Untitled Document

[00:15:16] Well, I want to thank everybody for [00:15:18] coming for this uh press conference on [00:15:21] the abortion drug methresstoneone. The [00:15:24] Supreme Court ended row, but the FDA is [00:15:27] allowing me preone to override state [00:15:30] pro-life laws. The Supreme Court's 2022 [00:15:33] decision in DOS overturned Roie Wade and [00:15:36] restored to the people and their elected [00:15:38] representatives the authority to set [00:15:41] public policy that protects unborn human [00:15:44] life. But in the in the months [00:15:46] surrounding that decision, dozens of [00:15:48] states moved to strengthen the [00:15:51] protections for the unborn with roughly [00:15:53] a dozen states, including my home state [00:15:55] of Louisiana, putting comprehensive [00:15:57] pro-life laws in place. And those laws [00:16:00] recognized as constitutionally [00:16:03] permissible under DOS have since been [00:16:06] effectively undermined by the FDA's [00:16:09] continuation of the Biden era policy [00:16:12] governing myth preone. I mean the [00:16:15] numbers tell the story. In 2024, an [00:16:17] estimated 1,50,660 [00:16:20] abortions were performed in the US [00:16:23] healthc care system. Legal abortions [00:16:25] including mythopressone abortions in [00:16:27] states where they remain permitted. But [00:16:29] in addition, the Society of Family [00:16:32] Planning estimates that at least 76,310 [00:16:35] abortions occurred through teleaalth [00:16:38] health prescriptions mailed into states [00:16:41] where unborn life is protected. That [00:16:45] brings the estimated total of abortions [00:16:47] in 2024 to roughly 1.1 million. And [00:16:51] these are just estimates. The true [00:16:53] numbers are likely higher. Further [00:16:55] evidence comes from the we count project [00:16:58] which estimates that by the end of 2023 [00:17:02] approximately 8,000 mythopressone [00:17:05] prescriptions per month nearly 100,000 [00:17:07] per year were being mailed from [00:17:10] pro-abortion providers in proabortion [00:17:13] states into pro-life states effectively [00:17:16] circumventing those state laws that were [00:17:18] recognized by DOS. Meanwhile, the FDA is [00:17:22] acknowledging that it's reviewing the [00:17:23] current rims for methapress stone, but [00:17:26] that review is now dragged on for [00:17:28] months. The time for bureaucratic delay [00:17:31] is over. It's time to respect the rights [00:17:34] of states to protect the unborn. The [00:17:37] American people can and should weigh in [00:17:39] on this, and they can make their voices [00:17:41] heard by texting life to 67742 [00:17:44] and signing the petition calling on the [00:17:47] FDA to act. I I'm holding this press [00:17:50] conference in part with uh coordination [00:17:53] with Senator Lindsey Graham of South [00:17:55] Carolina who has been very outspoken on [00:17:57] this. In fact, prior to Christmas led a [00:17:59] letter of 51 Republican senators calling [00:18:02] for the revoking of the approval of [00:18:04] Methress Stone. Senator Graham. [00:18:09] >> Um, worthy cause to those who wonder, [00:18:13] the pro-life cause is alive and well in [00:18:16] the Republican controlled House and [00:18:18] Senate. [00:18:20] And we're going to speak up and I've [00:18:23] been talking about killing people for [00:18:24] four days. I'm look forward to talking [00:18:27] about saving some lives here. Uh the [00:18:30] bottom line is intellectually if you [00:18:33] believe this is a state issue and it [00:18:35] doesn't have a place in the national [00:18:38] dialogue, I disagree with you. But let's [00:18:40] assume for a moment that's the right [00:18:42] model that the states can decide. Well, [00:18:46] here's the problem. The federal [00:18:47] government is allowing a chemical [00:18:50] abortion pill to be sent through the [00:18:52] mail that wipes out every state unborn [00:18:56] protection law in the land. [00:18:58] You can't have it both ways. You can't [00:19:01] say it should be a state issue and sit [00:19:03] on the sidelines while the federal [00:19:05] government through an agency is sending [00:19:08] the pill that undercuts everything [00:19:11] people at the state have worked for like [00:19:13] in my state. So get on with it here. You [00:19:17] can fix this by going back to the first [00:19:21] Trump policy. I think that fixes it [00:19:23] right. Let's do it. [00:19:26] the pro-life community is not asking too [00:19:29] much of Republican administrations in [00:19:33] Congress to [00:19:36] repeal the Biden policy. [00:19:39] I think that's why we got elected. So, I [00:19:42] it's time now, folks, to repeal the [00:19:45] Biden policy, a a Biden policy that [00:19:49] undercuts the state's rights approach [00:19:51] because the Biden policy would allow the [00:19:54] abortion pill to be sent through the [00:19:56] mail, regardless of what the state law [00:19:58] is, effectively destroying every [00:20:00] pro-life law in the country at the state [00:20:03] level. We can simply fix this if we have [00:20:08] the courage to do it. So, what are all [00:20:10] of us telling the administration? You've [00:20:12] been a great pro-life president, Mr. [00:20:14] President. It's now time to deal with [00:20:17] this issue. [00:20:21] Thank you, Senator Graham. Appreciate [00:20:22] your leadership on this. This is a [00:20:24] collective effort of House and Senate [00:20:28] pro-life leaders as well as the state [00:20:30] leaders. And this is the issue is the [00:20:32] states. And uh today I'm I'm grateful [00:20:34] that Louisiana Attorney General Liz [00:20:37] Merurl, who was a co-planifs [00:20:39] against the FDA for removing the [00:20:42] in-person dispensing requirement for [00:20:44] meth Presstone, is here. General Merurl. [00:20:48] >> Thank you, Tony. Uh, you know, I want to [00:20:51] I want to thank Senator Cassidy for um [00:20:54] his leadership in conducting the hearing [00:20:56] and the help committee this morning so [00:20:57] that we could talk about some of the [00:20:59] problems that have been created by the [00:21:01] Biden administration's [00:21:03] uh lessening of RIM's protocols. They [00:21:06] reduced those protocols to take away an [00:21:08] in-person physician requirement, [00:21:11] dispensing requirement, and then and [00:21:13] then they they did that specifically [00:21:15] with the avowed purpose of of [00:21:18] facilitating and encouraging people to [00:21:20] send those pills by mail um even to [00:21:22] states where it is illegal. And so what [00:21:25] they did was violate federal law with [00:21:28] the purpose of facilitating people to [00:21:30] come out and violate our state laws [00:21:33] because they disagree with the political [00:21:35] preferences that our state elected to [00:21:37] enact through our dulyeleed [00:21:38] representatives and our legislature on [00:21:40] the issue of abortion. And I would I [00:21:43] would like to emphasize that in [00:21:44] Louisiana, this is a bipartisan issue. [00:21:46] Our laws are overwhelmingly [00:21:49] voted for and adopted and led by [00:21:53] bipartisan coalitions and frequently by [00:21:56] Democrats, female Democrats um who lead [00:22:00] on this issue because they are devoted [00:22:02] to protecting life and protecting women [00:22:05] in all the ways and supporting their [00:22:07] choice uh to to be able to have their [00:22:10] babies and not be coerced into [00:22:11] abortions. um Rosalie Marazich who is uh [00:22:15] one of the cases um in Louisiana. We is [00:22:18] we issued an indictment a few days ago [00:22:21] against the doctor in California, Remy [00:22:24] Koto, who sent the prescriptions that [00:22:27] were used to coers Rosalie in uh in her [00:22:30] abortion. We have the other doctor that [00:22:33] we've indicted through district West [00:22:35] Baton Rouge District Attorney Tony [00:22:37] Clayton who is also a Democrat uh [00:22:40] involved a mother who coerced her [00:22:41] 16-year-old daughter to have an [00:22:43] abortion. Um and in that case there was [00:22:45] a documented history of severe physical [00:22:48] abuse from the mother against the [00:22:50] daughter. These are not uh unique cases. [00:22:53] They're not madeup cases. Um, this this [00:22:56] hearing that that Senator Cassidy [00:22:58] conducted today, despite the efforts of [00:23:00] the Democrats to change the subject and [00:23:02] make this about some kind of national [00:23:04] abortion ban, is not about a national [00:23:06] abortion ban. It's about validating jobs [00:23:09] and and preventing other states from [00:23:11] nullifying the legislative policy [00:23:14] choices that have been made by our [00:23:15] states and and and facilitating the [00:23:18] illegal, unethical, and dangerous drug [00:23:22] trafficking of abortion pills into our [00:23:24] states without any medical oversight [00:23:27] whatsoever. Anybody can get these pills [00:23:30] on the internet. They don't check. [00:23:32] There's no verification and there's no [00:23:34] human contact. I don't know of any state [00:23:36] where that is ethical medical conduct [00:23:38] and it's illegal in many of our states [00:23:41] and we will continue to pursue this. We [00:23:43] will continue to try and hold the people [00:23:46] responsible, all of the people [00:23:47] responsible who are facilitating the [00:23:49] nullification of our laws. And I want to [00:23:51] thank all of the people who are standing [00:23:53] behind me for continuing to advance and [00:23:55] to encourage HHS to quickly revoke the [00:23:58] rule that is helping to facilitate this [00:24:01] kind of illegal conduct. [00:24:04] Thank you. General [00:24:07] predominantly it is Republican states [00:24:09] that have these pro-life laws protecting [00:24:12] the unborn and they're the ones that are [00:24:15] being undermined by this Republican [00:24:17] administration and this policy and it [00:24:19] does need to change. Senator James [00:24:21] Langford has asked the EPA to actually [00:24:24] investigate the environmental risk of [00:24:26] mephresstone. He comes from another [00:24:28] pro-life state of Oklahoma. Senator [00:24:29] Langford, [00:24:32] >> Tony, thanks for your leadership on this [00:24:33] and for all of you that came out today [00:24:34] to be able to speak out and for all of [00:24:36] you that came out. [00:24:39] We just believe children are valuable. [00:24:42] I think life is beautiful. [00:24:46] Every single child is valuable. I I [00:24:47] don't see one child that's disposable [00:24:50] and one child that's valuable. I believe [00:24:52] all children are valuable. That's the [00:24:54] passion that we have in Oklahoma to be [00:24:56] able to speak out on and to say, "Let us [00:24:58] honor kids and be able to honor every [00:25:00] single child." But what's happening [00:25:03] right now on the national level is [00:25:04] abortion drugs are being mailed into my [00:25:07] state to go around state law to [00:25:09] facilitate the death of children in my [00:25:11] state. It's not unethical for us to be [00:25:14] able to stand out and speak out and to [00:25:15] say we want children to be honored and [00:25:18] valued, to be welcomed into the world, [00:25:20] but to also be respected in this process [00:25:22] as well. [00:25:24] So, we're speaking out on this. We are [00:25:26] challenging HHS and we're challenging [00:25:27] the administration to do what the [00:25:29] administration did during their first [00:25:30] term. That was to say, you've got to [00:25:33] have a doctor's appointment to be able [00:25:35] to get access to this drug. This drug, [00:25:37] contrary to how the abortionists talk [00:25:39] about, is not as safe as Tylenol. I hear [00:25:41] that myth all the time thrown around. [00:25:43] Well, these drugs are as safe as [00:25:44] Tylenol. They're as safe as Tylenol. Let [00:25:45] me make this very clear. If you use [00:25:48] mephiprristone [00:25:50] according to label and use Tylenol [00:25:53] according to label, there is an 8,000% [00:25:58] chance difference that you will end up [00:26:01] in the emergency room using mephristone [00:26:04] according to label and using Tylenol [00:26:07] according to label. 8,000% [00:26:10] higher risk using mephristone. This is [00:26:13] not as safe as Tylenol. This is a drug [00:26:16] that takes the life of every child. So [00:26:19] there is always a death that's involved [00:26:21] in this drug, but is also incredibly [00:26:23] dangerous for the mom as well. We think [00:26:27] that should require a doctor to be able [00:26:29] to connect with to be able to get access [00:26:31] to this drug. And in my state, we're [00:26:33] going to just say all children are [00:26:35] valuable as well in the process. So [00:26:37] we're speaking out on this, challenging [00:26:39] the administration. We're challenging [00:26:41] HHS and FDA to live up to our values. [00:26:44] And if we're going to have states, the [00:26:46] ability for states to make decision, [00:26:47] which is the what the Supreme Court has [00:26:49] said, allow the states to be able to [00:26:51] make the decisions from there to be able [00:26:53] to honor and value every single child. [00:26:54] Tony, thanks for your leadership in [00:26:56] this. [00:26:57] >> Thank you, Senator Langford. Appreciate [00:26:59] your consistency and courage on this [00:27:01] issue. Uh I also want to recognize and [00:27:04] thank Senator Bill Cassidy from my home [00:27:06] state of Louisiana. I've known Senator [00:27:08] Cassie since he was a teaching doctor at [00:27:10] our public health system, but he as [00:27:12] chairman of the health help committee, [00:27:14] he has uh put a spotlight on this and [00:27:17] I'm grateful for the hearing he had [00:27:18] today drawing attention to the need for [00:27:21] the change in the policy. Senator [00:27:22] Cassidy, Tony, [00:27:27] >> Tony mentioned that I'm a doctor and [00:27:29] what I found is that people are trying [00:27:32] to make this clinical. clinical in a way [00:27:34] that is bad because they're trying to [00:27:38] pretend as Senator Langford said that [00:27:40] this is no different than a Tylenol. No, [00:27:43] our hearing today was to inform people [00:27:46] this is quite different than Tylenol. [00:27:48] Aside from the child that dies, there is [00:27:50] a risk of complications of the mother's [00:27:53] part that that the complications which [00:27:55] can be severe. Particularly the fact [00:27:58] that the pill is being prescribed to [00:28:02] women who are beyond the 10-year limit [00:28:05] as to when it should be taken. Women are [00:28:08] taking this in the 20th week of their [00:28:10] pregnancy and they're not supposed to [00:28:11] take it after the 10th week in their [00:28:13] pregnancy. And so that brings me to the [00:28:15] next point. As a doctor, I think it's [00:28:19] essential that there be human contact [00:28:22] between before the pill is prescribed, [00:28:24] that the doctor have a chance to speak [00:28:26] to the woman and make sure that she [00:28:28] understands that this is an abortion. [00:28:30] She's going to lose her child because [00:28:32] some women, frankly, under pressure [00:28:35] don't quite comprehend what that means. [00:28:37] That there are potential complications. [00:28:39] Uh but also to make sure that she's not [00:28:42] being coerced. And that'll bring me to [00:28:45] my third point. We have to treat folks [00:28:47] like humans. Right now, you're going to [00:28:51] hear that that women are being literally [00:28:53] coerced to take this. Liz Murrell did a [00:28:56] great job in the hearing speaking about [00:28:58] folks um uh who are being coerced. I [00:29:02] talked to Tony Clayton last night, the [00:29:04] prosecuting attorney in Point Cape [00:29:06] Parish of of a of a young girl 16 years [00:29:11] old who is going to have a gender reveal [00:29:14] party and instead her mother forced her [00:29:17] to take this pill. Now, think about [00:29:20] that. Think about the humanity of this [00:29:23] situation. I can't put it as well as [00:29:25] Tony, but we can all comprehend that you [00:29:28] go from a gender reveal to a child born [00:29:31] in the toilet. [00:29:37] We have a need to inform our fellow [00:29:39] citizens to go back to that in-person [00:29:42] visit. And I join the the call, if you [00:29:45] will, for Commissioner McCari and HHS [00:29:47] Secretary uh Kennedy to mandate that [00:29:50] once more. Why? because the humanity of [00:29:53] so many people depend upon it. Thanks, [00:29:55] Tony. [00:29:57] >> Thank you, Senator. I appreciate your [00:29:59] persistence on this. We have two House [00:30:02] members joining us uh today. This was [00:30:04] primarily focused on the Senate, but the [00:30:06] House has been advocating for the policy [00:30:10] to be changed as well. Congressman Chip [00:30:12] Roy of Texas, Congressman Marlon Stzman [00:30:14] of Indiana, both have signed a letter to [00:30:16] the EPA requesting an investigation into [00:30:18] the environmental impact of methresstone [00:30:21] and called for the review of Mephres to [00:30:24] be expedited. So, first um Congressman [00:30:27] Chip Roy and Marlon Stzman. [00:30:32] >> Well, thanks Tony. I want to thank uh [00:30:34] the family research council and Tony in [00:30:36] particular for putting this together. [00:30:37] and I find myself here serving a bit of [00:30:40] as a bridge between our friends as [00:30:42] attorneys general and those that are [00:30:43] serving in Congress as I seek to go back [00:30:46] to Texas. But many of you may not know I [00:30:48] served as the first assistant attorney [00:30:50] general about a decade ago in Texas. And [00:30:53] I bring that up because during that time [00:30:56] when I was serving as first assistant [00:30:57] working with Attorney General Paxton, we [00:31:00] were dealing with the grotesque Planned [00:31:03] Parenthood procedures that had come to [00:31:05] light with the videos that had become to [00:31:08] our attention. And my office and the [00:31:11] office that we worked with poured over [00:31:13] all of those videos, looking at what we [00:31:16] were learning about what was actually [00:31:18] happening in Planned Parenthood. many of [00:31:19] the things many of us knew about but now [00:31:22] had a glimpse into firsthand at those [00:31:26] grotesque procedures. Now over the last [00:31:28] decade we have worked tirelessly in the [00:31:31] offices of attorney general in Congress [00:31:34] as Republicans to stop those grotesque [00:31:36] procedures to stop taxpayer funding of [00:31:39] Planned Parenthood or any of the [00:31:41] entities that are carrying out these [00:31:43] procedures because of how horrible they [00:31:45] are for life and for the mothers. But [00:31:48] now we find ourselves facing an entirely [00:31:51] different grotesque procedure. And that [00:31:55] is the shipment of drugs that are [00:31:57] causing these young young women who we [00:31:59] were seeking to protect by getting [00:32:01] Planned Parenthood out of this business [00:32:05] that are now dealing with the grotesque [00:32:07] reality of losing life in their college [00:32:10] dorm room or in an apartment like all [00:32:14] alone [00:32:16] without any of the [00:32:19] doctors or the conversations that some [00:32:21] of my colleagues have been talking about [00:32:22] here intervening. So that these young [00:32:25] women know what's happening to their [00:32:26] bodies and to the lives that are being [00:32:29] every bit as extinguished [00:32:32] via a pill, via mail order across state [00:32:35] lines as through the grotesque [00:32:38] procedures that we have come to learn [00:32:41] about over the years carried out by [00:32:43] Planned Parenthood. So, I stand here in [00:32:46] solidarity with my colleagues in defense [00:32:48] of life in recognition that we can [00:32:51] celebrate what we've been doing and [00:32:53] defunding Planned Parenthood and pulling [00:32:55] their power away, but in recognition [00:32:58] that we have as many abortions and more [00:33:01] occurring by virtue of mail order pills [00:33:03] today than we had pre-dobs. [00:33:07] So, we must look ourselves in the mirror [00:33:09] and ask whether we're doing what we need [00:33:11] to do to secure life. And so we're [00:33:13] calling on the administration to act. [00:33:15] We're calling on Congress to continue to [00:33:17] act. I was proud to introduce [00:33:19] legislation all the way back in 2021, [00:33:21] the Protect Life on College Campuses Act [00:33:24] to deal with just this issue and say [00:33:25] that we should pull funding from [00:33:27] colleges that are distributing these [00:33:28] bills. We need to stand unified. I stand [00:33:31] together with these great patriots in [00:33:33] defense of life. And this is something [00:33:36] we've got to carry forward if we're [00:33:37] going to be serious about protecting [00:33:38] every life in America. Thanks, Tony. [00:33:43] Hi, Congressman Marlon Stman. I just [00:33:45] want to say thanks to to Tony and Family [00:33:47] Research Council for organizing this [00:33:49] event. I know I'm a House member on the [00:33:50] Senate side, so I want to stick by the [00:33:52] House rules and only take a minute, but [00:33:54] uh anyway, you know, I know this [00:33:55] incredible lady uh back in who lived in [00:33:58] Michigan at the time, and she was 17 [00:34:01] years old. Uh she was a pastor's [00:34:02] daughter, and she found herself in an [00:34:04] unexpected pregnancy. She took about two [00:34:07] months to try to get to an abortion [00:34:08] clinic up in Calamazoo, Michigan, and [00:34:10] never found her way there. But if she [00:34:12] had ever been able to find a pill to be [00:34:14] mailed to her, who knows what my mom [00:34:16] would have done. Um, you know, so young [00:34:19] ladies across the country find [00:34:20] themselves in these very difficult [00:34:22] circumstances. And uh, and I know and [00:34:24] I'm thankful to God that uh, there [00:34:26] wasn't a car ride to Calamazoo, but I'm [00:34:27] also very grateful there wasn't a pill [00:34:29] that could have been sent through the [00:34:30] mail. And I think that's why this is [00:34:32] such an important issue because it is [00:34:34] something that could be done so [00:34:35] discreetly and silently without really [00:34:38] people that can come around a young girl [00:34:41] like my mom my grandmother did and and [00:34:43] loved on my mom and said you know what [00:34:45] we're going to get through this. So [00:34:46] that's why this is more than just about [00:34:48] u you know the the government here. This [00:34:50] is about people in real lives and we [00:34:52] need to make sure that our government is [00:34:53] standing for life and for those uh young [00:34:56] people out there, people that find [00:34:58] themselves in a very difficult [00:34:59] situation. And many times it is easier [00:35:01] to ship alcohol or harder, I'm sorry, [00:35:03] it's harder to ship alcohol in this [00:35:05] country than it is to ship the abortion [00:35:06] pill. And that's that should never be [00:35:08] the case. So, thank you again to many of [00:35:10] those who are here. I appreciate uh uh [00:35:12] National Association of Christian [00:35:14] Lawmakers. Appreciate Pastor uh Lorenzo [00:35:16] Su here. We need people in all faith [00:35:18] backgrounds to be standing for uh in [00:35:21] this this particular issue, making sure [00:35:23] that our government is doing the right [00:35:25] thing and that we're surrounding people [00:35:26] with love and making sure that we stand [00:35:28] for life. So, thanks again, Tony. [00:35:32] >> An amazing story. If you've not heard [00:35:34] his complete story, I would encourage [00:35:35] you to uh to find it. [00:35:39] When someone is criticized for their [00:35:41] pro-life position, that is a friend of [00:35:43] mine. And Senator Josh Josh Holly has [00:35:45] been criticized for being outspoken in [00:35:47] protecting the unborn. And I'm grateful [00:35:49] that he has been dogged in questioning [00:35:53] Trump administration nominees on [00:35:55] methresstone and has continued to demand [00:35:59] safeguards be put in place. Uh Senator [00:36:01] Holly, [00:36:04] >> thank you very much Tony. It's a [00:36:05] privilege to be here. Thanks to all of [00:36:06] you for being here. Here's the simple [00:36:08] fact. There are more abortions committed [00:36:11] today in the United States than when Row [00:36:13] versus Wade was the law of the land. Let [00:36:16] that sink in. There are more abortions [00:36:18] today in the United States than when Row [00:36:20] versus Wade was the law of the land. And [00:36:22] why is that? It's because of the [00:36:23] chemical abortion drug methreone. Nearly [00:36:26] 70% of the abortions that are committed [00:36:29] in the United States today are committed [00:36:31] because of methopressone. [00:36:33] That's just the fact of the matter. And [00:36:35] the question is, will anything that the [00:36:37] American people do have any effect? Do [00:36:40] the American people have any right to [00:36:42] protect life in their states, in their [00:36:43] localities, nationally? Because what the [00:36:46] Biden administration said is no. The [00:36:48] Biden administration said, "We don't [00:36:50] care what your state laws are. We're [00:36:51] going to allow abortion doctors and for [00:36:54] that matter non-d doctors for that [00:36:56] matter we don't know who from overseas [00:36:58] to mail in this abortion drug to every [00:37:01] single jurisdiction in the United States [00:37:04] of America. And when I say overseas, I [00:37:06] mean overseas. You can go on right now, [00:37:08] check me. You can log on and click on [00:37:11] sites that are not based in the United [00:37:13] States. They're hosted in India. They're [00:37:15] hosted in other foreign countries. You [00:37:16] can click for the pill and get it sent [00:37:18] to you. the chemical abortion drug [00:37:20] methyl preone. You can get it sent to [00:37:22] you with no doctor visit, no oversight, [00:37:26] no follow-up, no nothing. Why is that a [00:37:28] problem? Well, besides the fact that it [00:37:30] is lethal to the baby in almost every [00:37:32] single instance, there's also the fact [00:37:34] of the matter that fully 11% of women, [00:37:36] more than one in 10 who take this drug [00:37:39] without any sort of doctor aid end up in [00:37:42] a serious adverse health event. That's [00:37:44] the medical term for in a lot of [00:37:46] trouble. In a lot of trouble. Like what? [00:37:48] like hemorrhaging, [00:37:50] like sepsis, like life-threatening [00:37:53] conditions. And the really egregious [00:37:55] thing is the rate of incidence of [00:37:58] adverse medical events, the rate of [00:37:59] incidence of medical harm to women is 22 [00:38:03] times greater than the FDA says on its [00:38:06] label, 22 times. So, not only is this [00:38:09] pill, is this drug available in every [00:38:11] state, in every city, in every locality, [00:38:13] no matter what the voters of the country [00:38:15] say, no matter what the do's opinion [00:38:17] says, but also every woman is being lied [00:38:20] to when you look at the label that says, [00:38:23] "Oh, it's relatively safe. Only one half [00:38:25] of 1% experience any events." It's not [00:38:27] true. It's just not true. And what we're [00:38:31] here today to do is to say it's time to [00:38:34] stand up and protect women. And it's [00:38:36] time to vindicate the principle on which [00:38:38] this country is founded, which is that [00:38:40] every life has value. That we are all [00:38:43] created equal in the image of God. That [00:38:45] our rights come from God, not from some [00:38:47] government. And we want to vindicate [00:38:48] that principle. We want to protect life. [00:38:50] And we want to give voice to the [00:38:52] American people and their right to [00:38:54] protect life state by state, city by [00:38:56] city, and yes, here in the United States [00:38:58] Congress. That's what this fight is [00:38:59] about. I'm proud that Republicans are [00:39:01] standing up for this fight. It's what [00:39:02] the party really is founded on. This is [00:39:05] a party that came to birth in the fight [00:39:08] over whether or not a human being's life [00:39:10] could be taken and destroyed. That was [00:39:13] slavery in the 1860s. [00:39:15] The same moral principle is at issue [00:39:18] today. Is a life valuable? Does it have [00:39:21] inherent meaning? Does it have inherent [00:39:23] worth because of the image of God? Our [00:39:25] party is founded on that principle. And [00:39:28] we want to vindicate it. We want to [00:39:30] protect it. We want to see it made real [00:39:32] in the 21st century. That's what we're [00:39:34] here to do today. I want to say thank [00:39:35] you to these attorneys general behind me [00:39:37] who are really fighting the good fight, [00:39:39] going to court, standing up for their [00:39:41] state's laws, standing up for their [00:39:42] voters, standing up for the democratic [00:39:44] process, and above all for life. And [00:39:46] thank you as always to the Family [00:39:47] Research Council and Tony for his [00:39:49] terrific leadership on this. I hope that [00:39:50] this will be a breakthrough year when it [00:39:52] comes to protecting life in the United [00:39:54] States of America. Thanks for having us [00:39:56] today. [00:39:58] >> Thank you, Senator. I I want to echo the [00:40:01] the role that the state attorneys [00:40:03] generals have played. I mean, if you [00:40:05] think about it for a moment, uh we've [00:40:06] heard a lot in the last couple of months [00:40:08] about drugs being brought into our [00:40:10] country, deadly drugs, and the [00:40:12] extraordinary actions that have been [00:40:13] taken to keep those drugs out of our [00:40:15] country because they take lives. The [00:40:18] attorneys general, they're not blowing [00:40:19] up boats, but they're trying to keep the [00:40:21] male from carrying in deadly drugs that [00:40:25] will take the lives of unborn children. [00:40:28] They're on the front lines trying to [00:40:30] protect their states, the integrity of [00:40:33] state laws, the unborn, and the women [00:40:35] who live in those states. And one of [00:40:37] those state attorneys general is Dave [00:40:39] Yos from Ohio in 2023. He warned not to [00:40:44] sell merestoneone in his state. And he [00:40:47] has consistently joined other Republican [00:40:49] attorneys general in trying to stop the [00:40:52] FDA's policy. General [00:40:57] Thank you, Tony. Um, Senator Holly has [00:41:01] just outlined the theory and the law [00:41:05] very well, and uh, I care about those [00:41:07] things. Thank you, Josh. You haven't [00:41:10] lost it, even though you're in the [00:41:12] Senate, former attorney general. Um, but [00:41:16] I want to say that this is a lot more [00:41:18] than just theory. This is not just [00:41:20] theoretical. [00:41:22] As recently as the Obama administration, [00:41:25] the administration of these drugs there, [00:41:29] it's a two drug protocol. You had to go [00:41:31] to the doctor for the first one. Then [00:41:34] you had a followup for the second one [00:41:36] several days later, and then you had a [00:41:37] follow-up visit 14 days after that to [00:41:40] look for complications that are actually [00:41:43] known and on the label. The Obama [00:41:45] administration pretty much unilaterally [00:41:48] did away with those pro protections [00:41:50] along with some others uh in favor of [00:41:53] this mail order uh regime. [00:41:58] Let me tell you a story that happened in [00:42:01] Ohio, my state. A surgical resident, [00:42:04] this is a doctor in Toledo, [00:42:07] was having an affair with a a woman, [00:42:10] consensual affair. She became pregnant. [00:42:13] She did not want to have an abortion [00:42:15] even though that's what he wanted. He [00:42:17] was not ready to become a father or [00:42:19] accept the consequences of his own [00:42:21] actions. And when she was unwilling to [00:42:24] cooperate with his desire not to become [00:42:27] a father, [00:42:30] he obtained male order mythopresstoone [00:42:34] and while she was sleeping [00:42:38] forced her put it in her mouth forcibly. [00:42:42] When she woke up and began to struggle, [00:42:46] he used his superior strength to [00:42:49] complete the act. [00:42:51] She presented at the ER with symptoms [00:42:54] consistent with uh a miscarriage with an [00:42:57] abortion. [00:42:59] I'm pleased to report that we went to [00:43:02] the medical board and this man's license [00:43:04] is suspended uh and that the Lucas [00:43:07] County Grand Jury uh outside Cleo has [00:43:12] indicted him on felony offenses. [00:43:16] But if the common sense regime of [00:43:19] safeguards that had been in place all [00:43:22] the way through the Obama administration [00:43:25] had been in place, this woman would [00:43:28] never have been assaulted. This [00:43:31] horrendous act of violence would never [00:43:34] have occurred. [00:43:36] Senator Kennedy, excuse me, Secretary [00:43:39] Kennedy, you promised me in April last [00:43:42] year that you were going to do a [00:43:44] thorough and quick review of this issue. [00:43:49] We're coming up on a year. [00:43:52] I ask you to expedite this thing and [00:43:55] live up to your promise. If you can't [00:43:57] announce a change and an update, at [00:44:01] least give us an update on your process. [00:44:03] Where is this going and when will we [00:44:05] hear something? [00:44:07] Thank you. [00:44:11] >> Thank you, General. Uh, our House [00:44:13] members, they have called votes, so [00:44:15] they're going to be heading back to the [00:44:16] House. But speaking of legislators, [00:44:19] state legislators, as a former state [00:44:21] legislator that authored a number of [00:44:23] pro-life laws, we were repeatedly told [00:44:26] you you got to worry about the court [00:44:28] navigating court decisions. [00:44:31] Well, the court has ruled that the legis [00:44:34] state legislatures can protect laws. [00:44:36] Now, state legislators are trying to [00:44:39] navigate a Republican administration. [00:44:42] Jason Rapert is a retired state senator [00:44:45] from Arkansas, and he's the founder and [00:44:47] president of the National Association of [00:44:49] Christian Lawmakers. NACL has members, [00:44:52] elected officials in all 50 states, and [00:44:55] the sanctity of life is among uh NACL's [00:44:59] top priorities. Jason. [00:45:01] >> Thank you, Tony. [00:45:03] >> Again, I'm Jason Rapert and I'm honored [00:45:06] to be the founder and president of the [00:45:07] National Association of Christian [00:45:09] Lawmakers. We appreciate FRC and the [00:45:11] leadership of Tony Perkins and bringing [00:45:13] this press conference together and also [00:45:16] the leadership of the Senate, especially [00:45:17] Senator Graham, and appreciate all of [00:45:20] the pro-life groups around the country. [00:45:22] This is a moment where we have to stand [00:45:24] strong. [00:45:25] I will not plow the same ground that's [00:45:27] already been plowed here with the [00:45:28] statistics. you know the statistics. The [00:45:31] reality is that state legislators, local [00:45:35] officials, and federal officials around [00:45:37] the country have worked decades to save [00:45:39] life in this country. As Tony Perkins [00:45:42] stated, the NACL, one of the very first [00:45:44] issues that we took a stand on was the [00:45:47] right to life. I personally carried the [00:45:49] very first heartbeat bill that was [00:45:51] passed in the country March the 6, 2013 [00:45:53] in the state of Arkansas. I later [00:45:55] carried the abortion trigger ban bill in [00:45:58] 2019 that was triggered in 22 when the [00:46:01] doms decision was announced in South [00:46:04] Carolina. Senator Graham's home state, [00:46:06] Representative John McCravy is our chair [00:46:08] in South Carolina. He carried the [00:46:09] heartbeat bill there. Our friends from [00:46:11] Texas is Senator Brian Hughes carried [00:46:14] that successful Texas heartbeat bill. [00:46:17] State after state has taken a stand to [00:46:20] say that we want to protect babies's [00:46:22] lives. In Arkansas, [00:46:24] we have a law in place that says there's [00:46:27] no legal abortion except to save the [00:46:29] life of a mother in a medical emergency. [00:46:32] Guess what? The fact that the [00:46:35] administration is not addressing [00:46:36] methopristone and allowing the continual [00:46:39] what I call drug trafficking of [00:46:41] mephristone across state lines, it's [00:46:44] undermining the will of the Arkansas [00:46:46] people and the state legislatores to [00:46:48] protect life. This is something that [00:46:51] must be addressed. Again, I want you to [00:46:54] know that the NACL through our members [00:46:56] in all 50 states, the 41 states where we [00:46:59] have elected officials that serve as [00:47:00] state chairs, Congressman Stzman, which [00:47:03] is our US House chair, we are committed [00:47:05] to continue to fight this battle to [00:47:07] protect life. I leave you with a real a [00:47:10] real thought here just to put a pinpoint [00:47:13] on what this means. I'm a father of two [00:47:16] daughters. I'm about to have my first [00:47:17] grandson in March. And I want to tell [00:47:20] you something. The idea that elected [00:47:23] officials and health officials would [00:47:26] allow Methopristone to be trafficked [00:47:29] through the mail and a teenage mother [00:47:32] somewhere takes a pill and she is alone [00:47:36] and she begins to have complications [00:47:40] and ends up it's going to end up in two [00:47:41] ways. If she survives that and her [00:47:45] complications don't hurt her, which by [00:47:47] the way, we've seen the statistics, it [00:47:48] hurts many young women, even many [00:47:50] deaths. What we do know is that fetal [00:47:53] remains are being flushed down toilets [00:47:56] going into water systems all over the [00:47:58] United States of America. [00:48:02] Why are we not addressing this? [00:48:04] Why are we not respecting laws in the [00:48:06] states that have uh uh laws to to [00:48:10] protect the uh dispensing of fetal [00:48:13] remains? We even have laws on the book [00:48:15] that talks about abuses of corpse. Why [00:48:18] are we allowing a system that literally [00:48:20] would say you just do whatever you want [00:48:23] to do with the remains of a little baby [00:48:25] that has life? The NACL believes that [00:48:29] the Bible's clear. It says when you [00:48:31] choose life, you will be blessed. When [00:48:34] you choose death, you will be cursed. [00:48:36] That's in Deuteronomy. And I can assure [00:48:38] you right now that we across the [00:48:41] country, many pro-life people that [00:48:43] supported President Donald Trump in this [00:48:45] administration, we need you to hear our [00:48:48] voice. We want you to respect the laws [00:48:50] of the states and to make a decision to [00:48:53] take methristone off the table as a [00:48:56] mailorder drug. We're committed to this [00:48:58] battle. We thank you, Tony, for what [00:48:59] you've done to stand here today. [00:49:03] Thank you, Jason. I appreciate you [00:49:05] coming today. Victoria Cobb is the [00:49:07] president of the Family Foundation of [00:49:09] Virginia and she's a board member of the [00:49:12] Family Policy Alliance, which is an [00:49:14] important organization. It's an alliance [00:49:16] of 40 state organizations collectively [00:49:19] representing over 50,000 churches and [00:49:22] millions of Christian voters around the [00:49:24] country. And again, this is an issue [00:49:28] that is at the center of the mission of [00:49:31] the family policy alliance. Victoria, [00:49:35] >> thank you so much, Tony, for putting [00:49:36] this together. And uh to our senators [00:49:38] and house members that are standing for [00:49:40] this, we are so grateful. This isn't [00:49:42] about uh ideology. It's not about [00:49:45] statistics. It's about saving lives. uh [00:49:48] Amber Thurman, Ayola Dixon, and these [00:49:52] are women who have died from sepsis and [00:49:55] other complications from this chemical [00:49:57] abortion pill that would not have died [00:50:00] if the FDA were functioning under the [00:50:02] pre Biden era uh regime around these [00:50:06] drugs. And we're asking to have that [00:50:08] returned, to have President Trump and [00:50:10] his administration be able to be part of [00:50:14] going back to a situation before we had [00:50:16] an overly zealous pro-abortion [00:50:19] administration rush things through [00:50:21] without safety in mind. Specifically, I [00:50:25] also want to mention another name, [00:50:27] Lyanna Davies. This is a woman who [00:50:30] didn't die, but thank heavens because [00:50:33] her boyfriend spiked her her hot [00:50:35] chocolate with a chemical abortion drug. [00:50:39] That can't happen unless it is easily [00:50:41] available and legally attainable by a [00:50:44] male who isn't even the patient. [00:50:46] This is the kind of safety situation [00:50:48] that we have going on because they have [00:50:51] removed the doctor contact ahead of [00:50:54] time. They've put it through the mail [00:50:56] and things like ultrasounds are not [00:50:58] happening. As a woman who thankfully [00:51:01] survived an undetected ectopic [00:51:03] pregnancy, I can tell you what would [00:51:05] have happened if I had decided to take [00:51:08] an abortion drug. When you think that [00:51:10] that pregnancy has been terminated, but [00:51:12] it has not. And that pregnancy, that [00:51:15] child exists outside of your uterus, [00:51:18] your fallopian tube will burst and you [00:51:20] will die. without those kind of cautions [00:51:24] going those kind of evaluations for [00:51:27] women before they simply take a pill [00:51:30] they're being told is like Tylenol and I [00:51:32] just want to remind folks of what some [00:51:34] of what Senator Holly said. So if you [00:51:36] remember the the mythopristrene own [00:51:38] labeling says three to 5% complications. [00:51:41] But now we've had time from 2017 to 2023 [00:51:44] we have gone through the insurance data [00:51:47] that tells us about each of the [00:51:49] situations where these chemical [00:51:50] abortions have been taken. And out of [00:51:52] over 800,000 pieces of information [00:51:56] around women who have taken this [00:51:57] chemical abortion, we had 94,000 end up [00:52:00] with severe complications. He mentioned [00:52:01] it. That's more than one in 10. And that [00:52:04] is a 22% inaccuracy that is on that [00:52:08] label. We've got to tell women the [00:52:10] truth. They deserve the truth when they [00:52:13] make these kind of decisions. They may [00:52:14] make a decision I might not make, but [00:52:15] they deserve the truth for their own [00:52:18] safety. And I just want to get to the [00:52:19] states rights issue that is mentioned [00:52:21] here. And I want to come from a [00:52:22] perspective that's a little bit [00:52:23] different. So as you as uh Tony [00:52:25] mentioned, the family policy alliance [00:52:27] represents uh organizations in all the [00:52:30] states. So, of course, there's red [00:52:32] states and blue states, different [00:52:33] ideologies around human life. I come [00:52:35] from Virginia. Our state, as we sit here [00:52:39] in this moment, our legislature is [00:52:41] pushing forward a state constitutional [00:52:43] amendment. And in that constitutional [00:52:45] amendment, which will go to our people [00:52:46] in November, and should they agree to [00:52:48] this, we actually are putting words into [00:52:51] our constitution that protect medical [00:52:53] providers [00:52:54] in case another state, like you heard [00:52:56] these attorney generals want to [00:52:58] interfere and say, "Hey, these medical [00:53:01] providers are actually from Virginia. [00:53:02] They want to ship drugs into other [00:53:04] states. They want to make Virginia a [00:53:05] safe haven where they can illegally [00:53:07] practice medicine in other states." [00:53:08] That's what it is when you ship a drug [00:53:10] into a state that says this is not [00:53:11] legal. and [snorts] we're putting it [00:53:13] into our constitution to protect them. [00:53:16] It's not fair that states that are more [00:53:18] safety-minded and choose to protect [00:53:21] women and unborn babies could be harmed [00:53:23] by the Constitution of Virginia. I'm [00:53:26] devastated that's that's the direction [00:53:28] our Commonwealth is going and we're [00:53:30] going to do everything we can to stop [00:53:31] that. But that is why it is wrong to [00:53:36] have mailordered drugs and to not abide [00:53:41] by states rights. Dobs was clear when we [00:53:44] overturned row. The court said this is a [00:53:45] state's issue. No matter how you feel [00:53:47] about that, that is what is the current [00:53:50] uh makeup of the legal situation. And so [00:53:52] states that want to protect human lives [00:53:55] need to be able to do that. So we're [00:53:57] asking the FDA [00:53:59] speed up this review. Let's go back to [00:54:02] physician contact with a woman and [00:54:04] evaluation before she considers taking a [00:54:07] chemical abortion drug that is 22% more [00:54:10] harmful than the labels say. Let's go [00:54:13] back to ultrasounds and let's get rid of [00:54:15] maleordered drugs that are harming women [00:54:18] across our commonwealth. Thank you. [00:54:22] >> Thank you, Victoria. And as you can see, [00:54:24] most of our members have left. If you [00:54:25] have any questions for Lindsey Graham, [00:54:27] I'll take those and tweet them out. Uh [00:54:30] but if you have any questions, be happy [00:54:31] to take any questions you might have. [00:54:34] >> Yes. [00:54:38] >> And I want to ask you next week for [00:54:42] life. There's a lot of activity on the [00:54:46] hill just related to life issues ahead [00:54:48] of [00:54:55] that next week. you know what was in [00:54:59] >> well it would be great to get an [00:55:01] announcement that the FDA has completed [00:55:04] their review and they've acknowledged [00:55:06] the dangers of methopressone and they [00:55:08] are revising the rims. Uh there's no [00:55:11] indication that that's coming. Would be [00:55:13] happy to to see that. I think the the [00:55:16] the message here today and the reason [00:55:17] we're doing this press conference uh and [00:55:19] you're hearing from house members uh [00:55:22] senate members and you're hearing from [00:55:24] state legislator or state uh attorneys [00:55:26] general and those representing uh state [00:55:29] lawmakers and organizations in the [00:55:32] states is really to drive home the issue [00:55:33] of the states and this is coming from [00:55:36] conservative states states that should [00:55:39] be aligned with this administration and [00:55:41] if there are those that don't care about [00:55:43] the life issue they should care about [00:55:44] the polic politics of this. This is [00:55:47] going to be a political problem for [00:55:51] those who have sold out the pro-life [00:55:53] movement. [00:55:57] What is your reaction to the Trump [00:56:00] administration restoring the Planned [00:56:01] Parenthood funding last month that it [00:56:04] would count? Uh there there appears to [00:56:07] be more to that story than what we're [00:56:11] seeing in the press and that there is uh [00:56:14] some and I'm I'm waiting to pass [00:56:16] judgment on on that is that there is [00:56:19] some illegal maneuvering there that [00:56:21] would put the uh the administration in a [00:56:23] stronger position. [00:56:28] >> I wanted to ask what your reaction was. [00:56:29] There was an analysis published earlier [00:56:31] this week that was studying 5,000 pages [00:56:34] of uh agency documents on 12 years and [00:56:38] claim that agency leaders leaders always [00:56:40] act without bias and follow evidence [00:56:44] based recommendations from scientists on [00:56:47] what your thoughts are on that [00:56:49] >> well I've not seen I've not seen that so [00:56:51] I really can't comment on that but what [00:56:52] I can comment on are the the adverse [00:56:55] health effects that we've seen and and [00:56:58] here's here's one of the problems we [00:57:00] have not just on Mephrestoone but on [00:57:02] abortion in general is that the lack of [00:57:04] consistent reporting. And it's [00:57:07] interesting to me this is something [00:57:08] we've tried for years to try to get [00:57:11] systematic reporting uh on this so that [00:57:15] decisions can be informed with the best [00:57:17] information and we've been fought on [00:57:19] that because I think the reason is they [00:57:21] don't want the facts on on this the [00:57:24] adverse effects the number of abortions [00:57:26] and how they're being performed. [00:57:28] You just mentioned the politics [00:57:30] surrounding that question. FDA [00:57:32] Commissioner McCary seems to have [00:57:33] potentially made a political calculation [00:57:36] around releasing the safety review [00:57:38] before the midterm elections. Does not [00:57:41] want to do that. Wondering if you [00:57:43] respond to that a little bit and talk [00:57:45] about whether or not you expect FDA to [00:57:48] release that. [00:57:55] Yeah, I I've heard him make that [00:57:58] statement. Um, [00:58:00] you know, I think this is a decision [00:58:02] that's being driven by the White House. [00:58:03] And I think that this we we've seen [00:58:06] almost every Biden era policy reversed [00:58:10] like this. This policy could be changed [00:58:13] overnight and it should be. [00:58:17] Politics aside, this is an issue of the [00:58:19] sanctity of human life. It is an issue [00:58:22] of [00:58:23] the promises made to protect the unborn [00:58:27] and it's also a recognition of what do [00:58:30] now do I know that that there's a lot of [00:58:33] discussion about DOBS giving this to the [00:58:34] right to the states. Dobs gave the right [00:58:36] to the people in their elected [00:58:38] representatives both federal and state [00:58:40] but the states took the initiative as [00:58:42] they always have and and I say this as [00:58:44] one who's authored a number of pro-life [00:58:46] laws. The states took the initiative, [00:58:49] they took the action, and they've been [00:58:51] denied the right to see those laws [00:58:54] effectively put into place through the [00:58:56] undermining of the FDA's policy. That's [00:58:59] needs to change. [00:59:01] In the earlier this morning [00:59:05] indicated there was some common ground [00:59:10] between Republicans, Democrats. [00:59:16] Is this an issue that is [00:59:19] common ground [00:59:22] >> at the federal level? I I mean I think [00:59:25] there's certainly as you heard from [00:59:26] attorney general uh Liz Merl in many of [00:59:30] these states it is a um [00:59:34] it's a common ground issue. I can speak [00:59:36] from a state of Louisiana the maj the [00:59:40] majority leader Steve Scaliz and I were [00:59:41] elected at the same time and in the deep [00:59:43] minority but we were a pro-life state [00:59:45] then with a Democratic governor. So I do [00:59:48] think that this is not just a Republican [00:59:50] issue. This is a Democratic issue there. [00:59:52] While we don't see a lot of it at the [00:59:54] federal level, there remains to be there [00:59:56] remain a number of pro-life Democratic [00:59:59] lawmakers as well as Democratic voters [01:00:02] uh that care about this. And I would [01:00:04] throw in while it's unrelated [01:00:06] specifically to meresstone, [01:00:08] uh the issue of forcing taxpayers to [01:00:11] fund abortions, which has been protected [01:00:14] by Hyde, is clearly a bipartisan issue [01:00:18] across the country. Again, maybe not [01:00:20] here in Washington DC, but the polling [01:00:22] shows very clearly that taxpayers do not [01:00:25] want to be forced to fund abortion. Have [01:00:27] time for one more question. Yes. [01:00:31] >> Enforcement of the Comtock Act is a good [01:00:34] legal strategy to try and [01:00:36] >> it's a key it's a key part of it. [01:00:38] Absolutely. Uh is this is a two-step [01:00:41] solution. One is the in-person [01:00:43] requirement being reestablished, the [01:00:46] medical examin examinations to ensure [01:00:48] that the women lives, their lives are [01:00:51] not put at risk, but then also the the [01:00:52] comtock simply enforcing the law as it [01:00:55] pertains to comtock. And again, I I I [01:00:57] use the analogy of the the extreme [01:00:59] measures that have been taken to keep [01:01:01] deadly drugs out of this country. And we [01:01:03] have state leaders that want to keep the [01:01:05] deadly drugs out of their states. Maybe [01:01:07] if these abortion pills were coming by [01:01:08] boat, the administration would change [01:01:11] its tactics. Um, but it's time to change [01:01:14] this. It's time to respect the rights of [01:01:17] the states, and it's time to end death [01:01:20] by mail. Thank you very much for being [01:01:23] here.