Despite State Bans and Restrictions, the Number of Abortions in the U.S. Holds Steady
NPR, March 24, 2026
Since the reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022, anti-abortion rights advocates have continuously pursued laws and court cases to make access to abortion more difficult. A new report found those efforts haven’t worked in one basic way: The number of abortions in the country hasn’t budged. A key way that abortions are now happening despite all of the state restrictions is through telemedicine. At the same time, some states passed shield laws, which protect health care providers from legal risks when they prescribe to patients in states with bans.
Republicans Introduce Absurd Bill To Stop ‘Pollution’ of Drinking Water With Fetal Remains
HuffPost, March 19, 2025
House Republicans introduced a bill that would require every pregnant person using abortion pills to use “catch kits” when ending their pregnancy. The Clean Water For All Life Act would make it illegal to flush abortion or miscarriage remains down a toilet “to protect both human dignity and America’s water systems,” according to a press release. The bill is the first of its kind to gain any national traction, though it’s unlikely to pass. The federal bill uses environmental protection language to push an anti-abortion agenda – putting pressure on the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to take action.
U.S. Senate Republicans Launch Probe of Abortion Pill Makers, Escalate Pressure on FDA
Reuters, March 25, 2025
U.S. Senate Republicans launched an investigation into abortion pill manufacturers on Wednesday and called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to crack down on online sales of the drug mifepristone, the latest escalation in a years long political battle over access to medication abortion. The probe is led by Republican Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. It follows months of criticism by conservatives that the FDA has moved too slowly in reviewing the safety protocols surrounding mifepristone, particularly after former President Joe Biden’s administration eased in person dispensing requirements and expanded telehealth access.
Senate Republicans Reject Democratic Bid To Overturn VA Abortion Ban
MS Now, March 25, 2026
On Wednesday, Senate Republicans rejected a long-shot legislative maneuver from Democrats aimed at reversing the Department of Veterans Affairs’ abrupt re-implementation of an abortion ban for veterans and their dependents. Senators voted 48-50 for a procedural motion advancing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution, a mechanism that allows Congress to overturn certain federal agency rules. The effort was always unlikely to succeed, given that Republicans control both chambers. But Democrats argued it would force Republicans to go on the record about abortion coverage for veterans and their dependents under the limited circumstances that the Biden administration allowed.
Contraception Services Dropped After ‘Defunding’ Provision Hit Clinics
News From The States, March 19, 2026
Visits for contraception and cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood clinics have dropped by double-digits after Congress passed a bill cutting off Medicaid funding to certain reproductive health care providers last year, according to a new Democratic congressional report. Between July 1 and the end of December, the report said emergency contraception distribution fell 10%, oral contraception distribution fell 27%, and IUD insertions fell 10%. Republican members of the House and Senate passed a sweeping budget reconciliation bill in July that included a one-year provision barring clinics from receiving federal Medicaid reimbursement if they offered abortion services and billed Medicaid more than $800,000 in fiscal year 2023.
ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
For more than 60 years, federal law has evolved to better protect working women’s time and pay.
We respect your privacy. Read our policy.
Note: The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
