Hinson, Mace offer bill allowing access to over-the-counter birth control pills

U.S. Reps. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) this week proposed legislation that would allow women greater access to safe and effective oral contraceptive drugs.

“I’m proposing a solution that the overwhelming majority of women agree with — making their regular birth control pill available at their local pharmacy,” Rep. Hinson said on July 21 from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. “We have an opportunity here to work together to enact meaningful legislation that will benefit women.”

Rep. Hinson sponsored the Allowing Greater Access to Safe and Effective Contraception Act, H.R. 8428, with four GOP original cosponsors, including Rep. Mace and U.S. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA).

“I want to emphasize this is for regular birth control pills — not emergency contraceptives like Plan B,” said Rep. Hinson. “Making birth control available over the counter would have a significant impact on women’s lives.”

If enacted, H.R. 8428 would allow adult women to access over-the-counter birth control pills that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as being safe and effective, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

“This legislation helps ensure women will have access to over-the-counter birth control pills at their local pharmacies across the country,” said Rep. Mace. “I have and will continue to support women through increased access to healthcare resources like these.”

The measure, which has been referred for consideration to both the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee and the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, has garnered 13 additional Republican cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Ken Calvert (R-CA), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), and Brian Mast (R-FL).