US Senators James Lankford, Bill Cassidy, Steve Daines, Cindy Hyde-Smith, and Lindsey Graham announced on Mar. 25 an investigation into the compliance of chemical abortion drug manufacturers with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safeguards. The senators also called for the FDA to take stronger action against illegal online sales of unapproved and misbranded chemical abortion drugs.
The senators said that oversight is needed to protect women’s health and safety due to concerns about how these drugs are marketed and sold online without medical supervision. They urged the FDA to use its authority to enforce regulations and reinstate requirements that were previously removed.
“Chemical abortion drugs are being sold online with little oversight, putting women at risk and ending innocent lives,” said Lankford. “The FDA must enforce the law, hold manufacturers accountable and crack down on illegal distribution. Basic safeguards exist for a reason and should be reinstated.”
Cassidy added: “Chemical abortion drug makers profit off killing innocent children while putting mothers’ lives at risk. These manufacturers and websites have facilitated the explosion in online sales of these harmful drugs without regard for women’s health and safety while opening the door for coercion and abuse. FDA should act within its existing authorities to curb this abuse and immediately reinstate safeguards such as the in-person dispensing requirement.”
According to the official website, Lankford has been ranked as the Senate’s top “Taxpayers Friend” by the National Taxpayers Union, has advocated for protecting life, liberty, families, directed Falls Creek Youth Camp—the nation’s largest youth camp—and represents Oklahoma in the United States Senate. He authors an annual Federal Fumbles report offering solutions to federal government challenges.
The senators’ inquiry follows changes made by previous administrations that removed certain reporting requirements under the Mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy Program (REMS), including those related to non-fatal adverse events reporting and in-person dispensing of chemical abortion drugs. The lawmakers argue that removing these requirements has resulted in cases of coerced abortions or serious adverse events going undetected.
Lankford maintains offices in Washington D.C., Oklahoma City, and Tulsa according to his official website. He serves on several Senate committees including Finance; Homeland Security; Governmental Affairs; Intelligence; advocates for lower taxes; limited government; economic freedom; champions taxpayers’ roles; authors Federal Fumbles annually presenting solutions—all according to his official site.
As next steps, letters have been sent from these senators requesting information from three FDA-approved chemical abortion drug manufacturers—Danco Laboratories LLC., GenBioPro Inc., Evita—as well as directly from FDA leadership.
