WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today voted against a Democratic-sponsored resolution to declare the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ratified as part of the U.S. Constitution.

Hyde-Smith reiterated the fact that Congress lacks the authority to add the ERA to the Constitution by removing the ratification deadline set by Congress more than 50 years ago when the amendment was sent to states to be ratified.

“Supporters of the ERA like to spin it as necessary to protect women’s rights when the truth is just the opposite.  Adding the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution would undo many of the rights won by women over the last 50 years.  The painful side effects for religious liberties, pro-life protections, and other issues would be far-reaching as well,” Hyde-Smiths said.  “ERA advocates need to start a new constitutional amendment process if they’re serious about this issue.”

Supporters of S.J.Res.4 failed to get the 60 votes needed to proceed to debate on the measure.  The 51-47 vote was largely symbolic on the part of the Democrat majority, with its chances of passage in the U.S. House of Representatives dim, at best.

Hyde-Smith, chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, testified against the ERA in February and introduced a resolution (S.Res.107) in March that outlines why S.J.Res.4 is a legally illegitimate endeavor.