Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement after voting against a resolution to remove the deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA):
“The Constitution makes clear states have to ratify constitutional amendments. By every metric, states have not done so. The Democrats’ novel unconstitutional approach bypasses states’ rights and circumvents the process our Founders put in place. This is simply another liberal wish list item meant to drive a political wedge.”
Background:
Article 5 of the Constitution established Congress can propose amendments. They must pass both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate with two-thirds majorities. For a passed amendment to then be added to the Constitution, a three-fourths majority of states must ratify it.
The ERA was first introduced in 1923; it passed Congress in 1972, but was never ratified by a three-fourths majority of states before the initial deadline in 1979. North Dakota ratified it in 1975, though in 2021, the legislature clarified the state’s approval of the amendment expired with the deadline.
Today’s resolution failed 51-47, as it did not meet the 60-vote threshold.