Lisa McCormick urges President Joe Biden to publish Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

In a call for progress and inclusivity, Lisa McCormick, a prominent advocate for women’s rights and progressive values, has urged President Joe Biden to take action and publish the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

McCormick’s message emphasizes the importance of recognizing women’s equality under the Constitution and highlights the potential for positive change in the pursuit of gender equity.

“Since 1923, Americans have tirelessly advocated for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, a crucial step toward affirming women’s rights as fundamental human rights,” said McCormick. “As we celebrate the ongoing progress in our journey towards equality, I urge President Biden to seize this opportunity and publish the ERA, reaffirming our commitment to justice and fairness for all.”

McCormick’s call for action comes amidst a renewed focus on gender equality and social justice issues. With the ratification of the ERA by Virginia in January 2020, the threshold for adoption as the 28th amendment to the Constitution was met, signaling a significant milestone in the fight for gender equity.

Biden has implied that Congress is responsible for recognizing the Equal Rights Amendment, but many politicians, lawyers and scholars question why the Executive Branch has still not published it.

When the DC Court of Appeals heard arguments for Illinois v. Ferriero, Nicole Vorrasi Bates, attorney and founder of Shattering Glass said, “The Biden Administration is actually going into court and fighting against the Equal Rights Amendment, a right which would have saved Roe v. Wade.”

“Instead of allowing obstacles to hinder our progress, let us embrace this moment as an opportunity to affirm the values of equality and inclusion that define our nation,” said McCormick, a dedicated advocate for women’s rights and progressive values. Her unwavering commitment to social justice issues has inspired positive change and galvanized support for gender equity initiatives.

With respect to the ERA, no states need to ratify the ERA. 38 states have ratified the ERA, and it is currently the 28th Amendment. However, on January 27, 2020, when Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the ERA, it was blocked unlawfully by the Trump administration.

Shockingly, the Biden administration continued to block the ERA and is expected to be in court again on 9/28 arguing against the ERA, and arguing for Trump’s position.

Hundreds of constitutional scholars, including Harvard Professor Laurence Tribe and Former Senator Russ Feingold (now President of the American Constitution Society), have stated the ERA is currently the 28th amendment and have urged publication of the ERA, knowing it could save Roe v. Wade.

Similarly, Senators Richard Blumenthal, Amy Klobuchar, and Catherine Cortez Masto urged the Biden Administration to publish the ERA before the Biden administration agreed to continue Trump’s fight against the ERA.

“Any action to deny the basic recognition of sex equality demands a robust justification on policy and legal grounds. The January 2020 OLC opinion falls far short of this high standard,” the lawmakers wrote. “Article V lays out the amending process. It does not say anything about deadlines. It simply states that an amendment becomes valid when ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures.”

“By publishing the Equal Rights Amendment, President Biden can demonstrate his unwavering commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of every individual,” said McCormick.

She emphasized the transformative potential of the ERA, which would prohibit sex discrimination and ensure equal protection under the law for all Americans.

By recognizing women’s rights as inherent and inalienable, the ERA would pave the way for a more just and equitable society for future generations.

“The time has come to reaffirm our commitment to equality and justice for all,” said McCormick. “By publishing the Equal Rights Amendment, we can move closer to realizing the promise of a more inclusive and equitable America.”

McCormick’s message resonates with supporters of gender equality and underscores the importance of collective action in advancing social progress.

As the nation strives towards a more perfect union, McCormick’s call for unity and solidarity serves as a beacon of hope for a brighter and more inclusive future.

McCormick took four of ten votes away from Senator Robert Menendez in the 2018 statewide Democratic primary election, and she led a team of 25 progressive insurgents who captured 47 percent of the vote in Union County’s 2010 Democratic primary election.