FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 15, 2022
Contact: Mallory Carroll, [email protected]
Permanent Authorization of Mail-Order Abortion Drugs Hangs in the Balance; Lawmakers Urged to Safeguard Women & Children
Washington, D.C. – Today the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Dr. Robert Califf as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, despite the nominee’s demonstrated track record of rubber-stamping abortion lobby demands. During his tenure as commissioner in the Obama administration, Califf approved dangerous changes to FDA safety requirements on chemical abortion drugs. Califf will now be responsible for the next steps in the Biden administration’s plan to permanently authorize mail-order abortion drugs.
The FDA post is a key position responsible for abortion drug policy. Last December 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.
SBA List previously announced that it will score against the vote on Califf. In addition, a coalition of nearly 50 pro-life groups spearheaded by SBA List sent a letter to the Senate citing Califf’s role in weakening safeguards on chemical abortion drugs.
SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser condemned the vote, saying:
“We’re deeply disappointed in the result of today’s vote. Robert Califf’s confirmation to lead the FDA paves the way for permanent authorization of mail-order abortion drugs, at a dire cost to women’s health and safety and the lives of countless unborn children. We urge our allies in the states and Congress to take swift action to stop the flow of these dangerous drugs to post offices and pharmacies across America. SBA List will continue to monitor the FDA’s actions to expand chemical abortion drugs and expose the extremism of the abortion lobby and the pro-abortion Biden administration. We will never stop fighting to ensure that unborn children and their mothers are protected under the law.”
A recent, first-of-its-kind study found that the rate of abortion-related emergency room visits following a chemical abortion increased by more than 500% from 2002 through 2015. Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas have enacted state-level safeguards against mail-order abortion drugs. Several additional states are considering legislation 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.
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