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To the Editor:

In an October 2024 Connecticut Mirror poll, almost half of all voters and three quarters of Democrats listed reproductive rights and abortion as key issues. With the election of Donald Trump, the rights we now have in Connecticut are threatened by Project 2025’s plan to implement a national ban on medication abortion by pushing the FDA to reverse approval of mifepristone and misoprostol (the drugs most commonly used for medication abortions).

On day one of his administration, Trump’s attorney general could also reinterpret the Comstock Act to criminalize the act of sending mifepristone through the mail. This would prevent healthcare providers from obtaining the drug, even though abortion is legal in Connecticut. It is vitally important that all of us who care about reproductive rights let our governor and elected representatives know that we want them to take action immediately to protect these rights.

State Democratic leaders Martin Looney and Bob Duff have already written to Governor Lamont to note their appreciation of efforts by his administration, the Department of Public Health, UConn, and legislators who have been developing a plan to stockpile doses of mifepristone. They noted that Massachusetts, Washington, California, and New York have already taken this action. However, although it appears that there is significant support for Connecticut taking similar steps, there has been no stockpiling yet.

Here is a simple step you can take if this is an issue of importance to you. Simply contact Governor Ned Lamont’s office and ask him to prioritize Connecticut stockpiling mifepristone before the Trump Administration takes office. A preliminary assessment of needs indicates that the most cost-efficient way to do so is for the state to provide $850,000 to Planned Parenthood of Southern New England as soon as possible for this purpose. https://portal.ct.gov/governor/contact-the-governor?language=en_US

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Vozzola, Ph.D.
West Hartford