The nation’s leading public health organization has come out in opposition to President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Supreme Court.

In a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary accompanying an assessment of some of Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s decisions, the American Public Health Association (APHA) said; “We are deeply concerned by many of Judge Kavanaugh's views and previous decisions related to public health.”

The APHA noted that, “The next appointed justice to the Supreme Court will likely play a pivotal role in the outcome of important decisions related to critical public health issues that come before the court, and as such their judicial record should be rigorously examined.”

The APHA assessment outlines Judge Kavanaugh’s positions and rulings on key public health issues including those that threaten the Affordable Care Act, Clean Air Act protections, reproductive health care and efforts to prevent and reduce gun violence.

The NRA is one of the groups backing Kavanaugh, and has launched a seven-figure national ad campaign urging his confirmation. Other organizations who support Kavanaugh's nomination include anti-abortion groups like Americans United for Life and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which issued a statement saying that; "Legal professionals of all political persuasions who have worked with Judge Kavanaugh over the years have described him as an accomplished, fair, and thoughtful jurist who will make an excellent addition to our nation’s highest court. In the Chamber’s view, he takes seriously the interests and legal arguments on all sides of a case."

In the letter to senators, APHA urged committee members to question Judge Kavanaugh about his record and views on these critical issues as they meet with him both individually and during any Judiciary Committee hearings related to his pending confirmation.

APHA Executive Director Georges Benjamin, MD, added, "We intend for this document to be a resource for senators, APHA members and the general public as they consider the public health implications of Judge Kavanaugh's record, if he were to be confirmed as a Supreme Court justice. His pending confirmation is about more than a short list of hot-button issues, but the long-term impact that his legal views will have on laws affecting the environment, access to care, women's rights and other public health priorities."

The full assessment and cover letter are available to the public on apha.org.