1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The Equal Rights Amendment has met all constitutional requirements for ratification and should be recognized as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. As the National Archivist's role in certifying and publishing amendments is purely ministerial, there is no valid legal basis to withhold certification. Failure to certify the ERA undermines the integrity of our constitutional democracy and the principle of equal rights regardless of sex. By directing the National Archivist to fulfill the statutory duty to certify and publish the ERA before leaving office, you can cement your legacy as a champion of gender equality and civil rights. The vast majority of Americans support the ERA, which has been ratified by the required 38 states. Certifying this long-overdue amendment is a historic opportunity to enshrine equality and finally put women into the founding document of our nation.