In response to the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision to overturn the FDA’s 22-year approval of the abortion medication mifepristone, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) took action to help protect access to reproductive care.

Mifepristone is one of the two drugs used in routine medication abortion care and miscarriage management. If allowed to stand, the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA ruling could severely compromise access to medication abortion nationwide. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday reaffirmed the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, while significantly limiting access.

“Reproductive care is already scarce in rural communities like mine. A ban on mifepristone will only make that worse not just in rural areas, but across the country. I’m fighting to make sure everyone has access to the safe reproductive care they need and can make decisions about their own bodies,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez.

Earlier this week, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez signed an amicus brief filed in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals urging the courts to respect the FDA’s authority to approve medications for public use.

In addition, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez helped reintroduce The Protecting Reproductive Freedom Act, which would reaffirm the FDA’s authority to regulate abortion medication and protect doctors’ ability to prescribe medication abortion via telehealth across the country.