Last night

Dear Friend,

Last night, Senate Republicans voted to confirm President Trump’s nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, mere days away from the presidential election. This was a shameful moment in the history of the United States Senate. 

Senate Republicans have thrown away any illusion that the confirmation process for vacancies on the Supreme Court is about upholding the rule of law or maintaining Americans' confidence in our nation's highest court. We were not allowed the time to carefully review Amy Coney Barrett's extreme beliefs and dangerous judicial philosophy. And now Americans will live with the consequences of this sham process for decades to come.

Before the vote, I spoke on the Senate floor about why this reckless focus on a rushed Supreme Court confirmation was so wrong. I hope you can take a moment to watch and share my remarks.

VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich condemns Senate Republicans for rushing through a Supreme Court confirmation instead of working to pass bipartisan COVID-19 relief legislation, October 26, 2020.

New Mexicans are suffering. Families and small businesses are struggling. Over 220,000 Americans are dead from COVID-19. We could have helped our friends, families, and neighbors survive these next few months. We could have been making sure that we are expanding COVID testing, helping small businesses survive, helping unemployed workers pay their rent, making sure local governments don't have to lay off police officers, firefighters, and teachers, and ensuring families don't suddenly lose health care coverage in the middle of a pandemic. 

Instead, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans wasted time on a Supreme Court confirmation process that should have waited until after the election. Although I am appalled and disappointed by last night's vote, I will never stop fighting for the resources New Mexicans need and the principles that we stand for as a nation.

I hope you will continue to let me know your thoughts on this and other issues important to you and your family. And I urge all New Mexicans to vote in the November 3rd election.

Sincerely,

MARTIN HEINRICH

United States Senator