U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) has joined with U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and several other Republican senators to question the Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of a new generic chemical abortion drug. The group argues that this decision poses risks to women’s health and safety.
In a letter addressed to the FDA, the senators stated: “To be clear: this approval fails to mitigate the risks to women that have been identified and fails to protect women from the coercive use of the drug.” They further noted: “It also flies in the face of President Trump’s strong statement that he is ‘the most pro-life president’ in history and his dedication to protecting the lives of unborn children and keeping women safe.”
The senators also criticized what they described as a lack of action by the FDA in reinstating protections for women regarding chemical abortion drugs. During their confirmation hearings, both FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had pledged to review the safety of these drugs and consider reinstating safeguards previously removed by Democratic administrations.
“In light of the FDA’s approval of another means of chemical abortion under the same flawed REMS framework, it is imperative that you provide an update on your review of mifepristone and your plans to reinstate necessary safeguards,” continued the senators in their letter.
The oversight letter is supported by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of SBA Pro-Life America, said: “Abortion drugs are taking the lives of unborn children, risking the lives of women across America, and undermining the sovereignty of states’ pro-life laws. Women, children and our citizens deserve better.” She added: “The lawlessness surrounding the distribution of these drugs—kicking the physician out of the doctor-patient relationship—has put drugs in the hands of abusers of underage girls and women. The horror stories and facts roll in daily, yet the response from the FDA was to approve a cheaper version of a drug that ends unborn lives and sends women to the ER. We are deeply grateful to Chairman Cassidy and his Senate colleagues for leading this critical oversight letter to the FDA.”
