H.J.Res. 38House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment.

Introduced January 30, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 1:08 AM UTC

This joint resolution removes the time limit that was attached to the Equal Rights Amendment when it was first sent to the states in 1972. By striking the deadline, the amendment can still be adopted if enough states ratify it, even many years later. The change affects the amendment’s ratification process and any state that chooses to ratify the ERA.

Key Provisions

  • Eliminates the original deadline that was set for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
  • States that the amendment will become part of the Constitution once three‑quarters of the states ratify it, regardless of how much time has passed.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
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Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

January 30, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 30, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

January 30, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

January 30, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 30, 2019

IA

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. J. RES. 38

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 30, 2019

Ms. Speier (for herself, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Reed, Mrs. Luria, Ms. Spanberger, Ms. Wexton, Mrs. Lawrence, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Heck, Ms. Judy Chu of California, Mr. Connolly, Ms. Plaskett, Mr. Carbajal, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Peters, Mr. Takano, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Norton, Mr. Ruiz, Miss Rice of New York, Ms. Frankel, Mr. McNerney, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Foster, Mr. Engel, Mr. Aguilar, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Khanna, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Espaillat, Ms. DeGette, Mr. Richmond, Ms. Brownley of California, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Cooper, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Sarbanes, Mrs. Torres of California, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Schrader, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Welch, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Mr. Crist, Mr. Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Yarmuth, Mr. Tonko, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Horsford, Mrs. Davis of California, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Schiff, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Beyer, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Loebsack, Ms. Gabbard, Mr. Swalwell of California, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, Mr. Soto, Mr. Sires, Mr. Keating, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Clay, Ms. Hill of California, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Waters, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Mr. Lynch, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Schneider, Ms. Pressley, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Barragán, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Levin of Michigan, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Mr. Kind, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Cox of California, Mr. Gallego, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Ms. Fudge, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Norcross, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Cárdenas, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Raskin, Ms. Omar, Ms. Sánchez, Mr. Perlmutter, Ms. Titus, Mrs. Trahan, Mr. Levin of California, Mr. Himes, Ms. Schrier, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Ms. Adams, Mr. Case, Ms. Escobar, Mr. Ted Lieu of California, Ms. Porter, Mrs. Bustos, Ms. Slotkin, Mr. García of Illinois, Ms. Garcia of Texas, and Mr. Rush) submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

Removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment.

That notwithstanding any time limit contained in House Joint Resolution 208, 92nd Congress, as agreed to in the Senate on March 22, 1972, the article of amendment proposed to the States in that joint resolution shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution whenever ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States.