U.S. Rep. Angie Craig Introduces Bill to Protect Abortion Pill Access
The Freedom to Decide Act follows Texas court decision to strike down FDA’s approval of mifepristone
Mifepristone is one of most commonly used forms of medication abortion
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Angie Craig (MN-02) introduced legislation to protect access to the abortion pill and ensure doctors can provide telemedicine services across state lines to women in need of health care.
Mifepristone is a safe and effective pill that has been available for more than two decades in the United States and approved for use in nearly 80 countries. This pill has been thoroughly studied by the Food and Drug Administration’s medical experts who have found that it is safe to be prescribed, including via telemedicine, and delivered to the patient via mail or pharmacy pickup.
Two weeks ago, a Texas district court issued a ruling to undo the FDA’s approval of mifepristone – threatening women’s ability to access this medication in every state in the country, including Minnesota.
“The evidence is clear: medication abortion is safe and effective. This is supported by decades of rigorous scientific analysis and review. Republicans’ relentless attacks on reproductive rights are outrageous and fueled by ideological extremism. This is an assault on the privacy and freedom of families across our nation and sets a dangerous precedent for a court to overturn the FDA. That’s why I’m working to affirm the federal government’s right to approve and protect access to medication abortion services,” said Rep. Craig.
The Freedom to Decide Act was co-led by Craig, as well as Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) and Jasmine Crockett (TX-30).
“This drug, like all others that are approved by the FDA, went through a thorough, rigorous approval process in 2000, and it was approved because it is completely safe. We also know that the FDA was right because this has been used for twenty years and proven safe. Rather than trust science and doctors, far-right extremists continue to insert themselves into women’s personal and private medical decisions by any means necessary,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05). “The Freedom to Decide Act affirms what we all know: access to mifepristone does not violate federal law and that it is essential to protecting the fundamental right for all women to make personal, private health care decisions about their own bodies, lives, and futures.”
"Following the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, we have seen court after court attempt to strip away access to safe, effective abortion treatment and reproductive health care. In response to the Fifth Circuit’s order to largely deny a stay of the District Court’s decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, it is clear Congress needs to reaffirm federal protections for access to medications like mifepristone. That is why I am proud to introduce this resolution with Rep. Gottheimer to affirm the DOJ Office of Legal Counsel’s interpretation and understanding of the Comstock Act — specifically, that the law does not prohibit the mailing of drugs used for reproductive care and abortions where the sender lacks the intent that the recipient of the drugs will use them unlawfully. Any other interpretation conflicts with how this law has been interpreted and implemented for nearly a century, and cannot be allowed to stand,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett (TX-30).
The Freedom to Decide Act is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Text of the Freedom to Decide Act can be found here.
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