HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8

BY  ALONS, BRANDENBURG, WINDSCHITL, FRY, ROGERS, DE BOEF, and CHAMBERS

A Concurrent Resolution requesting the United States Food and Drug Administration to rescind approval of ulipristal acetate.

   WHEREAS, the United States food and drug administration approved ulipristal acetate, marketed in the United States under the brand name “ella”, on August 13, 2010; and
   WHEREAS, ella was approved as an emergency contraceptive for use to reduce the risk of pregnancy up to five days after unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure; and
   WHEREAS, even though ella was approved only as an emergency contraceptive, it has chemical similarities to existing drugs such as mifepristone (RU-486), used as abortifacients; and
   WHEREAS, the potential for misuse of ella as an abortifacient could result in unintended abortions and put women’s lives at risk; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE SENATE CONCURRING, That the Iowa General Assembly requests that the United States food and drug administration rescind its approval of ella based upon its potential use as an abortifacient rather than for its approved purpose as an emergency contraceptive; and

   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the office of the commissioner of the United States food and drug administration and each member of Iowa’s congressional delegation.