Sen. Maxie Hirono spoke against a U.S. District Court Judge’s decision to effectively ban the drug most commonly prescribed for medication abortion nationwide on April 7.
“Today’s decision is the latest blow in the right’s all-out assault on women’s bodily autonomy," Hirono said. "As if overturning Roe wasn’t extreme enough, a Trump-appointed judge has now unilaterally ruled to outlaw access to medication abortion for women across the entire country, upending the considered decision of FDA experts."
Hirono serves the state of Hawaii which still has the right to abortions. Therefore, she is arguing against Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk who supports the anti-abortion laws.
According to a press release, since a lawsuit filed last November by the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, Kacsmaryk sided with the anti-abortion rights group. He is pushing to suspend the FDA’s approval of this drug.
Despite the fact the drug has been used safely and effectively for 20 years by over 5 million women the discussion around eliminating it remains.
The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine filed a complaint against the FDA regarding the abortion medication which is referred to as mifepristone.
In late 2022, the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine accused the FDA of lacking the authority to grant accelerated approval for mifepristone. Kacsmaryk’s decision now effectively forced the FDA to withdraw approval of the medication.
Hirono took steps to protect reproductive rights by addressing the FDA Commissioner directly.
She recently sent a letter to the FDA Commissioner encouraging the agency to defend Americans’ reproductive rights. In addition, Hirono encouraged the commissioner to consider steps to protect and expand access to medication abortion.