Educators oppose Coney Barrett’s confirmation to Supreme Court

WASHINGTON — The following statement can be attributed to National Education Association President Becky Pringle in response to the Senate confirmation hearings on Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court: 

“Protecting the health and safety of students, families and our communities is a national priority. This was true before the pandemic, and it has taken on increasing urgency and importance as we deal with this national health crisis. For months Donald Trump and Senate Republicans have not only failed to take this pandemic seriously, but they have failed every test of leadership in stopping the virus resulting in pain and suffering across the country.  

“And now, in the midst of a pandemic, they are doing everything in their power to take heath care away from Americans. Rather than focusing on getting the pandemic under control, providing much needed support to struggling families and assuring students and educators will return to safe classrooms, Trump and Senate Republicans are rushing through a nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, because they expect her to do on the court what the vast majority of Americans have overwhelmingly opposed in elections and legislative action. She will do their bidding to strike down the Affordable Care Act, stripping millions of health care coverage and protections from preexisting conditions. Not only that, she will support the court’s continued partisan attacks on working people and their right to join and form unions. 

“The next Supreme Court Justice will play a pivotal role in protecting our right to vote, access to affordable healthcare, educators’ rights to join a union and have a voice for students and so much more. Judge Barrett cannot be trusted to protect our heath care and the rights of all Americans, and she should not be confirmed.”