At the inaugural Missouri Prayer Breakfast, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., announced a new 'Declaration for Life.' He said it aims to restore 'the defense of human dignity and the unalienable right to life.'
Hawley called on members of Congress beyond Missouri and pro-life Republicans to sign the pledge. He said, 'We want to call on lawmakers from both parties to sign this declaration and support protecting human life in law.'
He also said, 'It’s time to take a vote on my legislation to ban the chemical abortion drug mifepristone.' The declaration says the 'crisis of chemical abortion' is the front line in the defense of life. It also calls on Congress to 'end the scourge of mail-order abortions by banning the abortion drug.'
Hawley is backing the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act. The bill would withdraw the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone for abortion and create a pathway for people harmed by the drug to sue its manufacturers. Republican Sens. Tommy Tuberville, John Cornyn, Marsha Blackburn, Ted Budd, Bernie Moreno, James Lankford and Mike Rounds have co-sponsored it.
Hawley said the drug is dangerous for women. Mifepristone is currently under review by the FDA. Steve Daines said he asked about the study this week and was told the agency plans to complete and release the review by the end of the year.
Why it matters: Hawley is trying to turn a moral issue into a congressional vote. The big picture: the fight now runs through federal regulation, not just campaign rhetoric. What's next: the FDA review could shape the timing of the debate.