[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 206 (Thursday, December 19, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S7196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS

  Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I rise to discuss the President's nominees 
for the Federal bench. I strongly believe that women should be in 
charge of their own healthcare decisions. Family planning choices are 
deeply personal, and women should be free to make the choice that is 
right for them, their family, faith, personal beliefs, or medical 
needs. As States like Alabama, Georgia, and others attempt to roll back 
women's access to reproductive healthcare, it is more important than 
ever that we work together to protect this right.
  Unfortunately, too many of President Trump's nominees to the Federal 
courts hold beliefs that fail to respect long-settled precedent on 
women's healthcare. For example, the Senate recently voted to confirm 
Sarah Pitlyk to a Federal district court. As an attorney, she defended 
Iowa's unconstitutional ban on abortions at 6 weeks. Pitlyk has also 
worked to defend the Trump administration's Title X gag rule, which 
prohibits healthcare providers who receive this critical funding from 
discussing the full range of family planning options with their 
patients. And finally, she lacked any meaningful trial experience. It 
is no wonder the American Bar Association found that she was 
unqualified to serve on the district court.
  Despite Roe v. Wade being the law of the land, too many of President 
Trump's nominees have actively sought to undermine the rights of women 
to control their own reproductive health choices. Their amicus briefs, 
legal writings, and arguments demonstrate a hostility towards women's 
rights that are incompatible with the role of a Federal judge.
  I will continue to evaluate President Trump's judicial nominees based 
on their stances on women's reproductive health and remain committed to 
voting for nominees who have a strong record on upholding 
constitutionally protected reproductive healthcare rights. Accordingly, 
had I been present in the Senate, I would have voted against the 
nominations of Michael Park to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for 
the Second Circuit, Dan Collins to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 
Ninth Circuit, Peter Phipps to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third 
Circuit, Wendy Williams Berger to the U.S. District Court for the 
Middle District of Florida, Brian Buescher to the U.S. District Court 
for the District of Nebraska, Michael Liburdi to the U.S. District 
Court for the District of Arizona, Sean Jordan to the U.S. District 
Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Brantley Starr to the U.S. 
District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Jeffrey Vincent 
Brown to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, 
and William Shaw Stickman IV to the U.S. District Court for the Western 
District of Pennsylvania, Stephen Menashi to serve on the Second 
Circuit Court of Appeals and Lawrence VanDyke to serve on the Ninth 
Circuit Court of Appeals.
  Moving forward, it is my hope that the President will nominate 
individuals who respect women's healthcare decisions.

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