Democrats Send Letter To Biden Urging him To Ratify Equal Rights
More than 100 lawmakers came together on Sunday to urge President Biden to officially ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), a move that would solidify the prohibition of gender discrimination in the Constitution.
“This is a critical moment to reaffirm and enshrine the equality of rights for everyone, regardless of sex, within our nation’s Constitution. This effort has never been more urgent,” the lawmakers emphasized in their letter.
“This action is essential as we prepare to transition to an administration that has been openly hostile to reproductive freedom, access to health care, and LGBTQIA+ rights.”
Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment, have long advocated for Biden to take action toward instating equal rights under the law.
They cited concerns for gender-affirming health care requested by transgender minors and the rise in state abortion bans as reasons for the president to ratify the amendment.
“We believe that recognizing the ERA’s ratification would not only fulfill the promise of equality enshrined in our founding documents, but would also stand as a defining achievement of your presidency — one that will reverberate across generations,” the lawmakers wrote.
“In this critical moment, when the progress we’ve made on gender equality, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ+ protections is under threat, your decisive action to finalize the ERA’s certification would be a powerful statement to the nation and the world: that the United States is committed to ensuring equality for all, regardless of sex.”
The House approved the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in 1971, followed by the Senate in 1972. By January 27, 2020, the ERA had met the ratification requirements outlined in Article 5 of the Constitution, with Virginia becoming the 38th state to ratify the amendment.
However, the proposed constitutional change hit a roadblock during President Trump’s administration, with officials arguing it failed to meet the original deadline for ratification.
President Biden reaffirmed his support for the ERA on August 26, 2023, Women’s Equality Day.
“I have supported the ERA since my first campaign for public office — and it is long overdue that we honor the will of the American people and make this amendment the law of the land. No one should face discrimination based on their sex, and as a nation, we must affirm and protect full equality for women,” Biden said in a statement.
“As we observe Women’s Equality Day, I again urge Congress to act quickly to recognize the ratification of the ERA and uphold the fundamental principle that every American deserves equal rights and protections under the law,” he added.
Critics, including former President Bush and others, are calling on Biden to turn those words into action.