Collins and Murkowski Have Claimed to Be Champions Of the #MeToo Movement. Now Is Their Moment To Prove It

In light of breaking reports today that Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted a woman in his past,  NARAL Pro-Choice America released amemo detailing Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski’s past public stands on the issue of sexual assault, including that women must be believed and that there should be a “zero tolerance” policy on these matters.

To:         Interested Parties

From:    NARAL Pro-Choice America

Date:     September 14, 2018

Senators who claim to be allies to women cannot vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh in light of new sexual assault allegations

New allegations that Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted a woman add to the mounting reasons that Brett Kavanaugh is no ally to women, despite Senate Republicans’ desperate attempts to paint him as such in order to downplay the very real threat he poses to Roe v. Wade. Many senators, including Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, have rightfully taken strong stands in the past on behalf of women and survivors everywhere in light of the #MeToo movement and a wave of brave survivors coming forward to hold accountable those responsible.

Kavanaugh is now on the cusp of ascending a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court unless those senators who claim to be allies to women actually examine the very clear evidence before them. Senators Collins and Murkowski have strong histories of believing women who come forward with sexual assault allegations and publicly taking a “zero tolerance” approach to condemning accusations of sexual violence. They owe it to women in America to examine all the evidence before them, and if they do so in earnest, there is only one conclusion to be drawn: that Brett Kavanaugh is unfit to serve and they must vote no. Their own records point to this.

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine)

Collins’ recent actions include:

• Displaying a willingness to go further than many of her colleagues in condemning Trump’s sexual assault allegations

• Championing legislative effort to decrease instances of sexual assault on college campuses and to provide justice for survivors and perpetrators.Taking a stand against Larry Nassar by introducing a bill to require amateur athletic organizations to report sexual assault immediately.

• Strongly condemning sexual assault incidents as “heinous,” and showing disappointment with the RNC support of Roy Moore, even going as far as to call it a “mistake.”

• Dedicating funding in her home state of Maine to combat sexual assault and domestic violence, including:

  • $240,000 in funding for Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA) and the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV)

  • $300,000 in funding for sexual assault and domestic violence advocacy in immigrant community

  • $1.18 million in funding for rural domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking assistance programs

  • $1.7 million in funding to support legal services for domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking victims

  • $147,891 in funding for Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)

Murkowski’s recent actions include:

• Proposing the government play a role in the #MeToo movement through the “EMPOWER Act,” which would prevent companies from using non-disclosure agreements to keep employees from speaking up about sexual harassment.

• Calling out the “culture of harassment & assault being exposed on a daily basis.” She went even further saying “Whether you are in the media, politics, or anywhere else abuse of power is unacceptable & shouldn’t be tolerated at any place at any level.”

• Writing an op-ed demanding that sexual assault survivors receive better care

• Joining women senators to push for reform of sexual harassment and discrimination rules

• Introducing a bipartisan bill to increase access to forensic exams and care for sexual assault domestic violence survivors.

• Condemning University of Alaska Fairbanks’ negligence in sexual assault cases by saying, “Students should be assured of fairness, justice, and security on their campus”

• Questioning military officials over how sexual assaults involving minors are resolved and calling for reform of military sexual assaultpolicies.

• Calling for Roy Moore to “step down immediately” after his sexual assault accusations came to light.