Statement from Planned Parenthood North Central States on U.S. Senate Vote Confirming Justice Amy Coney Barrett

St. Paul, MN— Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Justice Amy Coney Barrett to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. The confirmation process was rushed through the U.S. Senate by leadership, even while millions of Americans have already voted for the next administration.

Below is a statement from Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States:

“More than 54 million people have cast their ballots to decide the future direction of our country, and much of our future hinges on the makeup of the Supreme Court. Arrogantly rushing through this nomination in the midst of an election ignores the clear will of a majority of Americans. President Trump’s actions and the blind loyalty of the Senate created a confirmation process that has been contemptuous, reckless and shameless.”

"From the air we breathe to our health care and our right to bodily autonomy, the Supreme Court pays a crucial role in how we live our lives every day in this country. There are seventeen abortion-related cases that the Court could take up in the near future and their decisions will impact the lives of millions of Americans today and for generations to come, including the patients we care for every day at Planned Parenthood.”

"It’s up to us to continue to sound the alarm on this process and make it clear where we stand: This vacancy should not have been filled before Inauguration Day and this confirmation process has been an affront to our democracy.”

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Planned Parenthood North Central States and its subsidiary organizations provide, promote, and protect reproductive and sexual health through high-quality care, education and advocacy. A member of America’s most trusted reproductive health care provider, our affiliate is proud to support and operate 29 health centers across our five-state region (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota). Each year, we provide health care to nearly 115,000 people and health education to more than 99,000 people in our region.