Ahead of Tuesday’s Supreme Court hearing, Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer has authored a policy calling for the County of San Diego to secure its emergency stockpile of medication-base abortion treatments Misoprostol and Mifepristone and support a resolution to continue making medication-based abortion treatment available to San Diegans. The Board of Supervisors will consider the policy during its April 9, 2024 meeting.

Mifepristone is an oral medication taken with Misoprostol to terminate an early-stage pregnancy by blocking the hormone progesterone. It can also be utilized to help aid in the process when a person is suffering from a pregnancy loss and helps to keep individuals from needing surgery or waiting for the pregnancy to pass on its own, which can take up to eight weeks. This medication has been well-tested, FDA approved since the year 2000 and has been on the market for twenty-three years. It is widely utilized and seen as a safe course of treatment.

On Tuesday,  the Supreme Court will be hearing arguments to put more restrictions on the long-time abortion medications. According to Ms. Magazine, 36 states already allow the medication, while 14 have banned it. 

“Reproductive freedom is under attack and it's our responsibility to help uphold a woman’s right to abortion access,” said Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer. “Mifepristone helps those who suffer from natural pregnancy loss, in addition to stopping pregnancies in the early stages, and this reproductive healthcare medication needs to remain available. It is the reason I feel our County must work with the State to ensure people in San Diego County have access to it.” 

Supervisor Lawson-Remer’s Board letter includes two recommendations:

1. Adopt a “Resolution to Ensure Continued Access to Medication-Based Abortion Treatment for San Diegans”, and 

2. The Interim Chief Administrative Officer works with the State of California to secure an emergency stockpile of Misoprostol and Mifepristone so this is available for those seeking abortion or pregnancy loss care.

A majority vote of 3 of the 5 Supervisors voting in favor would ensure this policy passes on April 9.

Other Actions to Protect Reproductive Rights by Supervisor Lawson-Remer

• In November 2023, Supervisor Lawson-Remer introduced a policy to hold crisis pregnancy centers accountable using legal measures, but it failed due to a two-to-two split vote on the Board of Supervisors. (see link)     

• In April 2023, Supervisor Lawson-Remer made her first public pronouncement that the County of San Diego should be stockpiling abortion medication.  

• On May 24, 2022, Supervisor Lawson-Remer and Chairwoman Nora Vargas put forward a resolution at the County that supported enshrining a pregnant person’s right to choose within the California constitution. It was successful. (see policy)

• On May 24, 2022l Supervisor Lawson-Remer supported a policy to strengthen access to reproductive healthcare by conducting a comprehensive assessment of reproductive health cse services in San Diego County and advocating for state legislation and funding for these services. It was successful. (see policy) 

• On September 14, 2021, Supervisor Lawson-Remer supported a policy declaring the County of San Diego a champion of reproductive freedom. (see policy)

Learn more by visiting www.SupervisorTerraLawsonRemer.com