Planned Parenthood Action Fund Condemns Senate Vote to Confirm Brett Kavanaugh to Lifetime Appointment on Supreme Court

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Planned Parenthood Action Fund condemns the Senate vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. The vote will have a profound and lasting impact on people’s constitutional rights for generations to come — including the right to access safe, legal abortion. There are currently 13 abortion cases that are one step away from the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh would likely have the chance to rule on one of these pivotal abortion cases as soon as his first year on the bench. If Roe v. Wade were overturned or further eroded, more than 25 million women of reproductive age who live in 20 states that are poised to ban abortion could face no access to abortion at all in their states. That is more than a third of women of reproductive age in this country.

Today’s vote, which followed compelling sworn testimony of sexual assault allegations brought by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and a widely disparaged FBI investigation, occurred despite the nationwide opposition to Kavanaugh’s nomination.

Statement from Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:  

We will never stop fighting for people’s health and rights. Generations to come will feel the effects of this vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. But we will not back down. In the meantime, Planned Parenthood health centers will continue to provide essential health care and education to patients across the country. No matter what.

“We are clear about what happened today. Fifty senators — including those who profess to support and stand with women — ignored the facts, Kavanaugh's record, credible allegations of sexual assault, a clear display of lack of judicial temperament, and the will of the American people, and they voted to imperil affordable health care for millions and gut the constitutional right for people to make their own health care decisions. The senators who voted for Brett Kavanaugh ignored the voices of survivors, people with pre-existing conditions, and the one in four women who have had an abortion in their lifetime. We will not be deterred.

Quote from Deirdre Schifeling , Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Votes:  

If the American people got a vote, Brett Kavanaugh would be nowhere near the Supreme Court. In the midterm elections next month, though, we can vote — and women will send a clear message to those in power that if you vote against our rights, you’re going to lose your job.

“Women, young people, and people of color have spent the last year powering electoral victories that no one thought possible. On November 6, we’re going to take back Congress.

Kavanaugh’s nomination is not in touch with the American people, who consistently support safe and legal abortion. More than 70 percent of Americans support access to abortion, including a majority of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. In fact, a July poll found that support for Roe v. Wade is at its highest since the court issued its landmark ruling in 1973. This helps explain why, even before the allegations of sexual assault came to light, Kavanaugh is the most unpopular Supreme Court nominee in decades.

Brett Kavanaugh’s judicial record, speeches, Senate Judiciary Committee testimony, and even his emails all lead to the conclusion that he would gut Roe v. Wade and undermine access to safe, legal abortion if given the chance. Kavanagh was nominated by Trump with the promise of overturning Roe v. Wade, and he has already ruled against a woman’s constitutional right to abortion.

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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.

Planned Parenthood Votes in an independent expenditure committee registered with the Federal Election Commission.