Pro-Choice Caucus leaders’ statement on confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA), as co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, issued the following statement after the Senate voted tonight to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court:

“This entire confirmation process has made a mockery out of the highest court in the land. Today’s vote to confirm Judge Barrett to the Supreme Court is an affront to democracy as we know it - women, vulnerable communities, and working families are going to suffer because of this for generations to come.  

“The United States is eight days away from one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime. Millions of Americans have already cast their ballots, but Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans jammed through this illegitimate confirmation with no regard for giving the American people a say in this process.

“As leaders of the Pro-Choice Caucus, we are fully aware of the danger this nomination presents to women around the country. President Trump has spent years promising to only nominate justices who are hostile towards abortion. During the 2016 election, he campaigned on his commitment to nominating justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade. And despite Republicans’ unwillingness to publicly acknowledge their intent to strip women of their constitutional rights, we’ve always known that the nominee to replace the late Justice Ginsburg would be a vessel through which they could do so. 

“It comes as no surprise that Judge Barrett’s record reflects years of hostility towards Roe and access to reproductive care. Tonight’s confirmation is a devastating development in our decades long fight for reproductive freedom. But we are going to ensure officials at every level of government in every state across the country are committed to protecting reproductive freedoms, especially for low-income and women of color. This fight is not over with this confirmation. Let this serve as a renewed commitment to continuing our work in Congress and in the states.”