Within hours of Scalia’s passing last month, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made an unprecedented break from history when he declared that the Senate would not consider any nominee put forward by President Obama—regardless of qualification. Now Senate Republicans have said they will refuse to hold hearings on Merrick—or even to meet with him at all!

Since 1875, every nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court has received a hearing or a vote, with the longest confirmation process lasting only 99 days. The Senate has more than 300 days to consider and confirm a nominee before a new president is sworn in. If Republicans are successful, they will not only hobble the Court for nearly two full terms, they will set a precedent that Supreme Court vacancies can be left open indefinitely if the Senate leadership doesn’t like the president elected by the American people.

As someone who knows how significant the Supreme Court is to women’s health, I urge you to call your U.S. senators and tell them: Do your job!

Contact information—email and phone—for every U.S. senator can be found here. You can also call the U.S. Capitol switchboard toll free at 1-866-220-0044 and ask to be transferred to the office of your choice.