Bill > HC16

This Concurrent Resolution formally ratifies the proposed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the United States Constitution, which states that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex, and grants Congress the power to enforce this provision. The resolution acknowledges that the ERA was initially proposed by Congress in the early 1970s with a seven-year ratification deadline, but argues that this deadline, being part of the "resolving clause" and not the amendment itself, can be disregarded, referencing a Supreme Court case (Coleman v. Miller) that suggests Congress has the authority to determine the validity of state ratifications, especially given the importance of the amendment and evolving national sentiment. The resolution emphasizes the need for Mississippi to uphold constitutional equality for men and women, aligning with progress made both domestically and internationally.