AUGUSTA - Following the decision tonight by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk to suspend Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, Speaker of the House Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, House Majority Leader Mo Terry, D-Gorham, and Assistant Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, released the following statements:
Speaker of the House Rachel Talbot Ross issued the following statement:
"The recent federal case in Texas should serve as a wake up call that opponents to abortion won't stop and their tactics are far reaching, even here in Maine. Abortion care is medical care, yet across the country fundamental rights and freedoms are being taken away or restricted at an alarming rate. As Speaker of the House, I will take immediate action to ensure medication abortion remains safe, legal and available in Maine. Beyond that, I will continue to do everything I can to ensure that this Legislature makes certain that reproductive health care and family planning is affordable and accessible in every part of the state."
House Majority Leader Mo Terry and Assistant Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier issued the following statement:
"This decision is the latest attack by opponents to ban access to abortion care and infringe on the rights of women. Decisions like this dont just affect one state, they threaten abortion care across the country, including here in Maine. Medication abortion is a safe and effective option for patients, and this ruling has the potential to significantly reduce access to needed care. We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that these deeply personal decisions remain between patients and their health care providers, not politicians. We will never stop fighting to defend and expand access to abortion care so that every Mainer has the freedom to make their own private medical decisions."
Contact:
Mary Erin Casale [Talbot Ross], 207-415-4965
Brian Lee [Terry, Cloutier], 305-965-2744