NewsMax.com Wires
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001

Abortion supporters slammed the action as the first shot in a campaign against abortion.

Sen. Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark., and Rep. David Vitter, R-La., introduced the legislation on RU-486, saying it would help protect women's health.

"The purpose of this bill is to ensure the health and safety of women who are prescribed RU-486," Hutchinson said.

The Food and Drug Administration in September approved the use of RU-486 under a doctor's supervision. The bill would place new restrictions on doctors' ability to prescribe the drug, designed to terminate a pregnancy in the first 49 days.

Specifically, the legislation requires that any doctor prescribing the drug be qualified to handle complications of an incomplete abortion, be legally authorized and trained to perform an abortion, be certified to read an ultrasound in order to date the pregnancy, and be properly trained in the administration of the drug through an FDA curriculum.

The FDA had specifically considered, but rejected, such stipulations when it originally conducted its own review of the safety of the drug prior to approval. Hutchinson said that despite this, women would support the bill.

"I have no doubt that if women were asked whether their doctor should be required to be able to read an ultrasound, handle complications and get them admitted to the hospital in case of an emergency, they would not hesitate to demand those levels of competence."

National Right to Life Committee argued that the drug was approved under FDA's expedited "Subpart H" review process, which might not have been adequate.

National Abortion Rights Action League countered the drug was not only approved by the FDA but had been in clinical use in France since 1988 without any problem.

Pro-abortion groups said the legislation reflected a new and viable threat against abortion in the wake of an election that left the Capitol and the White House in the hands of Republicans.

"Now, the country has an anti-choice president and Congress," claimed Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y. "The Bush administration and its extreme allies in Congress will act to make the right to choose as difficult, uncomfortable and inaccessible as they possibly can."

Pro-abortion Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, told United Press International that she was not familiar with the bill but said that the FDA-approved regulation of RU-486 should stand.

Snowe signaled that any perceived rollback of abortion access would be a "likely" target of a filibuster in the Senate.

In a recent interview with United Press International, NRLC Executive Director David O'Steen signaled that Congress would not pass an amendment to the Constitution to outlaw abortion, but instead he expected a vigorous legislative agenda aimed at recognizing the rights of the unborn. He provided the example of moving bills that would set new legal penalties for assaults against pregnant women that result in the harm of an unborn child.

Copyright 2001 by United Press International. All rights reserved.

See more articles on abortion.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Bush Administration

Related Products:
Express your opinion about this to top leaders, Congress and the media – send an Urgent PriorityGram. It's easy and powerful! Click Here now.