WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) today joined U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Congressman Bob Latta (R-Ohio) to reintroduce their Support and Value Expectant (SAVE) Moms and Babies Act to strengthen federal controls over the regulation and distribution of chemical abortion drugs.

The SAVE Moms and Babies Act would prevent labeling changes for already-approved abortion drugs; prevent providers from dispensing these drugs remotely, by mail, or via tele-medicine; and prevent the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from approving new chemical abortion drugs. 

“The chemical concoctions found in abortion drugs pose severe risks to women, not to mention unborn babies. The standards of care surrounding them are reckless and harmful; in fact, they are unacceptable. The last thing we should be doing is making them even worse,” Sen. Lee said.  

“The dangers inherent with chemical abortion drugs are increasingly well known.  Our bill would work to stop efforts to lessen their regulation and broaden their distribution to expectant mothers who are often not informed of the dangers of these sometimes lethal drugs,” Hyde-Smith said.  “We must do more to protect women from dangers of mail-order or do-it-yourself chemical abortion drugs.  I am pleased to renew this important effort with Congressman Latta and others supporters.”

“We must do everything we can to protect and defend those who cannot do so themselves,” said Latta.  “In order to protect the sanctity of life, it is necessary to ensure our laws are protecting mothers, babies, and unborn children.  Every life has value, and we must work together to be a voice for the voiceless and make significant strides to further pro-life policies.  The SAVE Moms and Babies Act is necessary to recognize chemical abortion for what it is – dangerous. Pro-abortion advocates are working to loosen current restrictions on chemical abortion drugs and to make them available remotely or by mail.  This bill is necessary to prevent the repeal of these common-sense regulations, and I am proud to lead the SAVE Moms and Babies Act with Senator Hyde-Smith.”

The legislation would prohibit the removal of the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) currently applied to these drugs due to known or potential serious risks associated with the medication, including incomplete abortions, infections, severe bleeding, and death.  Lifting REMS warnings to make chemical abortion available by prescription would effectively override most state pro-life protections like parental involvement, waiting periods, and informed consent.

Hyde-Smith and Latta also pointed out that codifying these provisions would limit federal judges from arbitrarily ruling to ease chemical abortion drugs.  The lawmakers earlier this month welcomed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows the FDA to enforce in-person requirements for the abortion pill under Mifeprex’s REMS while litigation continues in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. The 6-3 decision overturned a Maryland federal judge’s injunction against this requirement.

In 2017, chemical abortions made up 39 percent of abortions reported by the 32 states that require reporting on specific abortion methods, up from 5.5 percent in 2001.

The Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List), March for Life Action, National Right to Life, Family Research Council, and the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops are among the groups that support the bill, which Hyde-Smith and Latta first introduced in the 116th Congress. 

“We thank Congressman Bob Latta and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith for leading the charge to stop the expansion of chemical abortion,” said the Honorable Marilyn Musgrave, SBA List Vice President of Government Affairs.  “These dangerous ‘D.I.Y.’ abortions now account for up to 50 percent of all abortions in the U.S. and the abortion lobby is desperate to expand the lucrative pill business.  In the last year, pro-abortion forces have sought to capitalize on the pandemic to suspend FDA regulations and turn every post office and pharmacy into an abortion facility.  Women and children need the urgent protection afforded by this legislation.”

A summary of the SAVE Moms and Babies Act is available here.

The 31 original cosponsors of the Senate measure include:  John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun, John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Debbie Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), James Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.). 

The 72 original cosponsors of the House bill include:  Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Andy Harris (R-Md.), Ann Wagner (R-Mont.), Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio), Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mont.), Bob Good (R-Va.), Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R- Wash.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Christopher Smith (R-N.J.), Dan Bishop  (R-N.C.), Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.), Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), Greg Steube (R-Fla.), Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.), Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.), Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), Jerry Carl (R-Ala.), Jim Baird (R-Ind.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), John Curtis (R-Utah), John Joyce, M.D. (R-Pa.), John Rose (R-Tenn.), Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), Michael Burgess (R-Texas), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Mike Johnson (R-La.), Neal Dunn (R-Fla.), Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Randy K. Weber (R-Texas), Rick Allen (R-Ga.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Roger Williams (R-Texas), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Tim Walberg (R-Mo.), Tom Rice (R-S.C), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.),Trent Kelly (R-Miss.), Van Taylor (R-Texas), Warren Davison (R-Ohio), Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.), Michelle Fischbach (R-Mo.), Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-Ga.), Jody Hice (R-Ga.), Bill Huizenga (R-Minn.), Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas).