In symbolic gesture, Biden claims the Equal Rights Amendment is now the "law of the land"

President Joe Biden announced Friday that he believes the Equal Rights Amendment is "the law of the land" The amendment, passed by Congress in 1972 , guarantees equal rights for women.

Biden 's announcement came at the eleventh hour of his presidency and sparked celebration among the amendment's backers.

The White House says Biden will not be ordering the archivist to certify and publish the amendment.