House Attempts Last-Ditch Effort to Revive ERA: Why Critics Say It Does More Harm Than Good

Today the House of Representatives votes on a bill that attempts to retroactively remove the deadline for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. It's a last-ditch effort by Democrats to get the controversial amendment added to the Constitution.

"With this resolution, we take a giant step toward equality for women, progress for families, and a stronger America," Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told ERA supporters.

The Equal Rights Amendment, which says, "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex," passed Congress in 1972.

However, it failed to get the approval needed from 38 states, the three-fourths required to amend the US Constitution, before its 1979 and extended-1982 deadlines passed.

Also, a number of states that did ratify the ERA later rescinded their approval.

"It is time to guarantee true equality under the United States Constitution," Virginia state Delegate Hala Ayala (D) said during floor debate on the floor of the Virginia House of Delegates last month.

Despite the deadline expiring decades ago, Virginia revived the debate in January when it became the 38th state to ratify.

The commonwealth's first female speaker of the House ensured the ERA was the first bill to pass out of her chamber.