WASHINGTON [2.2.23] – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and U.S. Representative Cori Bush (D-MO) re-introduced a bill to defend access to medication abortion in states where the right to an abortion still exists. The Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act would protect current FDA guidelines so that women can always access medication abortion through telehealth and certified pharmacies, including mail-order pharmacies.
Of the one in four American women who will have an abortion, over half will use medication abortion. In the 23 years since its approval, evidence has shown that mifepristone can be prescribed to patients without an in-person appointment, is safe and effective for people to take in their own homes, and can be sent through the mail. But extremist Republican lawmakers have sought to block access to medication abortion and GOP-led states have imposed restrictions that contradict scientific evidence and take away women’s reproductive freedom. Republican efforts are undermining the ability of women to access proven, safe, and effective reproductive health care.
“Right now, extremist Republicans are attacking and undermining access to a safe and effective medication because they believe that the government – not women, not their health care providers – should control the health care women receive,” said Senator Smith. “We need to fight back against Republicans’ efforts to chip away at women’s reproductive freedoms. Our bill, which would safeguard access to medication abortion, is a critical step to protect what remaining access exists to reproductive health care.”
“The use of medication abortion has been a common practice for over 20 years and accounts for over half of all abortions in the United States. Time and time again, medication abortion has proven to be both safe and effective, yet, access to this critical form of reproductive healthcare is at risk,” said Congresswoman Bush. “Anti-choice and anti-freedom Republicans have made it their mission to strip people of their reproductive rights and freedom. That’s why Senator Smith and I are proud to reintroduce our Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act of 2023, which would ensure patients have access to medication abortion pills, and fight against the immoral MAGA attempts to deprive people of reproductive rights. I believe we need this legislation because abortion care is health care, and health care is a human right.”
The Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act would defend access to medication abortion in States where the right to an abortion still exists by protecting women’s access to mifepristone through telehealth and certified pharmacies, including mail-order pharmacies, in accordance with the current mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). It is a critical step to help protect what remaining access exists to safe and effective reproductive health care in a post-Roe world.
The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Angus King (I-ME), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). In the House, the legislation is cosponsored by Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Darren Soto (D-FL), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Don Beyer (D-VA), and André Carson (D-IN).
The legislation has been endorsed by the National Women’s Health Network, New Mexico Doula Association, Catholics for Choice, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Reproductive Health Access Project, Black Girls Vote, National Birth Equity Collaborative, Obstetricians for Reproductive Justice.
You can access a summary of the bill here.
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