>>> THE U.S. CONSTITUTION WAS LAST AMENDED IN 1992.

THE PROVISION THAT DEALS WITH CONGRESSIONAL PAY.

THERE IS ANOTHER IDEA ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET ADDED TO THE CONSTITUTION FOR 100 YEARS.

THAT IS THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

AMANDA JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

>> Reporter: THE CONCEPT BEHIND THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR LITERALLY A CENTURY BUT IT IS GETTING A RENEWED PUSH NOW THINGS IN LARGE PART TO THE DECISION BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN THE LEGAL RIGHT TO AN ABORTION.

IT COULD ADD THE E.R.A.

TO THE CONSTITUTION AND ONE PERSON SAID THEY ARE TIRED OF WOMEN BEING SUBJECTED TO SECOND-CLASS STATUS.

>> RAMIFICATIONS RUN DEEP AS WOMEN FACE DAILY SEXISM, PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION , PAY INEQUITIES , SEXUAL VIOLENCE, AND LEGISLATIVE ATTACKS ON OUR BODILY AUTONOMY AND MORE.

>> WE SEE SENATOR DURBIN PUSHING THIS IN THE SENATE.

REMIND US WHAT THE E.R.A.

WOULD DO?

>> Reporter: IT IS SHORT AND SIMPLE.

IT READS EQUALITY OF RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW SHALL NOT BE DENIED OR ABRIDGED BY THE UNITED STATES OR BY ANY STATE ON ACCOUNT OF SEX.

WHAT THAT MEANS ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL, IT WOULD ENSHRINE THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN, AND LGTBQ INDIVIDUALS IN THE CONSTITUTION.

AND THE 19th AMENDMENT GIVING WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THERE ARE NO EXPRESS PROTECTIONS FOR WOMEN IN THE CONSTITUTION.

LAWS THAT GIVE WOMEN PROTECTION CAN BE OVERTURNED BUT THAT IS HARDER TO DO WITH A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT VERSUS A LOT.

HEAD OF THE FEMINIST MAJORITY POINTS TO THE DOBBS DECISION OVERTURNING ROE.

>> THEY CLEARLY SAID THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE DID NOT COVER SEX DISCRIMINATION.

ARE WE GOING TO GO BACK AND SEE MORE THINGS REVERSED?

ACCESS NOT ONLY TO CONTRACEPTIVE , NOT BEING ABLE TO MARRY WHO YOU WANT TO MARRY?

WHAT IS THIS?

>> THIS IS A FIGHT THAT HAS BEEN LINGERING FOR DECADES.

THERE HAVE BEEN PUSHES AND RENEWED PUSH IS.

WHAT IS THE STATUS NOW?

>> 38 STATES HAVE RATIFIED THE E.R.A.

AND THAT IS ENOUGH FOR IT TO HAVE PASSED.

THE PROBLEM IS SOME STATES DID SO ONLY RECENTLY INCLUDING ILLINOIS.

THE SECOND TO THE LAST STATE TO RATIFY IN 2018.

IT IS LONG PAST THE DEADLINE CONGRESS HAD SET FOR STATES TO ACHIEVE RATIFICATION.

THE E.R.A.

IS THEREFORE DEAD.

BUT ADVOCATES ARE NOT GIVING UP.

ILLINOIS SENIOR U.S.

SENATOR, DURBIN SAID EARLY IN HIS POLITICAL CAREER HE WORKED FOR THE ILLINOIS SENATE WHERE THE FIRST ASSIGNMENT DEALT WITH THE E.R.A.

>> THAT WAS ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO.

THEY SAY TO BE A LEGISLATOR YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

IT IS TIME TO GET THE JOB DONE.

>> HE WILL PLAY A ROLE IN ALL OF THIS MOVING FORWARD.

HACKERS HAVE RESOLUTIONS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY FORESEE THE DEADLINE.

AND IT COULD ALLOW THE E.R.A.

TO BE PART OF THE CONSTITUTION.

DURBIN HEADS THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND SAID HE WILL SOON HOLD A HEARING TO GET GOING ON THAT.

>> WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THIS TIME?

>> Reporter: ADVOCATES ARE PERSISTENT AND THEY ARE PARTICULARLY MOTIVATED.

THEY SAY THEY ARE READY TO USE MECHANISMS LIKE THE FILIBUSTER AND DISCHARGE SO THIS IS GOING TO BE TOUGH.

A WHILE BACK THIS WAS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE BUT IT HAS VERY MUCH BECOME ONE.

AND AGAIN, ABORTION IS A LARGE PART OF THAT.

ADVOCATES SAY THE E.R.A.

WOULD REMOVE PROTECTIONS FOR THE UNBORN.

CRITICS ALSO SAY IT WOULD OVERTURN OTHER PROTECTIONS FOR