Washington (CNN) The House of Representatives voted on Thursday to approve a resolution to eliminate a deadline for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, which would ban discrimination on the basis of sex and guarantee equality for women under the Constitution.

The measure, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier of California, passed the House largely along party lines by a vote of 232-183. Five Republicans voted in support, including Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Tom Reed of New York and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has given no indication that the Senate would take up the resolution, but the House vote will still serve to revive the debate over the Equal Rights Amendment and inject new life into the decades-long fight over whether it should be added to the Constitution.

"There shouldn't be a deadline on equality and our long march to full equality under the law is finally coming to fruition," Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia, who presided over floor debate in the House on Thursday for the resolution, told CNN.

At the beginning of her weekly press conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the resolution and the vote.

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