The Latest Abortion Challenge in the Supreme Court

Access to mifepristone remains unchanged. Problems viewing this email? [View it in your browser]( [Center for American Progress]( InProgress from the Center for American Progress Abortion Is Going Back to the Supreme Court [Demonstrators rally in support of abortion rights at the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC]( Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit issued a new ruling in the fight for [medication abortion]( that would reinstate medically unnecessary restrictions on access to mifepristone, the first in a two-step regime approved for medication abortion care in the United States. This is the latest development in the unprecedented attempt by far-right activists to use the judicial system to interfere with the independence and judgment of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These aggressive actions are threatening abortion access, the stability of all drug safety determinations, and the legitimacy of the judiciary overall. [Here’s what you need to know about the 5th Circuit’s latest decision:]( - Access to medication abortion care remains unchanged for now. Mifepristone will remain available in states where abortion is legal as litigation continues to play out. - The 5th Circuit seeks to overrule expert judgment to erode access to abortion. If allowed to go into effect, the 5th Circuit’s decision would effectively roll back the regulatory clock—and the corresponding years of medical consensus reflected in the FDA’s decision-making process—in order to [reinstate restrictions]( on mifepristone and create further barriers to care, all of which fly in the face of best medical practices and expert opinion. - The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on the case. The U.S. Department of Justice will be appealing the decision—meaning that the Supreme Court will then decide if it will review the case. Remember: The court won’t just be ruling on mifepristone but deciding the authority of the FDA to determine the safety and efficacy of all drugs. Underneath this ongoing case is a difficult reckoning with legitimate roles for the judiciary. The judges involved have personal opposition to abortion, as [records demonstrate]( as well as exhibited a stark willingness to [bend judicial norms]( in order to let the case continue to fester within federal courts. The Supreme Court’s next actions will demonstrate how far some justices may be willing to go to prioritize ideology over the rule of law. But until then, access to mifepristone remains unchanged. [Learn more]( SIGN OUR LETTER: Ensure Meaningful Access to Abortion Protecting access to abortion care is critical, and we need to take action now. Add your name to help preserve the right to affordable, accessible abortion care. [Take Action]( A Conversation With Catherine E. Lhamon, Assistant Secretary for the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education Since 1966, Congress has charged the federal government, through what is now called the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education, to ensure equal access to education through civil rights enforcement. And despite the recent Supreme Court ruling against the consideration of students’ race in higher education, it is as urgent as ever that educational institutions continue to lawfully pursue efforts to achieve a student body that is diverse across a range of identities. The recently released guidance provides specific resources for higher education institutions to refer to as they work to create campuses that are racially diverse and include students with a range of viewpoints and backgrounds. Please join the [Center for American Progress on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. EDT]( for a conversation with the Department of Education’s assistant secretary for civil rights, Catherine E. Lhamon, to explore the importance of nondiscrimination in education, especially in America’s colleges and universities. [Attend In-Person]( [Watch Virtually]( Why We Fight To End Gun Violence [Woman on a navy blue background with the caption "I turned my plan into purpose"]( Every day, [132 Americans are killed with guns, and hundreds more are shot and wounded](. That means that every 11 minutes, families and communities are forever changed by the gun violence epidemic in our country. Thanks to the tireless efforts of survivors and violence prevention advocates, the gun violence prevention movement is growing and making important progress to save countless lives. In a new video series from the Center for American Progress, gun violence survivors [share their stories]( of turning pain into purpose. [Watch now]( Progress in Action: Upgrading Philadelphia's Pipes for Cleaner Drinking Water In 2014, the discovery of lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan, raised awareness about lead's threat to vulnerable communities across the United States. Spurred by the events in Flint, a 2022 study revealed that Philadelphia has lead pipes, putting tens of thousands of children at risk of brain and organ damage from lead exposure. Due to a legacy of structural racism and redlining-induced segregation, the effects of lead contamination disproportionately affect children of color and low-income families. To address these issues, the [Biden administration allocated approximately $160 million]( to replace 19 miles of lead pipes and upgrade water facilities in Philadelphia. Modernizing these water facilities is part of the administration’s larger goal to eliminate all lead service lines across the nation. The Biden administration's economic policies are driving tens of thousands of projects to upgrade infrastructure, enhance public health, boost the economy, and support the middle class. Find out what infrastructure improvements, new jobs, and clean energy projects are happening in your hometown, state, or congressional district with the [Biden Administration Investment Tracker](. [explore more investments]( [Banner reading "Biden Administration Investment Tracker"]( Bidenomics at Work [Illustration of a subway car in the metro station in Philadelphia]( [repost This]( ICYMI: Forging Black Economic Power Across America Last week, the Center for American Progress and the National Partnership for Women & Families [hosted a panel]( in Martha’s Vineyard that explored new ways to promote economic opportunity in Black communities. [Panel of speakers with a backdrop of CAP logos]( This panel focused on how we can use the funds allotted in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Justice40 initiative to overcome barriers of the past through job creation and workforce development, minority business opportunities and challenges, and community wealth-building approaches. With major transformations in the economy caused by climate change, sweeping technological change, and supply chain vulnerabilities—all being addressed by recent large-scale federal investments—it is an opportune time to develop new strategies for Black economic advancement. 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