Senate Confirms Outspoken Abortion Opponent, Anti-Health Care Advocate for Lifetime Judicial Seat

Truncale Has Marched Against Access to Safe, Legal Abortion, Fought Against the ACA,
Will Now Influence Health and Rights

Joins One in Three Federal Judges Who Oppose Reproductive Health Care

WASHINGTON — The full Senate voted 49-46 to confirm Michael Truncale — widely known to oppose the right to abortion — to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. This nomination is particularly troublesome, because Texas politicians have already repeatedly tried to restrict access to safe, legal abortion and block patients from reproductive health care services at Planned Parenthood health centers. Truncale has also spoken out against the Affordable Care Act, which insures more than 20 million Americans every day.

Statement from Dr. Leana Wen, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

As a doctor, I have to look at the data. Michael Truncale’s record of attacking reproductive health care makes it clear he cannot be trusted to defend people’s fundamental right to health care. At a time when politicians who are anti-women’s health pursue the most extreme and dangerous policies of a generation, the people of Texas deserve to know that the courts will defend their health and rights, not take away essential health care services or dismantle the Affordable Care Act.

“Michael Truncale’s record does not represent the values of the American people, and we will continue working to protect the health and rights of our patients and women and families across the country.

Throughout his career, a number of Michael Truncale’s statements display hostility toward reproductive rights, women’s access to contraception, and the constitutional right to abortion. He has boasted about marching in an anti-abortion rally, and criticized former Texas State Sen. Wendy Davis, who undertook a 13-hour filibuster to delay a vote on a restrictive anti-abortion bill. While running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, Truncale stated in a campaign speech that Planned Parenthood should be defunded. He also spoke out against the Affordable Care Act, calling it a “threat to citizens,” adding “We must repeal Obamacare.”

More than 70 percent of Americans — including a majority of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans — support access to abortion and do not want to see Roe v. Wade overturned. Yet, the Trump-Pence administration and Senate leadership are attempting to remake an entire branch of government by filling lifetime judicial appointments with unfit, ideologically driven people as part of its agenda to restrict women’s health and rights — all while disregarding centuries-long process. President Trump has appointed over 100 judges to the federal bench with 11 percent of the federal judiciary now appointed by this administration. During 2019 state legislative sessions, more than 290 bills restricting abortion have been filed in 45 states. Nearly half of those restrictions are abortion bans, including those in Kentucky, Ohio, and Georgia. Should any of this legislation become law, it is likely that the federal courts will be called upon to decide the fate of people’s health and lives in these states.

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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.