BOSTON - Massachusetts Governor Maura T. Healey issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous rejection of a challenge to the Food and Drug Administration’s regulation of the medication abortion mifepristone. 

“Today the Supreme Court reaffirmed what we all know - that this reckless, political attack on women’s health and freedom had no place in federal court and that no one should be able to second guess the scientific expertise of the FDA. Mifepristone has been used safely and effectively for decades, and it must remain legal and accessible. But anti-abortion extremists will not stop their nationwide assault on reproductive rights, and Massachusetts will not stop doing everything in our power to protect access to reproductive health care, including mifepristone. That’s why I filed a brief with the Supreme Court urging this result and stockpiled this lifesaving medication. We will share more about the next steps for that supply soon.”

Last year, when access to mifepristone was threatened across the country, Governor Healey stockpiled 15,000 doses to ensure it remained accessible in Massachusetts and issued an Executive Order clarifying that state law protects access to mifepristone. The Healey-Driscoll administration also delivered $1 million to health care providers to purchase their own doses. The Governor also filed an amicus brief with the Reproductive Freedom Alliance urging the Supreme Court to protect the FDA’s longstanding authority and protect access to mifepristone.