It is time to move forward with completing the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. All constitutional amendments are required to have a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress and then be approved by three-fourths of all state legislatures. It achieved the first part between 1971 and 1972. In January 2020 Virginia became the 38th state to ratify it, achieving the second part.
Unfortunately, when Congress first voted in favor of the ERA, it inserted a clause requiring an arbitrary seven-year time limit. Our current Congress could resolve this by voting to remove the limit.
Arguments opposed to removing the seven-year clause include the fact that everyone knows that men and women are equal, so there is no need to state the obvious. If it is so obvious, why would anyone oppose stating it?
The House has plans to pass a resolution “eliminating the arbitrary timeline previously imposed for ratification” of the ERA. We must encourage the Senate to do the same. Now is the time, and this is the generation that must recognize that all men and all women are created equal and endowed with the same inalienable rights.
May all daughters, granddaughters, and their descendants read in their history books that it in the year 2021 the Equal Rights Amendment was passed.
DONNA RAYCRAFT
Concord