hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
House asks Senate to ratify international treaty protecting women's rights.
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and others.
Introduced in House, referred to Foreign Affairs Committee.
This resolution, introduced by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and co-sponsored by others, formally asks the U.S. Senate to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). It is currently awaiting consideration in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. For the resolution to pass, it needs a vote in the House.
Introduced Mar 2, 2026
The resolution has been introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. For it to progress, the committee must consider and approve it. If passed by the House, it would then be sent to the Senate for their consideration, though as a House Resolution, it only expresses the sentiment of the House, not a binding law.
This resolution is an internal statement by the House of Representatives expressing its desire for the Senate to take a specific action. It does not, by itself, change any laws, create new programs, or directly affect the daily lives of individuals. If the Senate were to act on this request and ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, then there could be subsequent legislative or policy changes, but those are not part of this resolution.
Supporters Say
The resolution argues that ratifying CEDAW is crucial for advancing women's rights and achieving gender equality, aligning the US with most other nations.
Critics Say
The bill text does not mention any criticisms or arguments against ratifying CEDAW or passing this resolution.
The resolution itself details why supporters believe CEDAW should be ratified, citing global statistics on women's inequality in economic opportunity, marriage age, legal rights, and political representation. It also notes that 189 countries have already ratified CEDAW and highlights local US government support. The bill text does not provide arguments from potential critics of the resolution or CEDAW ratification.