Issued January 31, 2017
WASHINGTON--SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry issued the following statement on President Trump’s announcement he is nominating Judge Gorsuch to be Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court:
“President Trump’s nomination of Judge Gorsuch is a step backwards for every American who wants a good job, the opportunity for a better life for their family, and a real voice in our economy and democracy. Judge Gorsuch will only help rig the system even worse against working families and our communities.
“The last few days have made it crystal clear that this is not an abstract debate. When everyday working people have their lives thrown into turmoil by a series of extreme executive orders, it is more important than ever for our highest court to be an independent check on unlawful actions by the other branches of government, including the president.
“The president’s actions have affected hardworking immigrants like Dr. Kamal Fadlalla, a second-year resident at a hospital in Brooklyn who went to visit his family in Sudan and is now stuck there in limbo, unsure whether he will be able to return and care for his patients.
“There are many more examples of what is at stake with this nomination. Working people could lose the ability to join together at work and have a voice in a union. Grandparents who fought for the right to vote could see that sacred right taken away. Women could find it more difficult to access necessary reproductive healthcare.
“Judge Gorsuch’s record does not demonstrate the depth of commitment to these people, our values or the belief that the Constitution protects all of us that we must demand of any nominee. Judge Gorsuch holds the extreme view that judges can ignore the agencies that interpret and enforce laws -- meaning he’s willing to decimate clean air and water laws and consumer and worker protections from the bench. He consistently rules against workers and for corporations, and against women’s access to reproductive healthcare. Judge Gorsuch would not bring the change the American people want: his confirmation would result in a Supreme Court that would rule in favor of lawless executive actions, corporate CEOs and extremists to rig our economy and democracy even further against working families. The Senate must reject this nominee.”