Cedar Rapids Today

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) has introduced the bicameral Allowing Greater Access to Safe and Effective Contraception Act, aiming to expand over-the-counter access to oral contraceptives for adult women. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) has presented companion legislation in the Senate.

“Millions of American women safely use oral contraceptives, and allowing women to access birth control pills over-the-counter at their local pharmacy just makes sense. I am proud to team up with Senator Ernst on this bill, which is particularly important for women in rural areas who may have to drive over an hour to see their doctor. While Democrats play political games, I will continue working on commonsense policy solutions and advocating for Iowa women,” said Congresswoman Hinson.

“Whether they live in Red Oak, Iowa or Washington, D.C., women should have access to safe, effective birth control. Despite fearmongering from the far left, Republicans have solutions to support women and families. I’m proud to partner with Rep. Hinson on making those solutions a reality by increasing over-the-counter contraception options and bringing much-needed transparency and accountability to ensure the government uses tax dollars to help families,” stated Senator Joni Ernst.

The proposed legislation includes several key provisions:

- Enabling women aged 18 and up to access FDA-approved, routine-use birth control pills over the counter.

- Requiring the FDA to prioritize review of already-approved safe oral contraceptives for routine use so that they can be available over the counter for adult women.

- Mandating a study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on federal funding allocated toward supporting increased access to contraception over the past 15 years.

###