The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is cohosting a National Call-In Day on Monday, October 12 for organizations representing people with disabilities to voice their opposition to Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Information about the National Call-In Day is here. On Monday, October 12, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Judge Barrett’s nomination. Judge Barrett’s confirmation would pose a serious threat to the rights of people with disabilities. Please call your Senators in the coming days and urge them to vote no on Judge Barrett’s confirmation!
Judge Barrett has stated her view that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional. If confirmed to the Supreme Court, she would very likely provide a deciding fifth vote to strike down the ACA, leaving millions of Americans without needed health care coverage.
The ACA has been particularly important for people with disabilities. Its protections for people with pre-existing conditions, expansion of Medicaid, requirements for coverage of mental health services and habilitation services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, expansion of home and community-based services options, protections against disability discrimination, and expansion of the reach of mental health parity have been essential to the health, independence, and self-sufficiency of Americans with disabilities.
Judge Barrett’s record also raises other serious concerns for people with disabilities as well. For details, you can read the Bazelon Center’s report on her record, and the letter that we and more than 50 other disability organizations sent to the Senate opposing her nomination.
Even if you cannot participate in the National Call-In Day, you can contact your Senator in the coming days to express opposition to this nomination. Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 (voice) or (202) 224-3091 (tty) and ask to be connected to your Senator.