March 16, 2023

Pro-Abortion Senators Demand that Major Retailers such as Walmart Sell Abortion Pills

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
On March 13, seventeen pro-abortion senators, including Illinois Sen Tammy Duckworth (D), sent letters to retail and pharmacy chains demanding that the companies distribute the abortion pill mifepristone in all 50 states. The senators took particular offense at Walgreens's announcement that it would not distribute mifepristone in 21 states to conform with the Comstock Act.

The senators wrote to Walmart, Costco, Albertsons, and Kroger, “We write with great frustration that [your company] has not indicated whether it plans to allow your customers to access mifepristone through your pharmacies…We urge you to pursue policies that provide the strongest possible access to the full range of essential health care they need, including mifepristone, and to communicate clearly to your customers about how they can access this care.”

To Walgreens, which has announced plans to sell abortion pills in all but 21 states, the senators wrote,
"We write with grave concerns about the misunderstanding and confusion your company has created with regard to patients’ access to mifepristone from retail pharmacies. Earlier this month, it was reported that Walgreens does not intend to fill prescriptions for a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug in states where it is legal for patients to access that product. While we are well aware of threatening letters you received with regard to the distribution of mifepristone in certain states, the response to those pressures was unacceptable and appeared to yield to these threats—ignoring the critical need to ensure patients can get this essential health care wherever possible. As you work through the FDA certification process, we urge you to fully assess the laws in each state and ensure your policies provide the strongest possible legal access to this critical patient care."

Walgreens's announcement that it would not dispense abortion pills in 21 states came in response to a letter it received from a group of pro-life attorneys general. The group wrote to CVS and Walgreens to inform them that the Comstock Act prohibits the mailing of any item that will ‘be used or applied for producing abortion.’ Walgreens, rather than risk prosecution in states with pro-life attorneys general, elected to only sell pills in states with more abortion-friendly governments.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-OK), New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) are also on record urging Walgreens to distribute abortion pills in violation of pro-life federal and state laws. Gov. Newsom went as far as to announce, "California won't be doing business with Walgreens -- or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk." All of these politicians appear to be using their power to threaten businesses that don't fall in line with their pro-abortion agenda.

The pro-abortion senators also sent letters to CVS and Rite Aid, thanking them for their announcements to sell abortion pills and asking them how they “plan to notify current customers about access to mifepristone in any given state, where restrictions do and do not exist.”

The seventeen senators who signed the March 13 letters include Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).

Click here to read more.