This bill affirms the ERA as a valid constitutional amendment, regardless of any previous time constraints, due to its ratification by the required number of states.
Ayanna Pressley
Representative
MA-7
This bill validates the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as a valid part of the U.S. Constitution. It asserts that the ERA has been ratified by the required number of states, regardless of any previously set time limits.
Equal Rights Amendment Officially Ratified: Constitution Now Explicitly Bans Sex Discrimination
This joint resolution declares the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as officially ratified and part of the U.S. Constitution. Originally proposed back in 1972 (House Joint Resolution 208), the ERA is straightforward: it prohibits discrimination based on sex. This bill asserts that, despite any deadlines, the amendment is valid because at least three-fourths of the states have ratified it.
Making It Official
The core of this resolution is simple: it validates the ERA. The bill directly states that the ERA is now part of the Constitution, overriding any previous time limits for ratification. What this means is that equal rights regardless of sex are now explicitly protected by the Constitution.
Real-World Impact
Imagine a workplace where promotions are consistently given to men over equally or more qualified women. Under the ERA, such practices could be directly challenged in court. Or consider a single father fighting for the same parental benefits as mothers—the ERA provides a constitutional basis to argue for equal treatment. These changes could play out in various sectors, from education to healthcare, impacting everyday scenarios faced by people across the country.
The Road Ahead & Potential Bumps
While this resolution aims to settle the ERA's status, expect some legal turbulence. Questions about whether states can rescind their ratification, or whether Congress can extend a ratification deadline, are likely to surface. This could mean court battles to determine the ERA's final validity. Furthermore, it's worth noting how this might interact with existing laws. Some laws might need adjustments to align with the ERA's clear ban on sex discrimination, potentially affecting areas like military service, sports, and even insurance rates.