Bush Administration Breaks Promise to Make Decision on 'Morning-After Pill' by September 1

The Bush administration explicitly promised the U.S. Senate that the FDA would stop dragging its feet and issue a decision by September 1. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Patty Murray (D-WA) secured this written promise last month as part of an agreement to lift their hold on the nomination of Lester Crawford to the post of FDA commissioner.

"The Bush administration has broken its promise to the U.S. Senate and the American people to make this decision, after more than two years of stalling. FDA's delay flies in the face of an American majority that believes more should be done to reduce unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion. Scientists, doctors, and Americans across the political spectrum support giving women, especially survivors of sexual assault, better access to the morning-after pill to prevent unintended pregnancies."

NARAL Pro-Choice America is a national leader in this effort and first urged the FDA to give women better access to the morning-after pill almost five years ago. NARAL Pro-Choice America directed a recent campaign that generated more than 26,000 messages from all 50 states to the FDA.

Contact:
Ted Miller, 202.973.3032