Action Alert! Tell Your Senators to VOTE NO on Kavanaugh

National Call-In Day Today

September 14, 2018

Last week’s confirmation hearing for Brett Kavanaugh did nothing to allay concerns that if he were appointed to the Supreme Court, he would pose a threat to the hard-won rights and protections for people with disabilities. If the Senate Judiciary Committee votes in favor of Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination (which is expected to happen), then his nomination goes to the full Senate for a vote, expected to happen in the next few weeks.

Judge Kavanaugh’s record indicates that he devalues the lives and liberty of people with disabilities. His confirmation would place at risk access to health care and civil rights protections for people with disabilities, opportunities for people with disabilities to make choices about their own lives, and the ability of executive branch agencies to interpret and enforce laws protecting people with disabilities.

What We Learned at Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Hearing

During his hearing, Judge Kavanaugh refused to answer even basic questions concerning his views on important issues, and repeatedly refused to say that he would uphold the Affordable Care Act’s protections.

Liz Weintraub, Senior Advocacy Specialist at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), testified about her concerns that Judge Kavanaugh has shown a lack of respect for the self-determination rights of people with disabilities. “If Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed,” said Weintraub, “I’m afraid that my right to make decisions for myself will be taken away.”

Jackson Corbin, a 13-year old boy with complex medical needs due to Noonan’s Syndrome, testified about the impact that appointing Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court would have on health care. Corbin said: “If you destroy protections for preexisting conditions, you leave me and all kids and adults like me without care and without the ability to afford our care, all because of who we are.”

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law outlines 10 Reasons People with Disabilities Should Oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s Nomination:

He is a threat to your health care.
He would allow the President to wield dangerous power.
He is dismissive of the fundamental rights of people with disabilities.
He won’t protect the rights of workers with disabilities.
He would narrow the protections of civil rights laws.
He promotes school voucher programs that leave students with disabilities without key protections.
He discounts the role of the administrative agencies that enforce your rights.
He would allow states to impose restrictive voter ID laws.
He imposes barriers for people seeking justice in courts.
He will not fairly protect the rights of all people, including people with disabilities.

The Bazelon Center also released a thorough review of Judge Kavanaugh’s record and its implications for the disability community.

Take Action

The full Senate will soon vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination. All Senators need to hear from the disability community, but it is especially important for advocates in Maine (Susan Collins), Alaska (Lisa Murkowski), Indiana (Joe Donnelly), Alabama (Doug Jones), North Dakota (Heidi Heitkamp), West Virginia (Joe Manchin), and Nevada (Dean Heller) to contact your Senators. However, it is only helpful to contact your own Senators.

Here’s what you can do:

Email and Tweet your Senators

Use the advocacy tool below to send an email and tweet directly to your Senators to tell them to oppose the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court.

Be sure to connect your Twitter account to use the social media outreach feature of this tool.

Call your Senators – National Call-In Day on September 14th

Participate in the September 14th National Call-In Day to amplify efforts around the country. Call Senators through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 (voice) or (202) 224-3091(tty) and ask to be connected to your Senators. Use Contacting Congress to easily identify your Senators.

Sample Call Script:

My name is [your full name]. I’m a constituent of Senator [Name] and I live in [your town]. I’m calling to ask the Senator to VOTE NO on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Judge Kavanaugh’s record indicates that he devalues the lives and liberty of people with disabilities like [me / my family member/ my friends]. His confirmation would endanger access to health care and civil rights protections for people with disabilities, opportunities for people with disabilities to make choices about their own lives, and the ability of executive branch agencies to interpret and enforce laws protecting people with disabilities.

Please VOTE NO on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Thank you for taking my call.

[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address and zip code to ensure your call is tallied]

Background Materials on Kavanaugh and Disability

Review of Disability Related Cases Involving Judge Brett Kavanaugh – Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
10 Reasons People with Disabilities Should Oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s Nomination – Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
What the Nomination of Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court Means for People with Disabilities – Center for Public Representation, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, and Access Living
Judge Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court Nomination Could Put the Americans With Disabilities Act in Danger – Robyn Powell

Opposition Statements

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This alert was developed with content provided by the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).