FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- September 27, 2020
Contact: Carly Gabrielson (541) 729-1961 or [email protected]

Eugene, Oregon — Congressman Peter DeFazio today released a statement on President Trump's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, sounding the alarm on the threat this represents to affordable health care for hundreds of thousands of Oregonians.

"President Trump's rush to stack the court with another right-wing conservative is a direct threat to the rights of all Americans. If confirmed, Judge Amy Coney Barrett will be disastrous for affordable health care, including protections for pre-existing conditions, reproductive health, the environment, labor rights, civil rights, voting rights, LGBTQ rights, and more.

"My opponent is opposed to government health care, including the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid. He would be a vote in Congress to repeal affordable health care for 317,000 people in Oregon’s 4th congressional district alone, the protections for 1.7 million Oregonians with pre-existing conditions, the ability for children to stay on their parents' plan until they're 26, and expanded Medicaid coverage.

"Just this morning, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to repeal the Affordable Care Act. With the Supreme Court set to hear arguments in November on Trump's case to gut the Affordable Care Act, the confirmation of this nominee would all but guarantee that health care coverage for more than 20 million Americans and 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions would be stripped away. A chilling thought as we face a devastating pandemic that has taken the lives of more than 200,000 Americans.

“The election has already begun in several states. Ballots will be mailed in Oregon in 17 days. There should be no confirmation before the inauguration. Leader McConnell and President Trump have a responsibility to honor the will of voters and the historical precedent the GOP established in 2016.”