The crossword solution for the term 'IMPORTANT STRETCH' is ERA, which stands for 'Equal Rights Amendment'. The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that sought to guarantee equal rights for all citizens regardless of sex. It was first introduced in Congress in 1923 and was passed by both houses of Congress in 1972. However, it failed to be ratified by the necessary number of states and was never added to the Constitution. Despite this, the ERA remains an important symbol of the struggle for gender equality in the United States.