FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 27, 2022
Contact: Mallory Carroll,[email protected]
Biden’s Nominee Weakened Safeguards on Abortion Drugs, Endangering Women; SBA List Will Score Senate Vote
Washington, D.C. – National and state pro-life leaders today are calling on Utah’s U.S. Senator Mitt Romney to oppose the nomination of Dr. Robert Califf for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, a position Califf previously held under President Obama. Romney voted for the pro-abortion nominee in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) committee earlier this month.
The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) will score against Califf’s confirmation should it advance to the full Senate. Pro-life Republican senators, including Romney, received a coalition letter from nearly 50 pro-life groups explaining their opposition to the nominee and why it would be unacceptable for pro-life senators to support him.
“Just days ago, Senator Romney appeared virtually at the national March for Life to support the sea of Americans gathered to represent the millions of voiceless unborn children killed and women wounded by abortion in our nation. Senator Romney’s tribute to the pro-life cause is vastly out of sync with the course he is on to back a top abortion industry ally, Robert Califf, for FDA commissioner,” said Hon. Marilyn Musgrave, SBA List’s vice president of government affairs.
Last year the Biden administration moved to weaken longstanding federal safety regulations against mail-order abortion drugs. The administration policy allows for dangerous at-home, do-it-yourself abortions without necessary medical oversight. Califf is expected to permanently authorize mail-order abortions if confirmed to lead the FDA.
“Robert Califf has a record of putting the abortion lobby’s extreme agenda ahead of women’s safety and the lives of unborn children,” added Mary Taylor, president of Pro-life Utah. “There is no doubt he would fast-track approval to distribute dangerous chemical abortion drugs to mothers by mail – at great risk to their health and safety and at the expense of their unborn children. This is unacceptable and we urge Sen. Romney to reconsider his support for his nomination.”
“If Senator Romney wants to truly represent the people of our pro-life state then he should oppose Robert Califf’s nomination to the FDA,” said Gayle Ruzicka, president of Utah Eagle Forum. “Chemical abortions are lethal to the unborn child and dangerous to his or her mother. A recent study found a 500% increase in the rate of abortion drug-related emergency room visits since the early 2000s, shortly after they were first approved. Women in Utah and across the nation deserve protection, not exploitation from the abortion lobby and the FDA. Senator Romney should champion women’s health and oppose Califf’s nomination.”
Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Montana, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas have enacted state-level safeguards against mail-order abortion drugs. Several additional states are considering legislation to be introduced during the 2022 session.
SBA List is a network of 900,000 pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.
###
