Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) is leading efforts to limit access to abortion pills. He was joined by 24 other members of the U.S. House, including peers Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA) and Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), in sending a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging them to reconsider the decision to modify the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for mifepristone.
The letter comes after FDA Commissioner Robert Califf modified the REMS for this drug, allowing greater access to mifepristone which is used for elective chemical abortions.
“In addition to killing her unborn baby, consuming mifepristone poses significant health risks for pregnant women,” the letter says. “By expanding access to retail pharmacies and removing the in-person requirement for dispensing mifepristone, the FDA has sacrificed important safeguards against potential misuse and harm, jeopardizing the safety of patients.”
Carter and the other members explained in the letter that “modifying the REMS to remove the in-person dispensing requirement will turn many post offices and pharmacies into abortion clinics. It is not in the best interest of patients, including the mother and unborn child. It shows a complete disregard for protecting mothers and unborn children that will result in more innocent lives lost.”
The letter goes on to say, “As explained by the American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNS (AAPLOG) an in-person visit is medically necessary and sound medical practice because it ensures that every woman receives a full evaluation for any contraindications to a medication abortion… Even when the in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone was in place, the drug threatened the health of women.”
According to Carter, between 2000 and 2022, over 4,200 adverse cases were reported to the FDA, including at least 28 deaths, more than 1,000 life-threatening complications, and over 2,100 severe complications.
“Chemical abortion data in the United States is severely incomplete, so a comprehensive dataset provided in a Finnish study provides a clearer picture of the danger,” the letter states. “It found that women who underwent a chemical abortion were four times more likely to experience an adverse event than women who had another type of abortion.”
Late last month, Rep. Clyde and 88 original cosponsors reintroduced the Protect the UNBORN (Undo the Negligent Biden Orders Right Now) Act to prohibit the implementation of and funding for President Biden’s pro-abortion executive orders.
“I’m proud to stand for the sanctity of life by reintroducing legislation to block and defund President Biden’s pro-abortion executive orders,” said Clyde. “At every turn, the Biden Administration has advanced the evils of abortion — subverting the will of the American people, circumventing the Constitution, and undermining the integrity of our nation’s highest court. Congress must take action to protect the precious unborn and prevent taxpayer dollars from funding the Left’s abhorrent abortion agenda.”
Reps Carter, Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Rich McCormick (R-GA), and Austin Scott (R-GA) were also co-signers on the legislation.
