Last week, I was proud to stand with my friends in Congress on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the Equal Rights Amendment.
It was a moment of pride for me and for so many others when Virginia became the final state needed to ratify the ERA in 2020.
Now, I’m a sponsor of legislation to affirm the ERA’s ratification and finally enshrine equality for women in the Constitution.
Throughout the U.S., women face unfair treatment in the workplace, including unequal pay and fewer economic opportunities.
I believe that it would be a major statement for our country in regard to justice and fairness for all -- and a step closer to the true North Star of equality that we continue to strive toward.
That’s why advocates for the ERA have been fighting for 100 years to ratify this amendment. Since 1923 the ERA has been introduced in every session of Congress until it was passed through the House and Senate in 1972. Congress then placed a seven-year deadline on the ratification process. Unfortunately, during that period of time, only 35 states ratified the ERA, failing to meet the 38-state threshold before the arbitrary deadline.
