Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced a new resolution Thursday night expressing support for the abortion pill mifepristone.
The resolution, first obtained by POLITICO, argues that mifepristone — a pill commonly used to induce abortion — is both “safe and effective.” Forty senators have signed on to the resolution, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The signatories are all Democrats, aside from Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Angus King (I-Maine), who both caucus with Democrats, and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.).
“The impact to the health and well-being of patients across the country would be devastating if mifepristone were taken off the market,” reads the resolution.
The Warren-Baldwin effort comes amid news this week that the Supreme Court will review a lower court ruling that would limit access to mifepristone. The Biden administration has been jostling with a lower-court ruling that sought to restrict the FDA from allowing widespread access to mifepristone, including by mail.
“I am fed up with extremists trying to turn back the clock and deny women reproductive health care — especially after decades of science that show that medication abortion is safe and effective…” Warren said in a statement. “Senate Democrats are demonstrating with this resolution that we’re determined to fight back.”
Outside groups including Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights, among others, have also voiced support for the resolution.
But the resolution also serves a keen political purpose: pinning Senate Republicans on a key abortion-related issue. Abortion has largely been a losing subject for Republicans since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Heading into 2024, many Senate Republicans are not eager to address the issue, particularly with the majority on the line in November.
“We need to fight on all fronts to restore and protect the freedom of every American to make their own health care decisions,” Baldwin said in a statement. “And that includes protecting access to medication abortion.”
