Senator Dianne Feinstein's Remarks, The New York Times, and What's Next

I was happily stunned this morning when Senator Dianne Feinstein referenced our Op Ed in the Washington Post during her opening remarks of Judge Neil Gorsuch's confirmation hearing. You can watch her remarks in the video below:

Senator Dianne Feinstein, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee delivers her opening statement during the confirmation hearing of Judge Neil Gorsuch, the president's Supreme Court nominee, on March 20, 2017.

They are transcribed here:

Two weeks ago, the Washington Post ran an Op-ed written by a woman who desperately wanted to have a baby. She described how she and her husband went to great lengths for four years trying to get pregnant and were thrilled when they finally succeeded. Tragically, after her 21-week check-up, they discovered her daughter had multi-cystic dysplastic kidney disease. They were told by three separate doctors that her condition was 100% fatal. And that the risk to the mother was seven-fold if she carried her pregnancy to term. The mother described their excruciating decision and the unforgiving process the couple endured to get the medical care they needed. The debate over Roe v. Wade and the right to privacy, ladies and gentlemen, is not theoretical. In 1973, the court recognized a woman's fundamental and constitutional right to privacy. That right guarantees her access to reproductive health care. In fact, the Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld Roe's core finding, making it settled law for the last 44 years. I ask unanimous consent, Mr. Chairman, to enter into the record the 14 key cases where the Supreme Court upheld Roe’s core holding and the total 39 decisions where it has been reaffirmed by the Court. If these judgements when combined do not constitute super precedent, I don’t know what does…Roe ensured that women and their doctors will decide what is best for their care not politicians.

I hope I can fully articulate my gratitude to Senator Feinstein for sharing our story during such a critical time. Not only does it expose more people to stories like Grace's, but it also reminds the world that we have to be very careful to create, craft, and enforce laws around women's reproductive rights very carefully to truly bring all of the necessary components into account.

I was likewise very glad to see Judge Gorsuch literally take note of our experience. I hope so much that this indicates he is curious about our story and circumstances, and that he is open-minded about preserving women's reproductive rights and privacy, and supporting laws and legal decisions that acknowledge and include the gray areas around abortion. Historically, his recorded statements towards women's reproductive rights don't indicate that he feels this way, and there are very valid concerns around how he will approach reproductive rights and upholding Roe v. Wade if he is confirmed, especially since Donald Trump said he would nominate a justice that would overturn Roe v. Wade. 

Senator Feinstein's remarks resulted in this article from the New York Times, which provides an excellent summary of Senator Feinstein's remarks as well as our Op Ed. 

This all feels like so much happening, in the best way possible, as I prepare to head to Washington D.C. to advocate for the first time in my life. I'm not going to lie; I'm a little nervous. This is so new for me, and it requires more courage than I'm used to having to supply.

But today's events have made me feel all the more proud, and bolstered me to go to Capitol Hill and tell our story. I have never felt prouder of the difference that Grace is hopefully making. I so desperately want the utterly heartbreaking choice we made for her, out of pure love, to stay legal, and have great hope it will become something people treat with more compassion.