U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Lindsey Graham, Colleagues Urge FDA to Reevaluate Generic Abortion Pill Approval

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and a group of 49 of their Republican colleagues today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary commending their recent statements on data discrepancies surrounding abortion pill safety and a commitment to review the science. In light of these statements, the Senators have urged HHS and FDA to review the decision to approve a new generic version of mifepristone, which is currently the leading drug used to perform chemical abortions.

The Senators wrote, "We commend your recent statements acknowledging the data discrepancies surrounding abortion pill safety and your commitment to reviewing the science. We are also encouraged by HHS's recent announcement that it will review prior Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) approvals given the recent studies raising concerns about the drug's safety. Given this commitment, however, we are deeply concerned about the FDA's approval of a new generic version of mifepristone. While we recognize the FDA's statutory responsibility in evaluating drug applications, the timing of this approval appears inconsistent with the comprehensive safety reassessment your agencies have prioritized. Out of respect for this important review, and with full confidence in your dedication to protecting women's health, states' rights, and unborn life, we urge you to take decisive action to reevaluate whether this generic version of mifepristone is suitable to enter the market."

They continued, "Unrestricted access to abortion pills is systematically undermining states' rights and violating pro-life state laws. Every month, thousands of abortion drugs are shipped into states that have otherwise limited access to abortion after Dobbs, degrading pro-life laws at the state level across the country."

Senators Britt and Graham were joined by 51 of her Senate colleagues including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Curtis (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jim Justice (R-W. Va.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Dan Sullivan (R-Ala.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

Senator Britt has championed pro-life policies throughout her time in the Senate, recently introducing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to protect newborns that survive abortion attempts by requiring they receive care from health care practitioners. The Senator has also received an A+ grade from the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America scorecard for her work in protecting the lives of the most vulnerable.

You can read the full letter here.

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