Did you know that the Equal Rights Amendment, which guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex, is still not enshrined in the U.S. constitution?

More than two years ago, Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)– crossing the three-fourths threshold of state support required for this amendment to become enshrined in the US Constitution.

When the ERA passed Congress in 1972, lawmakers attached a seven-year ratification time limit to it, which they later extended to 1982. Legislation introduced by Senators Murkowski and Cardin will remove the time constraint and the final obstacle to accepting the ERA as part of the Constitution. This legislation has been passed by the House multiple times. Now, the Senate must act to ensure that the will and ratification rights of the states are respected.

Despite the significant legal and legislative advances that have been made in recent decades, women continue to face discrimination on the basis of sex. The symptoms of this systemic discrimination are apparent in the ongoing fights against unequal pay, workplace harassment, pregnancy discrimination, domestic violence, and limited access to comprehensive health care. It is not enough to treat the symptoms; we must address the root cause of inequality. The ongoing reality of sex discrimination and the longstanding necessity for constitutional protection is unequivocally apparent in the Supreme Court’s ruling in which erodes a fundamental right that women and people who may become pregnant have held for nearly 50 years. We have already seen nationwide the devastating consequences of this decision, which underscores the vital need for constitutional protections against the denial of equal rights.

The country has resoundingly declared that equality under the law is a principle we want to be enshrined in our Constitution. We are on the cusp of a victory in this almost 100-year fight. Congress must work to eliminate the time limit so that this long-awaited amendment can go into effect immediately. The time is now. Enter your information on the right to contact your Senators today!