GOP senator announces plan to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment

New life may be breathed into the effort to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) under a new bipartisan proposal in Congress.

"Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex," the amendment declares. "The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification."

On Friday, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined with Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) for a bipartisan joint resolution to remove the deadline to ratify the ERA.

"As we begin a new Congress, I can think of no better legislation to lead with than one that removes impediments to find ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment — an amendment that firmly embeds in law equality between men and women. We first moved the ERA through Congress back in 1972, but we stalled out on certification by the states until last year when Virginia ratified the ERA," Murkowski said in a statement. "After years of work alongside Senator Cardin, I urge my colleagues to join us in ensuring equality for all."

The joint resolution is being introduced by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Rep. Tom Reed (D-NY) in the House of Representatives.

Similar legislation passed the House of Representatives in 2020, but did not receive a vote in the Senate.