Florida’s Six-Week Ban to Take Effect in May
On Monday, April 1, 2024 the Florida Supreme Court issued two key abortion decisions. First, the Court rejected the request to enjoin Florida’s 15-week ban, reversing years of Florida precedent to hold that the state constitution’s existing privacy protection does not apply to abortion. Second, the Court ruled that Florida voters will be allowed to decide in November whether to amend the Florida Constitution to explicitly protect access to abortion, despite efforts by Gov. DeSantis and Attorney General Moody to keep the question off the ballot.
You can read more about this update here.
Mifepristone Case Oral Arguments at SCOTUS
On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, a case brought by the anti-abortion movement to jeopardize FDA approval of mifepristone — a safe, effective medication.
Mifepristone, which has been used by more than 5 million people across the U.S., has been FDA-approved and available for more than 23 years for abortion and miscarriage care. Availability of mifepristone is essential for abortion access. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision in the case by late June.
Statement from Planned Parenthood Federation of America President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson:
“Yet again, abortion access is before the Supreme Court. That’s because abortion opponents are still hellbent on controlling our bodies, lives, and futures by banning abortion nationwide. Study after study has shown medication abortion and mifepristone to be safe and effective — with or without a health center visit. Those findings have only grown clearer in the more than two decades mifepristone has been on the U.S. market.
“Beyond the threat to our fundamental rights, the very existence of this case puts every other FDA-approved medication at risk of being taken off the market or restricted for political reasons. That is reason enough to be clear about how serious this case is for the future of sexual and reproductive health care and everything beyond. We hope that science and evidence prevail, and the Supreme Court rejects this politically motivated effort to make it harder to access abortion.”
Abortion bans and restrictions continue to do the most harm to Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities, rural communities, LGBTQ+ people, and young people — those who already face barriers to sexual and reproductive health care due to systemic racism and discrimination.
Read Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s previous statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to take this case here, on the 5th Circuit’s decision here, and learn more about mifepristone here.
More than 250 Members of Congress Urge Supreme Court to Protect Emergency Abortion Care
Last week, more than 250 members of Congress filed a bicameral amicus brief in Idaho v. United States, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a lower court ruling that protects emergency abortion care in hospitals — as required by the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).
Led by Sens. Schumer, Murray, Wyden, and Durbin and Reps. Jeffries, Clark, Pallone, Neal, Nadler, DeGette, and Lee, the signers of the brief wrote:
“In this case, respecting the supremacy of federal law is about more than just protecting our system of government; it is about protecting people’s lives. If this Court allows Idaho’s near-total abortion ban to supersede federal law, pregnant patients in Idaho will continue to be denied appropriate medical treatment, placing them at heightened risk for medical complications and severe adverse health outcomes.”
Planned Parenthood Federation of America also joined an amicus brief filed by the National Women’s Law Center, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, and 98 other organizations.
Mifepristone at Walgreens
On March 1, 2024, CVS and Walgreens announced that they will begin offering mifepristone, one of the pills used in medication abortion, in states where abortion is legal, based on guidelines the FDA issued last year. This move could potentially increase access to mifepristone for some, but would only impact those living in certain states. As you know, the increase in attacks on abortion and reproductive rights has drastically limited access for people in over 21 states. In addition, SCOTUS is still set to begin oral arguments in the case involving the FDA’s approval of Mifepristone this April. We are continuing to monitor this and other important court cases and will update you as more information becomes available.
Of the announcement, Darrah DiGiorgio Johnson, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the of the Pacific Southwest says:
“While we commend CVS and Walgreens’ recent announcement that they will begin offering mifepristone in states where abortion is currently legal, we know there is a long way to go to ensure access to safe and legal abortion for all.
As we see an increase in attacks on reproductive rights, including attempts to remove the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, it’s vital that we increase access to abortion care. 21 states currently have abortion restrictions or bans in place that prevent people from accessing the timely care they need. At Planned Parenthood, we believe in building a world where sexual and reproductive rights are basic human rights, and where accessing abortions does not depend on where you live.
Medication abortion, remains legal and protected in California, and at Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, we remain committed to continue providing safe and legal medication abortion, and providing health care that is based on science and facts.
As always, we will continue to do everything in our power to care for our patients with compassion, and strength – no matter what.”
Status of Abortion Bans in the States
Below is a current state of affairs regarding access to abortion care across the United States. In some states, the fight over abortion access is still taking place in courtrooms, where advocates have sued to block bans and restrictions. Other states have moved to expand access to abortion by adding legal protections.
Regardless of where your state lands on the access spectrum, we have the opportunity to build our movement and advance our issues through engagement, advocacy and action.
As of January 18, 2024 twenty-one (21) states across the nation have eliminated all or some abortions. These states are as follows: AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, ID, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, WI, WV.
- States where abortion has been banned: AL, AR, ID, IN, KY, LA, MO, MS, OK, SD, TN, TX, WI, WV
- States where abortion has been banned after the earliest stages of pregnancies: GA, FL
- States where abortion has been banned after 15-20 weeks gestation: AZ, NC, UT
We are grateful that abortion in is still safe and legal in California, and we stand strongly alongside our friends in the fight for full reproductive freedom for all. Please visit abortionfinder.org for the latest information on abortion provider service status.
Tags: