Regardless of whether it’s deserved, Senators get more respect than Representatives on Capitol Hill — something that shows up in interesting ways.

Take Thursday morning, when Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) appeared alongside Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) at an outdoor press conference for the Equal Rights Amendment. Although time came for the presser to start, Maloney didn’t begin, citing the need to wait for Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the sponsor of the effort in the Senate.

Perhaps because of a busy schedule (or the frigid weather), several people urged Maloney to begin. She refused.

“I started once without a Senator … I paid for it,” she joked, adding that many Senators think they rival the people depicted in the monuments throughout the Capitol.

“But not our Senator,” Maloney quickly added, further explaining that Menendez is among the hardest-working Members.

Menendez soon arrived, to cheers from Maloney and others on hand.