[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3186-S3187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Unanimous Consent Requests

  Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, 4 years ago today, our Nation took 
the historic step when the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision 
overturned the so-called right to end a baby's life in America and 
returned the authority to regulate abortion to the people. Since then, 
the abortion industry has intensified its efforts to convince women 
that pregnancy is inherently dangerous and harmful to their health. 
While pregnancy can involve complications, those cases are the 
exception; they are not the rule. Yet these exceptions are often used 
to justify abortion at every stage of a pregnancy, including a growing 
number of at-home abortions, using mail-ordered mifepristone, without 
having direct physician oversight.
  Here is the truth about chemical abortion: First of all, this regimen 
is not safer than Tylenol. A woman can experience anywhere from a month 
to 6 weeks of bleeding after taking the abortion pill regimen--
horrendous bleeding that is significantly heavier than usual. It is 
especially dangerous for women who are already anemic with low blood 
counts. Nearly one in nine women who take these drugs will suffer a 
serious adverse event, such as sepsis, hemorrhaging, infection, or 
emergency surgery, within 45 days of ingesting the pill.
  Chemical abortion can also pose a serious threat to women's future 
fertility or even their lives when they are not screened through an in-
person doctor visit for conditions like an ectopic pregnancy, and a 
woman who has a chemical abortion has a 300-percent increase in having 
a preterm birth in future pregnancies--a 300-percent increase.
  The SAVE Moms and Babies Act puts commonsense safety protections back 
into place by at least requiring an in-person doctor visit before being 
prescribed mifepristone, which is designed to abort a baby. This drug 
should never be administered through the mail, where abusers and 
traffickers can hide behind a computer anonymously.
  While I cannot stress enough the importance of correcting 
misinformation about abortion drugs and reinstating the safety 
protections that the Biden administration recklessly removed, we also 
need to flip the abortion industry's entire script by highlighting 
something too often overlooked: the extraordinary benefits of pregnancy 
for women.
  Pregnancy is nothing short of remarkable when you consider everything 
that must fall into place perfectly to conceive, sustain, and deliver a 
healthy child. While the process can feel overwhelming, women's bodies 
are uniquely equipped for this lifegiving role. The resilience and 
strength demonstrated through pregnancy and childbirth are incredible 
and empowering.
  For example, pregnancy is often described as a marathon--and for good 
reason: A woman's cardiovascular strength expands when her pregnancy is 
carried to full term, and her risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke 
are significantly reduced later in life. From the long-term well-being 
that motherhood can inspire with a commitment to healthier habits to 
the protected effects of breastfeeding associated with the reduced risk 
of breast cancer, these changes offer life-sustaining gifts.
  In fact, research suggests that women who have children later in life 
often experience greater longevity. Women's bodies were seemingly 
designed to break the limits and then keep going.
  As we continue to build a life-affirming society in this Dobbs era, 
our ongoing challenge is to continue championing the physical, mental, 
and emotional benefits of pregnancy and of motherhood.
  Mr. President, as if in legislative session, and notwithstanding rule 
XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions be discharged and the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. 3697; further, I ask unanimous consent 
that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and that the 
motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection?
  The Senator from Maryland.
  Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, reserving the right to object.
  Let's be clear. This bill would roll back the clock by 25 years. It 
limits access to a safe and effective medication that has been approved 
by the FDA since 2000. Hundreds of robust clinical trials have 
demonstrated mifepristone's safety. That is not political; that is 
science.
  This bill would impose new requirements on prescribing healthcare 
providers, and it would restrict drug dispensing to in-person 
administration, specifically targeting women living in rural areas and 
women without access to a primary care doctor or OB/GYN.
  For the past year, we have all watched as Secretary Kennedy and this 
administration have peddled conspiracy theories and junk science to 
dismantle public health structures in this country.
  Just like with the pediatric vaccine schedule, changing the rules on 
FDA-approved drugs without specific scientific input, legitimate 
evidence on safety risk, or transparency will cause unnecessary fear 
for patients.
  This bill undermines the critical role of the FDA in ensuring the 
safety and efficacy of medical products through a gold standard review 
and approval process. It overrides the FDA's oversight authority by 
prematurely banning approval to medications, even if they are safe and 
effective.
  That is not gold standard science; it is an effort to control women's 
bodies and their healthcare decisions.
  On the very anniversary of the Dobbs ruling, Senate Republicans are 
looking to continue to restrict access to care.
  I want to remind my colleagues that mothers living in States with 
abortion bans are nearly twice as likely to die during pregnancy or 
childbirth compared to those in States that allow women to access 
reproductive care. These tragedies happen when there are delays in 
miscarriage and emergencies because reproductive medicine is 
criminalized.
  I object to this legislation.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard.
  The Senator from Maryland.
  Ms. ALSOBROOKS. As I just said, on the very anniversary of the Dobbs 
ruling, Senate Republicans are looking to continue to restrict access 
to care.
  In stark contrast, Senate Democrats are working to expand access to 
healthcare for women. We are working to better support new and 
expecting mothers and babies. I introduced the Healthy MOM Act to do 
just that.
  Uninsured pregnant women are more likely to miss critical prenatal 
care. These gaps in care lead to a 31 percent higher likelihood of 
adverse hospital and delivery outcomes. My bill would ensure that all 
women eligible for coverage through Affordable Care Act marketplaces 
and private insurance can access affordable health coverage throughout 
their pregnancies by establishing a special enrollment period for 
expectant mothers.
  Right now, marriage, divorce, changing jobs, or having a baby are 
considered qualifying life events that trigger a special enrollment 
period, but becoming pregnant is not considered a qualifying life 
event. That is unless you live in a State like Maryland, which allows 
women to enroll in or change their health insurance plan outside of the 
standard open enrollment period after they learn they are pregnant.
  If you want to protect moms and babies, you need to make sure that 
they have health insurance and access to the care they need. I ask 
unanimous consent to pass this commonsense legislation to close a 
senseless loophole and keep expecting mothers across the country 
healthy.

[[Page S3187]]

  Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent 
that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be 
discharged from further consideration of S. 3274 and the Senate proceed 
to its immediate consideration; further, that the bill be considered 
read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be 
considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  The Senator from Mississippi.
  Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, reserving the right to object. Mr. 
President, I object.
  While my colleague's bill seemingly aims to assist expecting mothers 
with the burdensome cost of pregnancy and childbirth, I would like to 
point out that this legislative effort is not designed for success, and 
it has zero bipartisan support.
  However, bipartisan support in this arena is possible, and I am so 
grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have worked 
with me on the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act. I introduced 
this effort last year with Senators Kaine, Gillibrand, and Hawley to 
insulate expecting parents from the high cost of pregnancy and 
childbirth by eliminating cost-sharing requirements for prenatal, 
childbirth, neonatal, perinatal, or post-partum healthcare. Bringing a 
child into the world is costly enough without piling on cost-share fees 
that saddle many mothers and families with debt. The bill would take 
away some of the burden for childbearing generations.
  My hope is that if we can relieve the financial stresses associated 
with pregnancy and childbirth, more families will be encouraged to 
embrace the beautiful gift and the responsibility that comes with 
parenthood.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma.