The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), a century-long fight for constitutional equality, stands at a historic tipping point. Senate Joint Resolution 38 —A joint resolution establishing the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski, which protects women, is the key to ratifying the ERA as the 28th Amendment by validating the 38 state ratifications achieved by 2020. As Congress scrambles to avert a federal government shutdown by midnight on September 30, 2025, a reconciliation package offers a critical opportunity to pass this transformative resolution. While the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) (July 3, 2025) and the pending Defining Male and Female Act of 2025 address specific policy frameworks, the ERA’s passage is paramount to ensuring equality for all Americans. Here’s why Congress must prioritize S.J.Res. 38 now.

The Shutdown Crisis: A Moment for Bold Action

With hours to go until the September 30, 2025, funding deadline, and as the saying goes “Nothing good happens after midnight.”. Congress faces intense pressure to pass a continuing resolution  or omnibus bill to prevent a shutdown that would furlough 2 million federal workers, delay military pay, and cost the economy over $2 billion weekly. The Republican-majority House (220-215) and Senate (53-47) are deadlocked over spending, health subsidies, and foreign aid. A reconciliation package, requiring only a simple majority, is the most viable path to fund the government and advance S.J.Res. 38, bypassing the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold. This strategy, proven by the OBBBA’s passage, can deliver the ERA alongside fiscal stability.

The ERA: A Moral and Economic Imperative

The ERA, first proposed in 1923, guarantees equal protection under the law regardless of sex. S.J.Res. 38 removes the 1982 deadline, affirming the 38 state ratifications and making the ERA the 28th Amendment. With women earning 82 cents for every dollar a man earns, and lacking constitutional safeguards against discrimination in pay, healthcare, and safety, the ERA is urgent. It would empower courts to uphold equality, as championed by Katrina’s Dream Power of One program, which urges calls to Congress (202-224-3121) to co-sponsor S.J.Res. 38. Supported by 80% of Americans (Pew, 2024) and bipartisan voices like Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the ERA bridges divides, promising $512 billion in annual GDP growth by empowering women economically (McKinsey, 2024).

Leveraging Reconciliation for S.J.Res. 38

A reconciliation package is the ERA’s best shot. By bundling S.J.Res. 38 with shutdown-averting measures, Congress can:

• Prevent a Shutdown: Extend funding beyond September 30, preserving jobs and services.
• Ratify the ERA: Validate the 38 state ratifications, echoing the 27th Amendment’s 203-year ratification precedent.
• Align with Broader Goals: Complement labor justice efforts, like Katrina’s Dream’s advocacy for Amazon workers amplifying whistleblowers.

This aligns with Katrina’s Dream’s Power of One (urging ERA/Warehouse Workers Protection Act and the Faster Labor Contract Act), Bubble of Love (promoting peace, and Unveiling Valor poetry initiative, fostering unity and creativity.

Contextualizing the OBBBA and Defining Male and Female Act

The OBBBA, passed July 3, 2025 (H.R. 1, 218-212 House, 51-49 Senate), delivered tax cuts, deregulation, and binary sex definitions for programs like Medicaid and SNAP (Section 44125), ensuring policy clarity. The Defining Male and Female Act (H.R. 2378/S. 1147), introduced by Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), extends these definitions across federal law, currently stalled in committee (House Oversight, Senate Homeland Security). While these measures address specific frameworks, they must not overshadow the ERA’s universal mandate for equality. S.J.Res. 38 ensures fairness for all, harmonizing with clear policy standards without diminishing the fight against discrimination.

Why the ERA Must Lead

Passing S.J.Res. 38 is a moral and practical necessity:

• Equality for All: The ERA guarantees equal pay, healthcare access, and protections against sex-based discrimination, addressing systemic inequities.
• Economic Boost: Closing the gender gap via the ERA drives economic growth, benefiting families and communities.
• Justice Synergy: It supports labor equity, as seen in Katrina’s Dream’s Amazon whistleblower advocacy and Pope Francis’s 2024 call for worker dignity.
• Bipartisan Momentum: Murkowski’s support and public backing make S.J.Res. 38 the strongest ERA resolution poised for success in reconciliation.

Call to Action

Congress must act before midnight tonight, September 30, 2025, to avert a shutdown and pass S.J.Res. 38 in a reconciliation package, ensuring the ERA’s ratification.

Support Katrina’s Dream’s 20 for 20 fundraiser, and share with #20for20ERA #BubbleOfLove #AmazonsEmpireOfShadows.

Let’s enshrine equality, uphold justice, and fulfill Rev. Katrina’s Dream.