WASHINGTON — National Right to Life praised the Trump Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for launching Moms.gov, a new federal resource designed to support women, children, and families through pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting.

“National Right to Life is grateful to President Trump, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and the Department of Health and Human Services for recognizing that mothers and families deserve real support,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life Committee. “Too often, women facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies are told abortion is their only option. Moms.gov sends a different message — that mothers, babies, and families matter, and that compassionate resources and assistance are available.”

The new website provides expecting and new mothers with access to practical information and life-affirming support services, including pregnancy centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers, nutritional guidance, breastfeeding resources, mental health support, adoption information, and other assistance programs.

The website’s inclusion of information about pregnancy centers highlights the important role these centers play in serving women with material assistance, parenting education, emotional support, and referrals for healthcare and social services.

“Women deserve access to comprehensive information and meaningful support throughout pregnancy and motherhood,” Tobias said. “By connecting families with resources that encourage health and hope, Moms.gov represents an important step toward building a culture that values both mother and child.”

The launch of Moms.gov coincides with Mother’s Day and reflects a broader commitment to promoting maternal and child well-being.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to be welcomed into the world, and every mother deserves support and encouragement,” Tobias added. “National Right to Life appreciates this effort to provide practical help for families at every stage of pregnancy and parenting.”

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON — National Right to Life proudly announces its endorsement of two candidates seeking election to the South Dakota House of Representatives: Fred Deutsch for District 4 and Dale Bartscher for District 35.

Both candidates exemplify a strong commitment to protecting human life from conception to natural death. They have demonstrated a willingness to do the hard work necessary to build a culture that values life. They will work to enact life-saving legislation and protect both women and their unborn children from the violence of abortion. With national abortion forces targeting South Dakota through abortion pill shipments, now is the time to elect battle-tested warriors to the state house.

Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, issued the following statement regarding Fred Deutsch, who is seeking election in House District 4:

 “Fred has long been a fighter in the fight for human life from fertilization to natural death. He also worked incredibly hard to help defeat the extreme Amendment G in South Dakota in 2024. He understands the human rights battle that we are in—that laws are upstream from culture—and that we must do everything we can to protect unborn babies and their mothers through strong laws and compassionate support.”

Regarding Dale Bartscher, who is seeking election in House District 35, Tobias added: 

“National Right to Life cannot be prouder of our longtime partnership with Dale Bartscher and his role with South Dakota Right to Life. Dale is a fighter for the protection of human life and will do whatever it takes to lawfully protect unborn children in the womb and provide support for their mothers. Dale is a compassionate pro-life warrior and will do great work in the South Dakota House of Representatives.”

Early voting has already begun ahead of the June 2 Republican Primary election. Voters are encouraged to contact their local county elections office for additional details.

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court today issued a temporary order allowing continued mail distribution of the abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol while litigation proceeds. The order is set to expire within days as the Court considers next steps in the case.

“Today’s action by the Court is not a final ruling on the merits of this case,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “It is a temporary procedural step that leaves unresolved the very real concerns about the safety of these drugs and the decision under the Biden administration’s FDA to recklessly remove longstanding safeguards.”

The challenged regulations stem from decisions by the Food and Drug Administration under the Biden administration to loosen safety protocols, including allowing abortion drugs to be prescribed via telehealth and delivered by mail. A federal appeals court had recently reinstated requirements for in-person medical oversight, citing concerns about the FDA’s actions.

Under the Biden administration, the FDA removed in-person medical supervision which places women at increased risk, particularly when complications arise without immediate access to a physician. Mifepristone, used in combination with another drug, can lead to serious adverse events including heavy bleeding, sepsis, and incomplete abortion requiring surgical intervention.

“When abortion drugs are mailed across state lines with little or no medical oversight, women are left to manage potentially dangerous complications on their own,” Tobias said. “This is not compassionate care — it is a dangerous experiment on women.”

Chemical abortion now accounts for a majority of abortions in the United States, increasing the urgency of ensuring proper safeguards are in place.

The Court’s temporary order merely preserves the status quo for a short period and does not validate the FDA’s decisions under the Biden administration or address the underlying legal and medical questions.

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON — The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision today temporarily blocks the Biden-era FDA rule that allowed abortion pills containing mifepristone to be distributed through the mail without an in-person medical visit. Today’s decision restores a critical layer of oversight for women’s health and state authority and reinstates the prior requirement that mifepristone be dispensed in person while litigation continues.

“This decision is an important step toward restoring common-sense medical safeguards that were recklessly discarded by the Biden administration in the rush to expand abortion pill access,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Mail-order abortion drugs bypass basic protections such as physical exams, accurate pregnancy dating, screening for ectopic pregnancy, and the abortion-by-mail scheme complicates emergency care.”

Tobias continued, “Women deserve better than an abortion-by-mail system that prioritizes ideology over safety.”

The court’s ruling comes amid growing legal and medical scrutiny over the FDA’s loosening of mifepristone regulations under the Biden administration, particularly the removal of in-person dispensing requirements in 2023. Louisiana argued that the federal government failed to adequately justify these changes and ignored serious risks, including hemorrhage, sepsis, and complications that may require emergency intervention.

“For years, pro-life advocates have warned that mailing abortion drugs across state lines undermines both women’s health and duly enacted state protections for unborn children,” Tobias said. “Today’s decision recognizes that the FDA cannot simply sweep legitimate safety concerns aside in favor of politics.”

Medication abortions now account for a majority of U.S. abortions, making regulatory accountability more urgent than ever.

“The abortion industry has aggressively pushed convenience over caution,” Tobias added. “Women facing unexpected pregnancies deserve real medical care, real information, and real support—not dangerous shortcuts.”

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON — National Right to Life today welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous decision allowing First Choice Women’s Resource Centers to challenge a New Jersey state investigation in federal court.

“The Supreme Court rightly recognized that government power cannot be used to intimidate or silence organizations simply because they offer life-affirming alternatives to abortion,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Pregnancy resource centers exist to support women, provide practical assistance, and affirm the value of both mother and child. State officials should not weaponize investigations to chill protected speech or target donors because they disagree with a center’s mission.”

The case centered on a New Jersey subpoena seeking donor information and internal records from First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, a faith-based pregnancy center. The Court’s ruling ensures that organizations raising legitimate constitutional concerns can seek protection in federal court when faced with potentially abusive government overreach.

Marie Tasy, executive director of New Jersey Right to Life, the New Jersey affiliate of National Right to Life, stated. “The New Jersey Attorney General created a so-called ‘Reproductive Rights Strike Force’ and used it to target a pregnancy center that had not received a single public complaint. That is government overreach, plain and simple. Today the Supreme Court said: enough. Pregnancy centers have the right to fight back in federal court, and their donors have the right to give without fear of government retaliation.”

Tasy continued, “New Jersey Right to Life will stand with them every step of the way. Pregnancy centers across this state serve thousands of women every year, and we will never stop defending their right to do so — or the right of the people who make that work possible.”

Across the country, pregnancy resource centers provide millions of dollars in free medical services, parenting support, material aid, and emotional care to women facing unexpected pregnancies. These centers should be free to continue their work without political harassment.

“This unanimous decision sends an unmistakable message: Americans do not surrender their First Amendment freedoms when they advocate for unborn children,” Tobias said. “Women deserve compassionate care and real choices. Today’s ruling protects the freedom of those who offer hope, help, and life-affirming support.”

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON — National Right to Life and a broad coalition of national and state pro-life organizations today urged Senate Republican leadership to immediately launch the 2026 budget reconciliation process to prevent federal taxpayer dollars from funding the abortion industry after July 4, 2026.

“Congress made history in 2025 by passing the One Big Beautiful Bill with a provision that stopped taxpayer dollars from subsidizing abortion providers for one year,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Allowing that policy to expire would betray the American people who consistently oppose their money being used to prop up the abortion industry.”

In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Republican leadership, lawmakers are urged to include a provision in the upcoming reconciliation package to extend the prohibition on funding for the maximum ten years permitted under budget rules.

The letter highlights concerns about the activities of major abortion businesses, noting that many promote abortion as a core service and lobby for unlimited abortion. Planned Parenthood alone receives nearly $800 million annually in taxpayer funding, primarily through federal health programs.

“For decades, Congress has recognized that abortion should not be publicly funded,” Tobias said. “That bipartisan work is the foundation for the provision in the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill. We urge lawmakers to finish what they started.”

The coalition called on Senate Republican leaders to move without delay, warning that failure to act will allow hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to once again supplement abortion businesses nationwide.

“As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, we affirm that life is an unalienable right. This truth is a cornerstone of our Republic and must guide our public policy,” Tobias added. “Congress must protect taxpayers and unborn children—or allow federal funding of Big Abortion to resume. We urge lawmakers to choose life.”

The coalition letter can be found here.

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON — A federal court ruled against the enforcement of an Oregon law that forced pro-life organizations to provide insurance coverage for abortion. Oregon Right to Life, the Oregon affiliate of National Right to Life, challenged the law in court and the judge determined that the law violates the constitutional rights of Oregon Right to Life.

“This is a tremendous victory not only for Oregon Right to Life, but also for the fundamental freedoms protected by the First Amendment,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “No organization should be forced by the government to pay for or promote abortion. This ruling rightly recognizes that Americans do not surrender their constitutional rights when they operate a nonprofit organization.”

The ruling represents a significant legal win for Oregon Right to Life, affirming that the government cannot compel organizations to facilitate or subsidize practices that contradict their core beliefs.

In a press release, Oregon Right to Life’s lead counsel and general counsel for National Right to Life, James Bopp, Jr. stated, “The First Amendment provides the plain guarantee that a state simply may not play favorites when it comes to religious organizations. It may not favor secular entities over entities with religious views and it may not favor one religious view over another.”

The challenged law, part of Oregon’s 2017 Reproductive Health Equity Act, required insurance providers to cover abortion and contraception without cost-sharing. While the law included a narrow religious exemption, Oregon Right to Life was denied that protection—prompting the lawsuit.

After initially being dismissed, the case was revived by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, leading to this week’s decision in favor of the pro-life organization.

Oregon Right to Life called the mandate “absurd” and emphasized that forcing a pro-life organization to fund abortion coverage was a clear violation of its constitutional rights.

“It was always absurd for Oregon to attempt to force Oregon Right to Life, as a pro-life organization, to fund abortion – the very practice we are dedicated to opposing,” Oregon Right to Life Executive Director Lois Anderson said. 

While the full scope of the ruling is still being finalized, it currently prevents the law from being applied to Oregon Right to Life and may have broader implications for similar mandates across the country.

“We commend Oregon Right to Life for its leadership in defending both the right to life and the freedoms of speech and conscience,” stated Tobias. “This case represents an important step in ensuring that pro-life Americans are not forced to choose between their beliefs and government mandates.”

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Idaho’s federal district court struck down a subpoena served on pro-life advocacy organization Right to Life of Idaho, Inc. (“RTLI”), in Matsumoto v. Labrador. The court found that the First Amendment shields political advocacy organizations like RTLI from being forced to release their communications to legislators when doing so could chill the organization’s speech.

The plaintiffs, pro-abortion entities seeking to overturn an Idaho law prohibiting the trafficking of minors for abortion, had targeted their ideological opponent, pro-life RTLI, with a subpoena issued in September 2025, attempting to dig through RTLI’s communications and records. The subpoena demanded that RTLI, which was not even a party to the case, provide years’ worth of its communications with legislators concerning Idaho House Bills 242 and 98.

RTLI argued that, as an organization whose chief purpose and strategy relies on its ability to communicate freely with legislators, a ruling that would require it to release such communications any time related litigation was filed would certainly inflict direct harm on its ability to engage in such speech and association. Legislators would be less inclined to communicate with RTLI if those communications could be demanded on a whim any time pro-abortion groups filed a lawsuit.

The court agreed, finding that RTLI’s First Amendment rights were at stake. The court also found that the plaintiffs had not established a need for the documents sufficient to overcome the First Amendment’s protections. Indeed, binding Ninth Circuit precedent plainly requires a party seeking such discovery to obtain it, if possible, from sources that do not implicate the First Amendment—yet the plaintiffs had not even attempted the simple step of lodging a request under Idaho’s robust public records law before dragging RTLI into court. Accordingly, the court declined to enforce the subpoena.

James Bopp, Jr., of The Bopp Law Firm, PC, and counsel for RTLI, said, “The First Amendment does not magically cease to exist in civil litigation discovery. The court correctly recognized that a party cannot overcome its protections of speech and association by simply filing a lawsuit—particularly when that party has not even tried to take simple, reasonable steps to obtain the discovery in a manner that does not implicate the First Amendment at all. The court correctly stopped the plaintiffs’ attempt to force RTLI, their ideological opponent, to hand over its private communications.”

The court’s order is available here.

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON — National Right to Life today expressed strong support for the oversight letters issued by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee examining the business practices of manufacturers and distributors of the chemical abortion drug mifepristone, as well as the failure to enforce federal law against illegal online sales.

“These letters raise serious and long-overdue questions about whether federal protocols are being followed—and whether women are being put at risk as a result,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “The American people deserve transparency, accountability, and above all, protection from dangerous and unlawful practices.”

The Senate letters highlight concerns that manufacturers of mifepristone may not be adequately ensuring compliance with the Food and Drug Administration’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), which is intended to mitigate the risk of serious complications associated with the drug. These safeguards include requirements that prescribers be properly certified, that patients be informed of risks, and that appropriate medical care be available in the event of complications.

However, evidence cited in the letters suggests that online distribution of chemical abortion drugs is undermining these protections. Some online providers appear to prescribe the drugs based on minimal screening, raising concerns about whether they can accurately assess gestational age, diagnose ectopic pregnancies, or ensure access to emergency care.

The letters also document the widespread availability of unapproved and misbranded chemical abortion drugs sold through online retailers in violation of federal law. These drugs may be manufactured overseas, lack proper labeling, and be distributed without any medical oversight—posing significant risks to women’s health.

“Federal law is clear: unapproved and misbranded drugs cannot be sold in the United States,” Tobias said. “Yet these illegal online operations continue to flourish, often encouraging women to conceal critical medical information if complications arise. That is a direct threat to patient safety.”

The letters also raise concerns about the erosion of safeguards in recent years, including the removal of in-person dispensing requirements and the elimination of reporting requirements for non-fatal adverse events. These changes have made it more difficult to fully assess the risks associated with chemical abortion and ensure that women receive appropriate care.

Additionally, the letters raise troubling questions about the lack of transparency among certain manufacturers, including limited public information about corporate leadership, manufacturing locations, and distribution practices.

“Women deserve real medical care, not drugs dispensed through anonymous websites with little to no oversight,” Tobias said. “We commend the Senate HELP Committee for taking these concerns seriously and look forward to meaningful action that prioritizes women’s health and safety.”

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON — National Right to Life commends the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for launching investigations into thirteen states for potential violations of the Weldon Amendment, a longstanding federal law that protects the conscience rights of health care providers and entities.

“Americans should never be forced to choose between their deeply held moral or religious convictions and their ability to participate in the health care system,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “We commend HHS for enforcing federal conscience protections and ensuring that states do not trample on these fundamental rights.”

The Weldon Amendment prohibits federal, state, and local governments from discriminating against health care entities that decline to participate in, pay for, or provide coverage of abortion. OCR’s action follows reports that certain states may be coercing health plans and issuers to cover abortion in violation of these protections.

“Coercing individuals or organizations to facilitate abortion against their beliefs is not only unjust—it is unlawful under federal statute,” Tobias added. “These investigations send a clear message that conscience rights are not optional and must be respected.” 

Earlier this year, OCR clarified that the Weldon Amendment applies broadly to include not only health care providers, but also insurers, employers, and plan sponsors. This clarification corrects a prior, narrower interpretation and reaffirms that conscience protections extend across the health care landscape. 

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON — A new national survey released by the Pew Research Center underscores that Americans remain deeply divided on abortion and far from united behind the abortion industry’s push for unlimited abortion.  

“Despite efforts to portray abortion as a settled issue, Americans remain deeply conflicted about abortion and continue to recognize the humanity of the unborn child,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Only a small minority of Americans support abortion without limits. Millions believe that unborn children deserve legal protection.”

The survey’s toplines found that 39% of Americans say the statement “Human life begins at conception, so an embryo is a person with rights” describes their views extremely or very well.

The survey’s toplines also reveal that only 23% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all cases, while 38% say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases—demonstrating that strong support remains for meaningful legal protections for unborn children.

The poll also highlights significant public concern about chemical abortion. Pew found that more than one-quarter of Americans say abortion pills should be illegal in their state, while nearly one in five remain unsure. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning voters, opposition to chemical abortion is even stronger.  

“Abortion advocates want to claim the public supports sweeping abortion access, including dangerous mail-order abortion pills,” Tobias said. “But the reality is that Americans remain cautious and divided, particularly when it comes to expanding chemical abortion.”

Tobias said the results show that the national conversation on abortion is far from over.  

“Many Americans recognize the humanity of the unborn child and feel compassion for women facing difficult pregnancies,” Tobias said. “That moral awareness is exactly why the pro-life work of protecting unborn children and supporting their mothers continues to resonate with millions of Americans.”

The findings reinforce the importance of continued public education on the development of the preborn baby, the risks associated with chemical abortion, and policies that protect both mother and child.  

“The American people understand that abortion is not a simple political issue—it is the moral issue of our day involving the right to life of the most vulnerable members of the human family,” Tobias said. “As more Americans learn the truth about preborn children and the realities of abortion, support for protecting innocent human life will continue to grow.”

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON — Parents in Puerto Rico who experience the loss of a baby before 20 weeks of gestation will now have the option to claim and arrange for the dignified disposition of their child’s remains under a new law signed by Governor Jenniffer González-Colón.

“National Right to Life applauds Governor Jenniffer González-Colón for signing this compassionate and respectful legislation,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Losing a baby can be a deeply painful experience for parents. This law recognizes that grief and ensures that families who wish to honor their child through a dignified burial or other respectful disposition have the ability to do so.”

Law 42-2026 establishes a clear protocol allowing parents, with medical authorization and upon request, to claim fetal remains resulting from pregnancy loss prior to 20 weeks of gestation. The law recognizes the emotional impact of losing a baby and ensures that parents have the option to provide respectful treatment and disposition for their child.

The measure amends Puerto Rico’s Regulated Biomedical Waste Management Act to clarify that fetal remains from pregnancy losses occurring before 20 weeks—regardless of weight—will not be treated as regulated biomedical waste when a parent formally requests their release under procedures established by the Puerto Rico Department of Health.

Senate Bill 756, which created the new law, was authored by Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz and Senator Joanne Rodríguez Veve, with several senators serving as co-sponsors.

“By affirming the dignity of every human life and respecting the needs of grieving parents, Puerto Rico has taken an important step toward compassionate public policy,” Tobias said.

Similar laws exist in other jurisdictions across the United States, allowing parents the choice to claim and arrange dignified disposition of their baby’s remains following pregnancy loss.

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON — A new Wyoming law protecting an unborn child once her heart begins to beat has been signed by Gov. Mark Gordon, making the state the fifth in the nation to enact such protections.

The measure prohibits most abortions after a heartbeat can be detected, which occurs approximately 18-22 days after fertilization. The law includes an exception when necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother in cases of imminent medical danger. 

“We thank Governor Gordon for signing this vital law,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Wyoming’s action reflects an ongoing national conversation about how our laws should recognize the humanity of the unborn child while ensuring that her mother receives appropriate care.”

According to state health officials, Wyoming recorded 625 abortions in 2024, the most recent year for which complete data are available.

The enactment comes as abortion policy across the United States continues to evolve following the 2022 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which returned primary authority over abortion policy to the states.

Since that decision, states have taken varied approaches to abortion regulation. Some states have enacted laws protecting unborn children at different stages of pregnancy, while others have pushed for an expansion of unlimited abortion and abortion pills by mail.

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON — The Ohio Senate Health Committee today heard testimony on Senate Bill 309, the Abortion Pill Provider Liability Education (APPLE) Act, legislation designed to ensure women receive truthful information and clear notice of their legal rights before being prescribed abortion-inducing drugs.

SB 309 is Ohio’s version of National Right to Life’s model law, the Abortion Pill Provider Liability and Education Act, and focuses on informed consent, transparency, and accountability in the growing chemical abortion marketplace.

In written testimony submitted to the committee, Ingrid Duran, director of the Department of State Legislation for National Right to Life (NRLC), explained that the APPLE Act responds to the “rapid rise of mail-order and telemedicine abortion pills” that increasingly bypass traditional medical safeguards.

She noted that the bill simply requires abortion providers to inform women that, should they suffer injury or death, they or their families may hold the manufacturer, distributor, health care provider, or facility accountable.

“The APPLE Act places no burdens on women seeking abortion,” Duran wrote. “It doesn’t ban abortion-inducing drugs or make them harder to obtain. Instead, it empowers women with truthful information and ensures they know their rights if something goes wrong.”

Randall K. O’Bannon, Ph.D., director of Education and Research for the National Right to Life Educational Trust Fund, also submitted written testimony detailing documented complications associated with mifepristone, the abortion pill.

Citing FDA reports and independent studies, Dr. O’Bannon testified that complications can occur in more than 10% of women who take the drugs, noting that women have experienced hemorrhage, infection, ruptured ectopic pregnancies, emergency room visits, and other serious complications.

“The APPLE Act doesn’t stop anyone from getting an abortion,” Dr. O’Bannon wrote. “But it does require that abortionists give them a complete and honest representation of the risks.” 

Dr. O’Bannon also noted that the bill, “simply asks whether you care more about the lives and health and safety of women and their unborn children or are more concerned with seeking the favor and fortune of the abortion industry.” 

In-person testimony underscored the real-life impact of chemical abortion complications.

Katie DeLand of Ohio Right to Life testified that deregulation of chemical abortion has coincided with increased use and documented adverse events, including severe bleeding, infection, undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies, and incomplete abortions requiring emergency care.

She emphasized that “women deserve full transparency about medical risks, particularly when those risks can be severe, permanent, or life-threatening.” 

Savannah Martin, testifying on behalf of Bella Vita Network and the Ohio Coalition of Pregnancy Centers, shared the story of a woman identified as “Rebecca,” who suffered life-threatening complications after being prescribed abortion pills beyond the legal gestational limit.

According to the testimony, Rebecca lost consciousness, required CPR, and was transported to a hospital where she underwent an emergency dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure.

Martin urged lawmakers to ensure women understand potential risks and know how to hold providers accountable if harm occurs.

Supporters of SB 309 argue that, regardless of one’s position on abortion, informed consent and consumer protection are principles that should apply to abortion-inducing drugs just as they do to any other medical product.

The Senate Health Committee took testimony but has not yet voted on the measure.

For copies of testimony or more information about National Right to Life’s model law, the Abortion Pill Provider Liability and Education Act, visit NRLC.org or contact the NRLC Communications Department at mediarelations@nrlc.org.

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.