Tonight's Town Hall and Progress on the ERA
AT A GLANCE
In this week's Digest, you will find more information on:
- Tonight's town hall;
- Congressional efforts to add the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution; and
- Legislation to make fitness equipment accessible to people with disabilities.
TONIGHT'S TOWN HALL
Given the end of the impeachment trial and the dozens of bills the House has passed in the last year, join us for a town hall TONIGHT at Stanley Middle School as we discuss where we go from here. This town hall will be a great opportunity to make your voice heard about what Congress should consider next.
To RSVP, click the graphic below or call (925) 933-2660.
MARK'S WEEKLY ROUNDUP
As we celebrate President's Day, we reflect on the leaders we choose for this sacred office. At this time in our history, we remember the honesty and morality of presidents like Abraham Lincoln who continuously sought to unify our nation. In advancing the effort to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, House Democrats continue President Lincoln's work toward creating a more perfect Union. Hear more about the news of the week in the video below.
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
House Passes Resolution to Pave the Way for the Equal Rights Amendment
House Democrats recently led a historic effort to pave the way for the adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). When first passed in the 1970s, an arbitrary deadline was set that required 38 states to adopt the ERA by 1982, leaving time for only 35 states to act. This year, on the centennial of the 19th Amendment, Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the ERA.
By removing the deadline, the ERA can finally become the rule of the land, affirming women's equality in our Constitution and making women equal to men under the law. The ERA would give women a single, baseline protection to fight pay discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, and sexual and domestic violence. Mark voted to remove the deadline by supporting H.J.Res. 79, which passed by a vote of 232-to-182.
Mark Announces Bill to Support Access to Fitness Equipment for People with Disabilities
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 61 million adults in the United States have a disability. While the CDC recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity as a means of reducing increased health risks faced by disabled individuals, no guidelines currently exist for fitness centers to make this exercise possible for individuals with disabilities. To address this loophole, Congressman DeSaulnier and Congressman Don Young (R-AK) authored bipartisan legislation, the Exercise and Fitness for All Act (H.R. 4561), to make exercise equipment and fitness classes accessible to individuals with disabilities. To learn more about this legislation click HERE.
BY THE NUMBERS
CONTRA COSTA MEETS DC
Mark meets with Contra Costa Transportation Authority to discuss innovative ideas to solve our transportation challenges.
National Federation of the Blind of California stopped by to speak with Mark about barriers to higher education for individuals with blindness and to thank him for supporting legislation to increase access to nonvisual technology.
