The FDA's Failure is George Bush's Failure

Washington, DC-- NARAL Pro-Choice America, the leading national advocate for personal privacy and a woman's right to choose, joined Members of Congress and a coalition of women's health organizations in calling for a full investigation into White House involvement in the FDA's denial of over-the-counter status for emergency contraception pills.

NARAL Pro-Choice America has a long record of involvement with this issue, having testified in favor of over-the-counter status as early as June, 2000, and working with legislators at both the state and federal levels on a variety of initiatives to promote emergency contraception awareness and access – including "EC in the ER" bills that ensure availability to victims of sexual assault.

Interim President Elizabeth A. Cavendish offered the following statement today:

The size of the coalition gathered here today is no surprise when you look at the broad, deep public support for making emergency birth control as widely and easily available as possible – because facts show it is the most successful way of preventing unintended pregnancy and reducing the number of abortions.

NARAL Pro-Choice America joins today in calling for a full and quick investigation of White House interference into what's supposed to be an independent process.   Indeed, we requested such information months ago under the Freedom of Information Act.  Getting all the facts right is important on a violation as serious as this.

But you don't need to see a skunk to know when there's one in the neighborhood. When you see a government agency letting the concerns of the far right eclipse the judgments of medical science, you know that George Bush is lurking somewhere nearby.

The fascinating thing about this issue is how clearly it shows the President's real priorities.  He isn't focused on reducing the number of abortions – if he were, this application would have been approved in a flash.  He's focused on placating his far-right supporters, those whose driving concern is an obsessive fear that birth control, as one of them recently said, turns young women into – quote -- "sex machines."

The FDA's purpose is to put science ahead of politics.  Its failure in this case is George Bush's failure. 

Contact:
Ted Miller, 202.973.3032