Washington, D.C. – Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) led nearly 40 House Republicans in introducing a resolution to condemn the Biden administration’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for lessening patient safeguards for dangerous abortion drugs and jeopardizing the health of women and girls.
“Life is precious, and I will always stand up to protect it,” said Congressman Moran. “The Biden administration’s reckless disregard for the value of human life is clear in the dangerous pro-abortion policies it is promoting at any cost. Defending life will always be one of my top priorities, and I am proud to introduce this resolution to hold Biden accountable for his administration’s utter disregard for the unborn and the health of women and girls.”
Chemical abortion accounts for approximately half of all abortions in the United States. This procedure most commonly occurs through a two-drug process with the mother first taking mifepristone, followed by misoprostol. The FDA initially approved mifepristone in 2000, fast-tracking the approval process by claiming pregnancy was a life-threatening illness. In its rush, the FDA failed to study the drug’s potential impact on minors or the safety of the drug under the labeled conditions of use; both studies are required by law. With this move, the FDA exceeded its statutory authority and jeopardized the health and safety of women and girls.
In 2016, the FDA weakened the safeguards it had initially established for the drugs, further putting women’s health at risk. Among other changes, the FDA permitted non-physicians to prescribe the chemical abortion drugs, decreased a patient’s mandatory office visits from three to one, and eliminated the requirement that adverse events be reported.
On November 18, 2022, three health care organizations and four doctors filed suit against the FDA, arguing it had failed women and girls with its handling of the chemical abortion regimen and that the agency had prioritized politics over science. That case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (AHM) v. FDA, is now being decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, with a decision expected soon.
Despite this, in 2023, the FDA further loosened standards for the abortion drugs, removing the requirement that a health care provider dispense mifepristone to a patient in person. This update eliminated a health care provider’s ability to confirm pregnancy, determine gestational age, and assess for life-threatening ectopic pregnancy; verify that an intrauterine device (IUD) is not in place or is removed before a chemical abortion; evaluate Rh status and prevent an immune response to future unborn children; and potentially provide surgical intervention in the five to eight percent of chases where chemical abortion fails.
In response to these dangerous decisions by the FDA, Congressman Moran introduced a House resolution to hold the agency accountable for its actions. This legislation is endorsed by the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), March for Life Action, Students for Life Action, Americans United for Life, National Right to Life, Heritage Action, and Live Action.
“Women should have the ongoing care of a doctor when taking high-risk drugs. The FDA betrayed women and girls when they changed their own safety standards to allow for mail-order abortion drugs for political reasons. Thank you, Congressman Moran for your resolution that calls out the dangerous actions of the FDA and highlights the risks that abortion drugs pose to women and girls.” – Hon. Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America
“President Biden’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put its pro-abortion agenda ahead of women’s safety by allowing the abortion pill mifepristone to be dispensed without seeing a medical practitioner. This rule is dangerous, as the FDA’s own label of the pill states 1-in-25 women who use the abortion pill will require emergency care for serious complications. It’s time for Congress to act and put an end to President Biden’s reckless regulatory overreach. CPAC thanks Rep. Nathaniel Moran (TX-1) for sponsoring H. Res. 1285.” – Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Chairman Matt Schlapp
“March for Life Action appreciates Representative Nathaniel Moran’s House Resolution which condemns the recklessness of the FDA and the radical pro-abortion Biden Administration. The FDA removed critical safeguards for chemical abortion drugs that protect women and girls, which has led to more women experiencing severe and life-threatening complications. Chemical abortion drugs are harmful, and we applaud Rep. Moran’s efforts to hold the FDA accountable for endangering women and girls.” – Jeanne F. Mancini, March for Life Action
“It is utterly clear the Biden Administration has weaponized its power against Pro-Life Americans and against mothers and their preborn children. During COVID, President Biden's FDA removed health and safety standards for Chemical Abortion Pills to allow Online No Test Distribution. That negligent act allows women and girls to be exposed to injury, infertility, and death, as well as empowers abusers who can use the drugs against mothers without their knowledge or consent. Also at risk are endangered species and the environment from the abortion water pollution permitted by the Biden-Harris Administration as chemically tainted blood, placenta tissue, and human remains are flushed into our waterways. Students for Life Action supports Congressman Moran's Resolution Condemning the pro-abortion policies of the Biden administration." – Students for Life Action
The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ-04), Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Jim Banks (R-IN-03), Jeff Duncan (R-SC-03), Brian Babin (R-TX-36), Michael Guest (R-MS-03), Gary Palmer (R-AL-06), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03), Alex Mooney (R-WV-02), Stephanie Bice (R-OK-05), Mary Miller (R-IL-15), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09), Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Lauren Boebert (R-CO-03), August Pfluger (R-TX-11), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-02), Barry Moore (R-AL-02), Russ Fulcher (R-ID-01), David Kustoff (R-TN-08), Lance Gooden (R-TX-05), Daniel Webster (R-FL-11), John Moolenaar (R-MI-02), Robert Aderholt (R-AL-04), Pete Sessions (R-TX-17), Austin Scott (R-GA-08), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), John Carter (R-TX-31), Michael Burgess (R-TX-26), Greg Pence (R-IN-06), Clay Higgins (R-LA-03), Ben Cline (R-VA-06), Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), Keith Self (R-TX-03), Kevin Hern (R-OK-01), Neal Dunn (R-FL-02), and Virginia Foxx (R-NC-05).
Find the full text of the resolution HERE.
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