|
|
Press Release
For Immediate Release
July 31, 2006 |
Contact: Afshin Mohamadi
202-225-7944 |
|
|
Reaction to FDA’s Reconsideration of Emergency Contraceptive Application |
| Rep. Maloney says with elections looming, president “can no longer afford to ignore what the American people want” |
|
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Food and Drug Administration said it will reconsider the application to make the Plan B emergency contraceptive available without a prescription for women 18 and over. For years the FDA has refused to approve applications to give Plan B over-the-counter status.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) is the sponsor of the Plan B for Plan B Act (H.R. 4229), which would give the FDA a short timetable in which to make a scientifically-sound decision on Plan B, and today she reacted to the news. “The FDA is still letting politics drive the decision about Plan B,” said Maloney. “The only thing that’s changed between last year and now is that we have an election looming and the president’s party is in trouble. He can no longer afford to ignore that the American people want access to safe birth control.” In November 2005, a GAO report requested by Maloney and colleagues showed that politics was a determining factor in the FDA’s decision on Plan B (http://maloney.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1000&Itemid=61 ). Maloney also helped author and introduce a bill to speed up the FDA’s timetable to make a decision on Plan B (http://maloney.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=996&Itemid=61 ). ### |
