Cantwell Statement on Supreme Court Ruling in Mifepristone Case
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that ensures the medication abortion drug mifepristone will remain available while pending litigation proceeds. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released this statement after the ruling:
“Today’s action by the Court was the only logical outcome given the long history proving mifepristone is safe and effective,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Still, Congress needs to act. The litigation is continuing. Until we pass a federal law codifying abortion rights nationwide, these challenges to abortion rights will continue.”
Since the FDA approved mifepristone nearly a quarter century ago, it has provided essential health care to over five million women. More than half of all abortions are performed using medication abortion. The ongoing litigation threatens access to mifepristone for patients nationwide – including in states like Washington that have expressly codified the right to an abortion into law – as well as FDA’s Congressionally-mandated authority and drug approval process.
In recent weeks, Sen. Cantwell joined hundreds of Members of Congress in submitting amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on this important issue. In their briefs, the Members of Congress underscored that the district court ruling has no basis in law; risks denying patients in every part of the country access to mifepristone, a safe and effective medication widely used in abortion care and miscarriage management for decades; and jeopardizes patients’ access to a wide array of other medications by threatening FDA’s drug approval process, which was designed and mandated by Congress.
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