#Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

[thatwritererinoriordan]

Tell President Biden to tell the National Archivist to publish the ERA! Go to

and opt in to text messages. They keep a tally of how many Americans are for and against various proposals.

Let the Trump regime go to court and explain to the American people, on the record, why they don't think women are full American citizens.

[huntingtonnow]

Gillibrand Leads Opponents

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Eli Stokols and Adam Cancryn at Politico:

President Joe Biden on Friday declared that the Equal Rights Amendment is the law of the land, attempting to ratify a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in a last-ditch effort to protect women’s reproductive rights. But Biden’s assertion may amount to little more than an expression of his opinion, with the White House acknowledging that it has no immediate force of law — and wouldn’t order the nation’s archivist to formally add it to the Constitution. “I have supported the Equal Rights Amendment for more than 50 years, and I have long been clear that no one should be discriminated against based on their sex,” Biden said in a statement. “We, as a nation, must affirm and protect women’s full equality once and for all.”

The move, which states that Biden personally believes the ERA has cleared all the hurdles to ratification, would be unlikely to carry weight unless courts agree with him, a hurdle even White House officials conceded as they made the announcement. If successful, the long-shot gambit would provide a dramatic coda to the 50-year effort to get sex-based equality into the Constitution and bolster Biden’s policy record. In Biden’s final days before turning the Oval Office over to President-elect Donald Trump, whose Supreme Court appointees helped to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, the statement on the ERA offered the departing president a final opportunity to push back at the laws that resulted from that decision in several states where lawmakers have restricted and even criminalized abortion procedures. The move shifts the spotlight to U.S. Archivist Colleen Shogan, who is responsible for publishing amendments to the Constitution — but has previously said that the ERA’s eligibility has expired, and now could not be added unless Congress acts. Congress, under the control of Republicans, is unlikely to do so.

[...] The ERA would bar sex-based discrimination, including constraints on abortion, by states. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) argued last month in a New York Times op-ed, while urging Biden to formally direct the national archivist to add the ERA to the Constitution, that the amendment has met all the requirements for certification. It passed two-thirds of Congress in 1972 and, after sitting dormant for decades, was finally ratified by three-quarters of the states in 2020. But Donald Trump’s Justice Department said at the time that ratification took too long and the states missed the deadline. That’s a position Shogan supported in a statement last December. Biden disagrees, yet declined to force the issue by going as far as Gillibrand had requested and ordering the archivist to take action.

“On January 27, 2020, the Commonwealth of Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment,” Biden’s statement said. “The American Bar Association (ABA) has recognized that the Equal Rights Amendment has cleared all necessary hurdles to be formally added to the Constitution as the 28th Amendment. I agree with the ABA and with leading legal constitutional scholars that the Equal Rights Amendment has become part of our Constitution.” His statement concluded: “It is long past time to recognize the will of the American people. In keeping with my oath and duty to Constitution and country, I affirm what I believe and what three-fourths of the states have ratified: the 28th Amendment is the law of the land, guaranteeing all Americans equal rights and protections under the law regardless of their sex.” The declaration is likely to win praise from advocates who have long pushed for the ERA’s recognition. But the move, coming just three days before Biden leaves office, raised questions about why a president who the White House said has long harbored this opinion did not act sooner.

President Biden declared today that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is the law of the land to become the 28th Amendment to the Constitution, but doesn’t order the national archivist to formally approve its addition.

See Also:

NPR: Biden says the Equal Rights Amendment is law. What happens next is unclear

AP: Biden says the Equal Rights Amendment should be considered ratified

[beardedmrbean]

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s symbolic declaration on Friday that the Equal Rights Amendment is “the law of the land” likely only sets up more debates for Congress and the courts over the constitutional prohibition on gender-based discrimination.

Here’s a rundown on what the ERA is, how long it’s been debated and what Biden’s action means:

What is the Equal Rights Amendment?

The ERA is a 1970s-era prohibition on discrimination based on gender, guaranteeing men and women equal rights under the law. As a constitutional amendment, it needs ratification from three-quarters of the states before it’s added to the U.S. Constitution.

How long has the push to codify the ERA been going on?

There have been debates over the ERA ever since it was initially approved by Congress.

The ERA was initially sent to the states for ratification in 1972, and Congress set a deadline of 1979 for three-quarters of state legislatures to ratify it. That deadline was then extended to 1982.

But it wasn’t until nearly 40 years later, 2020, when Virginia lawmakers voted to ratify the amendment, meaning that the necessary 38 states had ratified it. Congress tried in 2023 to lift the deadline to allow for the amendment’s ratification, but the measure didn’t reach the required 60-vote threshold in the Senate.

What’s the archivist’s role in ERA certification?

The director of the National Archives is responsible for certifying and publishing new amendments once they meet the required ratification threshold.

Last month, the archivist and deputy archivist of the United States said in a rare joint statement that the ERA could not be certified without further action by Congress or the courts, saying that either entity must change the deadline to consider the amendment as certified.

A senior Biden administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the White House’s plans, said the Democratic president was not directing the archivist to certify the amendment.

Does Biden’s action on the ERA change anything?

Not really. Biden’s move is largely symbolic, and it’s unclear if his statement will have any impact. Presidents don’t have any role in the amendment process. And the leader of the National Archives has said that the amendment cannot be certified because it wasn’t ratified before a deadline set by Congress.

Democrats have been pushing Biden to act unilaterally on its ratification before he leaves office next week, and some members of Congress planned to rally Friday at the National Archives.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who has led the effort among Democrats in the Senate, has insisted that the archivist’s analysis was flawed. Gillibrand previously said Colleen Shogan was “wrongfully inserting herself into a clear constitutional process, despite the fact that her role is purely ministerial,” encouraging Biden to certify the ERA anyway over Shogan’s objections.

[mariacallous]

yooooo biden said the ERA is in the constitution now???

President Biden on Friday declared that he considers the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution is "the law of the land," a surprising declaration that does not have any formal force of effect, but that is being celebrated by its backers, who plan to rally today in front of the National Archives.

The amendment would need to be formally published or certified to come into effect by the National Archivist — and when or if that will happen is unclear.

The executive branch doesn't have a direct role in the amendment process, and Biden is not going to order the archivist to certify and publish the ERA, the White House told reporters on a conference call. A senior administration official said that the archivist's role is "purely ministerial" in nature, meaning that the archivist is required to publish the amendment once it is ratified.

The 1970s-era amendment passed by Congress would guarantee men and women equal rights under the law, but it took until 2020 for enough state legislatures to ratify it, missing a deadline set by Congress by a long shot.

But Biden said he believed the ERA had cleared the hurdle to be added to the Constitution as its 28th Amendment when Virginia ratified it five years ago. He did not explain why he waited until the waning days of his presidency to take action.

"It is long past time to recognize the will of the American people. In keeping with my oath and duty to Constitution and country, I affirm what I believe and what three-fourths of the states have ratified: the 28th Amendment is the law of the land, guaranteeing all Americans equal rights and protections under the law regardless of their sex," Biden said in a brief written statement.

His move comes after a campaign from Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who has said it would be a way to protect abortion rights. Gillibrand has said she expects that the matter will end up in the Supreme Court.

The issue has long been the subject of legal controversy. In 2020, the National Archivist – who is charged with making constitutional amendments official – declined to certify the amendment, citing an opinion from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. The department said it considered the ERA to be expired after a 1982 ratification deadline was missed. In 2022, the Office of Legal Counsel released an opinion affirming that 2020 decision.

Last month, the archivist said that Congress and the courts would need to take further action to lift the deadline for the amendment to be ratified – arguing that it could not legally certify and publish the ERA.

[esotericworld]

Cole Stevens, press secretary for the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services, confirmed Wednesday to the Roswell Daily Record that the Emerging Threats and Capabilities subcommittee will be holding a new open hearing on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP).

In a follow-up call, a staffer confirmed to the Roswell Daily Record that Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, head of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), will be speaking at the hearing on April 19.

This announcement comes after Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), chair of the subcommittee, expressed frustration publicly during a March 28 meeting on the Department of Defense budget request for Fiscal year 2024 over the failure to fully fund the AARO for a second year in a row. In a previous statement to the Roswell Daily Record, Sen. Gillibrand said, "The lack of full funding for AARO is a significant concern. We need to ensure that our government is taking the UAP issue seriously and dedicating the necessary resources to improve our understanding and response capabilities."

The new hearings will aim to address the concerns surrounding UAPs and the need for increased transparency and investigation. Sen. Gillibrand, a vocal advocate for further examination of the UAP phenomenon, has been pushing for more funding for the AARO and greater openness from the Department of Defense (DoD) regarding UAP incidents.

In her previous comments during the hearing to Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Michael J. McCord on March 28, Sen. Gillibrand stated, "Mr. McCord, I was disappointed for the second year in a row that the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution office, or AARO, was not fully funded in the department's budget request. Understanding that we cannot get into specific budget figures in this forum, can you discuss why AARO was not fully funded?"

These hearings will provide an opportunity for lawmakers and officials to discuss the importance of funding the AARO and address the growing concerns about UAPs over U.S. airspace. As the UAP issue gains traction, both in the government and public spheres, the hearings may shed light on the challenges and potential solutions surrounding this enigmatic phenomenon.

[bllsbailey]

Sheehy, Hegseth Impress With Hilarious Exchange at Hearing, Also Shows Pete Has Most Important Quality

There were a lot of rancorous moments during the confirmation hearing on Tuesday for SecDef nominee Pete Hegseth. 

There were some truly vile moments, such as when Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), who looked like the Joker, invoked Hegseth's young daughter in an effort to attack him. Then there were the wild rants from some of the Democratic women, including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

But they really weren't able to lay a glove on him and at this point, he seems likely to be confirmed. 

READ MORE: 

WATCH: Kirsten Gillibrand Implodes During Pete Hegseth Confirmation Hearing As He Refuses to Be Rattled

Pete Hegseth Brings His 'A' Game and Gets the Job Done

But one of the most interesting exchanges was with new Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT), who was able to unseat Jon Tester in Big Sky Country, and he was impressive in his questioning of Hegseth. It was hilarious, but it also got to the most important quality that a SecDef needs to have.

HEGSETH: I did 5 sets of 47 this morning. SHEEHY: Most important strategic base is in the Pacific? HEGSETH: Guam. SHEEHY: How many rounds of 5.56 can you fit into the magazine of an M4 rifle? HEGSETH: Standard issue is 30. SHEEHY: What size round is the M9 Beretta standard issue sidearm for the military? HEGSETH: 9mm. SHEEHY: What kind of batteries do you put in your night vision goggle? HEGSETH: Duracell. SHEEHY: You represent what warfighters deal with every day on the battlefield. You understand them. What happens is - decisions made in rooms like this cause d*ad 17, 18, 19-year-old Americans. Your priority is warfighters. I support you.

The "she/he" take is pretty funny, given the senator's name. 

There has been all kinds of palaver about Hegseth's qualifications. But indeed, he has the most important quality that seems to have been missing for a long time -- will he have the backs of the warfighters? That's the bottom line. He's been on the line, he knows the questions, and he knows the answers. But most importantly, he's committed to doing the best he can for the warfighters, not the military-industrial complex. 

As Hegseth said in his opening statement.

It is true that I don’t have a similar biography to Defense Secretaries of the last 30 years. But, as President Trump also told me, we’ve repeatedly placed people atop the Pentagon with supposedly “the right credentials”—whether they are retired generals, academics, or defense contractor executives—and where has it gotten us? He believes, and I humbly agree, that it’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm. A change agent. Someone with no vested interest in certain companies or specific programs or approved narratives.

[third-new]

The new chair of the Democrats' Senate campaign committee reveals the keys to winning the majority

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[huntingtonnow]

Election 2024: Democrats Pick New Leaders; Cop Support for LaLota, Suozzi

Huntington Democrats have chosen new leaders, with Jill Kaufman succeeding Mark Cuthbertson as chair. Kaufman was previously 1st vice chair. Others elected last week were: 1st Vice Chair Anne Seifried, 2nd Vice Chair MaryEllen Mendelsohn, 3rd Vice Chair Christian Alfaro, Treasurer Ruthanne Cooley and Secretary Jen Hebert. Cuthbertson was elected chair in 2022, succeeding former Huntington…

[newtras]

The new chair of the Democrats' Senate campaign committee reveals the keys to winning the majority

Connect with Fox News to get this news Plus exclusive access to select articles and other premium content with your account – for free. By entering your email and continuing, you agree to Fox News' Terms of use and Privacy Policywhich includes ours Financial Impact Statement. Please enter a valid email address. Do you have a problem? Click here. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand he says he will use what…

[satrthere]

The new chair of the Democrats' Senate campaign committee reveals the keys to winning the majority

Connect with Fox News to get this news Plus exclusive access to select articles and other premium content with your account – for free. By entering your email and continuing, you agree to Fox News' Terms of use and Privacy Policywhich includes ours Financial Impact Statement. Please enter a valid email address. Do you have a problem? Click here. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand he says he will use what…

[blogparanormalexpresso2stuff]

https://nexusnewsfeed.com/article/unexplained/top-senators-believe-the-us-secretly-recovered-ufos

Top senators believe the US secretly recovered UFOs

Notably, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and the late Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) were not alone in their focus on UFOs. The Democratic heavyweights received critical support and encouragement from a bipartisan group of high-profile senators over the years, including former fighter pilot and famed astronaut John Glenn (D-Ohio); Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who observed a UFO as a World War II pilot; Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), then-chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense; 2008 GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.); Senate Intelligence Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.); Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.).