Yesterday, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) and 47 pro-life Members of Congress introduced the Telemedicine Safety Act, H.R. 5731, which will set safeguards in place to ensure no federal funds are used to pay for “telemed abortions” and prohibit telemedicine abortions across state lines.

More information is available below and in the attached from Mr. King. A copy of the bill text is also attached for your reference.

Background

Planned Parenthood Clinics in Iowa are now offering RU-486 (chemical) abortions to patients without a doctor present.  Instead, the woman talks to a doctor over the internet and the doctor remotely approves someone else dispensing the drug to the woman even though FDA guidelines regarding RU-486 require that the drug be dispensed by a doctor.  That requirement is important to protecting the health of the woman since RU-486 has been associated with cases of severe bleeding and even death. 

Original Cosponsors:

Rep King, Steve [R-IA-5] (introduced 5/10/2012)

Rep Bachmann, Michele [R-MN-6] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [R-MD-6] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Benishek, Dan [R-MI-1] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Black, Diane [R-TN-6] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN-7] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Brady, Kevin [R-TX-8] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Broun, Paul C. [R-GA-10] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Canseco, Francisco "Quico" [R-TX-23] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Cole, Tom [R-OK-4] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Duncan, Jeff [R-SC-3] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Ellmers, Renee L. [R-NC-2] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Fleming, John [R-LA-4] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Flores, Bill [R-TX-17] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Garrett, Scott [R-NJ-5] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Gohmert, Louie [R-TX-1] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Harris, Andy [R-MD-1] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO-4] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Huelskamp, Tim [R-KS-1] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-2] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Hultgren, Randy [R-IL-14] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Jordan, Jim [R-OH-4] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Kelly, Mike [R-PA-3] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Lamborn, Doug [R-CO-5] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Landry, Jeffrey M. [R-LA-3] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Lankford, James [R-OK-5] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL-3] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Manzullo, Donald A. [R-IL-16] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Marchant, Kenny [R-TX-24] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [R-MI-11] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep McHenry, Patrick T. [R-NC-10] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Murphy, Tim [R-PA-18] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [R-NC-9] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Neugebauer, Randy [R-TX-19] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Pearce, Stevan [R-NM-2] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [R-PA-16] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Ross, Dennis [R-FL-12] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Schmidt, Jean [R-OH-2] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Schweikert, David [R-AZ-5] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Scott, Tim [R-SC-1] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] - 5/10/2012 *
Rep Southerland, Steve [R-FL-2] - 5/10/2012 *