- United States
- Tenn.
- Letter
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would guarantee equal rights under the law for all citizens regardless of sex. Its simple yet powerful statement, "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex," enshrines gender equality as a fundamental constitutional principle. As of January 2020, the ERA has met all the requirements for ratification laid out in Article V of the Constitution, with passage by two-thirds of Congress and approval by three-fourths of states. Leading constitutional scholars agree that the ERA is now part of the supreme law of the land. However, due to issues around its unique ratification timeline, the Archivist has not yet officially certified and published the ERA as the 28th Amendment. I urge taking action to resolve any remaining procedural concerns and finalize the ERA's ratification without further delay. Gender equality is a bedrock American ideal that must be codified in our Constitution. The ERA would provide a strong legal foundation to combat sex-based discrimination and advance true equal rights and opportunities for all. Its ratification is long overdue and absolutely vital to securing equal justice under the law for every citizen. I respectfully request your support in ensuring the ERA takes its rightful place as the next Amendment.
