Bill · S. 1631· Senate(119-S-1631)
Restoring Safeguards for Dangerous Abortion Drugs Act
- Introduced
- 5/6/2025
- Last activity
- 5/6/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Josh Hawley
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, called the "Restoring Safeguards for Dangerous Abortion Drugs Act," requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to replace the current risk evaluation and mitigation strategy for mifepristone with the one approved in June 2011. It prevents the Secretary from approving any different strategy for the drug. The bill also creates a federal tort allowing individuals to sue certain entities for bodily injury or mental health harm resulting from the use of mifepristone imported or transported in violation of specific laws. Additionally, it amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to ban the importation of mifepristone into the United States, including via mail.
Yes
Does this give the federal government more power?+6
Expands federal authority by creating a new federal tort and a national ban on importation.
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+2
Provides a legal path for individuals to seek damages for bodily or mental harm caused by illegally imported medication.
Does this tighten control of the border?+1
Bans the importation of mifepristone into the United States.
The opposite· 3 of 26
Does this make abortion easier to get?-9
Severely restricts access to mifepristone by banning importation and reinstating a more restrictive distribution strategy.
Would women be better off under this?-8
Significantly restricts access to abortion medication and limits healthcare options.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?-8
Rural residents rely most heavily on mail-order and telehealth for abortion access.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Legal Recourse for Harm: Under Section 4, individuals who suffer bodily injury or harm to mental health (including physical, psychological, emotional, or physiological harm) due to the use of illegally imported or transported mifepristone can sue for compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Restricted Medication Strategy: Section 3 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to withdraw the current risk evaluation and mitigation strategy and replace it with the June 2011 version, while prohibiting any other strategy from being approved.
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Importation Ban: Section 5 bans any person from importing mifepristone into the United States, which specifically includes mailing the drug to individuals.
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Liability for Providers: Section 4 makes telehealth providers, pharmacies, and persons who knowingly import or transport the drug in violation of section 1462 of title 18, United States Code, liable for damages if an individual is harmed by the medication.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents-8Good For Women-8Good For Low Income Households-7Good For Business Owners-6Good For Native Americans-6Good For African Americans-5Good For Hispanic Americans-5Good For Immigrants-5Good For People With Disabilities-5Good For Students-5Good For Young Adults-5Good For Asian Americans-4Good For L G B T Q Community-4Good For Middle Aged-4Good For Middle Class Households-4Good For Urban Residents-3Good For White Americans-3Good For High Income Households-2
- Healthcare
- Improves Abortion Access-9Improves Healthcare Access-6
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Border Security+1Improves Gender Equality-5
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+6Improves Privacy Rights-4Improves Interstate Commerce-3Increase States Rights-2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+2Improves Small Business Support-4
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves International Trade-2
- 5/6/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.