On Thursday, the House voted to remove the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
The ERA, a proposed constitutional amendment that guarantees Americans equal legal rights regardless of sex, passed Congress in 1972 before being sent to the states for ratification.
Originally, ERA was given a 1979 deadline for the states to ratify it, which was later extended to 1982. However, only 35 states ratified it by the deadline, just shy of the 38 needed. With Virginia coming on board this year, the Amendment now has 38 states in support. The House bill does away with the deadline.
All except five House Republicans voted against the measure. All Texas Republicans in the House, including Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Houston and Rep. Chip Roy of Austin, voted no.
Texas was among the first states to ratify the ERA, having done so back in 1972 when the state legislature was under Democratic control.
The ERA deadline removal bill will go to the Senate, where Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has stated his opposition to the bill.
Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images
