DeGette Hails Federal Court Plan B Decision

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Co-Chair of the BipartisanCongressional Pro-Choice Caucus, offered the following statement ontoday's New York District Court ruling that the Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) violated its own established procedures when itlimited access to emergency contraception to women 18 and over. Therestriction was put in place under the administration ofPresident George W. Bush.

"This is a win for science-basedpolicies and a common-sense approach to reducing unintendedpregnancies," said DeGette. "Americans need FDA policies that are basedon science, not ideology. FDA played politics by overruling a panel ofscientific experts when restricting access to this medication – adecision that was irresponsible and harmful to public health."

U.S. Rep. DeGette is also Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, which has jurisdiction over health care policy.