The bill would remove the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of mifepristone for chemical abortions, and provide women injured by mifepristone with a private right of action against the manufacturer.
Writing to the two sponsors of the legislation, Bishop Thomas said that "chemical abortions now account for almost two-thirds of all abortions in the United States, resulting in hundreds of thousands of preborn children lost each year." He said that U.S. bishops have previously opposed mifepristone's remaining on the market and have urged that, at the very least, the previous safety safeguards be restored. "This is not just to reduce abortion and save the lives of preborn children, but to prevent double tragedies and save the health and lives of mothers who would take the deadly drug," he wrote.
In his endorsement of the legislation, Bishop Thomas wrote: "In withdrawing FDA approval of mifepristone for abortion, prohibiting its being labeled for abortion, and ensuring a private right of action against manufacturers, the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act, would likely save lives by curtailing the incidence of chemical abortion itself and all of its associated risks to the mothers as well."
To read Bishop Thomas' letter, click here.
To read an NCHLA factsheet, Key Points on Chemical Abortions, click here.