FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 6, 2018

Contact: Lucy Dagneau, (860) 966-2845

(BOSTON, MA) – Statement of Diane Felicio, interim executive director of Community Catalyst, regarding the confirmation by the U.S. Senate of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“We are deeply disappointed and dissatisfied the U.S. Senate has voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Kavanaugh’s known views on health care, consumer protections, reproductive and civil rights, and presidential power are a threat to millions of Americans and reason enough to oppose his confirmation. But Mr. Kavanaugh’s lack of forthrightness throughout the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation process and his sharp rhetoric following the compelling testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford only heighten our concerns that he does not possess the character, veracity and temperament to receive a lifetime appointment on the highest court in the nation.

“This confirmation process has been trying and the outcome was not what we so strongly advocated for. However, we are heartened by the courageous people who spoke out and shared their personal stories about what is at stake for their health, health care and well-being if the Affordable Care Act and Roe v. Wade were ever to not be upheld by the Supreme Court. Moreover, Dr. Blasey Ford and those who have bravely stepped forward – often at great personal risk – to share their horrific accounts of being sexually assaulted have our deepest admiration and ongoing support.  

“Now that Mr. Kavanaugh has been confirmed, it will be incumbent on him to demonstrate that he will rule impartially and not allow the partisan rancor of the nomination process to influence his decisions. On the issue of health care, we will be keeping a close eye on his decision-making and hope he will follow Supreme Court precedent, as he indicated he would during the hearing process, and uphold the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act and Roe v. Wade should a challenge to either come before the court. Millions of lives depend on it.

“Community Catalyst and our partners across the country will not let up on the fight to expand access to affordable, equitable care. And we will remain engaged and vigilant to protect all people, particularly those with pre-existing conditions, women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people living with disabilities and other historically marginalized populations, from any future effort to undermine their care or access to treatment.”

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About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1998 with the belief that affordable quality health care should be accessible to everyone. We work in partnership with national, state and local organizations, policymakers, and philanthropic foundations to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, statehouses and on Capitol Hill. Headquartered in Boston, Community Catalyst has offices in Washington, DC, Atlanta, New York, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @HealthPolicyHub.