SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – More than 40 years after the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was first introduced in the U.S. Congress, a group including state Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is fighting to ratify the amendment in Illinois to guarantee constitutional protections against gender-based discrimination.

“Trump has shown that he will erode women’s rights in health care, employment and other areas where women have historically faced barriers,” said D’Amico. “Passing the ERA has never been more important due to the anti-woman nature of the Trump presidency.”

D’Amico is backing Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 4, which would ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. The Equal Rights Amendment would guarantee constitutional protection of the rights of all citizens regardless of sex. The measures would improve judicial standards for deciding cases of sex discrimination and also help women combat wage discrimination in the workplace. In order to be ratified and added to the Constitution, the ERA must be approved by 38 states. If adopted, Illinois would become the 37th state to ratify the ERA, first approved by Congress in 1972.

“There has never been a greater assault on women’s rights during the 40-year battle to pass the ERA,” D’Amico continued. “We need to get the ERA cemented in our constitution before Trump has the ability to do any more damage.”