Biden Celebrated for Public Service as Presidency Nears Conclusion
The recognition from the U.S. Conference of Mayors honors exceptional and commendable public service in support of U.S. cities.
On January 17, President Joe Biden concluded his final complete week in office by accepting the highest accolade from the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
This award, presented by the nonpartisan organization, celebrates an individual’s “outstanding and meritorious public service” to cities across the United States.
While addressing the conference’s winter session in Washington, Biden expressed his gratitude for receiving the award from “an organization of character and consequence.”
“This is among the last events I’ll be part of as president,” he remarked. “I chose to be here because the very first thing I did as president was speak to this conference.”
Biden reflected on his achievements over the past four years, mentioning significant milestones such as the enactment of the COVID-19 relief package in 2021 and his administration’s investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, and climate-oriented projects.
“Throughout my career, I have been steadfast in my belief that no one, under any circumstances, should face discrimination due to their gender,” Biden asserted, indicating that three-quarters of the states have ratified the amendment, which is necessary for its implementation.
He proclaimed that the Equal Rights Amendment is now “the law of the land—now!”
However, the National Archives disagreed.
A spokesperson from the National Archives reiterated this position to The Epoch Times on January 17.
“This stance has been consistent for the Archivist and the National Archives. The underlying legal and procedural matters remain unchanged,” the spokesperson stated in an email.
The primary hurdle preventing the amendment from being certified was the deadline imposed by Congress for its ratification, which was June 30, 1982. Although Virginia ratified the amendment in 2020, it did so 38 years past the deadline.
Furthermore, the president does not possess the authority to certify constitutional amendments independently.
The Equal Rights Amendment represents just one of the many objectives Biden has sought to achieve in recent weeks as he prepares to leave the White House. Other initiatives include forgiving student loans for 150,000 borrowers, prohibiting offshore drilling, and granting extensive pardons to certain convicted individuals, including some on death row, drug offenders, and his son Hunter Biden.
President-elect Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated as the 47th president within the Capitol Rotunda on January 20.
Zachary Stieber contributed to this article.