WASHINGTON − On Friday, President Joe Biden proclaimed that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is “the law of the land,” supporting an initiative to make gender equality a constitutional guarantee, more than a century after the idea was first put forth.

However, it is unclear what tangible effects Biden’s remarks might bring. The statement from the White House came just three days before his term concludes, as he prepares to transfer power to President-elect Donald Trump on Monday.

The ERA asserts that “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”

Proponents argue that the amendment is essential to safeguard against gender discrimination and to promote equal pay, while critics believe that the original timeline for its ratification has expired, deeming the amendment unnecessary.

In 2023, the U.S. Senate blocked the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment with a 51-47 vote in favor, falling nine votes short of the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster in the 100-member Senate.

Originally proposed in 1923, the ERA passed through Congress in 1972. According to U.S. law, amendments to the Constitution must secure approval from three-fourths of state legislatures (38 out of 50) and do not require the president’s endorsement.

In 2020, Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the amendment, but opponents claimed that the deadline set for ratification had already lapsed. The National Archivist, responsible for validating and publishing new amendments, concurs that the timeframe for ratification has expired.

On December 17, the National Archivist confirmed that the ERA cannot be recognized as part of the Constitution due to “established legal, judicial and procedural decisions.”

In 2023, U.S. women working full-time year-round earned 84 cents for every dollar earned by men, based on reports from the Department of Labor. Additionally, Black women earned 69 cents for every dollar earned by white men.