1714                             Joint Resolutions

would honor itself in promptly issuing a commemorative stamp in
honor of the late Senator Tydings; now therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the Stamp
Advisory Committee of the United States Post Office Department be
requested to waive the so-called twenty-five year rule and to permit
the prompt issue of a commemorative stamp for the former Senator
Millard E. Tydings of the State of Maryland; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the State of Maryland be requested
to send copies of this Resolution under the Great Seal of the State of
Maryland to the Stamp Advisory Committee of the United States
Post Office Department and to each member of the Maryland dele-
gation in the Congress of the United States.

Approved March 23, 1961.

No. 17
(House Joint Resolution 14)

House Joint Resolution in support of the AN Equal Rights for
Women Amendment to the Federal Constitution.

The General Assembly of Maryland, voicing the sentiments of the
women of this State, fully supports the AN Equal Rights for Women
Amendment pending in the Congress of the United States, and is
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES, AND IS requesting the Congress to submit this SUCH
A proposed amendment to the States for a vote.

The women of this country now have certain rights of citizenship,
and the right of suffrage, but there are still many instances of gross
inequality in their rights as contrasted with those of men under both
Federal and State laws. These inequalities are contrary to the basic
principles of a republican form of government. For this reason, the
Constitution of the United States should be amended to incorporate
in this basic document a positive guarantee of equality under the law
regardless of sex.

The AN Equal Rights for Women Amendment would remove from
women the ANY remaining common law and statutory law stigmas
of inferiority DISABILITIES and it would provide a standard by
which to measure policies and customs which are not directly con-

trolled by law. It would remove women from their present classi-

fication with minors and would give them full control of their own

lives and an unlimited opportunity to fulfill their responsibilities of
citizenship.

This vital change should be made by constitutional amendment in
order to accomplish the change in the fundamental law of the United
States. Equality of rights is too important to be left to statutory law
and far too important to be left to the individual States.

Explanation: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law.

[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.
CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.