inconvenient. That is absolutely atrocious. Democrats claim to be the
party of choice, but bankrolling the entire abortion process only
increases the pressure on women to choose abortion by making it the
more financially feasible option. There is no choice in that. A 2004
study found 64 percent of women felt pressured by others to have an
abortion.
  If Congress truly wants to respect the conscience rights of millions
of Americans and actually protect women, children, and families, it
should reject this legislation and pass the Title X Abortion Provider
Protection Act.
  For all of these reasons, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard.
  The Senator from Mississippi.

                       Unanimous Consent Requests

  Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, 4 years ago today, our Nation took
the historic step when the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision
overturned the so-called right to end a baby's life in America and
returned the authority to regulate abortion to the people. Since then,
the abortion industry has intensified its efforts to convince women
that pregnancy is inherently dangerous and harmful to their health.
While pregnancy can involve complications, those cases are the
exception; they are not the rule. Yet these exceptions are often used
to justify abortion at every stage of a pregnancy, including a growing
number of at-home abortions, using mail-ordered mifepristone, without
having direct physician oversight.
  Here is the truth about chemical abortion: First of all, this regimen
is not safer than Tylenol. A woman can experience anywhere from a month
to 6 weeks of bleeding after taking the abortion pill regimen--
horrendous bleeding that is significantly heavier than usual. It is
especially dangerous for women who are already anemic with low blood
counts. Nearly one in nine women who take these drugs will suffer a
serious adverse event, such as sepsis, hemorrhaging, infection, or
emergency surgery, within 45 days of ingesting the pill.
  Chemical abortion can also pose a serious threat to women's future
fertility or even their lives when they are not screened through an in-
person doctor visit for conditions like an ectopic pregnancy, and a
woman who has a chemical abortion has a 300-percent increase in having
a preterm birth in future pregnancies--a 300-percent increase.
  The SAVE Moms and Babies Act puts commonsense safety protections back
into place by at least requiring an in-person doctor visit before being
prescribed mifepristone, which is designed to abort a baby. This drug
should never be administered through the mail, where abusers and
traffickers can hide behind a computer anonymously.
  While I cannot stress enough the importance of correcting
misinformation about abortion drugs and reinstating the safety
protections that the Biden administration recklessly removed, we also
need to flip the abortion industry's entire script by highlighting
something too often overlooked: the extraordinary benefits of pregnancy
for women.
  Pregnancy is nothing short of remarkable when you consider everything
that must fall into place perfectly to conceive, sustain, and deliver a
healthy child. While the process can feel overwhelming, women's bodies
are uniquely equipped for this lifegiving role. The resilience and
strength demonstrated through pregnancy and childbirth are incredible
and empowering.
  For example, pregnancy is often described as a marathon--and for good
reason: A woman's cardiovascular strength expands when her pregnancy is
carried to full term, and her risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke
are significantly reduced later in life. From the long-term well-being
that motherhood can inspire with a commitment to healthier habits to
the protected effects of breastfeeding associated with the reduced risk
of breast cancer, these changes offer life-sustaining gifts.
  In fact, research suggests that women who have children later in life
often experience greater longevity. Women's bodies were seemingly
designed to break the limits and then keep going.
  As we continue to build a life-affirming society in this Dobbs era,
our ongoing challenge is to continue championing the physical, mental,
and emotional benefits of pregnancy and of motherhood.
  Mr. President, as if in legislative session, and notwithstanding rule
XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions be discharged and the Senate proceed to the
immediate consideration of S. 3697; further, I ask unanimous consent
that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and that the
motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection?
  The Senator from Maryland.
  Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, reserving the right to object.
  Let's be clear. This bill would roll back the clock by 25 years. It
limits access to a safe and effective medication that has been approved
by the FDA since 2000. Hundreds of robust clinical trials have
demonstrated mifepristone's safety. That is not political; that is
science.
  This bill would impose new requirements on prescribing healthcare
providers, and it would restrict drug dispensing to in-person
administration, specifically targeting women living in rural areas and
women without access to a primary care doctor or OB/GYN.
  For the past year, we have all watched as Secretary Kennedy and this
administration have peddled conspiracy theories and junk science to
dismantle public health structures in this country.
  Just like with the pediatric vaccine schedule, changing the rules on
FDA-approved drugs without specific scientific input, legitimate
evidence on safety risk, or transparency will cause unnecessary fear
for patients.
  This bill undermines the critical role of the FDA in ensuring the
safety and efficacy of medical products through a gold standard review
and approval process. It overrides the FDA's oversight authority by
prematurely banning approval to medications, even if they are safe and
effective.
  That is not gold standard science; it is an effort to control women's
bodies and their healthcare decisions.
  On the very anniversary of the Dobbs ruling, Senate Republicans are
looking to continue to restrict access to care.
  I want to remind my colleagues that mothers living in States with
abortion bans are nearly twice as likely to die during pregnancy or
childbirth compared to those in States that allow women to access
reproductive care. These tragedies happen when there are delays in
miscarriage and emergencies because reproductive medicine is
criminalized.
  I object to this legislation.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard.
  The Senator from Maryland.
  Ms. ALSOBROOKS. As I just said, on the very anniversary of the Dobbs
ruling, Senate Republicans are looking to continue to restrict access
to care.
  In stark contrast, Senate Democrats are working to expand access to
healthcare for women. We are working to better support new and
expecting mothers and babies. I introduced the Healthy MOM Act to do
just that.
  Uninsured pregnant women are more likely to miss critical prenatal
care. These gaps in care lead to a 31 percent higher likelihood of
adverse hospital and delivery outcomes. My bill would ensure that all
women eligible for coverage through Affordable Care Act marketplaces
and private insurance can access affordable health coverage throughout
their pregnancies by establishing a special enrollment period for
expectant mothers.
  Right now, marriage, divorce, changing jobs, or having a baby are
considered qualifying life events that trigger a special enrollment
period, but becoming pregnant is not considered a qualifying life
event. That is unless you live in a State like Maryland, which allows
women to enroll in or change their health insurance plan outside of the
standard open enrollment period after they learn they are pregnant.
  If you want to protect moms and babies, you need to make sure that
they have health insurance and access to the care they need. I ask
unanimous consent to pass this commonsense legislation to close a
senseless loophole and keep expecting mothers across the country
healthy.