This year marks 100 years since the introduction of the Equal Rights Amendment and half a century since it passed in Congress. What Is the Equal Rights Amendment? The Equal Rights Amendment is a proposed constitutional amendment that would permanently ban any state or federal government from discriminating "on the basis of sex" in the United States. Why Do We Still Need the Equal Rights Amendment? The ERA will help achieve equal pay for equal work by creating a mandate for Congress to pursue additional legislation around gender equality.