Governor Outlines Maternal Health Plan

Last week Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement and signed an executive order outlining a step-by-step plan for improving maternal health in Arkansas.

The plan includes expanded maternal healthcare access in Arkansas, increasing the percentage of women who access prenatal care, and creating a pilot program for improving maternal health in under-served counties.

It’s worth noting that Arkansas provides grant funding to pregnancy health organizations that help fulfill some of the governor’s maternal wellness goals.

As we have written before, many pregnancy resource centers provide everything from ultrasounds and pregnancy tests to prenatal and postnatal resources, medical referrals, and more — typically free of charge.

Last year Gov. Sanders signed Act 622 authorizing $1 million in state-funded grants for pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and social services agencies that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

To date the state has awarded nearly $500,000 to more than two dozen different pregnancy resource centers. The rest of the $1 million in grant funding is expected to be distributed between now and June 30.

Family Council was pleased to support passage of Act 622 last year, and we plan to work for passage of another appropriation measure at the Arkansas Legislature next month.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Arkansas Congressmen Hill, Westerman, and Attorney General Griffin Join Amicus Briefs Against Dangerous Abortion Drugs

On Friday Arkansas Congressmen French Hill (R — 02) and Bruce Westerman (R — 04) joined 143 other members of Congress in an amicus brief opposing dangerous abortion drugs before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin also joined a separate amicus brief in the case.

The briefs are part of two lawsuits over the FDA’s decision to approve the abortion drug mifepristone, also known as RU-486, and to eliminate safety protocols and standards for the drug. The two lawsuits have been consolidated into a single case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Family Council joined a separate amicus brief in the case last Friday as well.

Congressman Westerman also recently joined an amicus brief in a different U.S. Supreme Court case opposing the Biden Administration’s efforts to force hospitals and emergency rooms to perform abortions.

Friday’s amicus briefs argue:

  • The FDA has subverted patient safeguards concerning RU-486;
  • Chemical abortion drugs like RU-486 carry significant risks for women and girls;
  • The FDA has endangered patient health and safety;
  • The FDA has permitted mail-order chemical abortion drugs in violation of federal law; and
  • The FDA’s actions push constitutional boundaries.

When the FDA first approved RU-486 in 2000, a woman seeking a drug-induced abortion was required to visit the doctor three times.

By 2016 that number was reduced from three doctor visits to one doctor visit.

In 2021, the FDA removed the in-person visit with a doctor altogether — making it possible to obtain RU-486 through the mail without a medical examination or an ultrasound.

Over the years our state legislators have enacted various laws preventing abortion drugs from being delivered by mail in Arkansas and requiring abortionists to follow basic health and safety standards for abortion drugs.

The FDA and the Biden Administration have taken steps at the federal level that threaten to undermine good, pro-life laws like these. This U.S. Supreme Court case pushes back against abortion drugs and federal abortion policies.

It is good to see Arkansas’ congressmen and attorney general joining with their colleagues to take a pro-life stand in federal court.

You Can Read The Congressmen’s Amicus Brief Here.

You Can Read The A.G.’s Amicus Brief Here.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.