June 14, 2024 – On Thursday, President Joe Biden released a Statement on Supreme Court Decision on FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine.
Today’s decision does not change the fact that the fight for reproductive freedom continues. It does not change the fact that the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, and women lost a fundamental freedom. It does not change the fact that the right for a woman to get the treatment she needs is imperiled if not impossible in many states.
It does mean that mifepristone, or medication abortion, remains available and approved. Women can continue to access this medication – approved by the FDA as safe and effective more than 20 years ago.
But let’s be clear: attacks on medication abortion are part of Republican elected officials’ extreme and dangerous agenda to ban abortion nationwide. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Republican elected officials have imposed extreme abortion bans in 21 states, some of which include zero exceptions for rape or incest. Women are being turned away from emergency rooms, or forced to go to court to plead for care that their doctor recommended or to travel hundreds of miles for care. Doctors and nurses are being threatened with jail time, including life in prison, for providing the health care they have been trained to provide. And contraception and IVF are under attack.
The stakes could not be higher for women across America. Vice President Harris and I stand with the vast majority of Americans who support a woman’s right to make deeply personal health care decisions. We will continue to fight to ensure that women in every state get the health care they need and we will continue to call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law — that is our commitment.
Remarks by Vice President Harris on the Supreme Court Decision on FDA v. Alliance for HippocraticMedicine
Vice President’s Ceremonial Office
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, before we get started, I just want to quickly address the Supreme Court’s ruling today on medication abortion. This is not a cause for celebration, because the reality is certain things are still not going to change.
We are looking at the fact that two thirds of women of reproductive age in America live in a state with a Trump abortion ban. This ruling is not going to change that. This ruling is not going to change the fact that Trump’s allies have a plan that if all else fails, to eliminate medication abortion through executive action.
So, we must remain clear-eyed about the threats to reproductive freedom in America, and we must remain vigilant.
And with that, I welcome all of you. (Laughter.)
PARTICIPANT: Thank you.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: And I am happy for us to get started.
Source: Office of the White House
