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NPNA Calls on Senate to Prioritize COVID-19 Relief Over Partisan SCOTUS Nomination Fight

Nicole Melaku, executive director the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) released the following statement in response to Senate confirmation hearings this week for Judge Amy Coney Barrett:

“The Senate confirming Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court would threaten the fundamental rights and livelihood of the majority of Americans. The rushed confirmation hearings represent a crude political move to stack the Supreme Court before it may hear cases related to the 2020 election, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and the border wall, in addition to the cases the court is already hearing regarding the Affordable Care Act and discrimination based on sexual orientation.

We find it disturbing how quickly the Senate is acting on Judge Coney Barrett’s nomination despite ignoring COVID-19 relief, which is much needed by the working class and immigrant families on the front lines. The Senate should be dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the deepest economic crisis since the Great Depression, not rushing through a process that poses irreparable harm to communities as well bipartisanship on Capitol Hill.

Senate Republicans should not be aiding and abetting the Trump administration’s efforts to remake the federal courts and Senate Democrats should not be continuing business as usual. The Senate needs to get it’s priorities straight. Instead of rushing a nominee who poses a threat to the fundamental rights of millions, let’s put the American people who are surviving a pandemic and the worst economic crisis in modern history first.”

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