New Hampshire House Passes Resolution, Reaffirming Support for Medication Abortion Access

Concord, N.H. – By a vote of 196 to 151 the New Hampshire House has advanced HCR 11, a resolution which condemns medically unnecessary restrictions on medication abortion, to the New Hampshire Senate. At the public hearing on January 19, 2024, 349 Granite Staters signed in to support the resolution that reaffirms support for access to medication abortion while only 7 opposed it.

This spring, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a challenge to the FDA’s approval of mifepristone. The outcome of this case could profoundly impact access to abortion early in pregnancy in New Hampshire and across the nation. Since its approval more than two decades ago, mifepristone, the first of two drugs used in medication abortion, has since been used by more than five million people in the U.S. to safely end their pregnancies and is used in over half of all abortions in the United States. That number is even higher at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (which has 15 health centers across New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont) where about 70% of abortion patients choose medication abortion. Note that this medication is used exclusively early in pregnancy (before 11 weeks, or 77 days after a last missed period).

In 1991, New Hampshire became the first state in the nation to pass a resolution recognizing the importance of access to mifepristone and urging the FDA to allow clinical trials of mifepristone and medication abortion. Now, more than 30 years later, New Hampshire continued its tradition of supporting access to medication abortion by passing HCR 11.

Following today’s vote in support of HCR 11, Liz Canada, Advocacy Director Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund, released the following statement:

“We should never be in a position where judges in Texas are deciding whether Granite Staters can get access to safe, effective FDA-approved medicines. Patients deserve to access the medication they need when they need it, and health care providers should be able to provide that medication without unnecessary interference from judges or politicians.

“Today’s bipartisan vote sends a clear message to all extreme politicians who are relentlessly attempting to ban abortion across the country: Granite Staters oppose judges and politicians arbitrarily rolling back our fundamental rights, and in New Hampshire we trust patients and providers. Period.”

Additional background about the mifepristone case at the U.S. Supreme Court:

A group of anti-abortion activists and organizations sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over its approval of mifepristone, one of two medications most commonly used in medication abortion in the United States. In the case that originated in Texas, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine et al v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration et al, the plaintiffs asked the court to order the FDA to rescind its approval of mifepristone from more than 20 years ago, in order to remove it from the market. On April 21st, the Supreme Court of the United States granted the stay requested by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Danco in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine et al v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration et al. allowing mifepristone’s FDA approval to remain unchanged as the case proceeds through the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. This case will now be heard at the Supreme Court. Oral arguments are scheduled for March 26th.

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Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (PPNHAF) is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in New Hampshire. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.

Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) is the largest provider of reproductive and sexual health care across the State of New Hampshire. We serve New Hampshire residents through 5 health centers in Derry, Exeter, Keene, Manchester and White River Junction, VT. Last fiscal year we saw more than 11,000 patients at these sites. PPNNE was named a 2021 Guardian of Excellence Award® winner by Press Ganey, the national leader in health care consumer and workforce engagement. Press Ganey recognizes PPNNE as a top-performing health care organization, achieving the 95th percentile or above for performance in patient experience.