Time to complete approval of ERA

We have been considering the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution for 94 years. It's time to wind up this unfinished business. The proposed ERA says "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex." and "Congress shall have the power to enforce … this article." Congress sent it to the states for ratification in 1972, and in the '70s, it was approved by 35 states, three short of the required 38. Nevada ratified in March 2017.

The ERA should be adopted. American Women are discriminated against in many ways. They are underpaid - on average, about three fourths as much as men - for the same work men do. They are treated worse in business, universities, and other places of employment. Existing laws may contribute to these problems, but that is legally irrelevant because unequal treatment on account of gender is not illegal. Adoption of the ERA would give Congress the power to enforce equal treatment of both genders. Illinois has an ERA in our state Constitution, but it has no effect outside Illinois, and it does not apply to federal laws.

Illinois is considering ratification. Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 0004, filed in February, awaits action by the Illinois legislature. If approved, SJRCA4 would make Illinois the 37th state to ratify the ERA. Only one further state ratification would be needed to make the ERA the law of the land.

Voters should urge ratification. Only if our legislators hear from us are they likely to act. If our legislators don't think we care, they may conclude that they don't need to care, either.

Phyllis A. Green

Arlington Heights