Cardin, Murkowski Lead Briefing on Removing the Deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment

Statement

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today hosted a panel of bipartisan experts outlining why Congress should remove the deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA has been ratified by 37 states, leaving it one state from ratification. Cardin and Murkowski are the lead sponsors of S.J. Res. 6, a bipartisan resolution that would remove the deadline placed on the 1972 ERA and allow for its ratification once the 38th state votes to ratify. This could be Virginia, as early as January 2020.

"Most Americans are surprised to learn that the ERA is not already part of the U.S. Constitution. Ratification of the ERA would expressly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in the U.S. Constitution, and we're paying a heavy price as a society for not already establishing these protections," said Senator Cardin. "This is the 100-year anniversary of the passage of women's suffrage, and this is the year we need to finally ratify the ERA."

"Everyone should be treated equally under the law, but the U.S. Constitution does not currently guarantee women the same rights and protections as men. I'm proud that Alaska was among the early adopters, having both ratified the Equal Rights Amendment and amended the State's Constitution to prohibit discrimination in 1972. But for that to happen at a national level, we need one more state to ratify. There's absolutely no reason to put a time-limit on the ability for that to happen," said Senator Murkowski. "Congress can and should amend the language to remove the deadline for ratification to ensure gender-based equality is not only supported across the U.S., but also legally recognized. I will continue my efforts, alongside Senator Cardin and so many of my colleagues, to ensure the Equal Rights Amendment is finally added to the Constitution."

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