Prairie State Wire

Jeanne Ives, former Illinois state representative, said Illinois Democrats are ignoring FDA regulations on the abortion pill with House Bill 3637, showing disregard for women’s health. She made the statement to Prairie State Wire.

"Just when you think Illinois Democrats cannot go further with radical abortion law, they inevitably come up with another crazy idea," said Ives, Former IL State Rep.. "If the FDA determines the abortion pill is dangerous and should not be dispensed, IL Dems now want to ignore the FDA and allow the abortion pill in Illinois to be dispensed as long as the Marxist un-elected bureaucrats at the World Health Organization say the drug is okay to use. Democrats do not care about women's health and this bill proves that."

In April 2025, the Illinois House passed House Bill 3637, introduced by Representative Dagmara "Dee" Avelar of Bolingbrook. According to a press release, the bill seeks to reinforce the state's protections for medication abortion. It aims to "future-proof" Illinois law by strengthening the state's Shield Law and the Illinois Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This would ensure continued access to abortion medications like mifepristone even if FDA regulations change.

A study conducted in 2025 by the Ethics & Public Policy Center examined over 865,000 mifepristone abortions from 2017 to 2023. The study reported that approximately 11% of women experienced serious adverse events such as sepsis, hemorrhage, or infection within 45 days of taking the pill. This real-world rate is significantly higher than the less than 0.5% serious adverse event rate reported in clinical trials cited on the FDA-approved drug label.

According to State Representative Bill Hauter, who is also a practicing physician, HB 3637 undermines federal authority and could compromise women's health. Hauter described the bill as "outrageous," arguing that it erodes essential safety mechanisms by allowing drugs approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) but rejected by the FDA to be prescribed in Illinois.

Ives further commented to Prairie State Wire that Illinois Democrats "relied on the FDA's opinion on the COVID shot which they mandated and now want to ignore the FDA if they determine the abortion pill is dangerous." She added that their "ghoulish obsession with abortion is dangerous."

Jeanne Ives served six years representing Illinois House District 42 and ran for governor in 2018. She also ran for election to represent Illinois’ 6th Congressional District in 2020.