Press Statement
Sessions Confirmation ‘Tips the Scales of Justice Against Those Who Need Civil Rights Protections the Most,’ Women’s Leader Says

“The U.S. Senate’s vote tonight to confirm Senator Jeff Sessions as attorney general of the United States is an appalling demonstration of how misguided and out-of-touch too many senators are when it comes to the needs of this country. It also shows just how unwilling they are to protect the civil and human rights of the people who make it great.

The confirmation of Senator Sessions tips the scales of justice against the very people who need civil rights protections the most – women, immigrants, people of color, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ community, workers, and religious and ethnic minorities. For 30 years, Sessions has worked to roll back the rights of these groups, opposing voting rights, criminal justice reform and environmental protections, and showing blatant disregard for our nation’s laws and commitment to fairness and equality.

Sessions’ women’s rights record is especially troubling. As a senator, he voted against measures to reduce the gender wage gap, support survivors of domestic and sexual violence and protect the safety of abortion care providers. He has vigorously opposed the Affordable Care Act and funding for contraception, cancer screening and other critical women’s health services provided by Planned Parenthood. And he has called Roe v. Wade one of the most ‘colossally erroneous Supreme Court decisions of all time.’

As Senator Sessions prepares to take on the vitally important role of attorney general, we hope he will carefully consider what it means to be the chief ‘people’s lawyer’ for all citizens and commit to enforcing our nation’s civil rights laws and promoting equal justice under the law. Women, families and the entire country cannot afford to lose such fundamental and hard-fought rights.”

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About the National Partnership for Women & Families

The National Partnership for Women & Families is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group dedicated to promoting fairness in the workplace, reproductive health and rights, access to quality, affordable health care and policies that help all people meet the dual demands of work and family.

More information is available at NationalPartnership.org.

For general inquiries, please email press@nationalpartnership.org.