20 for 20 \u2013 Igniting Equality\u201d\u201c20 for 20 \u2013 Igniting Equality\u201d<\/a> fundraiser, supporting Katrina\u2019s Dream\u2019s vital work to pass the ERA and promote justice. Any amount helps fuel advocacy, events, and outreach: https:\/\/gofund.me\/47cc8a964<\/a><\/p>\n Happy New Year\u2014here\u2019s to a future where equality is finally constitutional.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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\u2019s Eve Day 2025, reflecting on the year gone by and the one ahead I\u2019m not thinking about gym memberships or cutting back on coffee. My resolution is personal and profound:…
Read more