The Supreme Court has unanimously ruled to preserve access to mifepristone, a medication used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the United States.
This is the first case related to abortion since the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade two years ago. That decision has radically constrained reproductive freedom in frightening and dangerous ways; in 26 states and counting, automatic trigger laws turned abortion from a legal procedure to a criminalized act in an instant.
Because of this, many were awaiting this morning's holding bracing for another blow to our basic constitutional rights of liberty, privacy, and equality. But today, we awoke to a welcome surprise: the Supreme Court determined that abortion opponents did not have the legal right to challenge the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of mifepristone. In doing so, the Court upheld the current accessibility of this critical medication.
This ruling also reinforces the FDA's authority in the drug approval process, a crucial victory for the scientific integrity of the FDA.
While today we can breathe a sigh of relief, it is important to acknowledge that abortion access remains under attack by far-right extremists. Washington is one of 16 states with laws that protect abortion rights, but in many states where abortion is banned or heavily regulated, the preservation of mifepristone does not alleviate the substantial challenges faced by individuals seeking abortions.
After all, Republican leaders have promised that they will seek a nationwide abortion ban if they take over Congress in November.
As a member of Congress with a 100% voting record on choice, endorsed many times by Planned Parenthood, I will fight hard to codify abortion rights nationwide in federal law. Last fall, I joined a majority in the House to pass the Women's Health Protection Act, which would do exactly that. But it is currently being blocked by Republicans in the Senate.
My colleagues in the House and I will encourage Senate Democrats to keep making the case with the few Republicans who support Roe that a temporary suspension of the filibuster to protect reproductive freedom is practical, precedented, and urgently necessary.
Today, we celebrate this decision as a step in the right direction, but we must continue to address the ongoing public health crisis resulting from widespread abortion restrictions.
More soon,
Rick
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