NHCSL Responds to SCOTUS Oral Arguments for Case that Seeks to Ban Mifepristone

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) hears oral arguments today for the case Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) released the following statement:

“This mifepristone case is one in a series of extremist political lawsuits targeting reproductive healthcare to undermine medical science and keep eroding abortion rights after the Dobbs decision. It attempts to strip the right of states to recognize the right to choose by banning one of the most useful medications, making a mockery of the Court majority’s assurances in Dobbs. And it threatens everyone’s health by undermining the FDA’s approval process for all medications.

“The impact of curtailing abortion access is felt largely by Latinas, the largest group of women of color living under abortion bans, as well as people in rural areas, Black and Indigenous people, immigrants, and people living with low incomes— communities who have long been subjected to a consistently inequitable healthcare system. Banning mifepristone will exacerbate this.

“Mifepristone, when taken as part of an FDA-approved abortion medication protocol, is safe and effective. It helps people make their own private medical decisions with their doctors, and has expanded access to essential care by making it cheaper and more widely available, even in remote areas.

“Furthermore, the consequences of going against the FDA’s scientific judgment and authority and setting the precedent of challenging the approval process of medications, devices, procedures, and much more, will wreak havoc on our country’s healthcare system, stifle innovation, and have serious negative economic and public health consequences.

“As our Caucus established in Resolution 2022-01, we oppose in the strongest possible terms any attempts to curtail reproductive rights, and keep people from receiving the care they need, when and where they need it, and disproportionately affecting Hispanic families and other communities of color through text, intent or effect. We need to work to make our healthcare system less unequal, and putting politics over science and hijacking the judicial power to do so will keep fostering distrust in our institutions and will keep harming people.”

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The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) is the premier national association of Hispanic state legislators working to design and implement policies and procedures that will improve the quality of life for Hispanics throughout the country. NHCSL was founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to be the most effective voice for the more than 450 Hispanic legislators. For more information visit www.nhcsl.org.