H.J.Res. 80 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on the Judiciary, Mar 24, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryDeclares the Equal Rights Amendment ratified
This joint resolution says that the Equal Rights Amendment, which bans discrimination based on sex, has been approved by enough states to become part of the Constitution. The amendment was originally proposed in 1972 with a deadline for states to vote on it, but the deadline has been disputed in court. This resolution would declare the amendment valid regardless of those old time limits.
How it affects you
This is a constitutional matter that doesn't have a direct everyday effect on most people's lives right now. It's mainly significant for the ongoing legal debate about whether the amendment is officially part of the Constitution. If it became law through this resolution, it would settle that question, though the exact practical impact would depend on how courts interpret and apply the amendment going forward.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Mar 24, 2025)
This joint resolution provides that the Equal Rights Amendment, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, was ratified by three-fourths of the states and is therefore a valid constitutional amendment, regardless of any time limit that was in the original proposal.
The Equal Rights Amendment was originally proposed to the states in 1972. The original proposal included a deadline for ratification of March 22, 1979; Congress subsequently extended the deadline to June 30, 1982. Although the requisite 38 states have ratified the amendment, three of these states did so after the deadlines, and five states subsequently rescinded their ratifications. The status of the amendment has been the subject of litigation.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH.J.Res. 80
JOINT RESOLUTION
Establishing the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
Sponsor: Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7) · Introduced Mar 24, 2025 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 24, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.”