Senate Committee Advances Trump’s Attorney General and Judicial Nominees with Extreme Anti-abortion and Reproductive Health Records

WASHINGTON — Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted Trump’s nominee for attorney general, William Barr, out of committee in a party line vote. The Committee also advanced the confirmation of Trump’s nominees Wendy Vitter, Matthew Kacsmaryk, Michael Truncale, and Brian Buescher for lifetime seats on the federal bench — all who have extreme anti-abortion and reproductive health records. These nominees were held over from the previous Congress and will not receive additional hearings even though there are three new Senators on the Committee that have not had the opportunity to properly vet them. Both Barr and Trump’s judicial nominees will have a confirmation vote in the coming weeks.

Right now, 16 cases on safe, legal abortion are only one step away from the Supreme Court. In fact,later today the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on whether Louisiana can enforce a medically unnecessary law that could close all but one health center that provides, safe legal abortion.

Statement from Dana Singiser, Senior Vice President for Policy, Campaigns and Advocacy, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

Everything is on the line for women’s health and rights with Trump’s latest slate of nominees with extreme anti-abortion and anti-reproductive health records. Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee know that Barr believes Roe v. Wade should be overturned and is a threat to the Affordable Care Act, yet they choose to vote him out of committee regardless. If confirmed, Barr will be an active threat to the very rights and freedoms that he is tasked to protect.

“Trump’s nomination of Wendy Vitter, Matthew Kacsmaryk, Michael Truncale and Brian Buescher for lifetime seats on our federal courts is just the latest step in a broader effort to ban access to safe, legal abortion. Nearly one in five judges in lifetime federal seats are now Trump appointees – and they will be ruling against our health and rights long after the Trump presidency is over.

“Planned Parenthood opposes the nominations of William Barr for Attorney General and District Court nominees Wendy Vitter, Matthew Kacsmaryk, Michael Truncale and Brian Buescher for lifetime seats on the federal bench. We call on Senators to vote ‘no’ on their confirmations.

BACKGROUND ON WILLIAM BARR:

During his confirmation hearing, Barr dodged questions on health care again and again:

• On Roe v. Wade: William Barr refused to directly answer if he would defend Roe v. Wade if confirmed to be attorney general. Instead of answering, he evaded the question, simply stating his solicitor general “would make whatever arguments are necessary to address that.”  This completely sidesteps the question and fails to account for how he, as attorney general, would direct the solicitor general on the matter. 
   
• On the Affordable Care Act (ACA): The Trump-Pence administration’s previous attorney general, Jeff Sessions, refused to defend most of the ACA in court. During the hearing, Barr was asked if he would continue to push Sessions’ agenda or reverse it and defend the ACA and its protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Barr dodged by saying he would review the previous department’s decision, giving Americans no confidence that they will be able to continue accessing lifesaving, affordable health care.

While Barr refused to give a straight answer, his record says all we need to know. When he served as attorney general under George H.W. Bush, Barr:

• Stated under oath, during his confirmation hearings, “I do not believe the right to privacy extends to abortion.... Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and should be overruled.”
• Sent a letter to the Senate opposing the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), the legislation that would have codified Roe into law.
• Used the rhetoric of the anti-abortion movement, like “abortion on demand,” in letters to members of Congress.

The attorney general, as head of the Department of Justice, is charged with protecting and enforcing our nation’s laws, including a woman’s constitutional right to abortion and the ability to access health care. Additionally, if an abortion case comes before the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court could ask the U.S. Attorney General for the federal government’s opinion. Barr has already stated that he believes Roe v. Wade “does not have any constitutional underpinnings” and “the Roe v Wade opinion will fall.” Right now, there are 16 abortion cases that are only one step away from the Supreme Court.

BACKGROUND ON TRUMP’S JUDICIAL NOMINEES:

Trump has appointed a record number of federal judges, including more circuit court nominees than any president in modern history at this point in their term. Following Trump’s promise to appoint judges who would overturn Roe v. Wade, most of these nominees are extremely conservative, and many hold views that are hostile to reproductive health and rights.

Trump’s nominees include:

• Brian Buescher, U.S. District Court of Nebraska Nominee: Buescher does not believe abortion should be legal even in cases of rape or incest and supports “defunding” Planned Parenthood health centers.
• Wendy Vitter, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Nominee: Vitter has received the lowest qualified rating by the American Bar Association. Vitter made headlines last spring for withholding information from the Senate Judiciary committee about her anti-abortion record, publicly misrepresentingher background in a confirmation hearing, and failing to state whether landmark cases Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade were correctly decided. One of the activities Vitter omitted was how she moderated an anti-abortion panel, where she promoted the baseless claim that women who take contraceptive pills are more likely to die violent deaths.
• Matthew Kacsmaryk, U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Texas Nominee:Kacsmaryk has represented religiously affiliated institutions that oppose the Affordable Care Act’s birth control benefit, advancing arguments that falsely equate certain methods of birth control to abortion. Kacsmaryk has also disputed the legal foundation of Roe v. Wade, and has argued that the legal right to abortion has weakened the institution of marriage.
• Michael Truncale, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas Nominee:Truncale has called for “defunding” Planned Parenthood, boasted about marching in an anti-abortion rally, and has criticized former Texas State Senator Wendy Davis, who undertook a 13-hour filibuster to delay a vote on a restrictive anti-abortion bill. Mr. Truncale’s speech notes say: “Wendy Davis’ Claim to fame – kills little girls” and “she wants to kill babies five months into term.”
   

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.

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, advocacy and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.