Republican lawmakers are demanding answers from the Biden administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its alleged failure to adequately study the environmental impact of the abortion pill, known as mifepristone. The lawmakers claim that the only previous environmental assessment of the drug, conducted in 1996, is insufficient given the rise in medication abortions.
Bicameral lawmakers have expressed concern over the Biden administration's lack of environmental studies on the abortion pill, mifepristone, amid the increasing prevalence of medication-induced abortions.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Rep. Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., penned a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, highlighting the perceived need for comprehensive environmental impact evaluations.
The lawmakers cited the increasing utilization of medication abortions, with nearly two-thirds of all U.S. abortions in 2022 involving mifepristone. However, they asserted that the only existing environmental assessment of the drug was conducted in 1996 and relied upon by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when approving it in 2000.
Rubio and Brecheen contended that the 1996 assessment did not consider the potential implications of human fetal remains and drug metabolites entering wastewater systems nationwide. They expressed concern that flushing fetal remains and blood into wastewater could pose risks to waterways and drinking water.
The lawmakers requested specific information from the EPA, including its plans to safeguard waterways and drinking water, potential health risks associated with exposure to mifepristone and fetal remains, and the potential impact on aquatic life.
The EPA responded to Fox News Digital, stating that it would review the letter and provide an appropriate response.
Mifepristone has become a subject of intense debate, with Republican lawmakers scrutinizing the drug and its regulations, while Democrats advocate for its availability as safe, effective, and necessary healthcare.
Abortion rights advocates have maintained that mifepristone is an essential healthcare option, particularly in light of restrictions on abortion access in many states. Planned Parenthood Federation of America President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson emphasized the safety and effectiveness of mifepristone, as supported by numerous studies over the past two decades.
The demand for environmental impact evaluations of mifepristone reflects the ongoing political and societal debate surrounding abortion in the United States. The conflicting viewpoints regarding the drug's safety, regulation, and availability highlight the polarization of perspectives on reproductive healthcare.
