WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted for a bipartisan resolution to eliminate the deadline for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Larsen is a champion for women’s rights and equality, supports the Equal Rights Amendment and was a cosponsor of this historic resolution.

The Equal Rights Amendment states, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex.”

“Today, the House made clear it will not stop fighting for full equality for women,” said Larsen. “After today’s historic vote, the United States is one step closer to living up to its ideals nearly a century after women fought for and won the right to vote. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure the Equal Rights Amendment is ratified as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution.”

Congress passed the ERA in 1972 but attached a seven-year ratification deadline to the preamble which was later extended three more years. By 1982, 35 states out of the required 38 states voted to ratify the amendment. Washington state became the 30th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in 1973. In the past three years, Nevada, Illinois and Virginia voted for ratification.

HJ Res 79 is supported by women’s and equal rights organizations including the ERA Coalition, the ACLU Women’s Rights Project, YWCA, the National Organization of Women, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, National Women’s Law Center and the National Partnership for Women and Families.