Gottheimer announces new legislation to protect access to Mifepristone, stop far-right extremist war on women’s healthcare
HACKENSACK, NJ (Bergen County) — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer Tuesday announced new legislation — the Protecting Personal, Private Medical Decisions Act — to protect doctor-prescribed access to Mifepristone, also known as the abortion pill.
This new legislation comes after the Supreme Court heard arguments from far-right extremists to resurrect a “zombie law,” known as the Comstock Act, which dates back to 1873, to ban the pill. Additionally, just yesterday, President Trump shared in a video that he believes abortion should be decided by the states — essentially giving states like Florida a pass to fully ban abortion, even in heartbreaking cases where the life of the mother is at risk — or where the woman seeking the abortion is a survivor of rape or incest.
The Protecting Personal, Private Medical Decisions Act affirms the Department of Justice’s memo explaining that the Comstock Act does not prohibit the lawful mailing of abortion drugs like Mifepristone and condemns restrictions on reproductive healthcare.
Mifepristone is a safe and effective pill that has been available for more than two decades and is approved in more than 90 countries. This pill has been thoroughly studied by the FDA’s medical experts who have found that it is safe to be prescribed, including via telemedicine, and delivered to the patient via mail or pharmacy pickup.
“Far-right extremists have made it clear that they won’t stop until women lose their fundamental right to choose — Dobbs was just the beginning. It’s no surprise that anti-choice, anti-women groups are pushing for the resurrection of the Comstock Act at the Supreme Court. The public isn’t on their side, so they’re grasping at every possible legal straw in their war against choice. That’s why far-right extremists were less interested in debating the science and more focused on resurrecting a ‘zombie law,’ known as the Comstock Act, which dates back to 1873, to ban the pill,” Gottheimer said. “Let’s be clear: without access to safe and legal reproductive healthcare, women will die. I will always oppose any attempt by those sitting on the bench or sitting in Washington who want to roll back the clock on the right to choose and stand between a woman, her doctor, and her faith when making personal health care decisions.”
“As we speak, the Supreme Court is considering a case that will decide the future of access to mifepristone, a pill used in abortion care, even in states where abortion remains legal. And in a few weeks, the Supreme Court will hear another case that will determine whether patients have the right to emergency abortion care in states where abortion is banned. Anti-abortion lawmakers will try relentlessly to completely ban access to reproductive health and abortion, they are even hoping to enforce a law that has not been enforced in over a century, the Comstock Act,” said Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Kaitlyn Wotowicz. “Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey stands firmly against these draconian attacks on abortion access. Everyone should have the ability to make the decision that is best for their health and lives no matter where they live, their income, gender, race, or insurance. Amidst countless attacks on our right to access abortion, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey is grateful to have advocates like Congressman Gottheimer championing abortion protections. Together, we will ensure that anti-abortion activists cannot continue to turn back the clock on reproductive freedom.”
Gottheimer was joined at Hackensack Health Center’s Planned Parenthood by Bergen County Commissioners Mary Amoroso and Tracy Zur and Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Kaitlyn Wotowicz.
