Lawmakers urge President Biden to finalize Equal Rights Amendment

As President Joe Biden’s tenure ends, a coalition of more than 100 House Democrats has urged the administration to ratify and publish the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as the 28th amendment to the United States Constitution. The lawmakers claim that Biden’s actions will advance gender equality and defend constitutional rights, particularly as the country prepares for a new government that is openly hostile to reproductive freedom and LGBTQIA+ rights.In a letter& led by Representatives Cori Bush, Ayanna Pressley, and Jennifer McClellan, the lawmakers urged Biden to direct the Archivist of the United States to certify the ERA. “Solidifying your legacy on equal rights with a final action on the ERA would be a defining moment for the historic Biden-Harris administration and your presidency,” the letter stated.The ERA, which guarantees that “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex,” was passed by Congress in 1972 with bipartisan support. The House approved it with a 354-24 vote, and the Senate approved it with an 84-8 vote. The amendment met its ratification threshold in 2020 when Virginia became the 38th state to approve it, fulfilling the requirement...