WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Supreme Court unanimously voted to preserve access to abortion medication on June 13.
After the ruling that abortion opponents lacked the legal right to sue over the FDA’s approval of mifepristone politicians and reproductive care organizations are responding.
Unanimous Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion medication
Following the ruling that preserved access to the medication used in almost two-thirds of all abortions in the country, U.S. Senator Patty Murray issued a statement through her office, which read in part:
“For now, mifepristone remains accessible where abortion is legal, but Americans need to understand that the nationwide threat to medication abortion has not gone away—far from it. If Donald Trump and his anti-abortion allies return to power, they will do everything they can to rip away access to mifepristone and ban abortion nationwide—they’re already revealing their plans to do just that.
No one should be lulled into complacency—Americans need to keep standing up and making their voices heard. Democrats will keep working to restore the right to abortion and fighting back against radical extremists who are intent on dragging our nation backward and controlling women’s lives, their bodies, and their futures.”
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson weighed in on the ruling in a press release, saying:
“This radical challenge to the use of mifepristone failed. But it is not the first attack on reproductive freedom, and it won’t be the last. Mifepristone is scientifically proven to be safe and effective after more than 20 years of use in the United States. Our fight for reproductive freedom must continue. In our case in federal court in the Eastern District of Washington, we argue that even the current restrictions on mifepristone are unnecessary and unlawful. Our case already successfully nullified for Washingtonians the radical lower-court ruling in Texas that led to today’s Supreme Court decision. Attacks on reproductive freedom will continue, but we will continue to fight for the right to access mifepristone in Washington.”
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden (D), issued the following statement after the ruling:
“This decision is good news for women across the country, but unfortunately it won’t be the last time mifepristone is the target of the far-right’s crusade against this pillar of reproductive freedom. The Supreme Court dismissed this bogus case on standing, not whether or not mifepristone should remain on the market altogether. The next case conservatives bring before the Court will undoubtedly be more airtight and pose an even bigger threat to mifepristone access nationwide. I’ll keep doing everything in my power to stop them in their tracks.”
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), issued the following statement in the Senate after the Supreme Court ruling:
“Sixty percent of abortions in the State of Washington are done with this drug. It’s a highly safe and effective medication, used by millions of Americans, and the court ruled on standing alone. It didn’t reach any conclusion about the ludicrous arguments that the plaintiffs were making. So America should not rest on this decision, because anti-choice activists are going to keep using the courts to target abortion. It’s just another reminder of why we have to fight for reproductive freedom and why we can’t rest.”
Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho, released the following statement from CEO Karl Eastlund after the ruling:
“While we are of course relieved to see this result, the truth is that we should’ve never gotten to this point. From the beginning, this was a politically-motivated case that completely disregards years of evidence that Mifepristone is safe and effective. Maintaining access to this FDA-approved medication was the bare minimum.
To patients in Washington, we know how important it is that all health care options remain available and accessible to you, including Mifepristone. It’s crucial that everyone is able to make decisions based on what’s best for their body.”
