AUCD Opposes the Nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States
October 1, 2020
|
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) opposes the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. The mission of AUCD is to advance policies and practices that improve the health, education, social, and economic well-being of all people with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and their communities. In keeping with our mission, AUCD strongly supports access to health care for all Americans and protections from discrimination on the basis of disability in our healthcare system. Judge Barrett's many writings and statements denoting her view that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional is a threat to health care access and protections for Americans living with a disability.
The ACA, which was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in 2010, provides essential access to healthcare for millions of Americans, with and without disabilities. The protections for individuals with preexisting conditions, elimination of lifetime benefit caps, expansion of home and community based services options, protections against disability discrimination, and the state Medicaid expansions authorized under the ACA have been instrumental to improved quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families.
"AUCD supports previous Supreme Court rulings upholding the constitutionality of the ACA, and affirms the Court's decisions that any changes to the Act be legislative and not judicial," said John Tschida, executive director of AUCD. "Repeal of the ACA would negatively and disproportionately impact people with disabilities, especially people of color, who are overrepresented in the Medicaid population."
In response to Judge Barrett's stated hostilities to the constitutionality of the ACA, AUCD opposes her nomination to the Supreme Court and furthermore calls for a substantial review of her positions on the ACA during in-depth public confirmation hearings. The over 61 million Americans with disabilities deserve a Supreme Court Justice who will uphold their health care rights, respect their dignity, and support the right to live in the community.
AUCD urges individuals and organizations to learn about Judge Amy Coney Barrett's positions on the ACA and other areas of disability rights, and to use this opportunity to educate your Senators on the importance of access to healthcare for millions of Americans with disabilities and their families.
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities, located in Silver Spring, MD, is a national, nonprofit organization that promotes and supports the national network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice through research, education, leadership, and services for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities. For more information, visit www.aucd.org or contact [email protected]. This statement was written by AUCD. No federal funds were used in the production of this statement.
