1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

The path to ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) has been long and arduous, spanning over a century since its initial proposal in 1923. Despite meeting the constitutional requirements for ratification by securing approval from three-fourths of state legislatures, the ERA remains in legal limbo due to procedural uncertainties surrounding time limits and deadlines. The significance of codifying gender equality into the U.S. Constitution cannot be overstated. As legal scholars have warned, recent originalist interpretations by certain Supreme Court justices threaten to erode hard-won protections for women's rights. Ratifying the ERA would provide a strict scrutiny standard for sex discrimination cases, strengthening safeguards under Title IX and other critical legislation. Furthermore, the United States stands as an outlier among United Nations member states by failing to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sex or gender in its founding document. At a time when reproductive rights and gender equality are under assault from conservative forces, enshrining the ERA into the Constitution is an urgent necessity to prevent further erosion of women's liberties. The recent state ratifications and the #MeToo movement have reignited the push for the ERA's adoption, but legislative efforts remain stalled. As President, you hold the power to overcome these procedural hurdles and ensure the ERA's publication as the 28th Amendment. By taking decisive action, you can cement your legacy as a champion of gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls for generations to come.