I’m Fighting Back Against Extremism and Corruption on the Supreme Court June 29, 2024 Dear Friends,Two years ago this week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a devastating decision that stripped the right to bodily autonomy from millions of Americans. In its ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Court upended more than fifty years of settled law to end the legal right to abortion in the United States, eliminating a fundamental freedom that generations of women had fought tirelessly to secure. Now, more than two years later, women across our nation are still feeling the ripple effects of this catastrophic decision. Emboldened by the Court’s radical ruling in the Dobbs case, Republicans across the country wasted no time in launching an all-out assault on reproductive freedom. 21 states have now implemented either total bans or severe restrictions on the right to abortion, forcing people to travel hundreds of miles to access essential care. Far-right extremists are also weaponizing the judicial system to restrict other reproductive services, bringing frivolous lawsuits that seek to ban abortion medication drugs like mifepristone and vital treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF). With a permission slip from the Supreme Court in hand, Republicans have shown that they will stop at nothing in their efforts to end abortion nationwide. Over the past two years, we’ve heard devastating stories of the real-world impact of those efforts. One woman in Texas was denied abortion care even after experiencing a miscarriage that left her with life-threatening complications, and another was unlawfully charged with murder for self-administering abortion medication. As restrictive new laws force many women to carry risky pregnancies to term, one study showed that the Dobbs decision contributed to an 8% year-over-year rise in Texas’s infant mortality rate. And as providers navigate a new array of hastily implemented abortion restrictions, many face a wrenching choice between administering life-saving medical care and abiding by these new laws. We need to make certain that women and their doctors can choose the services they need without fear of civil liability or criminal prosecution. That’s why my Democratic colleagues and I are leading the way on legislation to safeguard reproductive freedom for generations to come. These efforts include the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would codify the protections of Roe v. Wade into federal law, and the Right to Contraception Act, which would establish a federal statutory right to obtain and use contraceptives. As Republicans continue their efforts to implement a national abortion ban, we must remain unyielding in our efforts to protect bodily autonomy. Reproductive rights are not the only issue where this Supreme Court has torn at the fabric of our society and put American lives in danger. In the past few days alone, the Court has struck down a ban on deadly bump stocks, gutted the regulatory power of federal agencies, curbed obstruction charges for January 6 rioters, and allowed states and municipalities to criminalize homelessness. Once again, the Supreme Court’s extremism and disregard for precedent have been put on full display. To make matters worse, a recent wave of corruption scandals and ethical lapses has shattered America’s faith in the Court’s ability to decide cases fairly and impartially. Investigations have uncovered numerous instances of Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito accepting luxury vacations, private jet flights, and other valuable gifts from GOP megadonors and other special interests with cases before the Court — many of which were never disclosed by the justices until they were publicly revealed. These justices and their families have also displayed open sympathy with Donald Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud. Justice Thomas’s wife Ginni, who attended the January 6 rally at the White House that preceded the assault on the U.S. Capitol, admitted to pushing efforts to overturn the 2020 election results as her husband was hearing cases on the issue. And in the days after the January 6 attack, Justice Alito’s home displayed an upside-down American flag — a known symbol of the so-called “Stop the Steal” movement. Despite these startling revelations, both justices have stubbornly refused to recuse themselves from cases related to the January 6 insurrection or their billionaire benefactors. We cannot afford to stand by in silence as a corrupt Supreme Court eviscerates our freedoms at the behest of the wealthy donors who helped install the Court’s right-wing supermajority. That’s why I’m working alongside my Democratic colleagues to restore credibility to the Supreme Court by instituting a binding code of ethics and putting strict limits on the value of gifts that justices may accept. Going forward, I’m committed to fighting back against the excesses of this extremist Court and ensuring it remains accountable to the will of the people. As always, thank you for reading. Your friend, DID YOU KNOW?My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates, announcements, and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:This week, President Biden and Vice President Harris announced the opening of the application period for the Spring 2025 session of the White House Internship Program!The White House Internship Program is a public service leadership and development program that provides emerging leaders with an opportunity to gain valuable skills while supporting the work of the White House and furthering the priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration.The application period opened this Wednesday, June 26th, and will close on Friday, July 26th. Final acceptance to the program is contingent upon a background investigation process and other additional steps.Program participants must be U.S. citizens of at least 18 years of age before the first day of the program, and must meet at least one of the following criteria:Currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program at a two- or four-year institution;Graduated from an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program at a two- or four-year institution no more than two years prior to the first day of the program;A veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces who possesses a high school diploma or its equivalent and has served on active duty, for any length of time, no more than two years prior to the first day of the program.Interested candidates can find the program application online at WH.gov/intern.The website also features additional information about the program, including a “Frequently Asked Questions” section.Prospective candidates and others with questions about the program can reach out to the White House Internship Program at [email protected].