The move has no immediate legal force but will likely spark lawsuits that advocates hope will restore abortion rights.

U.S. President Joe Biden called the Equal Rights Amendment "the law of the land," on Friday, backing an effort to enshrine the change into the U.S. Constitution even though it long ago failed to secure the approval of enough states to become an amendment.

The remarks were largely a symbolic gesture of support for a century-long campaign to enshrine gender equality in the Constitution. But advocates said they could add heft to a future legal fight.

The struggle over the Equal Rights Amendment started more than a century ago when suffragist Alice Paul first proposed it shortly after the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the

Biden’s statement has no legal force and a White House official said courts would have to decide whether the amendment is a valid part of America’s constitution

Biden announced that the Equal Rights Amendment should be considered a ratified addition to the U.S. Constitution.

In his final week as president, Biden is using his bully pulpit to try to push forward the amendment that would enshrine sex equality in the U.S. Constitution.

“Equality is a fundamental promise of our democracy. That is why the Equal Rights Amendment belongs in our Constitution,” Harris said in a statement. “It makes our nation stronger, and it is the law of the land because the American people have spoken in states across our nation.”

Presidents have no direct role in approving constitutional amendments. So what could President Biden’s pronouncement recognizing a new one actually do?

President Joe Biden renewed his call for the Equal Right Amendment to be ratified, but is stopping short of taking any action on the matter in his final days in office.

President Joe Biden’s declaration the Equal Rights Amendment is “the law of the land” likely only sets up more debates for Congress and the courts